#3 Marshall “Mars” Bahr police procedural series set in Minneapolis. Mars has two weeks left before he and Nettie jump ship from the Minneapolis police department to start working for the state’s expanding cold case squad. What he doesn’t need is a hugely high-profile case, but that’s exactly what he gets when one of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ basketball players’ wives is found murdered in her home and “T-Jack” is a prime suspect—but he has an air-tight alibi, having been in a conference with his wife’s parents present at the time of her murder. The new police chief, who is a media hound and not at all adept at handling this type of case, promises a quick resolution and Mars is doing his best to make that come true, if only so he can leave the department with a clean slate. Of course things are never that simple and there seems to be obstacles at every turn, but eventually Mars comes up with a solution—one that I totally didn’t see coming.

On a personal level, Mars’ son Chris is growing up and his ex-wife has a new beau that Chris isn’t fond of. Mars has some hard choices to make both personally and professionally in this book and manages to rise to the occasion like a pro. This is by far my favorite in the series so far. Lots of seat-of-your pants action, a great visit with some characters that finally started to flesh out and grow on me in the last book, and a wonderful portrayal of the Twin Cities area by someone who obviously lives here. I am looking forward to the next—and unfortunately, I believe the last—book in this series. ( )

Good mystery. ( )

"An edge-of-your-courtside-seat thriller that catches readers in a full-court press and never lets up...A most satisfying crime game." -Publishers Weekly
"Readers will enjoy the well-drawn character of Mars-particularly his relationship with his eight-year-old son."-Booklist
"Erickson's best to date, which is really saying something since she set the standards high in her first two books."-Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Mars 'Candy Man' Bahr is as likable as ever."-Kirkus Reviews
"A splendid series."-Reviewing the Evidence
"KJ Erickson has fashioned a dandy police procedural, ingenious and suspenseful."
-San Diego Union-Tribune
"The Last Witness by KJ Erickson extends her run of excellent police procedurals to three."
-Minneapolis Star-Tribune
"A smoothly written, enjoyable, fast-moving mystery."-Deadly Pleasures (amazon.com)