Blog Tour – Review: Body of Crime by Jennifer Chase

From the multiple award-winning author of the Emily Stone Series, comes a new kind of forensic hero: 

Three grisly murders linked to five old cold cases, dubbed the Flower Girl Murders, pushes detectives to their limit to find a clever and extremely brutal serial killer, leaving a California town demanding justice. The District Attorney’s Serial Special Task Force retains the help of the reclusive Dr. Chip Palmer, a forensic expert and criminal profiler, to steer them in the right direction. 

Palmer is known for his astute academic interpretations of serial and predatory crimes, along with his unconventional tactics that goes against general police procedures. He is partnered with the tough and beautiful D.A. Inspector Kate Rawlins, a homicide detective transplanted from Phoenix, and the chemistry ignites between the team—passionate and deadly. 

The Flower Girl Murders leaves three homicides, five cold cases, two seasoned detectives, three suspects, and one serial killer calling all the shots. The investigation must rely on one eccentric forensic scientist to unravel the clues to solve the case. But at what cost?

Before I start on my thoughts on this book, you HAVE to keep in mind that in real life, I work as Assistant Forensic Psychologist at a Crime Lab. Yes, this has bearings on my review, for this book isn’t the usual kind that I read!

This wouldn’t be one of your usual crime novels – for the hero of this story is a bit eccentric, quite brilliant and absolutely worth taking notice of. He isn’t your usual cocky alpha hero that most of us will not look twice in reality – but that’s exactly the point – to not be fooled into thinking that the cover makes all the difference in the world.

Dr. Alexander “Chip” Palmer is a civilian consultant – a brilliant criminologist and a noted expert in behavioral profiling  is introduced when he is giving an expert testimony on a serial rape case – and it is brilliant! He is methodological, intense and intelligent in a way that I understood right from the start that I DID NOT want to be in front of him in real life.

You also have Detective Murphy who seems like detests Chip, but is devoted to his work and to bring justice.

But the other major player in this book is D.A. Inspector Kate Rawlins,  who recently just moved to escape a past but is unaware that her past is unwilling to let go of her. It is quite easy to like her – because right off the bat, you get an inside track to her thoughts and her feelings, which believe me make her more real than fictional.

The plot itself, without giving much away, is flawless – pretty much everything that is criminal and it’s investigation, both legal and behavioral are pretty spot on – and I say that as an emerging professional in that exact field. Believe me, there is not one issue I found with the way the crime and it’s investigation and that’s saying something ’cause I have stopped reading crime – thrillers just for the reason that I could find fault.

And even though I devoured this book, I still wished the author had given a bit more background to the characters, a bit more depth if you would like – and I think that would have made an already interesting book, to one that became absolutely brilliant.

But I am still hoping that since this is a series, more will be revealed as it continues and I am quite excited to see where Jennifer takes this

Disregarding that, this is a book for everyone who loves getting to know the reason behind a criminal’s actions especially when it involves a heinous crime!

“Everything we do, the way we do it, what we use to do it, and why we do it, actually means something. Criminals are no different. They have some type of fantasy, or goal, which is a better description so every movement and impulse helps to accomplish that goal.”

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Jennifer Chase is an award-winning author and consulting criminologist.  She has authored six crime fiction novels, including the award-winning Emily Stone thriller series along with a screenwriting workbook.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor degree in police forensics and a Master’s degree in criminology.  These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent sociopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.  She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists.