The private eye category of mysteries continues to thrive because authors such as Kristen Lepionka who bring a fresh view. Following in the tradition of Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton and Marcia Muller, the Shamus-winning Lepionka sculpts a realistic character in the form of P.I. Roxane Weary with intense, believable plots.
The fourth novel in this series, "Once You Go This Far" works well as a story about families, centering on just how well do adult children know about their parents' lives. Family is an important part of Roxane's life as the Columbus, Ohio, detective continues a close relationship with her two brothers and mother while still mourning the death of her father with whom she had a complicated relationship.
A quiet morning hike in a nearby park takes a turn when Roxane finds the body of Rebecca Newsome lying in a ravine off a popular trail. Roxane had just met Rebecca in the parking lot and the death had occurred mere minutes after that initial encounter. Rebecca's daughter, Maggie Holmer, has her doubts that her mother's death was a tragic accident as Rebecca was an enthusiastic outdoorswoman and an experienced hiker. Maggie, who gave birth to a daughter the day after her mother died, hires Roxane to investigate what was going on in the life of her mother with whom she had a complicated relationship. Maggie even has a suspect - Rebecca's jerk of an ex-husband Keir Metcalf, a former Toledo cop.
The case takes Roxane from the private school where Rebecca was a nurse to a casino in Windsor, Ontario, to a church whose leaders insist on controlling the details of its members' lives. Roxane learns that Maggie didn't know her mother as well as she thought she did. At the same time, Roxane discovers how little she knew about her own father.
Lepionka continues to delve into Roxane's psyche. Like her cases, Roxane is a work in progress - like we all are. In addition to her family issues, Roxane continues to wrestle with her feelings for Catherine Walsh with whom she has a rocky relationship as well as admitting her deepening feelings for a new lover.
"Once You Go This Far" proves that Lepionka's storytelling skills are far-reaching.