We Solve Murders

Rosie D’Antonio succinctly summarizes Amy’s character and appearance as “Five six, blue eyes, blonde, never cries, kills bad guys” (13). The description conveys Amy’s role as the female equivalent of macho thriller protagonists such as Lee Child’s Jack Reacher or Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. A private security officer, Amy fearlessly puts herself in harm’s way to protect others. “[S]trong and fast” (59), she is confident in her physical abilities and is always combat-ready. Her ability to triumph in altercations where she appears disadvantaged is demonstrated in the story of how Amy disarmed two men fighting with weights in the gym. This prowess convinces Jeff Nolan to hire her as a bodyguard.

During the murder investigations, Amy’s physical toughness is matched by her mental fortitude. Her willingness to face danger head-on is illustrated by her plan to ambush and confront Eddie Flood, the hitman hired to kill her. At the same time, Amy avoids introspection with the mantra, “Hit things, drive fast, defuse explosives, but, for the love of God, don’t think” (11). Osman hints that her fear of thinking too deeply or exploring her emotions stems from the trauma she endured as a child. The author suggests that Amy’s dark past fuels her professional motivations, stating ‘Self-protection’ had been a lifelong necessity for Amy, so the idea of protecting others seemed a natural fit” (59).