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The
Girl In The Glass by
James Hayman is a mystery based on two time periods. These
copycat murders take place in 1904 and 2012, creating an intriguing
premise. The crimes are identical in every way with a time
span of 108 years.
Because the book delves into the rich society, Hayman hopes
the readers "understand this sense of privilege. The
attitude being, 'whatever I want I can have, no matter who
it hurts.' Fitzgerald said, 'The very rich is very different
than you and I,' and Hemingway joked about that statement,
'yeah, they have more money.' My modern day character is the
ultimate bad rich girl who uses brains and beauty to get what
she wants."
The plot
has two women stabbed to death, about a century apart, on
the same remote island near Maine's coastline, left for dead
with the letter "A" carved into their chest. Detectives
Mike McCabe and Maggie Savage are assigned to bring the modern
day killer quickly to justice. But the key to solving the
murder appears to have been buried with her ancestor who was
killed in a similar manner. Readers might think of the legendary
novel, The Scarlett Letter, where a woman found guilty of
adultery had an "A" pinned to her clothing. However,
that is where the similarities stop. With this book, the cases
have a number of suspects, each with their own motives. These
two stories include a lot of broken marriages, complex families,
and parental love where jealousy and sibling rivalry are the
norm.
Hayman
commented, "McCabe is my alter ego. We are both New Yorkers,
city guys with our women talented artists. We both have daughters
who we love. We share the same values. When I write him it
is as if I am putting myself into whatever position he is
in. Anyone who has read all the books would know me very well
if they understand the McCabe character. The people I spend
the most time with are my imaginary friends."
As with
most of Hayman's books he is able to masterfully portray the
misty, coastal atmosphere of Maine. The islands are described
in such a way the readers can close their eyes and feel they
are transported there with the rocky high cliffs surrounded
by rough seas that have dangerous shorelines. The Maine coast
and Portland in particular with its maritime history provide
a unique backdrop for a book like The Girl in the Glass. Hayman
regards Portland Maine as "the perfect setting for a
suspense thriller series. It is a hip little city with a police
department big enough to have specialties; yet, small enough
so they know each other and can interact together."
This
latest McCabe/Savage thriller has a great setting and characters.
The setting blends into the mystery perfectly.
Reviews of other titles in this series
Darkness
First #3
The
Girl In The Glass #4
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