‘With Child’ by Laurie R King

Published by Poisoned Pen Press. ISBN 978-1-84722-006-6

 With Child is the third book in the series to feature San Francisco homicide detective Kate Martinelli.  This time around both Kate’s personal and private lives are in turmoil.   Her lover has decided to spend some time away and has gone to an island off the Washington coast and she also finds herself being persuaded by the step-daughter of her partner to investigate the disappearance of a missing homeless boy that she has befriended from the park.  The missing boy is found in due course.  As a favour to her partner she also agrees to look after the young girl while he is away on his honeymoon with the mother.  When the girl disappears from a motel Kate’s search becomes all the more frantic when it is realised that the young girl’s profile fits that of the killer’s other victims.  When she is sent back to California she uses all the methods that she has to hand to find the girl before it is too late. 

With Child is a welcome addition to this excellent series. Readers who have been following the series will empathise with Kate and the problems that she is going through; not only in her hunt to find her partner’s step-daughter but also her relationship with her lover.  There is a lot of drama in this novel and it is more personal.  Even so it is also a gripping story that will no doubt delight the legion of fans of this author. 

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Ayo Onatade