It was a great job for the time when he needed it; when his wife Liz was diagnosed with cancer and had to go through treatment after treatment. Then he was boss of the house and the children, and felt that was the command he needed. Now that Liz has gone into remission, he keenly feels the loss of command both at home and on the job. His protege Sergeant John LaMoia still, though, wants Lou’s input and commanding manner.

When a container from a ship is lost outside the harbor of Seattle, the police discover three Chinese females inside, dead. The living women scatter in every direction, without giving any information about their dead comrades. Trying to discover the ship and men who allowed these deaths lead to many adventures and disasters.

News anchor Stevie McNeal is involved with the attempt to learn the truth about this incident. She sends in her “little sister” Melissa Chow to go underground and see what she can find. Melissa goes so far underground that she goes missing. Stevie really cares for Melissa, putting into effect a chain-reaction set of disasters that could prove to find Melissa dead.

The story of the Asian illegal trade -- how illegal aliens are smuggled into the country and sold for prostitution and sweatshops -- is very graphically displayed in The First Victim. But that is only part of the story. Media interference, mob action, and the caring attempts of the police, etc., to put a stop to the horrors lead to a climax of betrayal, lust, and greed. How Lou solves the mystery is a fascinating yarn.

Pearson is very good at characterization, plot and believable dialog. This story is one of his best. The story digs deep into the lives of the Chinese in America and how they can be victimized. The question is, though -- who IS the first victim? Discover the answer is a well-crafted thriller that could only be written by Ridley Pearson.

--Kay Black