(pb; 1998: fourth book in the Jane Whitefield series)
From the back cover
“Jane Whitefield, legendary
half-Indian shadow guide who spirits hunted people away from certain death, has
never had a client like Dr. Richard Dahlman. A famous plastic surgeon who has
dedicated his life to healing, the good doctor hasn’t a clue why stalkers are
out for his blood. But he knows Jane Whitefield’s name—and that she iss his
only hope. Once again Jane performs her magic, leading Dahlman in a nightmare
flight across America, only a heartbeat ahead of pursuers whose leader is a
dead ringer for Jane: a raven-haired beauty who was stolen her name, reputation,
and techniques—not to save lives, but to destroy them.”
Review
Caveat: (possible) not-quite-spoiler series notes in this review.
A year after the events of Shadow Woman (1997), Jane Whitefield, retired from her guide business, is drawn
back into intrigue and danger when her husband, Carey McKinnon, asks her to
help his surgical/experimental-researcher mentor (Dr. Richard Dahlman)
disappear after he’s framed for the murder of his co-researcher. Complicating
Jane’s task is a woman who’s operating as Jane’s doppelgãnger, with a money-flush,
murder-leaning organization backing the faux-Jane. Also in the violent mix:
Alvin Jardine, a low-life, Jane-loathing bounty hunter, who might make an
appearance (or a few) in future Jane Whitefield entries.
As with earlier books in the series, there’s an
element/mention of Seneca/Native American mythology (in this case the titular
“face-changers”, Creator-Punishment beings), a measured-pace, snappy writing, character-driven
set-up with plenty of action, twists, fresh takes on familiar situations, and a
satisfying resolution that rings true, as well as mentions from previous
Whitefield novels (in this case, Vanishing Act, 1995, specifically: John
Felker, duplicitous and sociopathic former client of Jane’s; Lewis Feng, a
documents forger Jane worked with, later killed by Felker, as was another
former Jane client, Harry in Santa Barbara).
Worth owning, this. Followed by Blood Money.
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