Janie's Law (Prime Crime Mysteries)

Rating:
Summary: An unforgettable moral dilemma
Review: "Janie's Law" lays out a scenario that should haunt us all -- is murder acceptable when the victim is a villain? I think it's the best of Carroll Lachnit's Hannah Barlow series, and that's saying a lot. You want characters with depth, harrowing plots, contemporary dilemmas and exquisite writing? Start with "Murder in Brief" and buckle your seat belt.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Entry In An Outstanding Series
Review: "Janie's Law" lays out a scenario that should haunt us all -- is murder acceptable when the victim is a villain? I think it's the best of Carroll Lachnit's Hannah Barlow series, and that's saying a lot. You want characters with depth, harrowing plots, contemporary dilemmas and exquisite writing? Start with "Murder in Brief" and buckle your seat belt.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Entry In An Outstanding Series
Review: It is the rare book or mystery series that succeeds in terms of both plot, character development, and story, and Carroll Lachnit's Hannah Barlow novels books are so interesting and enjoyable to read because they have it all: realistic, three-dimensional characters; compelling, suspenseful plots; and well told stories. Forget Sue Grafton, Martha Grimes or any of the others, and pick up "Janie's Law." Or, better yet, start at the beginning of the series and read "Murder In Brief," "A Blessed Death," "Akin To Death," and then "Janie's Law." You won't regret it!

Rating:
Summary: A Mystery of Many Faces
Review: Now is time to welcome Carroll Lachnit's fourth title, Janie's Law, and its promise of justice for Ms. Barlow. Bearing in mind Janie Meister and the three succesfully solved mysteries since her apparent death that failed to comfort Hannah, we might even settle down with our new book comfortably and deservedly for their sakes, only to find ourselves stiff-backed once again after three mere pages, electrified, paralyzed with fear that another child may soon die. Lachnit delivers this high-powered jolt to warn us: we should know better than to assume all is well in Las Almas! Thankfully, she has precisely calculated our breath keeping capabilities, and in the nick of time for ourselves and for the children out at night on April 25th, engulfs a sinister parked van into flame. Stoked therein lies Henry Charles, a quivering cinder in the exquisite throes of depravity. Only those of us whose spirits have wholly survived Lachnit's two minute plunge into his hell, should brave to investigate further.... If only a rehabilitated child molester, Freddie Roche, hadn't pressed Hannah to represent him against an unresponsive police department, she would never have gotten mixed up with such an unsavory lot. Though she rejected him forcefully enough, it was his testimony that rang true with words from beyond the grave: referral instructions written in the hand of her deceased, estranged brother, Father Michael Barlow. Only a dark night of soul searching was to erode her resolve; for Michael's faith-filled, haunting words upheld his friend Freddie and grappled her conscience. If only she could have then staid the guilt at discovering her almost-client had been shot vigilante style over the weekend since their brief meeting! Days later, a similar killing follows. Finally so battered by Marian Roche's accusation of abandoning her son in spite of his scrupulous obediance to Megan's Law, Hannah surrenders herself to the case. Thus Janie's Law begins. The three murders under scrutiny are close enough in timing, locality and in nature for Hannah's Internet research on pedophiles to suggest the assasin/s must be past victims of the men, or at least associated persons infuriated by the terms and too recent enforcement of Megan's Law. Initially thinking the possible suspects to be few, she must quickly admit the more myriad number. The dead men have in fact seeded their morbidity everywhere: lone-suffering, silent individuals step forth cautiously from their shadows to relate their traumas. Two have already suicided. Willing to talk to Hannah but too beaten to act on their own, none fit the profile of one on a "cleansing" mission. More than one youth lurking in Janie's old neighborhood was watching Barlow all the while, knew everything about the girl's disappearance and others' histories too: information so necessary, that undaunted by the lies, aliases and trickeries of street kids, Hannah barters for roaming rights in their dark world. It was "Janie's Law" she saw there firsthand, youngsters hell-bent on emotional survival but adapted to mores more self-destructive than anything they can mete. Not unscathed by their violence herself, but guided by her dead brother's somehow watchful eye, Hannah manages with outstretched arm to subvert their masterpiece of apocalyptic vengeance already staged in white garments, and to convince just one who would listen, of forgiveness as the only way to salvage her own life. We will be duly convinced as well; for Lachnit knows the workings of the juvenile justice system, and whom can and cannot be saved in these instances. We will appreciate Hannah's resolve to hold back even one, as she wished to have saved Freddie. Sadly, we do not get to know him, though statistically speaking, he might have turned out a disappointment. Michael believed in him. After reflecting, we may want to include Freddie's face among the wronged we will meet in Janie's Law. Victims of molestation unquestionably get their due in Lachnit's fourth mystery; and as in the case of issues treated before, each weighted perspective is contained within the persona, not spilled out in the reader's lap. There is much to interest us here besides the personalities--a study in age progression software, a look at an otherwise invisible underground relocation network for abused moms and kids, and a look at the survival mechanisms of younsters who luckily or unluckily remember everything endured at the hands of the murdered men. Readers with only morbid curiosity will be satisfied early; but those matching Hannah in mindset will follow her full circle to solve once and for all the mystery of Janie.