From Publishers Weekly
In the eighth appearance of Albuquerque lawyer Neil Hamel (after Hotshots, 1996), Van Gieson demonstrates her deft touch with character and place as Hamel encounters the violence of teenage gangs. Neil and her Hispanic lover, the Kid, have settled into a new house in North Valley, easing into the domestic routine with each other. Neil befriends Cheyanne Moran, a troubled 13-year-old girl from the neighborhood who lives in a trailer with her mother and younger half-brother. When Cheyanne claims to have killed a teenage boy, a gang member whose body was found in one of the irrigation ditches that crisscrosses the valley, Neil is impelled to represent the girl. The police suspect Ron Cade, a member of a rival gang with a history of violence. The DA's office is also hesitant to accept Cheyanne's confession, preferring to go after a more obvious suspect. But when evidence bears out the girl's confession, they reluctantly take her into custody. Troubled by the case, Neil continues to dig on her own, eventually unearthing the truth. Suffused with melancholy, Van Gieson's moving exploration of the depredations of gang culture contributes a poignant chord to this richly characterized and atmospheric series.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Kinsey Millhone and V. I. Warshawski need not move over quite yet, but Van Gieson's Neil Hamel is certainly hot on their heels. Hamel, Albuquerque's answer to big-city private eyes, is just as smart, strong minded, independent, and outspoken as her urban rivals, and when it comes to solving tough crimes, she's top-notch. Her latest case involves 13-year-old Cheyanne Moran, who claims to have shot and killed an Albuquerque gang member. Neil begins to suspect Cheyanne has something to hide and moves into high gear, pursuing every lead. Van Gieson's deftly written story not only offers up an appealing heroine and an inventive plot, but it opens the reader's eyes to one of today's most frightening social problems--teen gangs--in a no-nonsense, informative way. A solidly entertaining mystery for medium to large collections.
Emily Melton
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
