The Graves

Wechsler’s snappy follow-up to 2016’s Mission Hill finds Abby Endicott, homicide chief of the Boston District Attorney’s office, on the hunt for a killer who’s targeting college girls working as escorts. When the clues lead Abby and Det. Kevin Farnsworth to Tommy Greenough, the son of a prominent U.S. senator, Abby is forced to play politics. Meanwhile, Abby’s boss, Max Lombardo, decides to run for mayor, leaving his job open, and Abby’s name is thrown into the mix. Unfortunately, her wealthy Beacon Hill family doesn’t approve of her career choice, and her boyfriend’s shady past might complicate things. The whip-smart Abby reads very much like Stephanie Plum with an edge, and her idiosyncrasies, like her inability to balance her checkbook (after being cut off by her family) and her tendency to bail once romantic relationships become serious, only make her more likable. Wechsler expertly balances serious subject matter with Abby’s self-effacing, often funny first-person narration. Readers will be eager for Abby’s next case. [em]Agent: Victoria Skurnick, Levine Greenberg and Rostan. (May) [/em]