Interesting Theme, Solid Plot with an
Ending that Fizzles a Bit
When British police detective trainee Sarah Gladstone is
assigned to an apparent suicide, it appears a simple case, a chance to check
off another training requirement. But
when a connection to another suicide is found, and both become murders, Sarah
takes the lead on a case that will change her life.
There’s a lot to like in Death’s
Privilege, not the least of which is character development. Sarah Gladstone comes across as a real person
– strong, caring, determined, although flawed.
Her personality is one side of a generational gap with the old-hands who
mentor her (and another trainee) on the other.
While she is caring and sees people as salvageable, they represent more
of a ‘keep your distance to keep your sanity’ approach to crime fighting. Sarah resists that view and where she falls after
the events of this book is a central theme, key to how you may feel about the
ending.
The basic plot – two unconnected, apparent suicides that
become murders – was also solid. I was
sold after reading the synopsis, and the book continues the suspense,
especially in the early parts. The
rigors of Sarah’s job are also well described.
The long hours, the sacrifices, even the minor inconveniences of aging
accommodations and limited budgets are well depicted.
But while the way Sarah was characterized was a strength, the
process of developing that persona wasn’t.
The sections where Sarah lamented her sacrifices and worried about their
effect on her family and herself were too drawn out. All the angst pulled the story down. Additionally, some facets of her personality
seemed out of place, as if they had been added merely to increase complexity or
suspense. A minor example, to avoid any
spoiler, was her claiming to remember nothing during an exam when by all other
accounts, she was flying through the program.
But the primary downside was the ending.
It was too rushed and too convenient.
Most of the late reveals involved relationships, aliases, and basic
facts about people that the police should have known much earlier. And both the way the details of the crime
were exposed in the final pages and the nature of culprit’s motivations were somewhat
disappointing.
