Do Not Go Gently (Starletta Duvall Mysteries) - Softcover

There is serious potential in Smith-Levin's first outing, about a psychopath who is murdering young, pretty, successful black women in a Massachusetts town. Her heroine, homicide detective lieutenant Starletta Duvall, is a gutsy 15-year police-force veteran and the daughter of a cop as well. As an African American woman in a position of authority, she's got to hold her own in the men's-room atmosphere of the station?which she does?without losing her sense of self?which she doesn't. At least until the brutal killings begin. The description and gutsy dialogue are excellent, and the narrative is that of a good procedural until the very end, when Smith-Levin introduces an unnecessary twist and also abandons the various important personal relationships. Still, this is a very good start to what promises to be an exciting series.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.