Poisonous

At the outsetof Brennan’s well-crafted third novel featuring investigative reporter Maxine “Max” Revere (after 2015’s Compulsion), Max, the host of a criminal justice TV program, Maximum Exposure, and her assistant, David Kane, make a preliminary trip to Corte Madera, Calif., to determine whether a cold case merits coverage. The deceased, teen Ivy Lake, had a reputation as an Internet bully, and some believe that she drove a high school classmate to suicide. Ivy’s developmentally challenged stepbrother, 18-year-old Tommy Wallace, wants answers. Local detective Grace Martin has a long suspect list, but no solid evidence to act upon. Grace cooperates with Max in hopes the show’s resources will shed some new light on Ivy’s murder. Max’s communication skills and passionate outspoken personality can serve her as strengths and weaknesses, both in the investigation and in her relationships with David and her lover, Det. Nick Santini. Readers may not like Max, but they will admire her. [em]Agent: Dan Conaway, Writers House. (Apr.) [/em]