Cirrus@Austlit

'Not only are P.D. Martin's initials the same as those of a certain eminent English crime writer but Body Count's heroine and plot, even the genre-specific title and cover design, bring forth a host of associations with the work of other writers in a well-populated sub-category of crime fiction. According to the publicity for Body Count, this debut novel is written "in the tradition of Patricia Cornwell and Nicci French", which no doubt serves as a further prompt to pattern recognition.

'Martin's heroine, Sophie Anderson, is an Australian-born FBI profiler attached to the Behavioural Science Unit in Washington DC, where she becomes involved in the case of a serial killer who murders two women and clearly has no intention of stopping there.' Simon Caterson, The Age, 11.6.2005.

' FBI profiler Sophie Anderson is an expert at dealing with gruesome murder cases and psychotic serial killers. Her latest case, however, is like nothing she's ever seen before - the victim has had his throat ripped out.

'The body is identified as a member of an Asian criminal organisation, and Sophie and her team suspect they've stumbled upon a gangland hit. But the butchered victim had been missing for fifteen years, presumed dead - so who lured him out of hiding to kill him?

'When Sophie uncovers a number of similar murders with links to organised crime, she realises she has a seasoned killer on her hands who leaves no forensic evidence. But how does he do it?

'Sophie is also grappling with more personal issues. Over-protective parents visiting from Australia, her erratic psychic skills and the growing distraction of her feelings for a fellow cop.

'But Sophie will have to focus on the job - they still have no idea who's behind the murder, or that another is being planned... one that will strike at the heart of the investigating team itself.' (From the publisher's website.)

'Australian FBI profiler Sophie Anderson is on a new case, and this one is strange, even for Sophie. The victim is found dead in a state park with two puncture wounds on her neck. There is no blood on the scene, but she looks to have been drained.

'Is it a straightforward murder investigation, or the result of a ritual performed by LA's secretive population of "vampires"?

'Meanwhile, Sophie's new squeeze is in town, and as usual she's hard at work. Will she be able to balance her obsession with the case with her fragile new relationship? And what does she really feel for Anton Ward, the brooding, darkly handsome leader of the bizarre sect who claim to be vampires?

'Special Agent Sophie Anderson must put the pieces together, and her feelings aside. If she's wrong, the murderer may walk. If she's right it will be a race against time to find the killer before more innocent girls die.' (From the publisher's website.)

'Aussie FBI profiler Sophie Anderson returns to Australia to solve her brother's 28-year-old murder.'

Source: P. D. Martin's Coming Home homepage: http://www.pdmartin.com.au/ebook/
Sighted: 23/02/2010