Burning Man

Russell (Exposure) does a fine job of combining the procedural and the whodunit in what many will hope debuts a series. Det. Michael Gideon of the LAPD was able to capture the Santa Ana Strangler, who claimed 11 lives over two years. The success came at a price%E2%80%94both Gideon and his canine partner suffered severe burns, but the celebrity they gained as a result of the apprehension enabled Gideon to write his own ticket in the department. The police chief persuades him to defer his dreams of joining Robbery-Homicide and instead serve as the LAPD's professional skeptic, assigned to deal with "the unusual, the peculiar, the curious, and perhaps even the enigmatic." He soon lands just such a case%E2%80%9418-year-old Paul Klein, son of a Hollywood producer, whose film on human trafficking is about to open, has been crucified. The timing leads the senior Klein to speculate that the mob killed Paul as retaliation for the film's content. The various plot elements, including mind games the Strangler plays with Gideon from jail, mesh nicely, and suspense and engagement with the lead are maintained throughout. (Dec.)