Third Choice

Dalton (Second Thoughts) offers a graphic, well-researched look into the world of police procedure and forensic medicine in her third Detective Jackie Kaminski mystery. This time around, the spunky detective is fighting the flu, having second thoughts about her relationship with boyfriend Michael and dealing with holiday stress, all the while investigating crimes for the Spokane, Wash., police department. When a devoted family man disappears the same night as his ex-boss's young daughter is killed by a hit-and-run driver while building a snowman in her front yard, gut instinct tells Jackie there's a connection between the two. Finding the link, however, is nearly impossible, considering the child's parents have clammed up and everyone who knows the missing man swears he's above reproach. With the help of a maverick journalist, Jackie uncovers a few secrets, none of which, however, are particularly interesting or incriminating. The subplots and characters fare better and blend well into the story, but there isn't much that's new or refreshing here. (Dec.)