CYNTHIA LEA CLARK, PSY.D. - MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS

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	Former Miss Chicago (Miss USA), Cynthia Lea Clark continued school, graduating from Northwestern University (multiple degreed), attended nursing school, and became a Firefighter Paramedic. After working as an actress in Chicago, she moved to Los Angeles where she worked on many television shows, such as DAYS OF OUR LIVES and STAT, while continuing her education with a Masters in Psychology and then a Doctorate of Psychology. While working on STAT, she was stalked which led her to work in Forensic Psychopathology. She has over 70 interviews with serial killers, mass murderers, etc. Today she mixes Forensics with writing and acting. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death Chapter of RWA, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, and the American College of Forensic Examiners International.

BABY SHARK
BABY SHARK
Robert Fate
Capital Crime Press September 2006 $14.95 270 pages
ISBN: 0977627691

At seventeen, Kristin Van Dijk has been educated in pool halls rather than classrooms. She has followed her father as he played game after game of pool until one fateful night in October of 1952. That night, the pool hall was in Abilene, Texas and Kristin's dad was hustling like every other night. But this one not like the others. A gang of bikers, feeling hustled at closing time, blind sided her dad, beating him so badly he died. They went on to attack Kristin, raping her over and over again, and beating her within an inch of her life. Henry Chin the owner of the Pool Hall drags Kristin from the fire set by the bikers as they ride off.

The police paid little attention to a pool hall and to a gang of bikers so Henry took Kristen, after she got out of the hospital to a secret place for her to heal. And she had so much healing to do. Her jaw was broken, her teeth, her ribs, frankly she was a mess. As she regains her physical strength and mental strength, Henry hires PI Otis Millett to find the bikers. Kriston begins training in self defense and shares Henry's desire to seek revenge. It takes time for the physical wounds to heal and in that time, Kristin also improves her legacy...nine ball.

She uses her package to her advantage. Jeans leaning over, for example provides the ever so slight distraction but strong without it being obvious. Krsitin has progressed into a healthy, strong, beautiful pool shark. And at eighteen she begins her hustling in small pool halls but never forgetting her true plan.

Things progress for Kristin and she meets and falls for Mac. Just when we she thinks her life is on track and great, the PI Otis lets Henry and her know that Mac in really one of the bikers. Kristen is heart broken. The gang members begin to fall. Kristin is taken prisoner and well, you'll have to read it to find out what more can befall this strong willed, spirited young woman.

The books is written in a noir like form and is reminiscent of the wonderful old black and white mysteries. It is well paced with strong likable good guys and despicable bad guys. Kristin is a strong heroine inside and out yet vulnerable and real. She is a tribute to female characters whether it is the 50s or today.

This is an excellently written and enjoyable departure (set in the 50s). Mr. Fate paints a very distinct, vibrant painting with his words. I highly recommend it.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I give BABY SHARK a 5!

Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.

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