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A homicide inspector with the San Francisco Police Department, Kate Gillespie worked hard to get where she is. But a frantic phone call from a snitch threatens to destroy everything she is and everything she's earned. Pulled from the bright lights of the Homicide office onto the shadowy night streets, she arrives at a clandestine meet just in time to see the frightened informer shot dead ... by another cop. Now Kate is a target, on a trail of dirty deals, corruption, and escalating violence that reaches back into her own troubled family history and deep into a department riddled with dark secrets and truths that kill. Suddenly Kate Gillespie is teetering on a "blue wall of silence" and being set up to take a long, fatal fall -- by a relentless killer who's hiding in plain sight.

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 30, 2002

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Robin Burcell

32 books210 followers

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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
350 reviews3 followers
March 18, 2018
Really good read. Love this Kake Gillespie series. I zipped right through this book because I couldn't put it down. Definitely a page turner, definitely a Thrill Ride, definitely action-packed to the end.
Profile Image for Pamela Tracy.
Author 41 books59 followers
July 15, 2019
I think I liked this even better than the first, and I loved the first. Great characterization, all loose ends tied up. Loved the tie back to the brother. Lots of angst with the father. The romance is working.

I did want more as to how the bad guy's partner didn't suspect...
Profile Image for Franco Pitacco.
228 reviews2 followers
August 2, 2021
first time I get to read a pre-pubblication not for sale book, but I expect not many changes in the original. Nice story of inspectot Gillespie, always craving for some sex.
Profile Image for Shelley.
5,581 reviews490 followers
February 2, 2011
Synopsis: A homicide inspector with the San Francisco Police Department, Kate Gillespie worked hard to get where she is. But a frantic phone call from a snitch threatens to destroy everything she is and everything she's earned. Pulled from the bright lights of the Homicide office onto the shadowy night streets, she arrives at a clandestine meet just in time to see the frightened informer shot dead; by another cop.

Now Kate is a target, on a trail of dirty deals, corruption, and escalating violence that reaches back into her own troubled family history and deep into a department riddled with dark secrets and truths that kill. Suddenly Kate Gillespie is teetering on a "blue wall of silence" and being set up to take a long, fatal fall by a relentless killer who's hiding in plain sight.

She also has alot to prove ever since her brother died years ago from a drug overdose. It seems that he was under an IA investigation at the time.

Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Police Procedural

Review: This is the second book in the Kate Gillespie series. I liked that the story moved quickly and Kate even has a new romantic involvement with IA Investigator Mike Torrance, who is also helping keep her alive. This is a very quick read, that one can finish in one sitting if you have the time and interest in these books. As a former police officer herself, Ms Burcell knows the subject very well.

Profile Image for HornFan2 .
761 reviews45 followers
September 20, 2014
Excellent, excellent read, one of my new favorites, Gillespie's awesome, like the support cast around her in the SFPD and a must read.

The SFPD has a dead Officer killed in a hit and run, but the investigation leads to the Officer being a dirty cop, and just how deep does this scandal run.

Is it just one officer? Multiple officers? Does it involve multiple agencies in law enforcement? Well strap yourself in, this is a wicked fast read.

One were the author, has your undivided attention, throws the gamete at you full of suspects, twist and turns, multiple story lines and it all leads back to dead dirty cop.

What makes this book so good, is Kate Gillespie character. She's front and center in the most important investigation of her life, it's written perfectly with all the necessary emotions and perfectly done.

It's rare to see an author, raise the bar in a series from the first book to the second and usually it's the 3rd or 4th book that authors nail it.

Burcell's an amazing author, one of my top-10 authors and highly recommend that you read her books.
Profile Image for T.M. Carper.
Author 15 books20 followers
August 6, 2011
A good follow-up with plenty of tense moments. The mystery behind Kate's brother, Sean's death, is finally revealed when Kevin's mother reappears while Kate's in the middle of running from cops after witnessing a murder.



Joining forces with her ex-partner and the IA man who helped her last time around.



A good, page-turning mystery to pass a few hours. Burcell's experience as a police officer adds authenticity to this novel.
139 reviews11 followers
April 13, 2013
This is the first of Robin Burcell's, Kate Gillespie series I've read and I was in no way disappointed. What does a police officer do when their confidence in their colleagues is shattered by knowledge of corruption, possibly at the highest level. Kate is placed in such a position and to add to her troubles there's her nephew to worry about. It's a well written fast-paced thriller with an uncertain end. One which any reader of crime fiction will enjoy.
860 reviews6 followers
June 30, 2013
This book came to me from Covelo CA. Probably from the fire department rummage sale. I wanted to enjoy it but I just couldn't make it happen. The main character, a lady cop gets in over her head when she witnesses another cop killing an informant. I had a hard time figuring out who the good cops were. Very complicated. Very neatly tied the present day situation together with her cop brother's death twelve years prior.
Profile Image for Jenn.
1,647 reviews34 followers
July 11, 2011
Rather ho-hum. I didn't find that I connected much with the characters. The illusion of romance did nothing for the story and I found I only really wanted to get inside Torrance's head more. Not the best thriller I've ever read.
Profile Image for Sherri Bryant.
1,351 reviews63 followers
July 25, 2010
A fast paced, adrenaline charged story that will keep the reader guessing. Kate Gillespie is a character I can admire and root for. Looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing what develops between Kate and Torrance.
Profile Image for Ruth.
1,356 reviews27 followers
April 16, 2009
story deals with corrupt cops, drugs and murder. Kate solves the ’murder’ of her brother - a policeman that committed suicide over drugs and guilt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nicole.
986 reviews13 followers
July 7, 2013
Works as a stand alone novel, but I also like the feel for the "rest of the story" feel that comes with it.
Profile Image for Kay.
1,243 reviews23 followers
January 15, 2008
Robin Burcell writes fast moving easy to read mysteries that keep my interest!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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