‘Knife Music’ by David Carnoy

Published by Turnaround,
12 December 2013.
ISBN: 978-1-46830-702-3

A 16-year-old girl is involved in a serious car accident and is operated on by  handsome, confident trauma surgeon Ted Cogan.  Six months later, the girl kills herself.  Cogan is deeply implicated, accused of raping her, thus driving her to suicide.  Is he guilty or not? A veteran detective, Hank Madden, is convinced that he is, and directs all his energies to proving it.  Hank has his own issues to deal with, also involving a doctor, so his outlook is prejudiced.  Or is it? 

The story is fast-paced, though I found the constant shift in viewpoint and style to be a little irritating.  But the final twist at the end more than makes up for it, a twist that even the most seasoned of crime readers could not have foreseen.  Recommended.

------

Reviewer: Susan Moody

David Carnoy grew up and went to high school (Palo Alto). His novels take place in Silicon Valley, but David now lives in New York City with his wife and children. Knife Music was his debut novel.  He has since written The Big Exit (2012).

Susan Moody was born and brought up in Oxford.  She has published over 30 crime and suspense novels, including the Penny Wanawake series and the Cassandra Swann bridge series.  She is a past Chairman of the British Crime Writers' Association, a member of the Detection Club, a past Writer-in-Residence at the University of Tasmania and a past President of the International Association of Crime Writers.  She divides her time between south-west France and south-east Kent.   Nominated for the CWA short story award.  Nominated for the RNA's award.