Violence less of a 'factor' this time around

Chris Rogers' last mystery, "Rage Factor," left some of her fans reeling from the graphic violence.

She promised to tone it down for her next book and has done so in "Chill Factor."

That's not to say the book has less impact, but you can read it without feeling nauseated from time to time.

In this book, the fearless (and sometimes rash) Dixie Flannigan, former prosecutor turned bounty hunter, goes to the bank to straighten out an overdraft mix-up when the bank is robbed - by her little old lady next-door neighbor!

It's the third robbery in just a few days by an elderly woman, and two of the three robbers are killed in the process - their actions almost suicidal.

But the money, in all cases, is missing.

What's going on here?

The bank robber's son, a childhood friend of Dixie's, enlists her help to find out how his sweet mother became a gun-toting bank robber.

Several insidious forces are at work here: a militia-type group that calls itself The People, a charismatic church leader whose followers call The Shepherd, a shifty psychotherapist, and a dashingly manipulative investment counselor.

Throw in a few self-serving politicians, a cowardly police chief, and a frustrating on-again, off-again romance for our heroine, and Dixie has plenty of characters to understand (including herself) and many situations to solve.

Rogers' rapid-fire storytelling style relies largely on crisp, decisive language and short, quick chapters (each just a few pages long). Her characters are clearly drawn, if mysteriously motivated.

In the end, not everyone gets what they deserve, but enough of them do that it feels justice has been at least partly served.

And Dixie?

Well, she just might have a shot at salvaging a relationship she almost threw away - but of course, we'll have to wait for the next "Factor" to find out.

Copyright 2000
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