EJ Ferris is a mall cop at Fernglen Galleria, which is an
adjustment from her days as a member of the military police.
But after being medically discharged, her job prospects
have been limited, and she really enjoys the law enforcement
life. Being a mall cop affords her some aspects of that
until she can find a job with a police department. Most of
her days involve assisting lost children, giving
information, and reminding customers that they seem to have
"forgotten to pay" for something, but it's a job she enjoys.
EJ's routine is thrown for a loop when she arrives to work
and spots what appears to be a homeless man sleeping outside
of an entrance. When she approaches him, she realizes that
he is not only a dead man, but a person that she saw in the
mall the day before. Unfortunately, the timing is awful
since half of the security cameras at the mall are
suspiciously out of commission.
Detective Helland of the local police force doesn't want
EJ's involvement in the case, and he often reminds her that
she is no longer part of any police force. But she believes
that she can be helpful in solving this case. She knows the
people in the mall better than Helland and his force, so
talking to them to get information will be easier for her.
Her investigation takes a hit, though, when her boss is the
next body to turn up. Although there was no love lost
between EJ and Dennis Woskowicz, she is dismayed that
another murder is associated with her workplace, which is
usually a safe haven suburban shopping.
EJ's investigation takes her out of town, involves her
grandfather (who is a former CIA operative), and has her
questioning all three of Woskowicz's ex-wives to see if any
may have been more motivated than the other to see him
offed. While she's investigating, she's appointed
interim security director, the board of the mall asks her to
apply for her boss' job, and she's trying to figure out what
secret Jay (the cookie seller in the food court) is hiding.
Once again, Ms DiSilverio has written a fun, well-paced
mystery that keeps readers guessing. I love getting to
know EJ more, as well as the other people who inhabit
Fernglen mall. EJ's grandfather provides endearing comedic
relief without being corny or over the top, which isn't
something every author does well. The culprit was revealed
at exactly the right time and it was someone who was never
on my radar, although clues were aplenty, in retrospect.
The only gentle criticism I have about the series is that EJ
is in a constant search for a job on a police department,
but as the series is called Mall Cop Mystery and EJ
is the
protagonist, this ongoing subplot seems rather tedious.
It's akin to when a hit television series has their star
held hostage, when the audience knows the series is ongoing
and the star isn't leaving the show. While readers want
to root for EJ to be happy, they also wants the series
to continue.
For mall cop E.J. Ferris, catching customers who “forgot
to pay” is quite a change of pace from her former life in
the military. But when a real crisis heats up her climate-
controlled domain, her old instincts come back quicker
than last year’s skinny jeans.
On good days, Fernglen Galleria is a tranquil haven of
capitalist splendor—but today is not one of those days.
Arriving for her morning shift, E.J. spots a sleeping
homeless person outside the east entrance. But the teenage
boy turns out to be neither homeless nor asleep. He is,
however, dead.
With half the security cameras sabotaged, no one can be
sure what happened. E.J. is determined to help solve the
case—whether Homicide Detective Helland likes it or not.
Uncovering a deadly conspiracy right in her own mall, E.J
is about to catch a killer, or get put on lay-away for
good…
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