| Detective Superintendent Harriet Martens has been appointed by the
Inspector of Constabulary to investigate possible corruption in the
Maximum Crime Squad, known as the Max, a team of hand-picked police
officers dealing exclusively with major crimes. Summoned to London from
her home force of Birchester, Harriet's arrival is resented not only by
the officers of the Max but by the reporter and chairman of the Sunday
Herald which broke the story.
|
| Although two detective constables have been suspended for demanding
money from a small time criminal, the newspaper suggested a wider
scandal. Harriet's brief is to discover just how wide, aided by her team
of officers from the Greater Birchester Police. Keating does a good job
of portraying the team's specific individual talents although little
information is given about their personalities. Their function seems to
be as tools to do a job. Contrarily, the personality of Commander
Boxall, Head of the Max, makes itself felt through his patronising
manner towards Harriet and the obstacles he throws in her way. |
| Keating is not afraid to portray Harriet's failings as well as her
virtues. A strong character, her frustration and discouragement come
through as much as her determination to solve the case. She is
understandably irked on overhearing herself welcomed as a "dozy
northern tart" but continues to dwell on it, with even her friend
Rekha saying she goes on about it quite enough. Harriet's thought
processes do go into a little too much detail as she tosses around ideas
about the case. The first person narrative style used for them can be a
little confusing combined with the third person approach to the novel as
a whole. However, the plot is sound and the investigation methodical
with some good atmosphere and moments of tension. |
|
|
|