Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Before Cain Strikes-Joshua Corin

Before Cain Strikes
Joshua Corin
Mira, Mar 22 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780778329336

When Esme Stuart married, she quit her career as an FBI agent. However, recently she has had doubts whether she should have left the Feds. She is brought back as a consultant because a case she worked seems to have ties to a current murderer’s row investigation. Her return to work is marred when her husband Rafe and their child Sophie are kidnapped (see While Galileo Preys).

While her spouse blames Esme for his abduction, she realizes a serial killer is mentoring students to be predators. Professor Cain42 tells his graduating class to go out and have murderous fun. Though her involvement may cost her marriage, Esme vows to flunk the mentor and the class.

The sequel to While Galileo Preys is a fast-paced thriller as the audience anticipates a shoot-out at the OK Corral; in this case a bed and breakfast. The villains are psychopaths being mentored by one of the most disturbing predators in years; Professor Cain 42 teaches a lesson that “family values” can be negative. Family values are also an issue for Esme and Rafe as he makes a powerful argument that she inadvertently takes her work home, endangering her family. Although the ending is over the top of the Keystone Cops, readers will enjoy this insightful look at how much an agent sacrifices to do her job legally with due diligence.

Harriet Klausner

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