“Crooked Heart”   by Cristina Sumners

A Reverend Kathryn Koerney Novel

2011 Book Review #30

  

  Booklist Review

Chief of Police Tom Holder is middle-aged, 40 pounds overweight, and trapped in an appallingly bad marriage. When a suburban housewife goes missing, it doesn't take Tom long to conclude that she is a kindred soul who has decided to run away from her despicable husband.

However, the case soon becomes more complicated, and he enlists the bright, attractive Reverend Kathryn Koerney (with whom he is secretly smitten) to help question a child who believes she has witnessed a murder.

Sumners shapes a case that mirrors the emotions of the lead characters. The simmering erotic tension between Tom and Kathryn, which they refuse to act on, constrained by their faith and their roles, is reflected back to them in the course of their investigation of two people who acted on their attraction with disastrous results.

Sumners also explores the nature of unrequited love--is it cowardice or conscience? What happens when you play it too safe? This is smart, engaging writing in what one can only hope is the beginning of a series.

My Thoughts: Sumner has written a couple more books since this Booklist Review was written.  I have reviewed two others previously.  I like the characters and the plots in all of them.   The author is becoming one of my favorites.