Playing God

Written by Kate Flora

Narrated by Terry Rose

On a cold and snowy night in Portland, ME, Police Detective Joe Burgess catches a nasty murder case: oncologist Steven Pleasant, who had a habit of picking up prostitutes, is found dead in his car with a metal rod rammed down his throat. No one wants to talk to the police, yet both his family and his work colleagues knew about his sordid predilection. Flora, author of the Thea Kozak series (An Educated Death), has written a dark, brooding novel about a cop who, despite his personal demons and dislike for the murder victim, won't quit until the guilty party is brought to justice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books in Motion
• Release date: Jan 15, 2010
• ISBN: 9781605486239

Kate Flora

When she’s not writing or teaching at Grub Street in Boston, Flora is in her garden, waging a constant battle against critters, pests, and her husband’s lawn mower. She’s been married for 35 years to a man who still makes her laugh. She has two wonderful sons, a movie editor and a scientist, two lovely daughters-in-law, and four rescue “granddogs,” Frances, Otis, Harvey, and Daisy. You can follow her on Twitter @kateflora or at Facebook.com/kate.flora.92.

Reviews for Playing God

[ecw0647 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I ran across Books in Motion a couple of years back. They apparently got their start catering to long distance truck drivers producing some very good original audio recordings with their own stable of readers.

A prominent medical doctor is discovered dead in his Mercedes with his "ahem" at full mast and several shades of lipstick on the more sensitive portions of his anatomy. Joe Burgess, the detective catching the case, soon learns from his young second wife of his predilection for the euphemistic BJ at night in his car. No one liked Dr. Stephen Pleasant and the suspect list grows. Even Joe had a reason to dislike him as the doctor had screwed up his mother's treatment. No point in recapping the plot. Engaging and well-read with a very likable protagonist.

It's always interesting to read a book of this genre by an author with credentials, and knowing what those are often sheds light on incidents which occur in the book. A little investigating revealed that Flora, author of several other mysteries and some true crime reportage, was an assistant attorney general in Maine so she knows Portland and the crime milieu well. In one scene, Burgess attacks his boss because the evidence relating to the murder and rape of a child was being lost or contaminated. Turns out the alleged perp was from a prominent family and could hire an expensive lawyer, so strings were being pulled in the rapist's favor. I wonder if Flora hadn't suffered through her own rage at the rich and well-connected's ability to get off.

[lesaholstine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Joe Burgess, "the meanest cop in Portland" (Maine)works on the case of a murdered doctor in this outstanding mystery.