Trace Evidence by Elizabeth Becka

First line in the book:  Evelyn James parked the county's battered station wagon behind a knot of cars on the side of the road.

What is this book about?  (Courtesy of the blurb):

Forensic scientist Evelyn James is called out to the river's edge to take a look at the body of a young woman.  After years in the job, Evelyn is used to the sight of victims washed up by poverty or grief, but this is quite different - and much nastier.  The girl's feet had been encased in concrete, her body wrapped in chains.  And she isn't alone - other young women have recently met a similar fate.

Evelyn's hunt for the killer takes her to the highest and lowest levels of society, and brings her face to face with a ghost from her past.  And then another girl disappears...

As debuts go, this goes right up to the top of my rating charts.  There is no fumbling around or amaterish writing or monotony but there is a lot of potential, humour and horror.  As Tess Gerritsen reviewed, it is "a smashing debut!"  It is also an advantage that Becka has actually worked as an investigator in Ohio, Cleveland where the story is set.  I like that she has come up with a divorced woman character who has a surly daughter and a mother living next door and a homicide detective with a murky past who checks in on his elderly father everyday.  There are some satisfying twists in the story and it is tightly written and well-paced. 

I highly recommend Trace Evidence and look forward to her next book, Unknown Means.

Elizabeth Becka was a forensic scientist with the Coroner's Office in Cleveland and has written and lectured extensively in forensics.  She now lives in Florida.  Her website is at Elizabeth Becka.

Rating:  5/5