Witness to Evil

This author is developing into a rival for the Paretskys and Cornwells of the genre. Jeri is an engaging, courageous and honest protagonist and, along with secondary characters, is well-drawn by the author. The plotting here is compelling and frighteningly topical. Jeri and her exploits rank highly on my must-read list.

I was so excited to see another Jeri Howard adventure by Janet Dawson as I've read all her previous ones and thoroughly enjoyed them as bits of fluff that held your interest for a plane ride or a w/end at the beach...thought that this would go in more deeply about the "hidden children" but she whet one's appetite for more but barely skimmed the surface....didn't pay for that trip to Paris...and as previous reviewer stated, the two stories never really got together to make one really good story...I still liked the one set in Monterey the best..."Never turn your back on the ocean"....It still was like spending time with an old friend...keep on writing, Janet Dawson...this one showed a definite change in your writing...more depth...thanx for a good read...anyone who read her previous books, will enjoy this one as well...

Private detective Jeri Howard is excited over her latest assignment. She is to travel to Paris to bring home a runaway, teenager Darcy Stefano, the daughter of wealthy parents. When Jeri arrives in France, she learns that Darcy is paying homage to her beloved grandmother, who, as a French Jew, was hidden away from the Nazis during the WW II occupation. Jeri accompanies Darcy as she visits various holocaust memorials and other Jewish sites. Upon completing her quest, Darcy and Jeri return to California. A few months later, The Stefanos hire Jeri to once again track down their errant daughter, who has vanished from her school. Jeri begins her investigation with the school. She quickly uncovers a Neo-Nazi movement that apparently Darcy previously discovered. Jeri knows that it will take all of her skill to keep Darcy alive from the Nazis who are not ready to divulge their existence. WITNESS TO EVIL is a strange novel in that both parts are well written and fun to read, but the two halves fail to blend together into a credible novel. This is one time where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. Jeri remains a very good female sleuth and the story line is well designed and written, but Paris and California never connect. Harriet Klausner