Fallen Angels by Connie Dial

LAPD Captain Josie Corsino of the Hollywood Division has a boatload of problems in this great little novel written by a woman who worked for the LAPD for 27 years. First, a young movie star/celebrity is murdered and the chief suspect is a city councilman's son. The son just happens to be the best friend of Corsino's son. There are suspicions of police corruption, so she doesn't know for sure who she can trust nor does she know how high up the corruption might go. And to top it all off, her husband announces that he has resigned his job in the DA's office, opened a private practice, and needs some time to himself to think things through. Any one of those troubles would flatten some people, but Josie Corsino is not "some people."

Corsino is not superwoman though. I really like this character. For one thing, when she is in danger, she reacts like anyone else would. I have absolutely nothing in common with her except that we're both women, but I identified with her because she's sensible, has trouble coping sometimes, and is determined to do her job well, let the cards fall where they may.

The plot of this story and the police and local government characters are all believable and interesting enough to keep you turning pages. I enjoyed the character of Corsino's son, David, as well. An accomplished pianist, he is floundering a bit in his early 20s as he seeks his own way. The fact that his mother doesn't approve and wants him to go to a good music school, Julliard comes to mind, sounds just like what most mothers would do.

Through all the turmoil, personal and crime related both, Josie Corsino stays true to her beliefs and confronts each issue with the strength of her convictions. This is Dial's third novel, but I believe it's the first of the Josie Corsino stories. I'm definitely sold, and will certainly find Internal Affairs and The Broken Blue Line to read. I highly recommend this book which was sent to me by The Permanent Press.