The Middle of Nowhere - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0752844318 ISBN 13: 9780752844312

Publisher: Orion Paperbacks

Synopsis

An unofficial strike is stretching the Seattle police force to breaking point. Detective Lou Boldt is committed to remaining on the job come what may, but when the city is hit by a string of robberies and the brutal near-murder of a female cop, the mounting pressures start to threaten his marriage and his state of mind. With the help of two of the few colleagues still working, he makes slow progress towards cracking the case, but things begin to spin out of control when he is pressured to drop his line of investigation, and it becomes clear that his life is in danger if he refuses. Working with police psychologist Daphne Matthews, he gradually begins to unravel a mystery which connects the robberies, the assault, and the crippling strike ...

About this title

Review

A brutal attack that leaves a young woman paralyzed is horrifying enough, but when it happens to one of Seattle police lieutenant Lou Boldt's own officers, and all the suspects wear the same uniform as the victim, it's much worse. The SPD has been struck by a not-very-mysterious case of the "blue flu," a labor dispute that's turned cop against cop. Frustrated by the work slowdown in the department, Boldt is working almost on his own, except for forensic psychologist Daphne Matthews and detective John LaMoia, familiar characters in Pearson's popular series (The Pied Piper, The First Victim). Despite not-so-veiled warnings from some of his colleagues, Lou is determined to unmask Maria Sanchez's attacker, even if it turns out to be a fellow cop. And if that's not enough, the piano-playing lieutenant with a devoted wife--and a lingering yen for his coworker Daphne--has to deal with a crime wave that's increasing every day as the blue flu fells more of the force.

Investigating a string of robberies, Lou and Daphne follow the evidence to a telemarketing operation in a Colorado prison and question an inmate who may have used inside information to set up the robberies for his brother in Seattle to carry out. When the inmate dies, his brother goes after Lou, who isn't sure who to blame when violence hits too close to home--the brother or the striking policemen. Middle of Nowhere isn't Pearson's best outing: the plot is thinner than usual and the pacing somewhat slower, although the detailed explanation of how to catch a criminal using new telecommunications technology is fascinating. Still, Lou Boldt is an always interesting character whose inner conflicts are well drawn and whose essential decency makes up for a lot. His understated romance with Daphne deepens in every new adventure; the real mystery is what's going to happen to the two of them. --Jane Adams

About the Author

Ridley Pearson is the New York Times bestselling author of twelve previous novels. He was the first American to be awarded the Raymond Chandler/Fulbright Fellowship in detective fiction at Oxford. He lives in Hailey, Idaho.

About this edition

• Publisher: Orion Paperbacks
• ISBN 10: 0752844318
• ISBN 13: 9780752844312
• Binding: Paperback