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• I read my first Lynda La Plante books earlier this year when I devoured the first three books in the Prime Suspect series featuring Jane Tennison. At the end of that review I made a note to check out her other series featuring Detective Anna Travis.And I'm glad I did! I picked up Blood Line - the latest - released by Harper Collins's new crime imprint - Bourbon Street Books.Anna is the new Chief Inspector for London's murder squad. Watching closely over her shoulder is her boss - and former lover - Superintendent James Langton. Anna is still dealing with the death of her fiancee and Langton is not sure she is up to the job. He gives her a missing persons case to follow up on - not a murder. Alan Rawlins has been not been seen for eight weeks. His father is pushing for an investigation, but his live in girlfriend doesn't seem too concerned. No one has a bad word to say about Alan, but there's something just 'off' about the whole situation. As Anna grows more determined to prove Langton wrong about her abilities, she starts to question her own investigative instincts. Anna reminds me of the Jane Tennison character. Both are strong but flawed characters trying to prove themselves in their chosen profession. They're emotionally wounded, but driven to achieve results. La Plante combines her mystery with excellent character building. The supporting cast members are all just as interesting and not all of them are 'pretty'. The personal and professional tension between Anna and Langton continues to build, with the door left open for this story to continue in future books.I enjoy British mysteries for the pacing - a lot of them are slower and much more procedural bound, instead of rushing in with guns blazing. I feel like we're right with Anna as she puzzles through the case. And La Plante has penned an excellent plot. I had my suspicions numerous times throughout the book, but until the last few chapters I was never really one hundred percent sure 'whodunit'. An excellent read for me. LaPlante is now firmly on my 'must read' mystery/thriller list.

  4.00 out of 5

  Twink

• If you're looking for a good old-fashioned police procedural of the British kind <i>Blood Line</i> is the book for you. Pure and perfect escapism with a great plot full of sketchy (and downright scary) characters and possibilities.Our heroine, DCI Travis, is recovering after the murder of her fiancé and trying to prove that she's ready to handle herself in homicide investigations. Thrown a lemon she definitely makes lemonade, although of the pink variety, as she delves deeper and deeper into a case that is a lot more complicated than the surface would have it appear. DCI Travis is a likeable and believable character as are those throughout the book.Ms. La Plante can write and entertaining page-turner. This kept me reading and reading and reading just so I could get to whodunit and howdunit and a bit bereft when it was all over. Great for holiday reading when you need to get away from it all in a way that doesn't involve ... you know ... holidays.

  4.00 out of 5

  kraaivrouw

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