Victoria Blake's Cutting Blades
A Sam Falconer Novel
In her debut novel Bloodless Shadow, Victoria Blake introduced Sam Falconer, private investigator and former Judo champion, a tough female PI whose past and personal life were just as interesting as the cases she solved. Bloodless Shadow appeared to be a great opening to an exciting series with a complex protagonist. For those who loved Blake's debut, her follow up Cutting Blades will not disappoint you.
Sam's Ghosts
At the beginning of Cutting Blades, Sam Falconer finds herself dealing with the fact that everything she believed about her father was wrong. Growing up believing he was killed when she was four years old, Sam sees her father now returning to her life, very much alive but by no means the hero she worshiped as a child. Her connection with him now threatens her relationships with her brother and her mother as well as brings on other troubles, including increasing feelings of paranoia as well as someone breaking into her flat. Despite these problems, Sam is not without work to distract her from her family's issues. The Oxford University rowing team hires Sam to find their star rower, who mysteriously disappeared during pre-term trials.
The Harry Cameron Case
No one knows what made gifted rower Harry Cameron disappear so suddenly. Talented, good-natured with extremely high moral standards, it just seems out of character. Sam's search continues to turn up with dead ends, but the more she learns about Harry, the more she wants to help him. Harry's disastrous family situation and his love and devotion for his sport provide a haunting connection between Sam and Harry, leading her to go above and beyond the call of duty on his behalf. Balancing the Harry Cameron case with her family's conflicts leave Sam emotionally involved on both fronts in her efforts to save Harry, her family, and herself.
Final Thoughts
Victoria Blake, once again, manages to draw the reader effortlessly into the life of this troubled investigator. Readers who love strong characterization will have no trouble feeling Sam's pain in her quest not only to find this missing young man but also regain her own peace of mind. The plot of Cutting Blades is fast-paced, rendering the book nearly impossible to put down. The return of Sam's father is a heavy theme in this story and at times tends to take center stage from the Cameron case. While Sam's skills as a detective may be called into question at times, Blake's pacing and characterization will hold most readers despite these few flaws.
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