Trace Evidence

by Elizabeth Becka

Book Overview

A gripping suspense novel that introduces forensic expert Evelyn James as she tries to decipher trace evidence and solve a bizarre crime It's a cold Cleveland November day when forensic trace evidence expert Evelyn James is summoned to the scene of a bizarre crime. A young woman has been forcibly drowned, her feet chained and sunk in cement. When a second young victim is connected to a prominent family, all hell breaks loose, and the police -- and...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1401301746
• ISBN13: 9781401301743
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Hachette Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 18 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Postsecondary to Grade 12

Customer Reviews

Surprises Galore, Nail-biting and Suspense too

Cleveland forensic trace analyst Evelyn James is called out on a cold November day to the scene of murder by drowning. Someone shackled a young woman, gave her a pair of cement shoes and dropped her in the river. Not long after Evelyn is confronted with another body, another young girl and though she is missing the cement shoes, the deaths are similar enough for the authorities to make a connection or two and one of those connections is James Neal, a nurse who'd cared for both girls, who also is connected with Evelyn's own daughter, Angel. Also the second murdered girl just happens to be the daughter of the Mayor, a former lover of Evelyn's. Might she herself be the connection? Might her daughter be at risk? This mystery will have you guessing and nail-biting as you read away. The answers are not obvious and the ending is satisfying. Kay Scarpetta and Tempe Brennan fans are sure to be enthralled with Evelyn James. I know I was. And I was enthralled with the story because it was one of those where I thought I'd had it all figured out, only to be wrong. I just love those aha moments, when I slap my head and say, "Now why didn't I see that." You're going to love this book.

Great Start For a New Series

The author's sister lives in Marion, so I knew this book was coming out almost a year ago and had been looking forward to it. I wasn't disappointed. This is a wonderful book, especially for people who are fans of Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs. The author is a criminalist and she includes a number of details involving forensic investigations, but she doesn't get so bogged down in the science that lay people would be lost or confused. Her writing style is fast-paced, fresh and exciting, although she could stand to cut down on the hyperbole a bit. Anyone who is at all familiar with the Cleveland area will recognize her locations. The characters are fresh and appealing, especially the heroine, Evelyn James, a thirty-something single mother who is dealing with a teenage daughter who is upset about her parents' divorce, while trying to solve the gruesome slayings of several young women just a few years older than her daughter. Life experieinces become tangled with the case, and the ending will have the reader on the edge of his/her seat. I had a hard time putting this book down, and finished it in 2 sessions. I envy anyone picking it up for the first time, because you are in for a surprising and exciting read.

20 Pages In

Being only on the 4th chapter, I dread having to put down this book. I am a voracious reader and rarely read fiction outside of Grisham! But Becka already has me wanting more. I live just over the bridge from her (have never met her) and lived in NE Ohio (setting for the book) during my jr. and sr. high school years. Although this may have played a part in the purchase it in no way plays a part in the read. A fan already! Vince Bradley Ft Myers FL

A suspenseful, realistic thriller from a debut author

Cleveland, which serves as the setting for Elizabeth Becka's debut novel TRACE EVIDENCE, is no stranger to serial murderers. Jeffrey Dahmer was born and raised in a small community near Cleveland, and in the more remote past, Eliot Ness was stymied in his efforts to uncover the identity of a killer who stalked the city's (then) clandestine gay community. While TRACE EVIDENCE concerns itself with the hunt for a serial murderer, the focus of the book is Evelyn James, a forensic trace evidence specialist who is investigating a series of bizarre, terrifying murders. The first involves the discovery of a young woman's body in a river, her feet encased in cement. The second victim, the daughter of one of Cleveland's most prominent citizens, becomes even more significant when a connection is discovered between the two victims. James is drawn into the case on both a professional and personal level, and she finds some unexpected conflicts arising from the opposing loyalties that manifest themselves during the course of the investigation. Gradually James comes to the realization that her own daughter may have a connection to the murders --- and quite possibly could be the next victim. James is a believable character, more so than some of her fictional peers. Despite being her first novel, Becka's handling of James is extremely proficient, especially with respect to her ability to make James walk the fine line between tough and tender in her professional and personal lives. Her descriptions of the problems faced by working single parents are right on the mark; somehow, things get done, even if they are not always done well. While Becka's characterization of James is first-rate, it is the plot that really shines. She moves the story along in perfectly paced doses, ratcheting up the suspense by slow but steady degrees. Becka, a Cleveland expatriate who now resides in warmer climates, pulls off the Herculean task of capturing the essence of the city --- one that ebbs, flows and surges against its boundaries --- while effectively utilizing it as a backdrop for a tightly written, suspenseful story. TRACE EVIDENCE is a fine introduction not only to Becka but to James as well. There's enough crime on the North Coast to keep both busy for some time to come. Recommended. --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Finished it in two days

I thought the characters were easy to identify with, the plot was suspenseful, with enough action to keep you reading. No long-winded descriptions, and the humor was the kind of low-key throwaway lines that I can appreciate. The police work had the ring of authenticity, probably because of the author's background. All in all, I'm looking forward to the next Evelyn James story.