Latest Books The Big Thrill Recommends: MAXIMUM PRESSURE by Sheila Lowe

The Big Thrill Recommends: MAXIMUM PRESSURE: A Claudia Rose Novel by Sheila Lowe

Recommended by Ellen Quint

Like her lead character Claudia Rose, author Sheila Lowe is a professional forensic handwriting expert, which adds credibility to her protagonist’s special skills. In this book, the ninth in the series, the murder investigation hits close to home for Claudia as it takes place at her 25-year high school reunion. There, she discovers her high school driver’s education teacher dead in the swimming pool. Additionally, Claudia is asked by her former high school sweetheart to partner with him on a documentary about the disappearance 26 years ago of one of their classmates.

As Claudia applies her insights and handwriting skills to both investigations, readers get to ride along and meet a host of potential suspects in both the present-day murder and the cold-case disappearance. The details of forensic handwriting analysis are fascinating. Through Claudia’s work, the author makes clear that this type of assessment requires time and effort to focus on and compare samples, picking out the smallest details.

Claudia has another special resource to aid in her inquiries—her husband, Joel, who is a homicide detective. While he doesn’t get directly involved in her cases, he provides additional information that proves helpful.

The writing flows smoothly, making it easy to follow the two stories as they eventually come together. The dialogue between Claudia and her best friend Kelly adds humor and provides insights into Claudia and her background. There are enough twists, turns, and red flags to keep readers engaged. Those new to the series will have no problem picking up on the characters, their relationships, and backstories.

A delightful summer read.

The Big Thrill Recommends: MAXIMUM PRESSURE: A Claudia Rose Novel by Sheila Lowe and Scott Montgomery