Hide is the first book in the Detective Harriet Foster series by American author, Tracy Clark. Violent crime isn’t unusual in Chicago, but the first case Harri Foster takes on in her new unit, after eight weeks’ compassionate leave, is extreme. Red-haired, blue-eyed Peggy Birch is found on the Riverwalk, under a pile of leaves, disembowelled, her wrists and ankles ringed with lipstick.

Harri has been teamed with Detective Jim Lonergan and, despite her sergeant’s warning, she is shocked and dismayed by how callous, how condescending, how disrespectful he is. She’s a divorced black woman who has just lost her work partner of eleven years to suicide, but she isn’t going to let this sexist, racist man distract her from doing her job well. And her sergeant has her finger on the pulse enough to act where necessary.

Lonergan has already decided that the young black man who was found, unconscious, nearby is the murderer, but Harri isn’t convinced, and carefully investigates all aspects of the killing. It is soon apparent that several others might have opportunity and possible motive, people whose alibis don’t all stand up to scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Bodie Morgan, a troubled man with a history of stalking young women has just been released from a psychiatric facility, and his treating psychiatrist is quite sure the story he has told her about his family history is false. She’s right about that. The ambitious career psychiatrist hopes to gain notoriety from his case, and takes her suspicions to the police, hoping to get involved with the case.

Then, the mutilated body of another young woman is found, not far from Riverwalk, one with similar features and markings to those on Peggy Birch. By the time Harri and the team have checked out CCTV and trace evidence, they know they are dealing with a very clever killer.

There’s lots of really good detective work in this police procedural, with plenty of red herrings and distractions to keep the pages turning. While some may think they have it all figured out, there are a few twists to keep even the most astute reader guessing right up to the final, chilling reveal.

Clark’s protagonist is easy to like, respect and cheer on as she deals with her narrow-minded, judgemental partner; this complex character and glimpses of her appealing support cast are enough to entice the reader to look out for the sequel, Fall. Excellent crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.