A Measure of Blood (Pittsburgh Police) (Paperback)
A killer puts a child in danger and sends a police detective on a hunt for justice in a novel that will “appeal to fans of Mary Higgins Clark” (Booklist).
Nadal watches for weeks before he first approaches the boy. No matter what Maggie Brown says, he’s sure Matt is his son, and a boy should know his father. After their first confrontation, Maggie should have run. She should have hidden her child. But she underestimated the man who was once her lover. With self-righteous determination, Nadal goes to her house. He demands to spend time with the boy. When she refuses, he reaches for a knife.
By the time homicide detective Richard Christie arrives on the scene, all that remains of Maggie Brown is a bloodstain on the floor. The killer has vanished, and Matt is too scared to remember anything but his mother’s fear. As Christie looks for the killer and Maggie’s friends fight to keep Matt out of the hands of Child Services, Nadal watches the news and waits. A boy should be with his father. He’s going to get his son.
From the Edgar Award–nominated author of Simple and Hideout, this suspenseful tale with “plenty of hometown flavor and characters worthy of investment” is a gritty tale of crime and justice (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Entertainment Weekly raves, “If anyone’s writing better police thrillers than George, I don’t know who it is,” while George Pelecanos says, “I look forward to reading anything Kathleen George writes.”
Nadal watches for weeks before he first approaches the boy. No matter what Maggie Brown says, he’s sure Matt is his son, and a boy should know his father. After their first confrontation, Maggie should have run. She should have hidden her child. But she underestimated the man who was once her lover. With self-righteous determination, Nadal goes to her house. He demands to spend time with the boy. When she refuses, he reaches for a knife.
By the time homicide detective Richard Christie arrives on the scene, all that remains of Maggie Brown is a bloodstain on the floor. The killer has vanished, and Matt is too scared to remember anything but his mother’s fear. As Christie looks for the killer and Maggie’s friends fight to keep Matt out of the hands of Child Services, Nadal watches the news and waits. A boy should be with his father. He’s going to get his son.
From the Edgar Award–nominated author of Simple and Hideout, this suspenseful tale with “plenty of hometown flavor and characters worthy of investment” is a gritty tale of crime and justice (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Entertainment Weekly raves, “If anyone’s writing better police thrillers than George, I don’t know who it is,” while George Pelecanos says, “I look forward to reading anything Kathleen George writes.”
Kathleen George is an author of thrillers and a professor of theatre. Born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, she completed a doctorate of theatre at the University of Pittsburgh, where she has taught for many years. In 1999, she published The Man in the Buick, a collection of short stories that she followed up with Taken (2001), a well-received thriller about a child’s disappearance. She continued writing police procedurals starring Pittsburgh homicide detective Richard Christie, including Fallen (2004), Afterimage (2007), and Hideout (2011).
In 2009, she published The Odds, a thriller about the drug trade in Pittsburgh, which was nominated for an Edgar Award. Besides writing thrillers, George is the editor of Pittsburgh Noir (2011), an anthology of crime stories set in the Steel City, and several books about theatre, including Rhythm in Drama (1980), Playwriting: The First Workshop (1994), and Winter’s Tales (2005). She is married to writer Hilary Masters.
In 2009, she published The Odds, a thriller about the drug trade in Pittsburgh, which was nominated for an Edgar Award. Besides writing thrillers, George is the editor of Pittsburgh Noir (2011), an anthology of crime stories set in the Steel City, and several books about theatre, including Rhythm in Drama (1980), Playwriting: The First Workshop (1994), and Winter’s Tales (2005). She is married to writer Hilary Masters.
“If anyone’s writing better police thrillers than George, I don’t know who it is.” —Entertainment Weekly
“A truly original tale . . . This very modern police procedural will not be easily forgotten.” —Library Journal on The Odds
“A gripping, gritty police procedural.” —Library Journal on Afterimage
“The story moves along rapidly; and while the child-in-jeopardy premise is a familiar one, the suspense keeps building as the fate of the boy hangs in the balance. Should appeal to fans of Mary Higgins Clark.” —Booklist
“The plot is compelling and the characters well drawn. . . . A Measure of Blood is an enjoyable police ride-along, with plenty of hometown flavor and characters worthy of investment.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“A truly original tale . . . This very modern police procedural will not be easily forgotten.” —Library Journal on The Odds
“A gripping, gritty police procedural.” —Library Journal on Afterimage
“The story moves along rapidly; and while the child-in-jeopardy premise is a familiar one, the suspense keeps building as the fate of the boy hangs in the balance. Should appeal to fans of Mary Higgins Clark.” —Booklist
“The plot is compelling and the characters well drawn. . . . A Measure of Blood is an enjoyable police ride-along, with plenty of hometown flavor and characters worthy of investment.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette