Atlanta Graves

This is a fine debut detective novel by Ruth Birmingham, and it makes me look forward to reading more of her work. Her protagonist, Sunny Childs, PI, is clever, feisty, and always interesting, and the story is well-plotted, full of interesing twists and turns. Birmingham succeeds in creating a tone that is hip and humorous and overall her style does resemble that of Sue Grafton. There's certainly room for more great mysteries with female protagonists, though, isn't there? It's also great fun to see a detective series set in Atlanta, a dynamic, cosmopolitan, and historic city.The only drawback I found was the laborious "let me tell you how I did it before I kill you" passage toward the end of the book. I suppose this is pretty standard fare for detective novels, but I would like to think that this feature could be minimized. Otherwise, congratlations to Ms. Birmingham for her inaugural effort.

Along the lines of Sharon McCone and Kinsey Millhone, there's great series potential here. However, I suggest Ms. Birmingham find herself a better proofreader because there were so many typographical errors that I started to find it distracting.

This is an excellent book that is very similar to the V.I. Warshawski series by Sara Patetsky, but with an Atlanta setting. This could be the beginning of a best selling series.

Gunnar Brushurd is a legend in his own time as the daring renowned owner of Peachtree Investigations, an Atlanta-based private detective firm. However, Gunnar is out of pocket, leaving Sunny Childs in charge of both the operational and financial operations of the company. While trying to ransom a stolen painting for a client, Sunny's perp is shot and the painting remains missing. She also learns that Gunnar has cashed a $100K CD that was used as collateral on a credit line at the bank. The bank calls in the loan, giving Sunny four days to pay back the debt or they will foreclose the business. When she reports to her client that the painting was stolen, she cuts a deal to find the painting in exchange for a $100K. Sunny is determined to save the company and regain the painting, regardless of the obstacles tossed her way by dangerous felons who will kill anyone who crosses their path. Readers will like the tough Sunny, who is an amalgam (not of DC and Marvel) of Scarpetta, Blake, and Milhorne. The convoluted plot yields many suspects, false trails, and red herrings, thereby guaranteeing an exhilarating how and who-done-it. Ruth Birmingham has started a terrific series that brings alive the mean streets of Atlanta. Harriet Klausner