MYSTERY

The Red Queen Dies

by Frankie Y. Bailey
Minotaur: St. Martin's. Sept. 2013. 304p. ISBN 9780312641757. $24.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250037176. M
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When a news blogger spreads rumors that a serial killer is targeting Albany, NY, the local cops are more than irritated. But lead investigator Hannah McCabe is really flummoxed when a famous actress, Vivian Jessup, becomes the third victim. Uncanny connections between the actress (known for Alice in Wonderland roles) and the symbolic trophies (also Alice-related) left with the earlier two victims have McCabe scrambling. Troubling links with a powerful developer who had a relationship with the actress (and who also made monetary connections to a long-ago science summer camp that the first two victims attended) complicate the investigation further. Over the course of an intense few weeks, McCabe and her colleagues somehow must winnow down the suspect pool and stop the madness.
VERDICT Bailey (Lizzie Stuart series) has crafted an ambitious police procedural series debut that is set in the near future. While not particularly dystopian, Bailey's cultural references will appeal to those who appreciate futuristic speculation. Even more engaging are the literary allusions to Lewis Carroll and L. Frank Baum. Although a bit awkward at the beginning with an abundance of characters, this is an ideal pick for folks who crave psychological puzzles.
Reviewed by Teresa L. Jacobsen , Sep 01, 2013
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