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The second in the Forensic Handwriting Mystery series will keep readers guessing - and wanting more from savvy protagonist Claudia Rose.

I’m never certain what to expect when I get a book in a new series to review - especially those that rely heavily on forensics. As much as I love shows like CSI and SVU, and series like the Kay Scarpetta novels, I get burned out on too much forensic detail, and stale plots that seem to have the lives of zombies; they never die.

When I first discovered Sheila Lowe’s Forensic Handwriting Mystery series, I was intrigued. Was it possible to make handwriting an interesting sideline to a mystery novel? Would it provide enough stamina to keep a protagonist going? And would that protagonist offer something that I’d never experienced before?

These questions were enough to get me to request the book. I’m glad I did. Lowe’s Written in Blood is one of the best mysteries I’ve read in a very long time.

Handwriting expert Claudia Rose is called to verify the signature of newly departed older man Torg Sorensen. Seems his children have a problem with his much younger wife inheriting everything. The family squabbles are enough to intrigue Claudia, who is a sucker for a sob story. As she works the case, Claudia comes into contact with a troubled student at Sorensen. As she tries to work with the student to bring out her bottled-up emotions through writing exercises, Claudia discovers there’s more to the family than meets the eye - and much, much to the elite Sorensen Academy, a school for rich girls.

As more questions than answers arise in the case, Rose must also deal with her burgeoning feelings for her cop boyfriend, who is tired of playing second fiddle to her life.

This book marks a new twist to forensic serials. Some long-standing series have become stale, while newbies just don’t offer good protagonists and unique cases to keep readers coming back. Lowe’s creation - based on her personal experiences as a handwriting examiner -  offers readers a fascinating view into an otherwise overlooked area of forensics. Her details are woven into the story in layman’s terms - easy for readers to handle. It wasn’t filled with forensic jargon, a problem that writers like Patricia Cornwell believe is an asset when it comes to accuracy. It was told in a way that readers could embrace, find interesting, and read through without having to stop and reread to understand.

These details also provide insight into protagonist Rose, a divorcee who is trying to make it work with her cop boyfriend while trying hard not o get involved with clients - something she fails miserably at.

Her very profession - and soft heart - make Rose a character I could care about. She was human, with the same struggles other women have every day, but her unique career and knowledge of human behavior separate her from other protagonists in the genre today. She is a profiler of a different sort, and I cannot wait to learn more about her in coming books.

Written in Blood is told at a brisk pace, it’s crisp dialog and sharp attention to plot holding readers on edge until the very last page.

Lowe’s series is one to watch. The third book comes out next fall. Until then, suspense fans have plenty of time to catch up on the first two books in the series, Poison Pen and Written in Blood. (Hint: Christmas is just around the corner. They would make great stocking stuffers.)

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