The Last Voice You Hear    by Mick Herron Order:  USA  Can Carroll & Graf, 2004 (2004) Hardcover Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by J. A. Kaszuba Locke British author Mick Herron has penned a second literary novel in a private detective series, starring complex heroine Zoe Boehm. In The Last Voice You Hear, Zoe investigates three deaths. In the first, Wez, a 12-year-old purse snatcher, plunges from a London high-rise. Zoe has known Wez since he was nine years old, and is aware of his fear of heights. She also speculates that the murder of two middle-aged ladies are related to a man named Alan Talmadge, who preys on lonely, aging women. The detective's impression is that both women were shoved to their deaths, one onto a subway track, and the other into a ditch of water. Boehm carries her own load of grief from shooting and killing a man, albeit in self-defense. In her search for one killer, a second enters the scene, with Zoe's pursuit creating an about-face so that a murderer then pursues her. She seeks refuge with friends in the country, putting others in jeopardy. The plot is intriguing , and Herron's writing style is rich in imagery, as in 'when she coughed, it racked through her like she was a wardrobe full of empty coat hangers'. Herron is talented in establishing action and dialogue, and creating a psychological thriller. I confess to a difficult time with the wordy switching of points of view from beginning to end. And the author's interjections of off-the-track material can be confusing to the flow of the story. However, a sparkling, chill undercurrent engages the reader's interest right to the conclusion. The apprehension of one perpetrator is deferred, which leads me to hope for a sequel. The Last Voice You Hear is worth reading, if only for acquaintance with the strong, cool private detective, and with the author's poetic use of words. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews