The Ice Maiden (Audio Cassette)

Other than that, while not her best, I thought this installment in the Britt Montero series was very good, and I would've given it 4 stars on its own.

As the book opens, a repeat offender has been electrocuted while attempting to drop through the ceiling of a Cuban owned store. The storeowner for years had tried to get help from the Miami Police force, but with little success. So, he wired his ceiling intending to give the burglar a small shock and send him on his way. Instead, the man was electrocuted and has to be extricated by Fire Rescue before he takes a trip to the morgue. Soon the District Attorney's office decides to prosecute the storeowner for murder during an election year despite the fact that the dead man has a long history of crime.

In fact, his body provides a major clue that leads to a case from over fourteen years ago at Christmas when two teenagers were attacked and left for dead. While Ricky died, Sunny was beaten, raped and shot in head and somehow survived. The case created an intense wave of publicity years ago and while a massive manhunt was undertaken, no one was ever identified or charged in the case. The ripples of that night have ruined so many lives and still haunt the survivors because murder affects everyone who knew the deceased person.

The dead burglar is quickly identified and soon it becomes apparent that he was involved in the horrific events so long ago. There are others involved and they have their suspicions as to who they are, but thanks to politics, the Cold Case Squad can't actively investigate. But Sergeant Burch convinces Brit Montero to help work the case with them while ostensibly covering the squad for a profile section of the paper. She of course agrees and soon the nightmare of the past is given new life today.

With frequent references to the terrorist attacks and their aftermath, as well as other novels of the series that had their own pain and suffering, this read is a mostly depressing book. That coupled with an absolute horrible ending for long time fans and readers of the series make this book simply one to ignore in the store.