A Maxim Jakubowski Great Female Crime Sleuth.

JO BECKETT - Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett's specialty is the psychological autopsy. She is brought in on the scene post death (although not always...) to determine its nature: natural, accidental, suicide or homicide. Her latest case involves the death on stage of a female rock singer in suspicious circumstances. From that point onwards, matters get rather complicated and breathlessly dangerous. Gardiner is a gem when it comes to feisty heroines and intricate plotting. A winning series.

Comparison: Lisa Gardner, Tami Hoag, Natasha Cooper
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Synopsis

When a rock singer is killed onstage during a concert, Jo Beckett is called in to perform a psychological autopsy. But Tasia McFarland's death causes Jo all kinds of problems, because Tasia is the ex-wife of the President of the United States. The White House pressures Jo to declare Tasia's death an accident rather than a suicide. The media and conspiracy nuts rant that Tasia was knocked off to silence her, for unknown reasons. Fringe extremists seethe about taking direct action to save America from the president and his administration. Jo learns that an obsessed fan was apparently stalking Tasia. The stalker may have killed her and escaped in the panic at the concert. As the media and conspiracy frenzy grows, the White House leans harder on Jo to close the case. When she won't, Gabe Quintana finds his military orders suddenly changed, and he's called up to active duty in Afghanistan! in 72 hours. Jo discovers the identity of the stalker. It's someone who's obsessed with Tasia's new boyfriend, a famous country singer. Jo calls the police but she's too late. The stalker stabs the singer to death. The police kill the stalker. The case seems to have come to a spectacular conclusion. But Jo doesn't think the stalker murdered Tasia; the facts don't add up. She fears that Tasia was killed for other reasons. And she's nervous, because the President is coming to San Francisco to attend Tasia's memorial service!

Reviews

'Gardiner depicts an America corrupted by the cult of celebrity, deranged mass media and a toxic blogosphere. Zesty, smart.'
THE SUNDAY TIMES

'Jo Beckett may remind readers of Nancy Drew in her prime.'
WASHINGTON POST

'Breathless suspense, slick plotting and a cast of compelling characters make this a solid addition to Edgar-winner Gardiner's dossier of superlative thrillers with appeal both for pure suspense fans and those who favour well-delineated characters.'
BOOKLIST Praise for THE MEMORY COLLECTOR:

'The next suspense superstar.'
STEPHEN KING

'Meg Gardiner is an astonishing writer.'
TESS GERRITSEN

'Riveting!a book you just can't put down!The Memory Collector is a first-class thriller with non-stop action.'
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

About the Author

Meg Gardiner is originally from Southern California, where she practiced law and taught at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is the author of five Evan Delaney novels as well as the first Jo Beckett thriller, The Dirty Secrets Club, described by Jeffery Deaver as A winner all the way. She lives with her family near London. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation