False Friend

November 28, 2016
Arson at a Birmingham, Ala., school propels Grant’s tension-filled if overstuffed sequel to 2015’s False Positive. Det. Cooper Deveraux and his partner, Tommy Garretty, investigate, but clues are few. Meanwhile, Cooper’s involvement in the case puts a strain on his relationship with his ex, Alexandra, with whom he has only recently been reunited. Plus his seven-year-old daughter, Nicole, is behaving erratically, as is Daniel, the 15-year-old son of reporter Diane McKinzie, who’s covering the arson story. A second fire quickly follows the first, the public panics, and Cooper’s boss, Captain Emrich, wants immediate results. Human bones found at the site of the initial fire prove to be unconnected to the arson. To top it all off, Cooper’s dark past, in the form of envelopes filled with photos and documents, literally arrives on Alexandra’s doorstep. So much is going on that Grant can’t resolve everything by the end. Series fans will be pleased that there’s more to come, while others may just be frustrated. Agent: Janet Reid, FinePrint Literary Management.

November 1, 2016
An incendiary thriller featuring the return of Birmingham, Alabama, detective Cooper Devereaux (False Positive, 2015).As Tyler Shaw watches the fire he's set, he sees the souls of sinners. He considers himself a genius, a Michelangelo of arson. School fires are his current specialty, though he may later expand his repertoire. Cooper is one of the investigators interviewing virtually everyone connected with Birmingham's school system--so many that "evidently you're not cool if you're not a suspect." There's even a false confession. "We need to catch this arsonist," Capt. Emrich helpfully demands, and Cooper is working hard. Orphaned at age 6, he grew up among the "dregs of society" and made a living by ripping off the criminals, which led to a checkered career as a cop--"me and trouble with the job are old friends," he says. His long-separated ex-girlfriend Alexandra is raising their 7-year-old, Nicole, a "sweet little daughter" who secretly draws disturbing pictures and brutalizes her dolls. Birmingham Tribune reporter Diane McKinzie is also investigating the fires while raising her 15-year-old son, Daniel. The lad is a whining, insulting smartass who says "You're the worst mother in the world." He knows his destiny is to become the century's greatest physicist, and Mom isn't nearly attentive and supportive enough to suit him. Daniel is just too smart, having been "disqualified from an important science competition because his entry was too advanced for the idiot teachers to comprehend." Oh, please. Then Diane deliberately burns herself but doesn't flinch. Tension escalates as investigators find skeletons under the floor of a burned-out middle school. The story zips along, with many chapters only a page or two long. It's chockablock with disturbed characters and one too many self-described geniuses, but Cooper is solid--decent, flawed, and entertaining. A quick, enjoyable entry in the series.

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December 1, 2016

Birmingham, AL, Det. Cooper Devereaux is caught between chasing a mysterious arsonist and trying to lead a "normal" life with his girlfriend Alexandra and their daughter, Nicole. This is his second chance with his family, and he's determined to do it right this time. Yet, as the pyromaniac continues to elude authorities while persistently and relentlessly targeting schools in the city, Devereaux must find a way to stop him or lose everything. When a buried secret is unearthed at one of the arsonist's targeted locations, the stakes are raised even higher. VERDICT The second installment starring Devereaux (after False Positive) is a suspenseful action-packed drama that is sure to please fans of the series and mystery/thriller lovers alike. As a stand-alone, it will inspire newcomers to seek out the first book.--Cynthia Price, Francis Marion Univ. Lib., Florence, SC

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