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Dead Air |
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 Dead Air byRochelle Krich Avon Twilight 304 pages, 2000 ISBN 0380977699 Reviewed by PJ Nunn Read our author interview Jessie Drake is the kind of lead character that invites intense scrutiny. She’s a homicide investigator with the LAPD, divorced but still dating her ex-husband, attempting to incorporate a newfound religion into her life, and trying to improve on superficial relationships with her parents and her sister. In DEAD AIR, the lines between Jessie’s personal and professional life become blurred. An old friend Renee is a therapist with a popular radio talk show. Jessie doesn’t always agree with the "instant therapy" Renee dispenses, but the two were once quite close. When Renee comes to her with the suspicion that she’s being stalked, Jessie feels obligated to help, even though she’s not convinced there’s really a problem. When Renee’s six-year-old daughter Molly is kidnapped, Jessie has to wonder if she should have taken Renee’s fears more seriously. The housekeeper who was watching Molly after school is dead. The race to find Molly is complicated further by her need for medication. Jessie’s main suspect is an irate caller to Renee’s radio show, but there’s also a nasty divorce and custody battle that points accusing fingers to several others - including Renee. Surprised at the response of some of her fellow officers, Jessie is stretched to the limit in an attempt to find Molly before it’s too late. Krich deftly explores a variety of intriguing scenarios. Renee’s harsh and opinionated responses to listeners throughout the book illustrate a narcissistic psychological profile, artfully drawn. Jessie’s introspections about life, including her ongoing relationship struggles with previously abusive parents and her concern about reuniting with ex-husband Gary, are also skillfully written, leading readers in the right direction while allowing them to draw their own conclusions. Her struggles to incorporate Judaism into her daily routine seem a little more isolated, yet still offer interesting insight. DEAD AIR is a cerebral mystery, high on content, but with enough action thrown in to keep up the pace. And, while it has a lot of cozy qualities, there is an undercurrent of melancholy laced with the reality of a strong, essentially positive outcome. Important questions are answered in the end, but more are raised, leaving the door open for yet another welcome sequel. |
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