Unknown Means

November 5, 2007
Forensic scientist Evelyn James of the Cleveland Medical Examiner's office returns for this welcome second novel, following Becka's debut, Trace Evidence
. Single mother Evelyn must manage her relationship with her sullen teenage daughter, her sputtering romance with homicide detective David Milaski and the demands of a job she loves. As the book opens, a wealthy woman is found murdered in a locked apartment; soon, Evelyn's friend and colleague Marissa Gonzalez, who lives in the same high-security building as the murdered woman, is attacked twice, and another woman is murdered elsewhere. Evelyn works with Milaski and his partner, Bruce Riley, to find the connection among the victims. In addition, claustrophobic Evelyn must collect trace evidence following a salt mine explosion under Lake Erie. Becka, a Cape Coral, Fla., forensic scientist formerly with the Cleveland coroner's office, keeps the details of this gripping procedural vivid all the way up to the harrowing finale. Fans of Patricia Cornwell's prickly Kay Scarpetta will find Evelyn a complementary contrast.

January 15, 2008
Following in the tradition of Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta forensic series, Becka's sequel to her debut thriller, "Trace Evidence", once again features Evelyn James, a forensic specialist in the Cleveland Medical Examiner's Office. Two women, with no apparent connection to each other, are found murdered in their immaculate and seemingly impenetrable homes, and a third woman, Evelyn's assistant, is discovered near death in her apartment building. There are no signs of forced entry and scant amounts of evidence and information. As Evelyn attempts to investigate, she also must cope with a lack of sleep, a teenage daughter, and a cop boyfriend pressuring her for a commitment. Although Becka uses story and character formulas not unlike Cornwell's, her Evelyn James character stands apart because she focuses on the trace evidence from crime scenes (and less on the physical findings derived from autopsies), has a more complicated set of relationships, and exhibits a good deal of humor and vulnerability, so readers can relate to her easily. This fast-paced, well-written, and entertaining narrative leaves the reader wanting the next book in the series. Recommended for all thriller and popular fiction collections.Nicole A. Cooke, Montclair State Univ. Lib., NJ

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2008
Called to the scene of the rape-murder of a wealthy, pregnant woman, Evelyn James, a forensic expert who first appeared in Trace Evidence (2005), is faced with a grisly locked-room crime. Beforeshe has a chance to make sense of the case, her best friend and coworker is attacked in the very samehigh-security building, then again in the hospital, as Evie, exhausted, sleepsat herbedside.Althoughtrace evidence finally ties sixprevious attacks to the recent crimes, Evie still cant help but wonder ifthenew victims werent simply chosen bychance.Becka, whoseown speciality is forensics, knows exactly when to switch fromwhatEvie observes with her microscope tostraight-ahead action. She also gives readers plenty of personal dynamics, asEvies relationships with homicide copDavid Milaski and with her 17-year-old daughter, Angel, both enter a new and different phase.Readers unfamiliar with the first bookwont get all the background references, but theres enough drama and mystery hereto let the story stand pretty well on its own.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)