A while back I wrote a review on Bait. This was a debut crime novel from former Glendale, California policewoman, C.J. Songer. It was very good and I just couldn't wait to read C.J.'s next book. Now the wait is over. Scribner's is releasing C.J. Songer's new book, Hook, this month. I just got a chance to read an advance copy. Hook is just as good, or possibly even better, than Bait was.
Meg Gillis is a partner in the security/detective firm of John Gill. Her partner is Mike Johnson. Both of them are former cops from the L.A. area. Meg had been married to Charlie, Mike's partner on the force. Charlie got killed in the line of duty. Meg quit the force soon after and then Mike followed suit. Being friends, they decided to form this security company using parts of their last names for the company name.
The only problem with John Gill is that Mike seems to take on some oddball cases. Mike asks Meg to dress up real sleazy to get the attention of a man in a restaurant. Rudy de la Pena is an Argentine National. He is also married to Sylvia. It seems that Rudy abuses Sylvia and she wants a divorce. Meg is to go to the restaurant and serve Rudy the divorce papers. Meg doesn't like the setup. Especially because Mike and Sylvia have a history together. Mike claims that they were only friends, but Meg thinks there's more to it.
Instead of being hostile, de la Pena seemed to be expecting the divorce papers. But he is surprised that he's being accused of abusing Sylvia. He even knew who Meg was. It seemed that Rudy was having Sylvia followed.
Upon leaving the restaurant, Meg is followed. She tries to find out who it is and gets into an altercation at her office with her boyfriend. Joe Reilly is a detective on the Beverly Hills Police Department. Joe doesn't like Meg putting herself at risk, especially if Mike is responsible for it.
The following Monday, Mike is questioned about the de la Pena's. It seems that Rudy had killed himself. Meg doesn't get it. Rudy seemed quite calm about the whole thing, even asking Meg to join him for dinner after being served the divorce papers.
Meg investigates the case. The police are riding the fence on whether it was a suicide or murder. Mike could be a suspect. So could Sylvia. Mike has Sylvia in hiding with her friend Linda.
The more she looks into it, the more things get confusing for Meg. Who is following her around? And what did de la Pena have to do with a dissident group called Free Argentina? And why did de la Pena protest his abuse of Sylvia? If he didn't beat her, then who did? And why was Sylvia accusing her husband?
Meg puts herself in mortal danger as she finds out the answers to these questions. In an intense showdown, Meg almost gets killed along with Mike and Reilly.
Hook is an intense, riveting crime novel. The characters are true to life and the storyline is solid. I would rank C.J. Songer in the same league as Sue Grafton and Marcia Muller. I can't wait to read the next Meg Gillis crime novel.
Grab a copy of Hook. It will definitely grab you. And in case you missed it, the first Meg Gillis book, Bait, is now available in paperback. Grab a copy of it too.