Wow, that was a sorta bad novel. It wasn't horrible, but not great either. It was what lesbian fiction sometimes falls into (there are straight romance/mystery novels that fall into the trap too). Making the romance too central in the story.

It's a simple mystery (which isn't an automatically bad thing). A priest is found dead by strangulation and in a-- unique-- position. Stevie Houston, female rookie Detective and her 'coach' partner Ted Jovanowski get the case and it unfolds from there.

There was a lot of Stevie against the world and Stevie against the 'boys club'. And it seemed a little overdone. Also the relationship that was central to the story (between Stevie and another woman, it's not a surprise really, but I won't spoil it). Anyway, the central romantic relations arc seems really rushed and unrealistic to me.

But, even with the average writing and annoyances with the plot there's something in how Richardson writes Stevie that makes me want to read the next book in the Stevie Houston mystery series. Perhaps it's because the author gave Stevie so much fire and passion for solving the case, something that not all mystery detectives have. Or maybe it's because I would hope that in book two Richardson would give us more insight into Stevie's past and family. ( )