By Greg Rucka
Bantam
Hardcover and Paperback Editions

Miriam Bracca is on the road to discovering the sweet smell of success via her position as guitarist in the band Tailhook. Unfortunately, her uncontrollable alcoholic tendencies get her suspended from the band partway through their concert tour.

A Fistful of Rain Excerpt “Get up,” Parka Man said. I tried, had turned onto all fours in an attempt to rise, but it still wasn’t quick enough for him. He came back and grabbed my by my hair, and I started to shriek but stopped myself, even though I felt roots tearing. He shoved me at the easy chair by the foot of the couch, and I went into it headfirst, twisting. When I completed the turn, he was standing by Tommy, holding the gun on me. “Sit. Still.” I felt blood running from my forehead, catching in my right eyebrow. It felt like it would start dripping into my eye. I didn’t move. ©2003 Greg Rucka Published with permission from Bantam

She soon finds out that’s just the beginning of her problems when she is kidnapped at gunpoint, ordered to strip and driven around in the back of a pick-up, only to be returned home unharmed.

Next thing she knows, pornographic images of her are showing up on the Internet, she’s the suspect in a murder, and she’s being sought after to pay ransom for a father that was imprisoned fifteen years earlier for the murder of her mother.

Being afraid to disobey the man who holds her father’s fate in his hands, Mim tries to steer clear of the cops that are tailing her and attempts to uncover the kidnapper’s identity. Somewhere in her databank of hidden memories lies the answer, but she’s so used to lying, not only outwardly but also to herself, that she might not figure it out in time. Even if she does, the chances of either one of them coming through the ordeal with their life is slim.

Bookworm's Briefing
Greg Rucka has developed a protagonist who resides on several different levels of reader-empathy. There are moments one desires to strangle her for her lack of self-control.