Wild Orchid Society

Having been a fan of Ms. Moore's other police procedurals, I snatched up her latest offering hoping for more of the same zany characters, colorful mysteries, and laugh-out-loud humor. I was not disappointed. Not only is Orchid a fast-paced read, Ms. Moore has topped her own previous efforts. I'm looking forward to more from this fantastic author.

Having solved the LADY GODIVA MURDER does not liberate Cezanne Martin from being an anathema because of her affair with a married peer. Instead Cezanne is further punished by her relative Deputy Chief Daniel Rosen who announces at a press conference that she is the temporary head of homicide. Rosen informs the media that Cezanne will head up the newly formed Cold Case Squad and promises to solve the eight year old Great Dane Murder in two weeks. Rosen will keep the pressure on Cezanne because he expects her to resign after making the Fort Worth police a laughing stock.Cezanne refuses to quit though she has just obtained her law degree. Instead she transfers in ostracized cop Klevenhagen because his personnel file is bigger than hers. As she watches a teen with the gift of sight, Cezanne obtains help from the FBI that leads her to digging undercover the Dungeons of Decadence, but soon learns that the Executioner stalks D & D participants seeking sacrifices of the top secret WILD ORCHID SOCIETY. If she is to solve her cold case, Cezanne will need to infiltrate this deadly group and unmask the Executioner. Besides her career in jeopardy, her life could be forfeit too.The latest Martin police procedural is a fantastic tale that hooks the audience the moment that the reader realizes along with the heroine that she is being set up to fail. The story line moves forward on several fronts that not only never slows down the pace, but also cleverly merges together into a terrific investigative tale. Sub-genre fans will want Moore detective tales from a Five Star author.Harriet Klausner

Don't let the cover frighten you, well maybe just a little. Ms Moore has given us a protagonist in Cezanne Martin that proves to be human. "Zan" has the depth of character to keep her wits about her through all the challenges anyone could be asked to face. This includes the confidence and determination to venture where her authority as police Captain and even the ability to defend herself or call for back up are taken away from her. We glimpse a part of her humanity that the stern exterior covers well. With her combined strengths and weaknesses, Cezanne perseveres through a high tension and well developed mystery. I didn't figure out, "who done it" until the very last. And that doesn't happen often. Get it. You'll thank me later.

After Detective Cezanne Martin solves THE LADY GODIVA MURDER and becomes the new acting-captain of the Fort Worth police homicide unit, she learns she's been put in charge of the newly-formed Cold Case Squad. When she inherits an 8 year old unsolved cold case, she finds herself in a media fishbowl. Not only is the brass trying to run her off, she learns the former investigating officer died while trying to solve the case. When she finds herself immersed in an alternative lifestyle group made up of wealthy, influential people who go to great lengths not to have their identities exposed, she comes face-to-face with the Executioner, leader of THE WILD ORCHID SOCIETY. This is an action-packed, nail-biting, suspense-filled read that will hold your attention way beyond the last page. Authentic situations, exciting dialogue and skillful plotting keep this novel fast-paced. I hope the last line is indicative of another sequel to come in the Cezanne Martin series. Absolutely fascinating to the end.

Cezanne Martin returns as the Acting-Captain of Fort Worth Police's homicide unit, and this time, the brass has set her up with a cold case investigation designed to make her fail. The previous investigator died while investigating the Great Dane Murder (not about dogs) and Cezanne finds a connection with an underground organization known as The Wild Orchid Society (not about flowers). Infiltrating the bizarre, alternative lifestyle group could cost more than her job and reputation, if discovered; unmasking The Executioner, ringleader of The Wild Orchid Society, could put her on ice.The storyline will grab you from the beginning, not to mention it'll keep you in a headlock until you're through.