The First Cut

[cornerofmadness]

The First Cut by Dianne Emley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This one had an interesting premise (Trigger warnings, violence against women, kidnapping and rape). Nan Vining was a police detective until little over a year ago when she was lured into an empty house on false pretenses and her would-be killer slit her throat. Now she's back ostensibly to be a robber detective but her former boss immediately pulls her into a homicide.

Frankie Lynde, an undercover vice officer has been found raped and murdered. Her father, Frank, is also a decorated officer. Nan feels an immediate kinship with Frankie (having nearly died in much the same slit-throated way). She's dealing with complex PTSD (including hallucinations revolving around the case). She has the support of her friend Lieutenant Early and her former lover Detective Kissing as well as her teenaged daughter (who is dealing with her mother's near death by delving into paranormal investigations and photography after learning of Nan's own near death visions)

We also know who the killer is as we spent a disturbing amount of time with him. I will say I wish there was a bigger, better reason for Nan to suspect him. It felt a little too coincidental and paranormal (for an otherwise non-paranormal story). I think it bothered me that there was really only one other suspect.

In the background is Nan's beginning investigations into T.B. Mann (her daughter's name for The Bad Man) who nearly killed her. That will be a running theme in the series I think or at least to the next book. That was interesting too so I don't want to spoil it.

Dark themes aside, I really liked this police procedural. I'd like to see what comes next.



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