This is a lightweight crime novel with a serious theme. Detective Mercedes Ramirez works for the FBI unit in Quantico Virginia that deals in crimes against children. She lives with her girlfriend: the two women come home one night to find a child covered in blood on their front porch. The young boy says that an angel killed his abusive parents. It turns out that this is just the first episode in a series of murders of adults who have been suspected of child abuse who managed to keep hold of the children in their charge. This vigilante murderer always sends the children to Mercedes, showing some kind of belief that the children will be safe with Mercedes.

Detective Ramirez narrates her story and she has a distinctive character — she is passionate and devoted, and she has her own past of abuse that motivates her. Being Hispanic, she has her own language and tone of voice. She is also feisty and joking, bantering with her colleagues in a way that those on the outside find hard to understand.

Of course, eventually the detectives track down the killer and it’s all very dramatic. Along the way, readers may learn something about abusive families and the plight of abused children, together with detective methods in investigating these sorts of crimes and the pathology of serial killers. None of it is very illuminating, so it’s mainly entertainment. Ultimately The Summer Children is a forgettable crime novel and one might feel that playing with such a serious topic doesn’t give it enough respect. But maybe it can do some good.

The performance of the unabridged audiobook by Siiri Scott is energetic and brings Mercedes’ voice to life.

© 2018 Christian Perring

Christian Perring teaches in NYC.