When Nick Elliott, freelance journalist with the Dublin Post seeks out Saxon at her breakfast haunt she knows something important is up, as she says ‘I wouldn’t have thought I’d be your first choice, not seeing how much you know I don’t like you.’ But according to Nick, Ed Fagan is back. The paper have received an article from him in which he says he is going to kill again.
Five years previously, Fagan had disappeared having spent several months on remand accused of killing five prostitutes in Dublin. The prosecution case had collapsed just a few days into the trial when it came to light that a senior detective in the Dublin Metropolitan Police had planted DNA evidence to ensure a conviction. Saxon a former FBI Agent had been commissioned to write a book - a sympathetic account of Fagan ordeal and police corruption. But Saxon very quickly became aware of Fagan’s guilt and was collecting evidence to expose him when he disappeared. Now Nick wants her expertise to verify the authenticity of the article purported to be from Fagan. Saxon, like the police is convinced that Fagan is dead, but, then the body of a prostitute is found.
This is a stimulating debut book. There are some glorious twists. The writing
is crisp moving the story along at a cracking pace, keeping the reader eager
to turn the page to find out what happens next. I liked Saxon, and see that
a second book featuring her is scheduled for next year. Definitely on my list.
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Lizzie Hayes
Ingrid Black is the pen-name of journalist Ellis O’Hanlon and her writing partner.
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