Crime Scene Investigations (Vicki Petraitis, Five Mile Press, $24.95 pb, ISBN 9781741784091, January 2008) **

Described as the ‘queen of crime’, with nine novels under her belt, Vikki Petraitis’ latest book Crime Scene Investigations should be a gripping and compelling collection. Unfortunately this follow-up to her book Forensics is somewhat disappointing. Focussing on the forensics and case-solving behind four separate crimes in Victoria, Crime Scene Investigations is written in a clinical and journalistic style. Although it contains flashes of Petraitis’ usual style, it generally lacks the emotion, passion and pace of her other works. Her ability to compact such complex cases into around 30 pages, however, is impressive. Petraitis’ research is evident, and each story is detailed without being overly technical. Although there is some nice description and suspense-building, the writing does fall into straight telling at times and loses the distinctive voice usually weaving through the writer’s work. These are interesting stories, but the repetition of facts and events takes away from their impact. Although the stories are engaging, the way in which they are told could stylistically be improved. This collection will not appeal to all fans of true crime, but more so to a specific sub-section of this genre. Worth a look for those who enjoy a forensically detailed, behind-the-scenes look at how all departments of the police methodically solve a case, and to readers interesting in an investigative experience.

Lucy Meredith is a casual bookseller for Angus and Robertson and freelance writer

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2007, Thorpe-Bowker