The Siren’s Song

For reasons best known to themselves (as my late British mother-in-law used to say), I’ve been asked by editors at the Los Angeles Times to be a judge in the mystery/thriller category for their next annual book awards. My fellow judges are the divine Sarah (Weinman) and the brilliant Oline (Cogdill). So here I sit, like a thorn between two roses, reading tons of stuff that comes in daily so as not to miss anything. Suggestions are welcome, and I’ll do my beleaguered best to pass on tips about great stuff coming up. Such as Siren of the Waters, by Michael Genelin, to be published next month by Soho Crime.

Olen Steinhauer has written many fine books about the police in a country very much like Romania. Now comes Genelin, whose protagonist, Jana Matinova, has climbed to the rank of commander in the police force of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Her rise to her present position has cost her a lot, though, and now she’s in charge of an investigation into a deadly human-trafficking ring. She’s a tremendously interesting character, totally believable (and with the same aura of sad determination as the hero of Child 44), facing a truly frightening villain named Koba.

Add this one to your must-read list.