Contents Under Pressure by Allison Nichol

Publisher:                          Intaglio Publications

Attorney Drew Morgan and her partner Stephen are working in a task force in Washington, DC, about bank robberies when they’re called to Provincetown to investigate another one.  Things are peculiar from the beginning when they find a dead female robber and a dead dog in the bank.  As the investigation progresses, they conclude that this robbery isn’t one of theirs, but by that time they’re caught up in another situation involving a murder and possible drug connections.  

Drew is also involved in personal trouble.  Six months before her lover Maggie deserted her without a word after ten years together.  Drew discovers that, while she’s been waiting for Maggie to return and continue their life together, Maggie has been living in Provincetown as a successful photographer and has no plans to go back to Drew.  Drew’s investigations bring her together with the beautiful Dr. J. J. Austin and there is an attraction, but Drew doesn’t know what to do about it.  She still feels like she would be cheating on Maggie.  Drew throws herself into solving the murder case because she can’t solve the turmoil in her life.

Contents Under Pressure could have been an interesting mystery combined with a romance.  Drew’s story about her relationship with Maggie has enough aspects to be explored that it could have been a good story.  The murder mystery does add some suspense, but basically the book fails to deliver on what it could have been.  The whole story turns out to be implausible and lacks focus.  The original crime is all over the place, first a bank robbery, then a disguised mob hit or maybe about drugs.  The curious part is why the government would send lawyers to investigate a crime.  It would seem more logical to send the FBI or some other law enforcement officials.  The dialogue is simplistic and not engaging.  The failed romance between Drew and Maggie and Drew’s dalliances with J.J. are handled better, but there are big holes that need filling in.  The biggest drawback is that the characters don’t click with the reader.  They aren’t very appealing and you don’t really care about what they’re doing. 

Contents Under Pressure is an irritating book.  There are glimmers of what the book might  have done and the reader will keep hoping the story will develop, but it's going to be a disappointment.