The Ice Maiden

September 23, 2002
Buchanan's alter ego, Miami crime reporter Britt Montero, returns as the protagonist of an eighth fast-paced detective thriller (after You Only Die Twice). The Miami police's cold case squad (which investigates long-unsolved crimes) catches a break when an electrocuted burglar proves to be a vital link in solving a 14-year-old murder. Two affluent teenagers on their first date were abducted, assaulted, shot and left for dead. Despite a massive reward and a multi-state manhunt, the police were never able to find the attackers. The girl, Sunny, survived and has become a reclusive sculptress unwilling to revisit the past. But the reopening of the case attracts the attention of some who are willing to kill again, and Sunny finds herself pulled back in. As always, Buchanan packs her tale with fascinating secondary story lines, including a baby trapped in a well, a friend involved in domestic violence and Britt's on-again/off-again romance with detective Kendall McDonald. The somber shadow of September 11 hangs in the air throughout (Britt is plagued by nightmares; McDonald volunteers at Ground Zero). In addition to clever plotting, Buchanan's strong suit is once again her empathy: she always focuses on the devastated family and friends who survive each murder victim. Few will guess the final triple-twist ending of this exceptionally dark and moving entry in a series that never fails to please. Agent, Michael Condon. (Nov. 1)FYI:Buchanan recently won the George Polk Award for career achievement in journalism—in addition to an earlier Pulitzer Prize for crime reporting.

Buchanan's fine writing and the Miami setting are richly enhanced by narrator Anna Fields's excellent presentation. A horrific unresolved crime against two teens is dredged up as crime reporter Britt Montero observes a corpse in the morgue and makes connections. The crime and cosmopolitan setting introduce a wide and varied list of suspects, richly presented. Buchanan has a gift for making even her villains possess some humanity, which Fields heightens with her excellent characterization. Particularly well done are the male voices and Latino accents. This heartbreaking story should appeal to more than just mystery fans. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine