INTENT TO HARM by Stan Washburn - FIRST EDITION BOOK

Washburn's first novel is a routine but enjoyable police procedural set in an unnamed, medium-size college city. A serial rapist has claimed dozens of victims by the time a special task force is assembled to manage the investigation. The novel follows the task force's work through the eyes of patrol officer Toby Parkman: the tedium of the stakeout, the endless legwork to check out unreliable tips, the mind-numbing detail that must be sorted through in hopes of uncovering that one elusive clue, the frustration of being unable to build a winnable case against the prime suspect. Washburn, who served six years as a reserve police officer in Berkeley, California, obviously knows his subject. But like many new authors, he has a tendency to overwrite, and he has included more red herrings than a Beijing deli. Overall, though, this is an entertaining story with an appealing cast of characters. Don't be surprised if a series along the lines of McBain's 87th Precinct novels is in