Finding true love is hard. Getting close to thirty and still single? Even more difficult. However, with the growth of the Internet, online dating seems like it could be the answer to any single person’s prayer.

The plot of Alafair Burke’s newest novel, "Dead Connection," delves into the darker depths of internet dating. When a single thirty-something female turns up dead in a New York City alleyway, the email planted in her pocket leads the police to First Date, an internet dating service best known for its commitment to customer anonymity. More than that: emails, flirts, and online accounts lead the cops to believe they’re dealing with a serial killer. Enter Ellie Hatcher, daughter of a detective who may have been killed by the Wichita serial killer known as the College Hill Strangler.

Hatcher is young, attractive, single, and savvy; she’s an ideal match to serve the NYPD as date bait. While on the case, Hatcher is partnered with a detective known for his far-fetched theories, Flann McIlroy, and their regular banter, quick comebacks, and ability to make logical leaps help move this story along.

I found myself flying through the pages of this fast moving mystery. Without wanting to spoil the ending, I thought Burke’s use of character, especially, was well done. She’s skilled at the bait and switch, to say the least. Who can Hatcher trust? Is she the next victim in the ever-growing group of single, dead females? Or is it just some horrendous plot concocted by men who were, earlier in their lives, unable to get the dates they desired?

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, intriguing plot, and enjoy witty exchanges between characters, this book is a good selection. Burke also does a nice job of making the more technical passages accessible to even the least tech-savvy reader; her ability to open the world of Internet dating (its pros, cons and demons) may even lead the reader to (cautiously) open his or her own on-line profile.

Review by Shelly Walston, July 17, 2007