P.M. CARLSON

CHARACTER:	MAGGIE RYAN
CATEGORY:	AMATEUR

Maggie Ryan is a college undergraduate when this series opens and has completed her PhD. in statistics, married, and had twins by what is, so far, the last book. Carlson, the author, is a psychologist, and she's made Maggie so in touch with her feelings and such a good listener and so empathetic that a reader can be forgiven for wanting occaisonally to slap Maggie while yelling, "Repress something! Sublimate! Deceive yourself!" The lesson here seems to be that perfect people have plenty of time to mind other people's business since their own is taken care of. And oh yeah, Maggie's a gymnast, too - supple mind, limber body.

Audition For Murder
Murder Is Academic
Murder Is Pathological
Murder Unrenovated
Rehearsal For Murder
Murder In The Dog Days
Murder Misread
Bad Blood

CHARACTER :	MARTI HOPKINS
CATEGORY :	POLICEWOMEN

I found Marti Hopkins, the sheriff in P.M. Carlson's latest series more believable and sympathetic than her earlier creation, Maggie Ryan. She is the mother of a young, teenaged daughter and she has an undependable husband. She is also the sherriff in a small western county. I hope there will be more additions to this series.

Bloodstream
Gravestone

If you enjoyed Marti Hopkins, you might also like J.A. Jance's Joanna Brady series.