Alex Matthews, Blood's Burden

Blood's Burden

Alex Matthews

Intrigue, Apr 2006, $24.00, 272 pp.

ISBN: 1890768642

Psychotherapist Cassidy McCabe and her husband investigative reporter Zach Moran meet Kit, the live in lover of his son, college sophomore Bryce, and are not very impressed with her cavalier attitude. In fact Cass thinks to herself that Bryce needs a hormone suppressant so that he can dump the flitting Kit by using his right head.

A few days later, Bryce calls hysterically from his Chicago townhouse that Kit is dead shot in the head. The police feel this is a crime of passion and the evidence points towards Bryce, who is arrested quickly after the homicide is discovered by the police. Though even Zach believes his son killed Kit, Cass thinks otherwise. She quickly learns that the "drama queen" was pregnant and had at least two other lovers. However, as she searches for information involving the other life of Kit, someone blows up Bryce's car, leading the amateur sleuth to believe that the assailant targets the elimination of those who know what he or she wants hidden.

The latest Cassidy McCabe thriller is a terrific amateur sleuth tale in which this time the investigation is personal. As always, Cass' asides to the audience enable readers to know what she is thinking, especially as she takes risks that place her and Zach in danger. The who-done-it is cleverly devised so that readers begin to agree with Zach that his son killed his lover; only Cass believes otherwise because she feels Bryce is unable to commit homicide, especially if he knew Kit was pregnant. Her efforts to prove her theory correct make for an exhilarating mystery that will send newcomers seeking the seven previous Cass capers (see THE WEDDING WIDOW).