This author, who I think is ok but generally not worth the fuss, begs the question of what is hardboiled. Is it when someone's not just stabbed, but stabbed and has guts pop out? When they're not just shot, but shot in the ankle mid-step? A jumper isn't just broken, but shattered? Women have to be raped to "come of age" (which I find offensive)? If that's enough then Slaughter should be enough -- but it's not, and she's not. The atmosphere isn't thick with tension, the characters don't ring true, the exchanges have made me LOL, the author has to reach for THE most improbable to get the action she wants and I don't find the resolutions likely or satisfying.