The character Marti McClellan seems, at first blush, to be just another jaded, hard-nosed P.I. with a cop past and an uncertain future. Nevertheless, within the first five pages, the reader is drawn into the life of this thirtyish woman, and it doesn't take long to realize that Marti is anything but a typical private investigator. A fan of "low-down dirty blues" the author has created a story that will hook the reader, and is, hopefully, the start to a series that will continue with the individuals and places we come to enjoy in this novel. Certainly, the blues as a musical culture is a strong sub-theme to this unusual mystery. Clinkunbroomer has written her own blues lyrics, which are included in the book and story, for added enjoyment.

Two small idiosyncrasies of the writer are minor niggles; she uses the phrase "come with" frequently (originally expressed as, "do you want to come with me?" - abbreviated to "come with?") Additionally, the use of the expression "nodding no" rather than "shaking no" to indicate a no answer without words, is used constantly. However, they are not enough to detract from the originality of the story and the characters. Marti's love interest in this book, former blues-rocker Johnny Magick, starts out as a client, searching for a kidnapped daughter, but soon becomes much more important to Marti, and to the plot. Marti's mother Alice is a strong woman, having raised Marti alone; she encourages her daughter in endeavors from which other mothers would recoil. From the big city (Chicago) to the rural areas, a lot of territory is covered as well, as Marti is constantly on the move for her clients' cases.

Marti is a very modern woman, intense, autonomous, clever and accomplished. She understands her weak points and her vulnerabilities, and works with them when she can, not letting them overtake her desires to do a top-notch job for her clients. The pattern of the mysteries being solved is not trite and mundane, but rather evenly paced and devoted to a complete resolution. It is a fantastic read, with no dull spots, so don't start it at night or you will be up until dawn, trying to finish. ENJOY!