Damage Control - Robert Dugoni

Damage Control
Robert Dugoni
Warner Books

Mystery/Thriller

Dana Hill is used to performing a daily balancing act as both mother to a three year old, and a practicing attorney. Her life looks pretty good, all things considered. Then, within a week, she’s diagnosed with breast cancer; she discovers her husband is cheating on her; and her twin brother, James, is brutally murdered in what looks like a botched robbery attempt in his home.

Never one to shrink from unpleasantness, Dana decides that the best thing she can do at the moment is pursue her brother’s killer. This means putting off her own medical treatment, but Dana is on a mission. Looking through the mess left in her brother’s home, she’s shocked to discover a unique and obviously wildly expensive diamond earring. Using this piece of jewelry as a starting point, she enlists the aid of skeptical detective Mike Logan. Even he can’t deny that something strange is going on as the body count begins to rise.

First, a personal quibble. Mike Logan makes me think of nothing but “Law & Order.” Maybe that’s what the author wanted, but it was a bit distracting at first. Piling all these tragedies on the main character in such a short span of time requires the reader to suspend a decent amount of belief. On the very bright side, the story takes off in the first chapter, and the pacing remains very fast throughout the story. This is one of those great page-turners that make time fly.

Rating: 7 ½
February 2007
ISBN# 0-446-57870-3 (hardcover)