Shoot the Woman First

Stroby’s Crissa Stone is emerging as one of the more compelling female criminals in mystery fiction. In her third outing (after 2012’s Kings of Midnight), she once again displays bravery, cunning, loyalty, and a big heart matched by a willingness to embrace the violence her lifestyle necessitates. In Detroit, careless drug lord Marquis Johnson’s sloppy operation offers a tempting take of up to $500,000. When the heist hits a snag that results in the deaths of Crissa’s two ad hoc partners, Charlie Glass and Larry Black, she heads for Florida with half the loot. There she hopes to find Black’s family to share bad news and some of the money, but ruthless ex-cop Frank Burke is following the same tracks. As Burke leaves a trail of bodies in his wake, Crissa puts her life on the line to keep Black’s widow and little girl safe. Stroby nails this taut, gripping contest between well-matched opponents. Agent: Robin Rue, Writers House. (Dec.)