Over Tumbled Graves

Jess Walter is a journalist and author of two previous nonfiction books, one
covering the Ruby Ridge slayings and another, In Contempt, co-authored with
Christopher Darden, on the O.J. Simpson criminal trial. Though both books
display Walter's flair for pacing and his ability to humanize news events,
neither approaches the tremendous emotional impact of his outstanding
mystery debut, Over Tumbled Graves (ReganBooks, $25). This account of a
fictional series of prostitute murders in Spokane, Wash., offers a whole new
perspective on serial killings.

Instead of fixating on the lurid details of torture or playing to readers'
fears, Over Tumbled Graves primarily follows the emotional journey of the
detectives trying to stop the violence. The book also uncovers the hypocrisy
and ego that plague what the author calls the serial killer industry --
the ever-growing tribe of reporters and so-called serial-killer trackers who
specialize in turning fear into profit. In doing so, Walter offers readers a
wonderfully plotted story and a very effective emotional subplot involving
the relationship between his two main protagonists: Detective Caroline Mabry
and her former mentor, Alan Dupree. Both officers are veterans of the
Spokane Police Department, and both, for personal reasons, are desperately
searching for answers about evil, justice and the fairness of life.

When a series of prostitutes is found strangled and dumped near the Spokane
River with $20 bills folded in their hands, it seems as if a textbook serial
killer is on the loose. However, when a number of similar crimes are tied
into the case, things become less clear. As the evidence departs from the
traditional profile of serial murders, jockeying for power within the
Spokane Police Department becomes intense. Things deteriorate further when
an FBI agent and a former agent join the investigative team. Both men, who
purport to be profiling experts, spend most of their time vying for media
attention. Meanwhile, Mabry and Dupree are quietly using their investigative
skills to help unravel the complex case.

'Over Tumbled Graves is, in some ways, an antidote to Hannibal. Without ever
taking the easy way out, the book explores the battle of good vs. evil on
very human terms -- as experienced by characters the reader can actually
empathize with and like.

The main characters in Over Tumbled Graves come from all walks of life: a
man just released from prison, a young prostitute, a female cop and her
cynical male mentor, a former FBI agent tortured by his ability to envision
the excitement a serial killer feels. Walter's omniscient narrative explores
the inner hopes, fears and motivations of all of these people -- bringing
depth and tenderness of emotion to every portrait. He rejects stereotypes,
giving even the bombastic serial-killer experts enough personal quirks to
define them as humans rather than cartoon characters.

Throughout the book, Walter uses nature metaphors to describe the effects of
crime on the human spirit and our society. Vivid descriptions of the rivers,
rocks and mountains surrounding Spokane balance the horrors of the killings
while underscoring the dubious contributions of mankind to our world. Walter
also vividly captures the inside world of cops, with setting and dialogue so
real that the reader feels as if he or she were sitting in a corner of the
squad room.

Subplots and character details wind through the book, masquerading as minor
descriptive or plot points until the very end -- when virtually every thread
comes together in a riveting ending that never sacrifices action for
emotional impact, or vice versa. During this climax, small moments are
revealed, in retrospect, as crucial turning points in the lives of main
characters. Flaws are shown to be strengths. Evil is revealed and then
redeemed. Moral ground is found. Obligations are released. And hard
questions are demanded of the reader. It's an outstanding conclusion worthy
of the book leading up to it.

Over Tumbled Graves is, in some ways, an antidote to Hannibal. Without ever
taking the easy way out, the book explores the battle of good vs. evil on
very human terms -- as experienced by characters the reader can actually
empathize with and like. *