Glass Houses

January 15, 2007
In the 22nd Gregor Demarkian book (after 2006's Hardscrabble Road
), Haddam as usual effortlessly melds a puzzling mystery—a baffling serial murder case in Philadelphia—with the latest developments in the romance between her FBI profiler hero and his longtime lover, Bennis Hannaford. The perpetrator, named the Plate Glass Killer, targets unattractive middle-aged women, leaving their bodies in alleys, their faces mutilated by glass. The body count has reached double digits by the time Gregor (known popularly as the Armenian-American Hercule Poirot) is consulted, and he finds that the official investigation is a mess due to hostility among the senior detectives. The resolution may be a tad far-fetched, but the intelligent, thoughtful prose elevates this twisty whodunit far above most other contemporary traditional mysteries. The author also deserves plaudits for making the long and complex Gregor-Bennis relationship accessible to first-time readers.

Starred review from March 1, 2007
The Plate Glass Killer is terrorizing Philadelphia, and the alcoholic, homeless scion of the wealthy Tyder family is arrested after being found, covered in blood, at the latest murder scene. Gregor Demarkian ("Hardscrabble Road"), retired head of the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit, is asked to investigate Tyder's bizarre behavior and the police case, which has been compromised by a feud between the two detectives in charge. To complicate matters, Demarkian's girlfriend, Bennis Hannaford, returns unannounced (she left almost a year ago). Never easy reads, Haddam's complex mysteries offer detailed dissections of human behavior and American culture. Here, she tackles reporters' preconceived notions of the truth, homosexuality, and the politics of running a city. Few writers can compete with her command of characterization and complex storytelling, which is accomplished via multiple voices that shine with individuality. Highly recommended. Haddam lives in Litchfield County, CT.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2007
Former FBI profiler Gregor Demarkian returns in the twenty-first installment of this popular series, which still feels fresh and exciting after all these years. This time Demarkian is hired to help prove the innocence of a man who has confessed to being Philadelphia's infamous Plate Glass Killer. Haddam asks some big questions--What kind of person becomes a serial killer? What kind of person claims to be one when he isn't?--and she turns finding the answers into a journey that is both exciting and thoughtful, thanks largely to the insight and charisma of her hero.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)