Sunday, December 11, 2022

The Corpse Flower by Anne Mette Hancock

 


Heloise Kaldan is a journalist in Denmark.  One of her recent stories contained some bad information so she could really use a big scoop, but she's not sure she wants the one that has landed in her lap.  Several years ago the son of a wealthy industrialist was murdered, the killer a young woman named Anna Kiel.  Afterwards Anna escaped the country and has yet to be found.  But she has started sending cryptic letters to Heloise and Heloise isn't sure if this is a big story or a chance to be killed herself.

As Heloise works on the story, she finds a partner in the police.  Homicide detective Erik Schafer isn't sure if Heloise is working to find the killer or to help her in her plot.  More murders occur and suspicion falls even more heavily on the journalist.  It doesn't help when it is discovered that her father is in prison in France and she has lied about knowing who he is.  Heloise has written her father out of her life after he was found guilty of child pornography but it seems that he is the connection between her and Anna.  She is forced to finally break her vow and go visit him and afterwards, she finds out the story of Anna's life and understands what drives her to kill.

This is the first novel in this series.  Heloise is an interesting character, driven by her job but willing to work with the police and share information she has gathered with them.  Detective Schafer is less finely drawn but further novels can flesh out this character as well.  The plot is interesting and the killer Anna is a character the reader would like to see in further novels again.  This book is recommended for mystery readers. 

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