FORMER deputy district attorney Burke's handling of the main character is deft and authoritative.
The downside is a narrative peppered with legal jargon but a good balance is maintained between the courtroom scenes and the criminal investigation as the mystery surrounding a girl's rape is unravelled.
The strength is its dialogue which rescues a lacklustre plot. Samantha Kincaid, the Portland DDA, laments her inability to fire off the "perfect zinger", but Burke's observations are shrewd and amusing.
Vivienne Morgan
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