The electrocution murder of Ohio senator Diane Cragin shortly before election day propels bestseller Black's solid fifth thriller featuring Cleveland crime scene investigator Maggie Gardiner and homicide detective Jack Renner (after 2018's Suffer the Children). Initially, Maggie and Jack's prime suspect is Joe Green, Diane's political rival, but after they discover almost a million dollars in cash in Cragin's house, they're forced to delve into the world of political corruption, bribes, and economic hit men. Meanwhile, Cleveland Herald reporter Lori Russo is working not only on a political corruption story but also on a vigilante case--a case that involves a murder Maggie helped Jack cover up. A second murder raises the ante. Maggie wonders if these murders are about politics or something more sinister. Black's deep dive into forensics and crime scene investigation makes the book read at times more like a procedural than a thriller. This wealth of detail, combined with a complex plot, slows the pace of what is otherwise an intriguing tale of skullduggery. On the whole, though, genre fans will be satisfied. Agent: Vicky Bijur, Vicky Bijur Agency. (Nov.)

While in the midst of a reelection campaign, U.S. Senator Diane Cragin is electrocuted at the front door of her Cleveland home. Homicide detectives Jack Renner and Thomas Riley, working the case with forensic specialist Maggie Gardiner, soon find no shortage of suspects. It's no surprise that politicians have enemies, but Cragin had more than most, thanks to her involvement in various controversial development projects, such as one that could have lethal effects on the city's water supply, according to the local EPA office. Then there's the nearly $1 million in cash that the trio finds in Cragin's home safe. A subplot centers on Maggie's knowledge that Jack is actually the vigilante murderer sought in several states and her concern that he may have been involved in the murder of a local investigative journalist who was digging into Jack's other life. This latest Gardiner and Renner mystery builds on the personal relationships among the leads while effectively exposing the underbelly of politics on the local and national levels. A high-energy narrative with a final twist that will leave readers wanting more.--Michele Leber Copyright 2010 Booklist