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Feminist Mystery Reviews ABUSE OF POWER Reviewed by Harriet Klausner Many police officers, especially those that work the street, respect the code of silence concerning fellow officers. It is the first commandment that thou shalt not fink on a fellow officer regardless of what terrible crime he has committed or how far over the legal line he may have crossed. Breaking the covenant brings terrible repercussions to the reporting officer. This "punishment" ranges from ostracism to making the whistle blower seem like a liar to outright refusal to back up the officer in a dangerous situation. Thirty-four years old Rachel Simmons is a widow with two children and numerous financial problems. She is well aware of the sacred conduct code after being a member of the Hudson Valley, California police department for three years. Rachel remains a rarity on the force, being an honest and honorable cop. When she sees a fellow officer use a juvenile as a human shield during a minor riot, she feels compelled to report it. That decision of conscience carries a heavy price, one that Rachel, her family, and the entire police force will have to pay. Once again Nancy Taylor Rosenberg creates a powerful police and legal thriller that is a gritty indictment of the juridical system as only an insider can tell it. Readers will feel the betrayal that results from the realization that the very people who are sworn to uphold the law are its biggest offenders. ABUSE OF POWER is a gripping, taut, and moving work that showcases a protagonist who is willing to venture into hell to do the morally correct thing in a system that encourages immorality. Rachel is Ms. Rosenberg's finest heroine to date, a shining example of what the human race should strive to be. A sure fire hit that deserves both bestseller status and award consideration.
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