We first met the pair in 2006's "At Risk." Garano is a dapper and competent investigator of mixed-race heritage with a sizeable chip on his shoulder and a couple of secrets in his past. Lamont is the beautiful, rich, and calculating District Attorney--Garano's boss.
Garano and Lamont
In "The Front, " Lamont is interested in reopening a decades old murder of a blind, British citizen in Watertown, a small town outside of Boston. She's convinced that new DNA technology can help them proud that the woman was the first victim of the Boston Strangler. It's an obvious political ploy and it's no secret that Lamont has designs on furthering her career in public service.
The Front
Assigned to help Garano with the case is a female detective they call "Stump." She lost her leg in a motorcycle accident a few years ago and now runs a mobile crime unit, call "The Front." She is contemptuous of Garano, calling him Lamont's "lap dog." Yet, she's attracted to him as well. For that reason, he wants nothing to do with the Watertown investigation, which she sees as a political farce.
As Garano learns more about the Watertown events of 40 years ago, he senses a connection that is much more recent--one that will put all of them in danger. But, he is unable to pinpoint his suspicions. Is he looking in the right places?
"The Front" gives the reader glimpses of the brilliant word craft that has made Cornwell a household name among mystery lovers. The conversations are fast-paced and real and the reader meets interesting characters, such as Garano's grandmother--the woman who raised him and a believer in the mystical arts. The problem is that the book leaves one wanting more--more substance, more character development, and more plot. At 180 pages, "The Front" is more of a novelette than a full murder mystery. After two novels in this series, Cornwell has yet to bring more than two dimensions to Garano and Lamont.
About Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell is the mother of forensic crime fiction. Long before CSI or "Bones," there was Cornwell's Dr. Scarpetta. Cornwell, a North Carolina native, is the author of more than 20 books, including 15 in the Scarpetta series. A graduate of Davidson College, Ms. Cornwell has worked as a newspaper reporter and an analyst for the Virginia Medical Examiner's office. She divides her time between Richmond and Los Angeles.
Related Articles
