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Caitlin Reece #3
The Daughters of Artemis: A Caitlin Reece Mystery
Book by Douglas, Lauren Wright
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 8, 2013
Daughters of Artemis is the third book in Lauren Wright Douglas’ series of mysteries featuring PI Caitlin Reese. I’ve enjoyed all three, but this one, perhaps the most. Caitlin is hired to find a young college student who’s left home and won’t talk to her older sister or to her (former) best friend. Turns out, the women she’s staying with are all rape victims, as is she, and they have something suitably grisly planned for a particular rapist. Caitlin needs to separate the young woman she’s looking for from the group before they all end up in prison.
The plot, detective doing standard sleuthing to complete her tasks, is pretty basic stuff, but well-written and nicely paced. A secondary plot involves the rapist whom Caitlin sent to prison when she worked for the Crown Prosecutor’s office. (This takes place in Victoria, B.C.) Seems he’s out on some ridiculous early release program, and he had vowed to kill both our intrepid PI and the victim who testified against him. The way he becomes involved with the other rape victims is a little contrived, but it still works.
One of the things I like best is that Caitlin is not some larger than life, fearless Amazon of a protagonist. She’s vulnerable, but still does what needs to be done. She’s scared to death when she learns Macklin, the rapist, is out of prison, but is still determined to send him back. She also has to fight an overwhelming tendency to kill him rather than return him to prison. To complicate things just a bit more, she has a sexual encounter with the head of Daughters of Artemis, the rape victims.
I won’t give away the ending. Suffice it to say there’s plenty of suspense, a surprise or three, and the climax (no, not that climax) is pretty gut-wrenching. Likeable characters, pretty good story, competent writing, in an easy-going style despite the emotional turmoil. Maybe not at the top rung of this sub-genre, but still enjoyable and worth the read.
The plot, detective doing standard sleuthing to complete her tasks, is pretty basic stuff, but well-written and nicely paced. A secondary plot involves the rapist whom Caitlin sent to prison when she worked for the Crown Prosecutor’s office. (This takes place in Victoria, B.C.) Seems he’s out on some ridiculous early release program, and he had vowed to kill both our intrepid PI and the victim who testified against him. The way he becomes involved with the other rape victims is a little contrived, but it still works.
One of the things I like best is that Caitlin is not some larger than life, fearless Amazon of a protagonist. She’s vulnerable, but still does what needs to be done. She’s scared to death when she learns Macklin, the rapist, is out of prison, but is still determined to send him back. She also has to fight an overwhelming tendency to kill him rather than return him to prison. To complicate things just a bit more, she has a sexual encounter with the head of Daughters of Artemis, the rape victims.
I won’t give away the ending. Suffice it to say there’s plenty of suspense, a surprise or three, and the climax (no, not that climax) is pretty gut-wrenching. Likeable characters, pretty good story, competent writing, in an easy-going style despite the emotional turmoil. Maybe not at the top rung of this sub-genre, but still enjoyable and worth the read.
October 6, 2022
This mystery was first published in 1991 so I worried it might feel dated. It didn’t, but that could be because I lived half my life without cellphones and laptops. Technology is barely mentioned, except for mysterious messages on Caitlyn’s computer. This is the third in the series but I didn’t feel like I needed to have read the first two books.
Content warning: there is violence and rape is mentioned in the past.
The main character, Caitlyn, is thoughtful and well educated, very conscious of women’s issues that were prominent during that era, from struggles for women’s rights to fighting back against rapists. A former prosecutor, Caitlyn now works as a private investigator. When she found out a rapist who had vowed vengeance had been released early, she rushed to warn the victim. That’s only one thread, though; there’s another rapist loose, and the plot goes primarily in that direction. Caitlyn is trying to protect the former victim while searching for her client’s missing sister.
This introduces a lot of disparate people but it all flows together well. There are some references to other lesbian writers. The novel reminded me of the 1980s when women were marching to take back the night. It’s like reading recent history while watching Caitlyn try to solve both her problems before anyone gets hurt. There’s a dark twist as well with a mysterious yet somewhat alluring woman she meets at the university. Eventually everything comes full circle. There is resolution.
Content warning: there is violence and rape is mentioned in the past.
The main character, Caitlyn, is thoughtful and well educated, very conscious of women’s issues that were prominent during that era, from struggles for women’s rights to fighting back against rapists. A former prosecutor, Caitlyn now works as a private investigator. When she found out a rapist who had vowed vengeance had been released early, she rushed to warn the victim. That’s only one thread, though; there’s another rapist loose, and the plot goes primarily in that direction. Caitlyn is trying to protect the former victim while searching for her client’s missing sister.
This introduces a lot of disparate people but it all flows together well. There are some references to other lesbian writers. The novel reminded me of the 1980s when women were marching to take back the night. It’s like reading recent history while watching Caitlyn try to solve both her problems before anyone gets hurt. There’s a dark twist as well with a mysterious yet somewhat alluring woman she meets at the university. Eventually everything comes full circle. There is resolution.
August 28, 2024
I finished this book while at the library today. Unfortunately, it wasn't my thing, plus I kept getting annoyed when I'd already pre-guessed stuff long before the protagonist (who was a freelance Detective I'm guessing). I only finished reading it because I'd set it as part of my BookCrossing July through September SIY challenge. Normally I'd have quit it at page 100. Not the book or author's fault, I just think that the novel hasn't aged well. All that technology that has changed since the early 1990s...to think you can now fit an iphone, which is technology that can contain access to books, in a saddlebag, (you'll get this if you read it), trumps the protagonist's feelings about the importance of print books. And I'm a print book fan! Anyway, it was just 'ok' and wasn't really for me...
June 19, 2019
A brilliant read. Really liked the strong women. They overcame a lot. The mystery was tense and scary at times.
May 5, 2023
It was terrible. But it was also exactly the kind of mindless WLW PI chuff I wanted it to be. Ergo two stars instead of one.
October 5, 2014
I really enjoyed this book! It was a quick read and vastly entertaining- I should have started from the first book but I picked this up at a used book sale. Largely because the main character is a lesbian PI named Caitlin. A great vacation read. I'll definitely go back to the beginning so I can appreciate the background stuff I didn't get.
February 23, 2016
SUMMARY: In this third of the series, P.I. Caitlin Reece is hired to locate a young woman who has voluntarily disappeared at the same time she learns that a rapist she had prosecuted several years before and who swore vengeance on her and his last victim has been paroled. COMMENTS: the best in the series so far
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews