Always

March 26, 2007
At the start of Griffith's intense third thriller to star Aud Torvingen (after The Blue Place
and Stay
), the stylish half-American, half-Norwegian lesbian ex-cop and self-defense teacher is still grieving over the shooting death of her lover, Julia, a year earlier. Also distraught over a recent violent incident involving one of her self-defense students, Aud welcomes the chance to leave Atlanta, accompanied by her friend, Matthew Dornan, to visit her ambassador mother, Else, in Seattle. There sabotage of a TV pilot in production that's been receiving OSHA and EPA complaints disrupts their vacation. Adding romantic tension is Victoria "Kick" Kuiper, a caterer and former stuntwoman, to whom both Aud and Matthew are attracted. Aud's ace investigation reveals political and environmental chicanery, but more importantly, leads to a surprising lesson about love. Lucid prose and great self-defense lessons are a plus.

May 1, 2007
The careful layering of mystery and suspense in Griffith's latest Aud Torvingen thriller (after "The Blue Place" and "Stay") gives the reader time to enter Aud's mind as she works through major changes in her life. Aud has come to Seattle to meet her mother's new husband and look into problems with the properties she inherited from her father. A film production company is leasing one of her warehouses, and after Aud is a victim of the various mishaps plaguing the group, she decides to take action. Now Aud's interest is personalin more ways then one, since the female caterer working the set has caught her eye. Alternating chapters in current time with scenes from a self-defense class for women taught by Aud, Griffith controls the pacing with great style and nuance. Though "Always" is not a heart-pounding thriller, it is a stellar example of mood and tone working to engage the reader one page at a time. Highly recommended for popular fiction collections.Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI

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