Bloodstream

Marty Hopkins #2

by P.M. Carlson

Marty Hopkins has missing persons on her mind: her husband, who's always on the run; her daughter, who's following in her husband's footsteps; and 14-year-old Johnny Donato. But Johnny's case takes a grave turn when his mutilated body is found floating in the White River. Marty uncovers the obvious motives and suspects. But the river, swollen by summer rains, seems to hide a more sinister truth.

Genres: Mystery

324 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1995

About the author

P.M. Carlson taught psychology and statistics at Cornell University before deciding that mystery writing was more fun. She has published twelve mystery novels and a dozen mystery short stories. Her novels have been nominated for an Edgar award, a Macavity award, and twice for Anthony awards. Two short stories were finalists for Agatha awards. She edited the Mystery Writers Annual for Mystery Writers of America for several years, and served as President of Sisters in Crime. Besides reading mysteries, she enjoys working on her Victorian house and traveling. She has lived in Guatemala, California, Maryland, Indiana, Paris, and Brooklyn. Currently she lives in New York with her husband and a Belgian sheepdog named Nero Wolfe.

Reviews

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice quaint mystery. Was cool to see that the character was actually a deputy instead of just "randomly stumbles into solving a case."

[Eliece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marty Hopkins is a sheriff's deputy in a small Indiana town. She also has a 10-year-old daughter and a troubled marriage. As the book opens, she is investigating the disappearance of a local teenage boy. He had been hanging around a group of kids from Arizona who were spending the summer in a church camp, excavating a utopian religious community. Before long, his mutilated body is found in the flood-swollen river, and then the same thing happens to a second boy.
There are reports of a mysterious naked man who dances by the river at night while garbed in a bull's mask, a hairy shoulder mantle and a set of horns. Marty finds this hard to believe until she comes face to face with him in a labyrinth of vines.
I liked that the author created characters who were multilayered instead of stereotypes. Although the story has a sensational revelation, she shows people doing their best to deal with temptations, biases, and severe traumas. Even the perpetrator, though deeply flawed, was sympathetic.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really read "murder mysteries" so I'm probably not the best judge for style. The story was ok, nothing amazing. Very quick read, so I don't feel like it was a waste of time.