Reviews
Delany's intriguing series opener introduces young constable Molly Smith, who almost literally stumbles across a rare murder victim in peaceful Trafalgar, British Columbia. The deceased, Reg Montgomery, was a widely distrusted newcomer planning to develop a luxury resort outside the town, making for a long list of suspects. The community is further divided by Smith's mother's plans for a public memorial to American draft resisters who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War. Struggling to recover from the death of her husband, build a career on the force and win the approval of her hippie parents and hard-edged Sgt. John Winters, newly arrived from Vancouver with his own set of personal problems, Smith throws herself into solving the case. Delany (Burden of Memory) carefully sets up the conflicts, resolving most but not all in anticipation of the next assignment, and begins what looks to be some extensive character development for the otherwise archetypal Winters and Smith. (Oct.) -- Publishers Weekly 7/30/2007, A plan to build both a memorial park for Vietnam draft dodgers and a fancy new resort tears a small Canadian town apart. Constable Moonbeam "Molly" Smith is the daughter of Vietnam-era activists. Although her father has lost is taste for demonstrations, her mother is leading a pro-park, anti-resort group. When one of the men pushing to build the resort is found murdered, Molly is assigned to assist DS John Winters, an experienced investigator who's not pleased with his rookie partner. Although the murdered man's wife is dry-eyed, Winters rules out her and her dentist lover as suspects and looks instead for a possible connection with the protest movement. After a right-wing TV host stirs up trouble with his grossly one-sided reports, outside agitators arrive to fight against the park, which they consider an insult to veterans. Molly's stolen bike is the least of her worries. Her parents, who've never approved her choice of profession, seem on the verge of divorce, and her best friend blames her when she's badly beaten by a stalker Molly warned her against. But Molly slowly wins Winter's respect. Despite her rookie mistakes, her local knowledge helps him track down a killer before the town explodes. An exciting series debut from Delaney (Burden of Memory, 2006, etc.), featuring complex characters with plenty of room to grow. -- Kirkus Reviews (May 15 2007)
