My thanks to the Author publishers and Secret Readers for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
Well written and researched this is an absorbing engaging intriguing murder mystery, well paced with some unexpected surprises and twists leading to a dramatic tense chase scene conclusion. Absorbing atmospheric descriptive with good characters especially Evelyn our brave clever gutsy heroine, helping to solve the case involving an high powered ex boyfriends daughter all whilst dealing with her own troublesome teenage daughter, ex husband job worries and potential love interest. The ending leaves the situation open to more books in the series and would look forward to reading them.
Recommended. ( )

Good read. Fast-paced mystery with a good ending. ( )

If u like cornwell you are really gonna love this book. I highly recommend it because it keeps u glued to the pages. great book! ( )

In the style of Patricia Cornwell (a real life former Medical Examiner), Keith Ablow (a forensic psychologist), and Kathy Reichs (a forensic anthropologist), new author Elizabeth Becka draws on her life as a forensic specialist to pen a wonderful thriller/forensic procedural!

Evelyn James is a forensic scientist in Cleveland 's Medical Examiner's office. On a cold November day, she's called to the scene of a chilling crime--a young woman has been pulled from the river, arms and body encased in chains, her feet ensconced in a bucket of cement. Literally drowned to death, the mystery woman preys on Eveyln's mind--especially when another young woman is found dead a few days later. What's even worse is that the second dead girl is Destiny Pierson, daughter of Cleveland 's Mayor. Added to the complications is the fact that Evelyn and Darryl, the Mayor, were once college sweethearts over a decade ago, and Darryl hopes to use that connection to get inside information on the case.

As Evelyn works with grizzled Homicide Detective Riley and newcomer Detective David, they find more missing persons cases that seem similar to the two latest deaths--and find a suspect who seems to fit the profile of their killer. Unfortunately, the suspect has knowledge of Evelyn and her daughter, Angel, leading them to the fact that sixteen-year-old Angel might be another intended victim.

Forensic science mixes with police procedure in Elizabeth Becka's debut novel, and the result is a great read that will keep you turning pages late into the night. As you gain details of Evelyn's personal life, insights into the new Homicide Detective, and background on the serial killer preying on Cleveland 's young women, you'll be enthralled with the perfect mix of truth and fiction.

I can only hope that Ms. Becka plans to return to Cleveland and Eveyln James, a forensic scientist that could well become another Kay Scarpetta, Frank Clevenger, or Temperance Brennan. ( )

The heroine of this story is an expert on trace evidence. It is not as detailed as books by Kathy Reichs, et.al., and the heroine seems to be awfully important at crime scenes. She also seems extremely vulnerable to supervisory whim, which is strange in what is almost certainly a civil service job. It's a pretty good, fast read, but for very light reading situations. Definitely a beach book. ( )