Bought at a charity shop because the cover blurb sounded interesting, this is the first in what I believe is a series featuring retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn. Brigid is a 50-something who very much fits the Tough Old Broad stereotype - canny, resourceful, self-reliant - and while it's entertaining enough in its way, it doesn't feel terribly realistic. But then I suppose people don't read thrillers of this sort for realism.

The crimes and their details are suitably horrible if you're a gore-hound, but there is also some puzzle-solving if you like to unpick a mystery. While I was not left with a desire to read any more of the series, it wasn't a bad way of passing the time.

Released at the York BookCrossing meetup.