The first victim is Susan Boukedes, a young woman who worked at the Greek embassy. The second, Mary Keegan, is a forty year old established journalist, of late working on a book entitled Fathers and Sons. The fathers and sons in question were two prominent Washingtonians and their adult sons who were well known in their own right.

Uncertain how to proceed, Kearney and Phelps consult with an authority on serial killers. With only two cases to go on, even the expert is reluctant to commit himself. He does say though that if this is the work of a serial killer, he is one of the “organized” variety, who has his victims chosen well in advance of the kill and he will kill again. The detectives receive this news glumly because most likely someone else will die before they can detect a pattern. Another victim is found, but with several variations. She is black whereas the first two were white and she was found in a different location. What ties the three together is the trophy that the killer has taken.

A Murder of Promise could be described as a classic police suspense novel. The plot is well executed. The detectives are confronted with the same difficulties as their real counterparts. The clues are few, and many only lead to dead ends. The frustration and great expenditure of time required to process information give the investigation a realistic flavor. In one instance the two detectives spend an afternoon reviewing surveillance tapes from a parking garage in an attempt to pinpoint the perpetrator’s vehicle. They finally identify a van only to discover the last owner of record had sold it to a man for cash and had only a sketchy description of the buyer.

Mr. Andrews presents his audience with more than just a good mystery yarn. With impressive credentials (He is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations), his command of Washington politics and how things work in the nation’s capital is awesome. What he says about business in Washington is not pleasant, but probably true. His knowledge of the geography of the city lends credence to the action that takes place. The reader should have no difficulty remembering where the story takes place as he reads this book.

Part of the plot is heavily dependent on computer technology and its use and abuse. The author explains for those not well versed in computer mechanics how information can be appropriated from one computer to another without the owner’s knowledge or consent. The story however, is set in 2000 so safeguards may have been developed against such piracy today. Then, again, pirates love a challenge.

The characters are an important ingredient of this novel. This is not the first in this series, (I think it is the second after A Murder of Honor) but it is not difficult to get to know the main characters. They are all strong personalities and act appropriately in situations given their distinct ways of dealing with life. Minor characters are distinctive as well either likable or at least memorable. Renfro Calkins, the medical examiner has my vote for the most delightful personality. What a droll sense of humor the man has!

While watching Kearney and Phelps struggle to make sense of the meager clues they collect trying to solve three murders is entertaining, the insider knowledge that Robert Andrews imparts in A Murder of Promise is the strongest aspect of this book. While one will probably not be surprised at the type of game playing that goes on in our nation’s capital, the why and the how of the games makes interesting reading.

--Andy Plonka