Down Country, the second novel in the Rachel Tine Series, is a compelling book that thrusts the reader into the world of academia and organized crime. From the start, the novel held my attention and interest. I really liked the protagonist, Rachel Tine, the Director of the Criminology Department at Strachan University. I found her character believable and compelling, and her voice strong and convincing.
Much to Rachel’s chagrin, the university’s relentless focus on profit through fundraising, skyrocketing tuition, and internal politics takes precedence over the pursuit of knowledge and higher learning, but she accepts that these pressures are part of the job.
But when the Dean orders her to investigate fellow professor Donny Foster about the unsolved murder of his wife, Melanie, she is conflicted by her obligations to the university and her friendship with Donny.
The previous year, after Melanie’s body was found in the infamous Texas Killing Fields, local police arrested Donny for her murder. He walked free after a deadlocked jury. Although he insists he was found not guilty, Rachel has misgivings since a hung jury is not the same as a not guilty verdict.
Now on probation at the university, Donny’s future, and the university’s reputation, hang on Rachel’s findings.
As she digs deeper, Rachel discovers Donny may not be as innocent as she believed him to be. She uncovers that his groundbreaking research into the notorious crime family, the Devlin Crew, and their involvement in auto smuggling and human trafficking may be tied to Melanie’s death.
The book increases in intensity as the world of academia collides with the ruthless world of organized crime.
I like how Tepperman weaves today’s social issues into his book with respect to criminology and disinhibitions, begging the question: What makes people shed the norms of societal convention and slip into lawlessness?
I haven’t yet had the pleasure to read Deadly Donation, the first Rachel Tine novel, so that will be next on my reading list, as I thoroughly enjoyed Down Country.