Review – Lethal Beauty

Lethal Beauty, book three in the Mia Quinn Mystery series from Lis Wiehl and April Henry finds King County prosecutor Mia Quinn working on what she thought would be an “open and shut murder case.” And it should have been.

There wasn’t any doubt Dandan Lee, a young Chinese prostitute, had been stabbed to death by her “rich American client,” David Leacham.  However, David hired Seattle’s best criminal defense attorney who cast doubt and suspicion on every piece of evidence Mia presented and left the victim looking guilty. Mia believed her case was solid and felt she had connected with eleven of the twelve jurors; still she was puzzled by one juror who wouldn’t make eye contact with her. And she knew it would only take one for a “hung jury.”

Meanwhile on the home front Mia’s fifteen-year-old son Gabe is more and more irritable, angry and frustrated causing Mia further frustration and worry. Still she’s happy over Gabe’s new passion with diet and exercise as he works to “bulk up” for the high school football team. She doesn’t know Gabe is secretly buying and using steroids to develop his newly attractive muscles. Nor does Gabe know about the drugs’ dangerous side effects or the dangerous new friends he’s made.  Add lethal threats, missing witnesses, bribery and fresh murders and “Lethal Beauty” is hard to put down.

Journey into the murky shadows of illegal immigrants, prostitution, human sex trafficking, bribery and steroid abuse with Wiehl and Henry.  The well-drawn characters are realistic and engaging although Mia’s naiveté over Gabe’s use of drugs and behavior changes is not characteristic of this otherwise smart D.A.

Threads of romance continue between homicide detective Charlie Carlson, professor Eli and Mia yet Mia’s financial issues, prosecution and investigation pressures and Gabe’s erratic behavior leave little time for romance. The spiritual thread, unlike other books in the series, is not integral to the story. “Lethal Beauty” can be read as a standalone mystery or for those following the characters as part of the series.