From Publishers Weekly
In Walker's riveting fourth mystery to feature Dugan, a lawyer, and Kirsten, the proprietor of the Wild Onion detective agency, the sleuthing couple pursue a savagely efficient murderer. A self-appointed executioner has targeted priests charged with various abuses, and Kirsten's estranged uncle happens to be on the death list. Against the protests of lawyer Dugan, who has no sympathy for his wife's formerly beloved relative, Kirsten agrees to help the marked priests, whose crimes weren't all proven and who are now isolated in a purgatorial prison outside Chicago. Subtle threats chillingly appear in Kirsten's home and office the same day as the first slaying, confirming her theory of the killer's identity, sussed out from a shortlist of known enemies. Kirsten adopts the murderer's malignant logic as she struggles to stay a half-step ahead of her nemesis. Though warned off by the stereotypical FBI suits, she's unable to quit when her blissfully unaware hubby is thrust into the center of the bloodthirsty campaign. Despite a somewhat formulaic plot, the fast pace, well-rendered cast and solid Midwest flavor make this a potential crowd-pleaser. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description
Two years ago, Father Michael Nolan was sued by the family of a seventeen-year-old girl who had committed suicide years ago after confessing to having an affair with Father Nolan. The lawsuit was thrown out, but all of Michael's secrets came out, resulting in the end of his life as a priest and ruining his relationship with his niece, Kirsten. Michael and Kirsten, a private investigator and the lead character along with her lawyer husband, Dugan, a lawyer, of David J. Walker's acclaimed Wild Onion mystery series, were quite close, especially after Michael helped her out of a big jam when she was in college, and Kirsten is devastated by the revelations about her uncle.

She still feels obligated to him, though, after everything they've been through together, and when a list of priests who have been accused of abuse appears in the Chicago newspaper, she is sympathetic. Unlike Dugan, who defended him against the lawsuit but since then would rather have less than nothing to do with him. But Kirsten's sympathy turns to real fear when one of the priests on the list turns up dead, murdered and his body mutilated. Has the list in the newspaper ignited a killer, or is it someone seeking revenge for a more personal reason?

Before they can get anywhere on the first murder, another priest turns up dead. In this latest intricately constructed novel by the award-winning author of the Mal Foley mysteries, Kirsten and Dugan try to find a killer amid the rising danger.


About the Author
David J. Walker, a lawyer, is also the author of the Edgar Award-nominated Mal Foley series, including No Show of Remorse, and he lives in Chicago.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Two years ago, Father Michael Nolan was sued by the family of a seventeen-year-old girl who had committed suicide years ago after confessing to having an affair with him. The lawsuit was thrown out, but all of Michael's secrets came out, putting an end to his career as a priest and ruining his relationship with his niece, Kirsten - a private investigator and the lead character, along with her lawyer husband, Dugan, of David J. Walker's acclaimed Wild Onion, Ltd., mystery series. Michael and Kirsten were quite close, especially after Michael helped her out of a big jam when she was in college, and Kirsten remains devastated by the revelations about her uncle." "Kirsten still feels obligated to Michael, though, after everything they've been through together. When a list of priests who have been accused of abuse appears in a Chicago newspaper, she is sympathetic, in contrast to Dugan, who defended Michael against the lawsuit but since then would rather have nothing to do with him. But Kirsten's sympathy turns to real fear when one of the priests on the list is murdered and his body is left mutilated. Has the list in the newspaper enraged a killer, or is someone seeking revenge for a more personal reason?" Before they can make any headway on the initial murder, another priest turns up dead.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In Walker's riveting fourth mystery to feature Dugan, a lawyer, and Kirsten, the proprietor of the Wild Onion detective agency, the sleuthing couple pursue a savagely efficient murderer. A self-appointed executioner has targeted priests charged with various abuses, and Kirsten's estranged uncle happens to be on the death list. Against the protests of lawyer Dugan, who has no sympathy for his wife's formerly beloved relative, Kirsten agrees to help the marked priests, whose crimes weren't all proven and who are now isolated in a purgatorial prison outside Chicago. Subtle threats chillingly appear in Kirsten's home and office the same day as the first slaying, confirming her theory of the killer's identity, sussed out from a shortlist of known enemies. Kirsten adopts the murderer's malignant logic as she struggles to stay a half-step ahead of her nemesis. Though warned off by the stereotypical FBI suits, she's unable to quit when her blissfully unaware hubby is thrust into the center of the bloodthirsty campaign. Despite a somewhat formulaic plot, the fast pace, well-rendered cast and solid Midwest flavor make this a potential crowd-pleaser. Agent, Danielle Egan-Miller. (Apr. 6) FYI: Walker is also the author of No Show of Remorse and other titles in the Edgar-nominated Mal Foley series. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews