Dead Lift-Rachel Brady

Dead Lift
Rachel Brady
Poisoned Pen, Dec 7 2010, $24.95
ISBN: 9781590588109

Emily Locke, after losing her husband, rescued her infant daughter who had been taken from her and sold to a couple who thought the purchase was legal (see Final Approach). She and her child move to Houston where she works as an assistant to her private investigative friend Richard Cole. Their client, wealthy society lady Claire Gaston, is charged with the death of Dr. Wendell Platt, who was murdered in his home and her fingerprints are everywhere including on the murder weapon. She swears that she never met the victim nor knows where her missing current husband Daniel is after they had quite a public brawl.

Emily believes their client is innocent because her first concern is for her children who she fears her first husband will take them home with him to Argentina. During the conversation, she learns that the lawyer Richard works for defended the group that kidnapped her daughter. Despite everything Emily remains on the investigation, which leads her to Diana King. Claire believes she framed her because she had an affair with her husband. After sleuthing, not always legally, Emily concludes they are looking in the wrong direction; she changes direction and soon thinks another murder is connected to Platt’s. She soon becomes the recipient of threatening emails and an attempt on her life.

The second Emily Locke private investigative thriller hits the heroine in the gut when she learns who their client is and in the heart when she learns who Claire’s concerns are for. It is for latter, as much as for her own needs that Emily goes beyond stretching legality by breaking the law. The rest of the cast is solid especially still sassy smack the butt BFF Jeannie.

Harriet Klausner