Mother's Milk

Forensic psychiatrist Barrett Conyors is back . . . - Barrett Conyors finds the discovery of the bodies of two heroin-addicted teens particularly hard to accept. Barrett's convinced that chief suspect Jerod, a homeless schizophrenic, didn't do it but she's the only one, apart from Detective Ed Hobbs, who is. But even Hobbs can't stop Barrett from following a complex trail of drugs and death that places her in the cross hairs of a killer . . .

Forensic psychiatrist Barrett Conyors is back . . . - Barrett Conyors finds the discovery of the bodies of two heroin-addicted teens particularly hard to accept. Barrett's convinced that chief suspect Jerod, a homeless schizophrenic, didn't do it but she's the only one, apart from Detective Ed Hobbs, who is. But even Hobbs can't stop Barrett from following a complex trail of drugs and death that places her in the cross hairs of a killer . . .

Publishers Weekly

In Atkins's improbable sequel to his equally improbable debut, Ashes, Ashes, Dr. Barrett Conyors proves once again she's more than just a forensic psychiatrist who cares too much; she's also an action hero. Having prevented the Manhattan water supply from being contaminated by the plague in Ashes, Ashes, Conyors now stumbles upon a white slave ring that preys on foster children run by Chase Strand, a social worker for New York City's Department of Family and Youth Services. Despite being a new mother, Conyors repeatedly, and often heedlessly, hurls herself into harm's way, without ever suffering serious consequences. The book's big reveal—the identity of the higher-up behind Strand's evil—will surprise few, given the portrayal of that character beforehand. One can only hope that the author, who's a psychiatrist on the Yale clinical faculty, will use his impressive professional experience to create a more realistic thriller next time. (Nov.)

Charles Atkins is a practicing psychiatrist and member of the Yale Clinical Faculty. His first novel, "The Portrait," was published in 1998. He coauthors a weekly column for "The Waterbury Republican" and has published short stories and articles in a variety of publications. He lives in Connecticut.