My Reading Nook

Sandra Brown brings us another great read with Ricochet. Set in Savannah, GA, the main character Detective Duncan Hatcher is a complicated mixture of moralist and tough cop. His partner, DeeDee Bowen and he have been trying without success to catch and prosecute a local drug lord named Robert Savitch. Mr. Savitch is nothing if not canny and manages to keep out of the clutches of the law and above prosecution, often by way of one Judge Cato Laird’s rulings in his favor.

The latest encounter with Savitch and Laird have seen Duncan put in jail for two days for contempt after Judge Laird orders a mistrial on the basis of one of the juror’s not disclosing that her son was enrolled in the Police Academy and Duncan’s subsequent loss of composure in the courtroom.

When Duncan and DeeDee are called to the Judge’s home to investigate a homicide, it’s pretty apparent that the story they are given is full of half-truths and outright lies. The Judge’s beautiful wife, Elise Laird has killed an intruder. She cites self defense, but some things just aren’t adding up.

To further complicate the whole case is Duncan’s strong attraction to the beautiful Elise.

Despite his upbringing as the son of a preacher and his adherence to a high moral ground in his dealings with perpetrators and victims alike, Duncan succumbs to his baser self with Elise all the while doubting everything she’s ever told him and knowing he’s likely compromising any case he and DeeDee might bring against the woman.

Ricochet by Sandra Brown
Published by Pocket Books 2006
ISBN: 978-1-4165-2332-1