A Choice of Crimes

Vic Varallo Mystery #10

by Lesley Egan

Gloria Carson was a pretty girl even with a black eye and a swollen jaw. She was flat in the hospital bed with the sheet drawn up tight, and she looked pale and sorry for herself. At the sight of the badges she looked frightened. — "We'd just like to hear what you can tell us about this, Miss Carson. Who did this to you?" — "I d-don't know," she said in a thin voice. "It was a strange man,I never saw him before. Well, I didn't see him at all because it was dark. It was the middle of the night. I was in bed, and I don't know how he got in, I suppose he jimmied the door or something I woke up, I guess I heard a noise, and he was there a burglar. A burglar. And I was too scared to scream, but I made a noise and he and he kept hitting me and I guess I passed out. When I came to he was gone but I was hurting so bad I couldn't move I don't know any more to tell you, that's all." She turned her face away and shut her eyes.

Genres: Mystery, Procedural

180 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

A pseudonym used by Elizabeth Linington.

Reviews

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pair of detectives from the Glendale, California, police department investigate a variety of crimes ranging from robberies to abduction to murder. Full of good, wholesome prose.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 3 out of 5]

A serial killer who gets away with it...

[Rogue Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Epitome of the classic police procedural, and unlike most fiction of the like, has dozens of crimes that are investigated simultaneously. Seems that only the routine keeps the cases moving forward, though most crimes here seem to be committed by idiots. Really good