Souls of Men
An Elaine Hope Mystery
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- $20.99
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- $20.99
Publisher Description
Veteran Detective Inspector Elaine Hope knows she was born to be a detective. Now she's taken over a bungled case and released the only suspect. Her male superiors in the London Metropolitan Police doubt her, and London's tabloids scream for a scapegoat.
None of them can stop her. Finding the truth is all that matters to Elaine. She forges ahead, standing up to her bosses, bad cops, and murderous crooks. Each has reason to fear her. Elaine's life gets more complicated when a former suspect shows romantic interest. He won’t reveal his personal tragedies to anyone but Elaine, and she has her own secrets.
As Elaine and her protégé, Liz Barker, track the killer through wintery London boroughs, darker hunters join the chase. When she finally confronts her quarry face-to-face, Elaine discovers how desires can mold the souls of men, and how one terrifying night will change her life forever.
Souls of Men, A. R. Ashworth's chilling debut, is sure to appeal to readers of Sharon Bolton and Deborah Crombie.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The beating death of 15-year-old Sheila Watson in East London propels Ashworth's strong debut, a series opener. When a bus driver says that a passenger, later identified as American surgeon Peter Willend, got off at the same stop as the victim, Det. Insp. Elaine Hope's instincts tell her he's not the killer, but then she finds him undeniably attractive. With the help of a promising new colleague, Det. Constable Liz Barker, and a crack team, Elaine follows a labyrinthine set of clues while the bodies pile up. Ashworth spins a gritty mystery buttressed by shady deals, dirty money, and a vast criminal enterprise. It's easy to root for the smart, empathic Elaine, whose vulnerabilities (including hinted-at childhood trauma) only add to her appeal, and Ashworth surrounds her with intriguing players, including an obnoxious colleague who may be more than what he seems. This is a procedural with heart, yet it doesn't shy away from the dark.
