The Fault Tree

Shamus-winner Ure’s deeply compelling and original protagonist falls just short of keeping her intricate second mystery afloat. Cadence Moran, a blind auto mechanic in Tucson, Ariz., has an uncanny ability to pinpoint engine problems by sound. Her skill soon becomes a key element in solving a series of gruesome murders. The tale of how Cadence was blinded is delicately revealed in tiny pieces, satisfying curiosity without slowing development. A complex but credible plot supported by adroit pacing keeps readers guessing through the first two-thirds of the novel, but Ure reveals the killers’ identities while police are still chasing dead ends, destroying the tension. The clichéd, Hollywood-style action scenes at the very end stretch believability to the breaking point. When Ure (Forcing Amaryllis ) can develop conclusions that do justice to her meticulously drawn characters and settings, she’ll be a force to be reckoned with. (Jan.)