Contents Under Pressure

Miami native Britt Montero is the daughter of a martyred Cuban freedom fighter. She loves Cuban coffee and can't speak much Spanish. She also covers the police beat for the Miami News. When a local hero dies during a police chase, she wants details. Soon she realizes that something is very wrong on the midnight shift. Police brutality is common, racial tension is growing, and the police are acting more like Keystone Kops than a professional force. When six officers are acquitted of what appears to be a racially motivated murder, violence erupts in the streets and Britt is caught in the middle. Although slightly dated (this series launch was originally published in 1992), the vibrant writing, loving depictions of Miami, still-relevant plotline, and appealing main characters more than make up for the lack of cell phones. Erin Bennett's slightly dramatic reading should be enjoyed by most mystery buffs.