{"product_id":"defensive-wounds-a-novel-of-suspense-isbn-9780061989414","title":"Defensive Wounds: A Novel of Suspense","description":"\u003cp\u003e“There are many forensic experts. There are many writers. Rarely, however, do the two meld as seamlessly and synergistically as Lisa Black.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cem\u003eSacramento Book Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“She is, quite simply, one of the best storytellers around.”\u003cbr\u003e—Tess Gerritsen\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA former forensic scientist with the Cleveland coroner’s office, Lisa Black knows the world she writes about, as she has proven in the past with her gripping thrillers featuring Theresa MacLean (\u003cem\u003eTakeover, Evidence of Murder, Trail of Blood\u003c\/em\u003e). With \u003cem\u003eDefensive Wounds\u003c\/em\u003e, Black delivers possibly her most sensational crime fiction masterwork to date—a stunning tale of forensic expert MacLean’s investigation into the brutal murder of a criminal defense attorney at a Cleveland convention that reveals the frightening presence of a serial killer prowling the city. The forensic police thriller remains one of the most popular sub-genres in contemporary mystery fiction, and \u003cem\u003eDefensive Wounds\u003c\/em\u003e once again proves that Lisa Black is one of the “big guns,” in the top tier alongside Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs, Jefferson Bass, and Michael Connelly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003eIn this fourth novel in Lisa Black’s captivating suspense series, forensic investigator Theresa MacLean finds herself embroiled in a case in which everyone has a motive and everyone is a suspect—especially when high-powered defense attorneys start turning up dead. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Marie Corrigan, a Cleveland defense attorney with a history of falsifying evidence and no shortage of enemies, is found dead in the presidential suite at the Ritz-Carlton, most people would agree that she had it coming. Forensic investigator Theresa MacLean is summoned to the crime scene by her daughter, Rachel, who is working the front desk. But even before Theresa enters the room, she knows that she’s walking into a forensic nightmare—for crime scenes at hotels, even the most luxurious, are teeming with trace evidence that has been left behind by innumerable guests and may or may not be related to the murder. But what Theresa finds is even worse than she imagined.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGiven the positioning of Marie’s body, everyone assumes the same thing—that it’s a lovers’ tryst turned lethal. But large questions remain: How did the killer gain access to the room without anyone’s knowledge? And has the scene been staged for their benefit? The little evidence Theresa has is conflicting at best. What’s more, a legal convention at the hotel provides an endless list of suspects—and potential victims. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen two more bodies show up in quick succession, each in a similar state, Theresa’s investigation takes on a whole new urgency as she fears they may have a serial killer on their hands—a serial killer with a vendetta. But as she searches for the threads that tie the cases together, Theresa begins to suspect that she and her daughter are closer to danger than they realize. And a mother will stop at nothing to protect the life of her child. \u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“[Black] generates suspense with alternating accounts of investigations present and past. A cast of complex, captivating characters is led by likable Theresa.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Black has a strong heroine in MacLean. There’s a deash of romance thrown in, but the real action is in the field.... The two [stories] work well together as police procedures past and present match up to reveal the truth behind the horrors haunting Cleveland.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Black constructs a compelling parallel story of the 1930s investigation with the modern-day pursuit.... It’s a wild ride to the end of the line. Black’s carefully drawn descriptions of 1930s Cleveland and its rail yards create an intense feeling of suspense.... This third outing from Theresa will appeal to readers of Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles series.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Fans of the forensic mysteries “CSI” TV series and Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta novels will enjoy the emphasis on evidence. An amazing read that rivals…the best of the genre.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLisa Ko, author of The Leavers\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Black uses [the] background as a springboard for a tightly wound story that alternates between Cleveland of the 1930s and today.... Black, a former forensic scientist, keeps the level of suspense high.... The complicated, insightful Theresa continues to show her mettle as an investigator...and the affectionate banter between her and her cousin, Frank, adds real human warmth to Black’s chilling \u003ci\u003eTrail of Blood\u003c\/i\u003e.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMystery Scene\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The parallels between old-school and modern crime detection techniques are fascinating.... Black supplies both James and Theresa with enough credible suspects to keep the reader guessing. A nighttime surveillance scene in a train yard is breathlessly creepy, and the entire story is immersed in Cleveland history and culture.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAkron Beacon Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The fast-paced action hurtles to a breathless conclusion.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The book’s strength lies in its vivid recapitulation of the days of the Depression as seen through the eyes of James Miller, a young police officer who becomes a victim.... Black skillfully links and compares the past and the present in terms of increasingly desperate police investigators and increasingly frightened people who don’t know who will be next on a killer’s apparently random list.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWashington Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"William Morrow","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44890371227877,"sku":"NP9780061989414","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780061989414.jpg?v=1730233136","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/defensive-wounds-a-novel-of-suspense-isbn-9780061989414","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}