There is a lull in the crime in Rutherford and for that, Jake is very glad. He is using the downtime to get himself situated in his new job and to review some older, unsolved cases. A small band of grifters in the area causes him some concern, but he knows once residents are warned about them, they will be careful and wise up and either the grifters will be caught, or they will move on.

Two dead men stuffed in a trash barrel, both with money stuffed in their mouths causes quite a bit of concern for Jake, especially when it is proved that the barrel belongs to one of his detectives, Bo Dooley, someone Jake always thinks is hiding something. Now, further away from his job than ever, Jake begins the task of identifying the men and trying to figure out who killed them, why, and how they ended up in Bo Dooley's trash barrel. A slow but steady, methodical investigation follows, though there are so many different pieces, it takes Jake a while to put together a complete picture, and even when he is finished, he takes a step back for one final look, still not sure everything is exactly in place.

Despite the title, Seventh Inning Stretch is anything but the relaxing respite between innings at a baseball game. From the beginning of the book, Jake is thrown into the investigation and doesn't stop until the very end. While there is not much action in the way of car chases and the like, Jake is always investigating, always thinking, always planning his next move and the tension never wanes. He is a seasoned detective and is now ready to lead younger, more experienced detectives.

Trudy, who in the past has not always been a likable character, comes into her own in this episode as she asserts her place as an equal partner in the relationship and the purchase and renovation of the old farmhouse. As someone who also works in law enforcement, Trudy understands the demands of Jake's job, but is not willing to sacrifice their relationship and its new level for it. Readers who prefer a thoughtful, methodical investigation will appreciate this series, with the strong development of Jake and Trudy and added bonus.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry