Shadows of Sin: A Jessie Drake Mystery

A Los Angeles plastic surgeon and his staff are brutally shot and killed and LAPD detective Jessie Drake is assigned the case. There are plenty of motives--a patient has threatened revenge over a botched job, a nurse was recently fired, and the doctor has a history of affairs. Of course the family is always suspected. Yet, even with plenty of suspects, the hard evidence to convict anyone isn't there. And the one suspect Drake most wants to talk to, the adopted son of the slain doctor, keeps slipping through her hands. Author Rochelle Krich has created a wonderful character in Jessie Drake. Her confused love life (she has recently ended an affair with her ex-husband), her history of abuse as a child, her fear of heights, and her exploration of her Jewish heritage add depth and interest. Like Drake, the mystery in SHADOWS OF SIN comes in layers of complexity with first one suspect, then another taking the primary position, with reality staying one step ahead of both Drake and the reader. SHADOWS OF SIN is a fast-reading and page turning adventure. The killer is smart enough to throw suspicion off, and to play with everyone's sympathy, yet Drake is a bulldog after the truth. Topical references to the LAPD Ramparts nightmare add to the immediacy of the novel.

I'm a long-time fan of Rochelle Krich, and have always admired her intelligent writing in her finely crafted mysteries. Krich's ongoing development of Detective Jessie Drake, the "star" of many of her novels to date, has also added a deeper personal dimension to her mysteries, as Drake has uncovered some secrets of her own past (in previous novels) and continues to explore her own, previously unknown, Jewish identity.Other reviews here have given the basic storyline, so I'll just add that, having read nearly all Krich's other books, I felt that Shadows of Sin is among her very best, one that had me really on the edge of my proverbial seat. As with any good mystery, Krich packed a surprise ending, but one which was consistent with the rest of the story. It's a cliffhanger, to be sure. I don't think you'll be able to put it down!

As an avid fan of Krich and her complex characters, I was not disappointed in the latest tale of Detective Jesse Drake. Once again Jesse is faced with solving not just the murders that are part of her job - but the mysteries of her own spiritual journey and that of her family. The conflicts between good and evil, parent and child, society and the individual - this carefully crafted novel explores them all - and in the midst of a gripping mystery! After catching my breath at the surprise ending, I could feel the smile on my face as Krich carefully set down the tracks for the next challenge our heroine will face.

Rochelle Krich's fifth in the Jessie Drake mystery series is a tautly constructed story with dynamic characters, a real mystery to be solved, and a stunning conclusion. What's more, this book left me with issues to consider long after I finished reading.Jessie Drake, Krich's female LAPD Detective, must solve the murder of a plastic surgeon and two of his office staff. She quickly finds a long list of suspects, and delves deep into the past to find motive and murderer. As she investigates, she unwittingly moves closer to personal peril. That's a very basic plot summary, which doesn't begin to do justice to the tension Rochelle Krich creates, or the characters and their personal conflicts. It is this quality of her writing that gives the reader a real stake in the solution of the crime.Jessie Drake is not only a detective solving a triple murder, but a very realistic character, with conflicts and concerns of her own, which Krich shares with the reader. Jessie grapples with her spiritual life, as she finds herself increasingly drawn to the practice of Orthodox Judaism. She endures conflicts with her family, who struggle to understand her new spirituality. Like so many of us, Jessie carries childhood emotional baggage, and her attempts to deal with its weight lead to scenes that are as intriguing as the solution of the murder. Jessie's budding romantic relationship with her teacher, Ezra, adds to the reader's understanding of the distinctions between her private and public lives. Jessie's struggles enhance not only plot and characterization, but contribute to a greater understanding of the problems faced by religious people living secular lives. This, for me, is a definite plus.Finally, "Shadows of Sin" races the reader through its pages to a very surprising conclusion. Tension mounts, and never eases. Rochelle Krich has mastered the art of writing the suspense-packed detective mystery, while giving us characters to care about and issues that remain with us long after the final page has been turned.

If you've never allowed yourself the pleasure of a Rochelle Krich mystery, "Shadows of Sin" is (yet) another reason to begin getting obsessed! Krich's street smart, bone-tough, and (in her own way) feminine LAPD Detective Jesse Drake is always at her absolute finest when in hot pursuit of highly intelligent, crafty villains. This time, the killer of a wealthy L.A. plastic surgeon and his whole office staff has left surprisingly few identifying clues, and everyone surrounding the case seems shockingly tight-lipped. Drake has to pull out all the stops to drive at the truth - and maybe even put her own life on the line...I've read all nine Rochelle Krich mysteries, and - I'll be darned if she didn't fool me *yet again* with the relentless barrage of solid plot twists. Cuddle (or, is it curdle?) up with Krich's latest and greatest next to a fireplace, and bring your thinking cap and a mug of hot cider. But start in the early evening -- this one's un-put-down-able!