An exceptionally plotted detective novel, the author’s debut effort plunges the reader into the Arkansas capital at an increasingly whirlwind pace brimming with murder, politics, and religion - - plus just enough timely humor and sexual tension to relax the fright as it screams to an out-of-left-field finish. Perfect for fans of Sandford, Hoag, Deaver and Gerritsen. “If gentlemen prefer blondes, butchers prefer brunettes. And he was no gentleman.” Julie Davidson’s move to Little Rock for promotion to homicide detective explodes with the slaughter of a prominent local and her acquaintance. Struggling through her initiation into the rites of death investigation while battling emotions from her own mother’s death, Davidson and mentor homicide partner, Carter Hollis, focus on a would-be perp until a third brutal stabbing shakes up the case. Further complicating Davidson’s rookie journey through the homicide landscape is her ethically murky dating relationship with a local crime blogger and reporter. Though his sources and insight into the potential killer appear to finally break open the case despite Carter’s protestations about the conflict of interest involved, the murder investigation is sent hurtling in yet another unforeseen direction with assistance from a brand-new genetic technology known as forensic phenotyping. Be careful with this one! Able Men will have your reading lamp still burning at 3 a.m.!