Friday Fiction: Damaged by Pamela Callow (June 2010)

Canada’s debut author Pamela Callow presents the first of what is, at least, two books with Damaged.

In this new release, readers are introduced to Kate Lange; a junior solicitor working through the last two months of probation in the prestigious law firm of Lyons McGrath Barrett (or LMB, for short) in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Kate was formerly engaged to Halifax detective Ethan Drake; the relationship ending when the truth about Kate’s father’s embezellment crimes and questions about her sister’s death are suddenly exposed by Drake’s ex-girlfriend.

There is a killing running loose in Halifax killing and dismembering young women. Lisa MacAdams, his first victim, is a Judge’s daughter.

The victim’s grandmother, and Judge’s ex-mother-in-law, appeared in Kate’s office just days before her murder begging for help in getting custody because she believed Lisa was being neglected.

After learning of Lisa’s death, Kate feels, somehow, responsible considering that she turned down the grandmother’s case.

And her feelings of guilt will dredge up old memories that Kate had just as soon forget.

As is typical of mystery fiction that’s entwined with romance, there is a secondary story between Kate and Ethan.

Actually, sometimes it’s hard to determine whether Damaged is supposed to be a romance novel or a legal thriller.

While I believe that Pamela Callow has quite the potential to be a success, it’s going to take some time; or some new editors.

There’s just too many places in Damaged where it is boring and contributes nothing to the story lines. At 453 pages, I had a difficult time getting through it.

The plot interested me. The secondary plot interested me. And even the third plot – leading to the sequel, no doubt – was a real attention getting. But before I read Indefensible (expected January 2011), I’ll have to see that it has fewer pages; which, in my opinion, will create a great, fast-paced thriller that I can enjoy.