The Fixer by T.E. Woods

There's a rumor of a person who deals out justice when the law and courts cannot.  If a criminal avoids prosecution or gets off by intimidating witnesses, there is a remedy.  The Fixer is reported to be a beautiful woman, who comes into town like a wraith, kills the target so that murder is never suspected, and then vanishes. 

Mort Grant is the homicide detective that starts to put the rumors together and investigate.  His son, a journalist, is instrumental in getting him involved, and his involvement deepens when The Fixer targets victims in his own city.  As he delves deeper, he is helped by a psychologist, Dr. Lydia Corriger, whose name comes up as a peripheral witness.  He finds that Lydia is troubled by a new patient, Savannah.  Although she cannot talk about her patient, it is clear that Savannah has real psychological problems and guilt that she can no longer repress.  As Mort investigates Savannah, the murders keep occurring.  Soon some of the most influential people in his city such as business leaders and college administrators are involved.  Can Mort solve this crime before more death is dealt out?

T.E. Woods uses her own background to provide the impetus for the novel.  She is a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Madison, Wisconsin.  This allows her to accurately portray the dilemma of a medical person caught between the confidentiality they owe their patients and the demands of the legal system.  When one has doubts, which demand takes precedence?  The novel has lots of twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing and turning page.  This book is recommended for mystery lovers.