Do Not Go Gently

There is serious potential in Smith-Levin's first outing, about a psychopath who is murdering young, pretty, successful black women in a Massachusetts town. Her heroine, homicide detective lieutenant Starletta Duvall, is a gutsy 15-year police-force veteran and the daughter of a cop as well. As an African American woman in a position of authority, she's got to hold her own in the men's-room atmosphere of the station--which she does--without losing her sense of self--which she doesn't. At least until the brutal killings begin. The description and gutsy dialogue are excellent, and the narrative is that of a good procedural until the very end, when Smith-Levin introduces an unnecessary twist and also abandons the various important personal relationships. Still, this is a very good start to what promises to be an exciting series. (Oct.)