The Blood Detective
Dan Waddell
Reviewed by Tate Hallaway
Fans of British police procedurals will enjoy a new twist on an old favorite as Dan Waddell combines a serial killer investigation with genealogical research in his engaging and entertaining first novel, THE BLOOD DETECTIVE. When Detective Chief Inspector Grant Foster and his team are faced with a series of murders in London's Notting Hill neighborhood, unraveling cryptic clues left by the killer forces them to turn to professional genealogist Nigel Barnes for assistance. As Barnes uncovers a nineteenth-century killing spree that seems to be motivating the modern criminal, he races with Foster and his colleague, Detective Superintendent Heather Jenkins, to understand the complex connections between past and present before the killer can finish his work and slip back into the shadows forever.
While the book starts off with the usual discovery of a victim, the story doesn't really get rolling until the introduction of Barnes, a likable, deftly sketched character who draws the reader along through his excitement and passion for revealing the past. Waddell, who obviously thoroughly understands the process of family history research, gives readers enough detail to appreciate the work's importance to the plot without boring them with the tedious realities of poring over old records and newspapers. While genealogists might roll their eyes a bit at Barnes' luck and Foster's ability to get him into any archives, day or night, with a phone call, the mystery lovers in the crowd will forgive Waddell as Barnes' expertise is crucial to solving the crimes.
As for the police investigation side of things, Foster initially comes off as cold and mean-spirited, but over the course of the book, readers come to know more about his past which explains his demeanor. By the end of the story, Foster has become a character readers will want to visit again. Jenkins, too, is more than just another badge as she and Barnes develop a relationship that promises to grow in future books. Waddell has set THE BLOOD DETECTIVE up as the first in a series, leaving us to wonder how the detectives and the genealogist will come together again. No matter how he does it, though, readers will be in for a clever and enjoyable adventure.
Order THE BLOOD DETECTIVE from
Amazon
About the Reviewer:
Tate Hallaway is the author of the Garnet Lacey vampire chick-lit series and, under a different name, the winner of the 2001 Shamus Award for best original paperback featuring a private investigator. Her novels include TALL, DARK & SEXY, DEAD SEXY, and ROMANCING THE DEAD. Tate worked at the Minnesota Historical Society for several years before becoming a full-time writer.
You can find Tate Hallaway at www.tatehallaway.com and read her opinions about life, the universe and everything at http://tatehallaway.blogspot.com.
Order ROMANCING THE DEAD from
Amazon
Read an Excerpt from ROMANCING THE DEAD