Derek writes: Readers of James Lee Burke will have no trouble recognising this writer as his daughter - after all, Alafair is the name JLB chose for the daughter of his Louisiana detective Dave Robischeaux. This is the second book by Alafair Burke and she's arguably a more-rounded crime writer than her famous father. Unlike the long angry riffs from Dave Robisheaux which are a feature of her dad's writing, Alafair writes a straight forward crime story, peppered with believable, well drawn characters. NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher is back in this book which begins with her early morning run being interrupted by the discovery of a body. Chelsea Hart spent her last night alive partying with friends in New York's club land and Ellie and her partner, JJ Rogan, an elegantly suited black man, soon make the connection to a group of wealthy partygoers who were last to see Chelsea alive. With a suspect in custody the job seems done, but Ellie is suspicious that this case may link to three unsolveds that her former partner was investigating before her death. Her boss refuses to make the connection so Ellie and JJ must go it alone, with Ellie's younger brother making the connections for his sister in the underground clubs in the Big Apple. But it seems that the psychopath has switched his attention from young, blonde college girls to a young blonde police detective. It's fast, well written, and it's very enjoyable.

A former deputy district attorney, Alafair Burke now teaches criminal law at Hofstra Law School and lives in New York City. Alafair is the daughter of the acclaimed crime writer James Lee Burke.