The Playroom by
John Connor
hbk out December 04
Published by Orion
at £12.99
Second outing for DC Karen Sharpe, maverick detective working in Bradford. Karen
has been assigned to the Child Protection and Domestic Violence Team - a demotion
in many ways after a previous investigation lead to her colleague's death. When
Karen takes on a case of recovered memory she knows that it is unlikely she'll get
very far with it - especially as it is Bradford's MP who is being accused of rape.
Concurrently, DCS John Munroe is leading Operation Shade: trying to locate
kidnapped thirteen-year-old Sophie Kenyon, daughter of Judge Kenyon. As Munroe
starts to crack up under the pressure, Karen becomes aware of links between the cold
case and Sophie's abduction. Karen Sharpe is an alienated and damaged character
who continues to use work as an excuse for not tackling the looming issues in her
domestic life. Connor is very hot on police procedure which could get in the way of
pace and drama but, in endowing Karen with a complete disregard for rules and
regulations, a disdain for authority and a predilection for going off and doing her own
thing, he avoids getting bogged down. The villains of the piece are steadily revealed
so this is more a will-they-get-them rather than a who-dunnit. Well-written, solid
police thriller which must establish Connor as a serious contender.
(
Cath Staincliffe
author of the popular Sal Kilkenny mysteries and the series creator of TV Blue Murder)
The Playroom by
John Connor
