I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of A Place in the Wind, the fourth novel to feature detective Jimmy Vega in New York State.

Catherine Archer, a 17 year old high school student, has gone missing after doing English tutoring at La Casa, a drop in centre helping recent immigrants, both legal and illegal. Attention immediately focuses on Rolando Benitez, an illegal immigrant, who attended the classes. When Catherine's body is discovered and Rolando is shot dead while attempting to surrender to the police race relations and Jimmy's personal situation take a turn for the worse.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Place in the Wind, my first read in the series. The plotting is excellent with some unexpected turns in the linear narrative and it is very topical in its examination of immigration and the feelings it arouses. I also like the small town feel to the novel which seems to be a microcosm of American society.

Jimmy Vega is a man in an invidious position. Due to a shooting incident in the recent past, which I assume is explored in an earlier novel, he is persona non grata in the department and relegated to desk duty. His unsanctioned involvement in the Benitez shooting (he was only there to support his girlfriend, Adele Figueroa, who was brokering the hand over) makes him even more unpopular and he is demoted to driving for the county executive, Mike Carp, a populist politician in the mould of Donald Trump and Adele's arch enemy.

Ms Chazin does an excellent job with her vignettes as every character is interesting and has a backstory to tell, apart from Mike Carp who is a fully formed politician ready to play the get tough on immigration card, regardless of the truth, to promote his political ambitions. Sounds very familiar and topical on a world stage. I love the way Ms Chazin explores his thinking. I found the plight of Wil Martinez, Rolando Benitez's brother, informative and sad in that he has no rights.

The plot is good with the local police in Lake Holly fixating on Benitez as their suspect, no matter what evidence to the contrary Jimmy finds. I'm not saying this is typical of all police forces but I've watched enough true crime documentaries to find it more than plausible. I was surprised by the ending but it all makes sense, it is just a twist I wasn't expecting.

I also like the hard talking in the novel. Jimmy is a professional and doesn't shrink from hard truths however unpalatable they may be to his interlocutors, mainly Adele who is a bit of an idealist. She expects Jimmy to support her in everything she does regardless of the realities of life. Driving Mike Carp is not Jimmy's dream job but resignation, the only other choice, is not an option and Adele can't see it and falls out with him about it. She is the only unconvincing character in the novel.

A Place in the Wind is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.