Thursday, July 23, 2015

Beautiful Death by Fiona McIntosh

Bodies are turning up in London.  Their condition is particularly repellent; the faces have been completely removed along with their kidneys.  Is this a psychopath?  Someone selling organs on the black market? 

DCI Jack Hawksworth is called upon to head up the team investigating the case.  He pulls together members such as Kate, who have worked with him before, and a translator since several of the bodies appear to have been those of illegal immigrants.  But Jack is blindsided the moment he takes over the case.  The latest victim is his lover, Lily.  Their romance has been brief and fated to end soon as Lily is about to marry the man her Chinese family has selected for her.  But Jack and Lily's affair blazed hotly, and he is heartstruck when he recognizes her body on the coroner's table.

The murders continue to pile up and the pressure on the team to produce results increases accordingly.  Can they find out who is committing these murders in time to save more victims?

This is the second in the Jack Hawksworth series.  The pace is brisk but the police procedures are well researched and documented.  There is a twist at the end that most won't see coming.  This is the first mystery I've read by McIntosh, although I've read and loved some of her fantasy before.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.

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