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ANGEL IN THE FULL MOON
by Don Easton
Castle Street Mysteries, May 2008
360 pages
$11.99 CAD
ISBN: 1550028138


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

"It has been suggested that human trafficking is the fastest growing form of modern day slavery and is the third largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world. Due to the illegal and underground nature of sex trafficking, the exact extent of women and children forced into prostitution is unknown." Wikipedia

In his third Jack Taggert novel, author Don Easton shifts the focus of the series from drugs and bikers to more chilling adversaries, those who arrange the transportation and sale of human beings. Jack and Laura have formed an uneasy alliance with Damien, now national president of the notorious Satan's Wrath biker gang. When he contacts them and suggests that they might have bigger problems on the horizon than local drug trafficking, Jack's trouble radar goes on full alert. Damien points the finger at two Russian ex-teachers living the high life in Vancouver's west end, but refuses to tell Jack anything more than their names and insists that Satan's Wrath wants nothing to do with them. So what are these seemingly innocent citizens really up to? Why are they fêting the Tran brothers whose business ventures include drug dealing and massage parlours?

Jack and Laura launch a surveillance operation, only to have the time they are spending questioned by their new micro-managing boss, Staff Sergeant Quaille. Despite Assistant Commissioner Isaac's reassurances that Jack Taggert's methods are effective if unorthodox, Quaille sees Jack as an insubordinate trouble maker and begins to go out of his way to terminate the investigation. Jack has seen this kind of boss come and go in his career and, using a combination of flattery and deceit, convinces Quaille to authorize travel to Costa Rica to keep an eye on the Russians and discover who they are meeting.

When the mutilated body of a young Vietnamese girl is found in a dumpster not far from The Oriental Pleasure, owned by the Tran brothers, Jack and Laura begin to discover the real commodity being exchanged.

Easton has taught his readers that Jack Taggert is a master of manipulation and creative problem solving. In fact, Jacks trademark 'sting' plot twist is a much anticipated part of the books. Easton's prose is straight up and undecorated, which may not appeal to some readers, but his stories are interesting and well told. His skill in interweaving the investigation plot and personal lives of his characters has become more polished in this novel, and Easton subtly uses this story to exorcize some personal demons as well.

The subject matter of ANGEL IN THE FULL MOON may seem distasteful, but as Easton points out, ignoring the issue will not make it disappear: victims of sexual abuse can best help others by finding the courage to speak out against their assailants.

Reviewed by Merrill Young, August 2008

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