Sympathy Between Humans [Hardcover]

'First-class, serious crime fiction'

'The police procedural aspects of the book are gritty, sharply observed ... a page turner with wry surprises.' -- Sunday Age, Australia 'Gripping reading with an assured style. A welcome new writer - this is Compton's second novel - who will surely go far. ' -- Tangled Web 'Compton's debut really promised awesome talent and this well-plotted, addictive follow-up delivers it.' -- Scottish Daily Record 20050226 'Compton is a considerable and rather original talent.' -- Morning Star 20050226 'Not one for those who want blood, bodies and action, but highly recommended for those seeking crime fiction in which the writer builds not only suspense, but well-crafted, credible characters, and has a serious, intellectually stimulating story to tell' -- South China Morning Post 20050226 'Cleverly thought-out tale...With a great plot and characters you can care about, this is definitely one for a great beach read.' -- Dorset Echo 20050423 Praise for Jodi Compton's first novel: 'First-class, serious crime fiction' -- Publishers Weekly 'A gripping piece of storytelling that gets better the deeper the reader gets into it. This could easily hit the bestseller lists. Superb' -- Independent 'An intelligent and challenging thriller' -- New York Times Book Review 'A dazzling debut' -- Kirkus Reviews (starred) 'Compton is a considerable and rather original talent.' -- Morning Star

'A dazzling debut'

'The police procedural aspects of the book are gritty, sharply observed . . . a page turner with wry surprises.'

'Compton's debut really promised awesome talent and this well-plotted, addictive follow-up delivers it.'

'Compton is a considerable and rather original talent.'

On the streets of Minneapolis, Sarah has worked everything from vice to missing persons. But six months after the death of a small-time criminal in rural Minnesota, Sarah is still protecting the identity of a killer. And now, a zealous D.A.'s investigator has come to town, determined to make an arrest. Surrounded by colleagues who know her to be a murder suspect, Sarah keeps her demons at bay by involving herself in the troubles of strangers. However, as she crosses one ethical line after another, Sarah increasingly fears that a mis-step on her part will end not only in her disgrace, but in the death of one of those she has promised herself she will protect.

Detective Sarah Pribek has worked everything on the streets of Minneapolis, from vice to missing persons. But six months after the death of a small-time criminal, Sarah is still protecting a killer. And a zealous D.A.’s investigator is determined to make an arrest.

Surrounded by colleagues who know her to be a murder suspect, Sarah keeps her demons at bay by involving herself in the troubles of strangers. As she juggles two very different cases – a young man missing from a deeply troubled family, and an unlicensed doctor providing medical care for the underclass – she must strike a delicate balance between professional honour and personal feelings. Even more is at stake in her cat-and-mouse game with the investigator who wants to end her career.

Crossing one ethical line after another, Sarah fears that a misstep on her part will result not only in her disgrace, but also in the death of one of the people she has promised to protect.

With its fascinating heroine and its brilliantly interwoven mysteries, SYMPATHY BETWEEN HUMANS is storytelling at its finest from one of the most original writers in suspense fiction today.

Jodi Compton is from Northern California, but lived for three years in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the main setting for her novels. She has worked for the Minneapolis bureau of the Associated Press, and as a sub-editor at a newspaper on California's central coast. In the latter position, she closely followed crime and courts news on the wires, and during this time wrote her first novel, THE 37TH HOUR.