Sarah Burke Character Analysis

Sarah Burke is the protagonist in the Sarah Burke series of novels written by Elizabeth Gunn the popular crime mystery novel author. Burke is a hardworking, ambitious, divorced police detective in Tucson, AZ that also doubles as the protector of Denny, her sister’s substance abusing young daughter. We are first introduced to Sarah in book one of the Sarah Burke series – Cool in Tucson. Despite only being recently promoted to detective Burke go-getter attitude tells her that the least she can do is take her boss’s job. Meanwhile, the proximity of Tucson to the Mexican border means that, it is a city that has to deal with typical border problems such as people smuggling and being used as a drug transit corridor. While not a very unique character, Sara is a very likable detective, fitting the mold of the tough minded yet vulnerable female sleuth made famous by authors such as Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, and Marcia Muller. While

After a night of drugs, drinking and toy boy debauchery, wealthy cougar Eloise Henderson and her new found young boyfriend get their heads bashed in. Sarah’s boss Chief Delaney is among the first on the scene after the station receives a call from neighbors that heard the commotion coming from the Henderson house. The Chief makes Sarah lead detective in the double homicide. Almost immediately, Sarah’s suspicions settle on Roger, a major property developer that had been until recently been involved with Eloise. Unfortunately, for Sarah, Roger has a watertight alibi – he had spent the entire nigh in Phoenix with an escort and there is nothing to suggest that the ding on his vehicle, which he got on the way back, is anything but genuine. Patricia, Eloise’s daughter who is hysterical and helpful all at once suspects the catering help that included the dead plaything Pauly and his ex-convict associate Nino who has conveniently