Late Boomer

KIRKUS REVIEW--Benson's tightly plotted crime thriller is sure to please fans of police procedurals--a Kirkus Star novel. Wealthy middle-aged Manhattanites-the baby boomers of the title-have been gruesomely murdered, and Det. Carina Quintana senses a connection. But how can she prove it? The killer, if he exists, varies his methods and targetsand leaves no tangible evidence. Age and wealth are all that the victims have in common.
Recently transferred fromMiami after her partner was convicted of drug trafficking, Quintana struggles to adjust to New York City and deal withthe aftermath of testifying against her former co-workers. Now partnered with the sarcastic Pete Simpson, Quintanaattempts to catch the killer without creating panic among the city's elites. Complications from her personal life-aCayman bank account, an old lover and a connection from Miami-add to her troubles.
Benson's characters are welldrawn, and Quintana is a noteworthy heroine. The author handles her past and sexuality with a light hand, notoverplaying the character. Instead, he keeps her guarded and subtle, without verging into clichéd stereotypes aboutdamaged cops. While her decision-making is sometimes clouded, she is believable as a police officer. Secondarycharacters-the caffeine-addicted Simpson, a particularly droll FBI crime profiler, and New York City itself-arerealistically portrayed, adding interest.
Chapters narrated from the point of view of the killer contrast interestingly withQuintana's chapters; comparison reveals both characters are relatively isolated and self-protective. The novel's pacing isenergetic and engaging, and the story flows almost too quickly. Happily, Benson's epilogue suggests that Quintana mayreturn in a future novel set in Miami Beach. A compelling police procedural with a contemporary setting and an intriguing heroine worthy of a series.