Sydney forensic scientist Anya Crichton is still recovering from the events of the year before, which included a case which seriously damaged her professional reputation, and an unpleasant divorce that resulted in shared custody of her young son. In addition to trying to establish an independent practice, Anya works part-time for the Sexual Assault unit. After two women present only weeks apart, with similar accounts of a power-reassurance rapist who tells them "if you can't be hurt, you can't be loved," Anya strongly suspects a serial rapist is on the loose. Then one of her victims is stabbed to death, and the stakes increase.
This novel, sequel to Malicious Intent (which I haven't read), combines Anya's hunt for the rapist with the story of Geoffrey Willard, recently released after a twenty year sentence for the rape and murder of a teenager when he was eighteen - is he attacking women again?
The character is touted as Australia's answer to Kathy Reichs and Patricia Cornwell, whch I think is drawing a slightly long bow, if for no other reason than the forensic aspect was a little light in comparison, which us not necessarily a bad thing. The writing is good, but I didn't engage strongly with the character, and I saw the two big dramatic twists (one the identity of the killer, the other Anya being attacked herself) well ahead of the plot.
I did read the novel to the end, and quite enjoyed it in parts, but overall have certainly read more tightly plotted and involving novels in this vein. Although I like to support new writers in general, and Australian writers in particular, I don't think I'll be back any time soon. - Alex
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