Book Review: Devil's Corner - Page 2

Vicki still can't stop picking at the case, and she believes Reheema is somehow involved. She goes to Reheema's neighborhood (a brave move for a woman bred for suburban private schools and not the bleak danger of the inner city). She visits Reheema's mother, whom she learns is an mentally adled crack addict - albeit one canny enough to trick Vicki and steal the contents of her purse. When Reheema's mother is subsequently murdered, investigators visit Vicki and the two women end up an unlikely duo investigating the connections between the confidential informant (whom Reheema claims she didn't know at all, despite the CI's claim that they were best friends) and her mother's murder.

The two women represent the somewhat standard twosome that has popluated so many "buddy movies" of recent years: in this case, they're the upscale suburbanite and the streetwise tough. Initially their relationship is fraught with tension and sarcasm, but the more time they spend together, the closer they become. Despite Reheema's initial hostility and misdirected anger relating to her mother's addiction, she really does want to find her mother's killer. Soon, Reheema and Vicki begin to realize that their investigation may connect the three deaths and help bring down a major drug ring.

Scottoline's background and research contribute to making the legal and investigative aspects of Devil's Corner resound with realism. The plot is also leavened with office politics and the complications of Vicki's love life (not to mention the pressures of dealing with her parents), and Scottoline manages to spike the burgeoning friendship between her two investigators with a healthy dose of humor. In Vicki Allegretti, Scottoline has created another compelling, dynamic female protagonist, and the relationship she forges with Reheema features realistically charged, intelligent banter between two engaging characters. All in all, it makes for an entertaining legal thriller.

Author's Note: This article was originally posted at Wallo World

Article Author: W.E. Wallo

W.E. Wallo is a book and movie junkie whose writings have appeared in a variety of print and online publications.

Visit W.E. Wallo's author page — W.E. Wallo's Blog