POWER ON HER OWN

In her enjoyable U.S. debut, British author Cutler introduces a very human heroine, Det. Sergeant Kate Power, who's also a highly skilled professional. A personal tragedy has led to Power's transfer from London to Birmingham, where her new colleagues' misogynistic hazing undercut her efforts, as the only female detective on staff, to make a good start. Battling incipient alcoholism and survivor's guilt, she must compartmentalize her own problems to focus on tracking down a child molester who soon crosses the line from sexual abuse to murder. With a hospitalized aunt the only person she can trust, Power at once befriends and suspects a variety of locals, including her supervisor, a neighbor and the local minister. More than one potential suitor complicates already complex relationships, while such off-duty pursuits as coaching a boys' soccer team offer no refuge from the grim crimes she's responsible for solving. The book succeeds more as a character study than as a police procedural, since Power stumbles on a major clue completely by chance, and random events rather than clever investigation reveal some key aspects of the mystery. If there is a sequel, Cutler should let Power rely more on her own deductive powers. (July 7)