The Death of an Ambitious Woman-Barbara Ross

The Death of an Ambitious Woman
Barbara Ross
Five Star, Aug 18 2010, $25.95
ISBN 9781594148989

In New Derby, Massachusetts businesswoman Tracey Kendall is on her cell phone with her four years old son Carson when she curses just prior to crashing into a stone wall. She is dead on impact. The assumption is she was driving too fast, but no one knows why.

Ruth Murphy knows the risk to her career especially since she made the final cut for the permanent position of town Police Chief. She was warned by Mayor Rosenfeld to behave especially since she and the District Attorney are far from allies. Still acting Police Chief Ruth Murphy investigates the death. She, and Detectives McGrath and Moscone interview the spouse Stephen a prominent artist who finds his muses with affairs and the avaricious sleazy business partner at Fiske and Holden. Ruth believes a clever homicide occurred especially when Tracey’s mechanic vanished even as the D.A. wants her to end the inquiry.

The Death of an Ambitious Woman is a superb police procedural starring a dedicated cop who knows her chances of becoming chief are diminishing with each step in the investigation while her self esteem and the respect of the department conversely grows. Fans will appreciate this entertaining investigation as the cops methodically seek a clever killer while the mayor and the D.A. demand they end their inquiry.

Harriet Klausner