(originally published at http://nomadreader.blogspot.com)The basics: When high-profile reporter Percy Crenshaw is murdered, the cops immediately identify a suspect and secure a somewhat suspicious confession. ADA Samantha Kincaid must try the case with the evidence given, even as she searches for alternate theories about the crime.My thoughts: I'm a huge fan of this series, and I both adore the character of Samantha Kincaid (and the well-developed characters of her family, friends and colleagues) and the fascinating mysteries she solves. Burke does a phenomenal job of teaching the reader about the law and about Portland, Oregon:"But in our hot spots, our most frequent calls aren't for robbery or rape. They're for stuff like loitering, graffiti, and street-level drug crimes. That's the kind of stuff that makes a neighborhood feel unsafe. And once it feels unsafe, the good guys start hiding inside and the bad guys take over. All the warm, fuzzy talk about community policing aside, our whole philosophy right now is to get our guys out there, talking to these kids on the corners, and stopping and searching them when necessary."There are numerous elements at play in this mystery, and the city of Portland, its crime, and its racial make-up are a huge part of this novel. Burke tackles social issues as flawlessly as she does the crime, and both are improved by the strength of the other.The verdict: Close Case is a superb installment in the Samantha Kincaid series: it's the best novel in an excellent series. The combination of current events and mystery was intriguing, thought-provoking and suspenseful. I hope Alafair Burke will return to this series and continue Samantha Kincaid's journey.Rating: 4.5 out of 5
I do not know how she does it, but Alafair Burke weaves a fantastically suspenseful mystery while maintaining vivid characterization! I am NEVER disappointed by her books, only enthralled and captivated. Never a dull moment! I appreciate her insider knowledge of DA vs. cops and all the unspoken alliances and betrayals of trust, etc. These are definitely two very distinct cultures and the reader gets an "up close and personal" initiation into some of the give and take required to maintain cooperative and collaborative interactions. I had never really considered the inner workings of these two law enforcement agencies, but it is definitely a complicated social and vocational relationship between the two, as well as among the members of each entity! Wow...life is complicated! Samantha is one of my favorite protagonists and Burke one of my absolute favorite authors!
What do You think about Close Case (2005)?
The writing is a little choppy but the story holds together OK. It is written by a former Deputy DA and I think she is trying to point out some of the faults of the system, but in a nice way. As far as the subject itself: my feeling is that the criminal justice system is up to it's eyeballs muck, much of it of its own making. There are double standard for insiders (cops and those who work for criminal justice) and outsiders (that would be the rest of us). No one is presumed innocent, there are just deals to be made. Victims are assumed to have something "hinky" in their past that led to their being victimized. And potty mouth is rampant if not requisite. I didn't enjoy the book that much but I know there are other people who like this kind of book and I hope one of them picks it up next. (2 days after I wrote this journal entry the Elliot Spitzer scandal broke)
—Chana
I liked this one! I dig the humor and comments of Samantha Kincaid, and I enjoy what I learn about Portland from this series, too (Portland being one of the very few major U.S. cities I've never been to). Alas, that's it for these unless Alafair Burke ever revisits.... now I'm back to her New York books. AS usual, I won't do spoilers, which for mysteries I consider to be anything that happens after around page 50, sometimes earlier. But this book has DAs, cops, journalists, neighborhood activists, corruption, wrong turns, relationship woes, and more, along with some race/policing questions that are eerily continuing to rear their real life heads. Oh yeah and lots more criminal procedure, which I always enjoy in her books, and pretty much the whole plot in this one hinges on the crim pro.
—Linda
Brilliant! The multiple story lines, the day to day office detail, the witty dialogues, all make this series brilliant. I hope this is not the last book... I hope Alafair Burke is working on this series in between her Ellie Hatcher one. I love Ellie but Samantha is all that and more. Fairstein Alafair Burke is an equal with Linda Fairstein. They both have tough characters and fight the fight for justice above all else. I wasn't sure I liked the ending due to the sadness... I'm hoping that Samantha found the maybe to fix it all.
—Magpie67
