It’s a shooting competition with targets placed on bales of hay. The father of a competitor notices red on a paper target and calls a halt to the contest.

This is the opening salvo from Beneath Her Skin, the debut novel from C.S. Porter and it’s a great indicator of what’s to come.

Major Crimes Homicide Detective Kes Morris is brought in from the city to handle the case. She’s observant, efficient, and all business. She is also intractable, and uncompromising, and self medicates for her anger issues.

The team she puts together includes two local detectives and Cooper Harrison. He’s a ten year veteran of the police force and the man who noted the blood on the competition target. She wants to keep her eye on him.

It’s not long before Morris understands that this isn’t a one-act of brutality – only the beginning. The following murders are just as bizarre and inventive as the first. And it’s likely that more than one killer is involved.

An excellent book, with well-paced and well considered characters. You can’t go wrong with this one.