TheTaken:AHazelMicallefMystery

DetectiveInspectorHazelMicallefishavingabadyear.Aftermajorbacksurgery,shehasnorealoptionbuttomoveintoherex-husband’sbasementandsufferthehumiliationofhisnewwifebringinghermealsdownonatray.Asifthatweren’tenough,Hazel’soctogenarianmothersecretlyflushesHazel’sstashofpainkillersdownthetoilet.It’salmostareliefwhenHazelgetsacallaboutabodyfishedupbytouristsinoneofthelakesnearPortDundas.ButwhatraisesthehaironthebackofMicallef’sneckisthatthelocalpaperhasjustpublishedthefirstinstallmentofaserializedstoryfeaturingsuchascenario.Evenbeforetheyheadouttothelakewithdiverstorecoverthebody,sheandDCJamesWingate,leadingthepolicedetachmentinMicallef’sabsence,knowtheyarebeingplayed.Butit’snotclearwhoispullingtheirstringsandwhy,noriswhattheyfindatthelakeatallwhattheyexpected.It’sMicallefherselfwhoissnared,caughtupinacrypticgamedevisedbysomeonewhoknowshowtotauntherintoopeningacoldcase,someonewhoknowsthatnothingwillstopherinvestigation.ThesecondnovelfeaturingHazelMicallef,“acompelling,unlikelyhero”(EntertainmentWeekly),isastunningandsuspensefulexplorationoftheobsessivefarreachesoflove,confirmingIngerAshWolfeasoneofthebestmysterywriterstoday.