The next day Lowell is found dead. And of course the police's prime suspect is the last person to see him alive - the bike messenger. Obviously what is in the package is worth killing for. But rather than go to the police for help, Jace decides he can continue to evade the killers and solve the murder on his own to clear his name.

Homicide detective Kev Parker picks up the murder of Lowell. When detectives from Robbery-Homicide who only work high profile cases show up at the crime scene, Parker get suspicious as to who cares about Lowell's death. Kev is the only one who thinks maybe the bike messenger is a witness and not a suspect. Can Kev find Jace before the cops ready to shoot him on sight can?

Jace and Tyler's mother raised them under the radar. She distrusted the government so much so that she herself without any identifying papers died a "Jane Doe." There is no trail to show that Jace and Tyler exist, not even a phone bill. However, it’s hard to understand why a typical government-phobic person wouldn’t run or hide out not solve a murder.

Kev Parker's new trainee partner Renee Ruiz is also a problem. She has quite a bitchy attitude. She's supposed to be a trainee but she argues with every request or order her superior gives her. Renee struts around in mini-mini skirts and stiletto heels even at crime scenes. She shamelessly flirts with the men in Robbery-Homicide in attempts to advance her career and rats out every move her partner Kev makes. Renee is not meant to be likable character, but she seems over the top.

Too much of the book is focused on Jace's evading the cops and the killers. Multiple bicycle chases are just not as exciting as a car chase. The situations this kid is able to get himself out of are implausible for a professional much less a bike messenger. In the end the mystery came to an interesting close, but it took too long to get there.

Fans of Tami Hoag may enjoy this Kill the Messenger, but first time readers would be wise to start with another one of her books.

--Terry Lawrence