Fault Lines [Paperback]

Kara Huggate, a social worker, has persuaded Trish Maguire, a sharp and idealistic lawyer, to take on a case of alleged child abuse. The case pretty much hinges on Kara's testimony. And so Trish is shocked to learn that on the very day of the trial, Kara was found murdered in a most brutal manner in her home. The police seem to think that either the Kingsford rapist has struck again or else it is a case of a copycat crime.

Trish is still mourning her friend's death when she receives a letter from Kara requesting that Trish help a client, Blair Collons, in a case of wrongful dismissal. Collons, is a seedy man who used to work as the bookkeeper for the Kingsford Town Council. He claims he was dismissed because he and Kara were suspicious of a shady development deal that the Council was involved in with contaminated land. Collon is a man that lives and breathes conspiracy theories and he firmly believes that Kara was murdered because she was trying to find out what was going on.

Collons makes Trish feel extremely uneasy, especially as he seems to have a rather unhealthy fixation for Kara. Trish begins to suspect that Collon may have murdered Kara. However she feels obligated to help Collon because it was Kara's last request, and because he is now a client. And then someone starts sending her newspaper cuttings of women who have been brutally , and she starts receiving threatening 'phone calls in the middle of the night. Is it Collon, or could his wild, off-the-wall theories actually have substance?

I was totally absorbed with this book. The intricacies and tight pacing of the book was so neatly mapped out, that it was pretty much 'smooth' reading. Also much of the violence was alluded to without graphic and needless descriptions -- a fact much appreciated! I freely admit to being a bit of an Anglophile, and so find mysteries that give the reader a glimpse of the British legal system engrossing reading. And when they are matched with a character like Trish Maguire, they are a winning combination. Trish may be sharp and a little impatient, but she is smart and loyal as well. The next Trish Maguire mystery will be an automactic 'must read' for me.

Very engrossing reading.

Trish soon receives a letter from Kara written just before she was killed. The note asks Trish to help Blair Collins on his wrongful job termination case. Reluctantly, but out of homage and loyalty to Kara, Trish decides to accept the case, but as soon as she meets Blair she concludes he is a paranoid individual filled with delusions. Trish begins to believe that Blair murdered Kara, a theory the police think is very plausible. However, when the truth behind Kara's death is revealed nobody is prepared for the far ranging repercussions.

Natasha Cooper is a talented mystery writer who has gained much acclaim throughout England. However, American readers who are not conversant with British legal terms and law enforcement acronyms will find the story line jarring because the audience must stop reading and try to figure out the meaning of a phrase. The protagonist is a likable person who distrusts people, yet still goes the extra kilometer to protect her clients. This turns Trish into a heroic figure willing to risk her own safety. It is Trish that makes FAULT LINES worth reading for anyone who enjoys a courageous female protagonist, is an Anglophile, or wants to understand the vernacular of the British system. If your taste is apple pie not shepherd's pie, this novel is not for you.

Harriet Klausner