REFLECTIONS IN A DRAGON'S EYE

In this procedural, Baltimore detectives help distill an alcoholic’s hazy recollection in order to unmask a serial murderer.

Sgt. William Mankiller and his rookie partner, Det. Maria Esperanza Ruiz, work a frustrating case involving missing women. The detectives have nothing to go on; the victims, who are all blond and have similar body types, vanished without a trace. A body washes up in the harbor—a woman who looks like the ones missing—and Mankiller and Ruiz think that a murderer, who’s thus far covered their tracks, has finally made a blunder. The good news? There’s a potential witness. The bad news, however, is that it’s Kyle Owen “KO” Bannon, a former prizefighter-turned-drunk who claims he saw a dragon kill a woman. The detectives are convinced the mythical creature from KO’s memory will ultimately reveal a critical detail about the perpetrator. While KO fights to stay sober, a psychologist makes a wild suggestion—“recreate” what KO witnessed by sending him right back to the bottle. There’s surprisingly little tension in Harper and Galehouse’s novel. Although readers get a glimpse of a frighteningly careful murderer, this villain spends most of their time avoiding detection. The story focuses on the lively cast, from the seasoned veteran cop and the rookie bonding over hot cocoa to the struggling alcoholic hoping to repair the severed relationship with his daughter. Likewise, a snowy Baltimore winter generates a memorable setting and sparks colorful passages: “The cold sank its claws into everything and kept its grip, even as the days inched toward February.” Despite the detectives’ ongoing investigation, the alleged dragon is the grandest mystery, and the most compelling dilemma is the ethical question of persuading KO to drink again. Still, it all builds to a riveting final act and a worthy payoff.

A measured crime story that deftly forefronts its indelible characters.