Crossfire

Marty Hopkins #4

by P.M. Carlson

The new Marty Hopkins mystery - Deputy Marty Hopkins is back on day shift, investigating the death of Zill Corson in an apparent arson-attack at his hunting cabin. It soon emerges that Zill shared his cabin with Don Foley, a former sheriff in the department with a grudge against Marty. Marty has her own demons to confront in investigating the fire, and as she does so, it becomes clear that this is a much more complex and dangerous case than first appeared . . .

Genres: Mystery

265 pages, Hardcover

First published September 14, 2006

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

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crossfire is the 4th book in the Marty Hopkins series by P. M Carlson, set in modern-day fictional Nichols County, Indiana. Marty Hopkins is a female deputy still fighting gender discrimination after 8 years of proving herself on the job. She has to prove her toughness and competence all over again for the new Sheriff Pierce. And she has to face personal torment when she is sent to investigate a cabin fire, and sees a victim inside, which triggers memories of her father's death by fire.

The victim Zill Corson shared a cabin with Don Foley, an ex-deputy who still feels Marty does not belong on the force, and tries to sabotage her efforts.

Olivia Mann, ADA in New York City, sees the news report of the fire, and comes to her father's home state of Indiana to let law enforcement know he also died under similar circumstances. The new sheriff brushes her off.

Marty is assigned background work on the case, while the men seemingly go after the exciting clues. Yet Marty's research ties many seemingly unrelated crimes together, and together with Liv Mann, she is able to sense the pattern behind the crimes that stretches back many years.

The story alternates point of view between Liv's attempts to be heard and given credence, Marty's frustration with discrimination but her dogged determination to be a team player and do the right thing, and the killer's agenda. Ultimately more than they ever expected to solve becomes clear, and ties up longstanding questions in their minds.

The story includes scenic or suspenseful scenes which would be effective in a movie, such as the opening cabin fire, driving steep mountain road switchbacks, horseback riding on forest trails, rock climbing sheer cliffs, a forest fire, and past events that took place in Ecuador