Helpful Score: 1
Writing as Frank Devlin, Tim Farrington (The Monk Downstairs, 2002) turns in this literate tale of a sweetly sour serial killer named Helen and the salty San Francisco police inspector who must track her down through the haze of a midlife crisis. Rose Burke's last partner ate his gun after an attempt to protect her during a bust gone wrong. Rose's sensitive new sidekick may have a thing for her, and with her own marriage falling apart, she isn't quite sure what to do about that. Meanwhile, Rose is in hot pursuit of a woman who kills her dates but leaves their homes sparkling clean. Both Rose and her suspect prove compelling characters, although hell-raising Helen gets the most amusingly wicked lines. Maybe blond killers do have more fun.
