Book: Trace of Innocence (M, R)

Erica Orloff's Trace of Innocence introduces Billie Quinn, a forensics specialist with a ragtag group of friends and a mobster family. Billie is approached to use recent DNA technology to release a man falsely accused of a murder. As she follows the evidence, she begins to face threats from the person who actually committed the crime. She also experiences some personal growth as she begins to consider her work as a way to release the innocent (and not just convict the guilty, which has been her primary focus in the past).

One of Billie's new friends, CC, is a nun. I really appreciated the author's positive portrayal of the life of faith. It is rare to see believing Christians depicted in non-inspirational booas real, normal people and not just nasty stereotypes or moral hypocrites. CC is a fully-developed character struggling with life and faith and has her own, very interesting path to work out.

Overall, this book has a marvelous setup, and I'm hoping there will be sequels. Can't wait! Grade: A