The Wandering Soul Murders: Gail Bowen

Brief introduction to this book at Goodreads:

Murder is the last thing on Joanne Kilbourn’s mind on a perfect morning in May. Then the phone rings, and she learns that her daughter Mieka has found the corpse of a young woman in an alley near her store. So begins Joanne’s chilling collision with evil in Gail Bowen’s riveting third mystery, The Wandering Soul Murders.

In the early books of the Joanne Kilbourn series, Joanne is a political analyst and a writer. Her position makes it possible for Bowen to highlight political and social issues in her books. Joanne is a widow with four children and family comes first with her. The latest addition to the family is a young girl who she adopted. Taylor was the daughter of a close friend who died. Her oldest child, Mieka, has left college to start a business, a concern for Joanne. Because she cares so much, for her family and for others, Joanne sometimes makes questionable decisions. Her vulnerability and her determination make her an interesting character.

The subject matter in these novels is certainly not cozy. The deaths in The Wandering Soul Murders are horrifying, but not graphically portrayed. The first victim was working temporarily as a cleaner in Mieka's new business. It turns out she had been a prostitute.. There are more deaths, and Joanne's searching for answers turns up hints of child prostitution.

All the Joanne Kilbourn mysteries that I have read feature murders of very close friends or the cases involve close family relationships. It seems that it is dangerous to know Joanne. This is one of the problems I have with amateur sleuths. Yet her close involvement with the victims does lend validity to her decision to strike out on her own to find out more about the victims and the crimes.

Setting is very important in Bowen's books. The descriptions and use of the Saskatchewan locations are interesting and contribute to the feel of authenticity. The writing and characterization pulled me into the story.

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Publisher:   McClelland & Stewart, 2011 (orig. pub. 1992)
Length:       214 pages
Format:      Trade paperback
Series:       Joanne Kilbourn #3
Setting:      Saskatchewan, Canada
Genre:        Mystery
Source:      I purchased my copy..