Book Review: True Believers

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

True Believers     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Jane Haddam
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Classic   Ethnic   Humorous
Series: Gregor Demarkian # 17
St. Martin's, Apr 2001, $24.95, 336 pp.

The Philadelphia Inquirer calls former FBI agent Gregor Demarkian the "Armenian-American Hercule Poirot, but the ex FBI chief of the Behavioral Science Unit prefers less of a public role. In spite of his good intentions, Gregor seems to always become involved in a high profile homicide investigation that turns him into a media pizza. Gregor's lover Bennis Hannaford suffers from a rough period as the state readies to execute her sister with no appeals or stay in sight.

Gregor tries to help Bennie obtain closure, but is yanked into the murders inside churches in their neighborhood. For instance, a churchgoer dies from arsenic poisoning and her husband brings her to their place of worship where he commits suicide. A nun and a pastor also die from arsenic poisoning. Gregor begins to seek the common theme besides the weapon that binds these deaths.

One of the great qualities of the excellent long-running Demarkian novels is that the reader does not need to follow some pre-designed sequence as each book can stand-alone. Still, fans will tell newcomers that watching Gregor grow and change is fun. TRUE BELIEVERS is rich in detail and strong on plotting. The complex characters make the story line believable and keep the pace of the novel steady but always going forward. Jane Haddam will make TRUE BELIEVERS out of anyone who reads any of her books.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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