Archive for category Classic PI
Review: A SPORTING MURDER by Chester D. Campbell
Posted by Larry in Classic PI, Crime on June 26th, 2010
A SPORTING MURDER by Chester D. Campbell
Greg Mckenzie Mystery No. 5
Night Shadows Press, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-9846044-0-1
Trade Paperback, 233 pages
$14.95
Reviewed by Larry W. Chavis
In the week before Christmas rumors have surfaced that something is amiss with a proposed deal to bring a National Basketball Association franchise to Nashville. Local P. I. Greg McKenzie, with his wife and partner, Jill, are hired to investigate by a group of hockey fans opposed to the NBA’s coming, fearing loss of the hockey team’s fan base. An informant promises information on the deal that will “blow your mind,” but turns up shot in the face instead. Is his murder the result of being in the wrong part of town or connected to the case? Greg and Jill determine to find out.
But this will be no ordinary Christmas week. Besides the murder and Greg’s finding the body, an old case rears it head in the person of a former Air Force lieutenant whom Greg had helped convict of drug-dealing back in his days as an OSI investigator. He’s out of prison, and still carrying a grudge. As the book moves along at a fast pace, the McKenzies are hard-pressed to unravel the events and dangers into which they are thrust. Are they connected to the NBA deal or to Greg’s old enemy? We are kept guessing until the disparate threads all come together on Christmas Day in a rousing and satisfying climax.
Readers of Mr. Campbell’s previous books will be pleased to be back in his Nashville with Greg and Jill McKenzie. His writing is clean and spare, giving us enough sense of place and character to feel as if we’ve settled in with friends, and then in turn ratcheting up the tension and suspense. Greg McKenzie is not a hard-boiled private investigator, but he’s tough and smart, well aware of the qualities Jill brings to the partnership. The way the case plays out against the backdrop of their lives gives them a genuineness that makes the reader feel these would be good folks to spend an afternoon with - or to have along in a gun fight. Once again, Campbell has hit the mark.
Copyright ©2010 Larry W. Chavis
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION
I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
Review: TREASURE HUNT by John Lescroart
Posted by Marlene in Classic PI, Crime, Thriller on November 8th, 2009
Treasure Hunt
by John Lescroart
ISBN 978-0-525-95144-5
368 pages
Published by Dutton, Penguin Group Publishers
$26.95
Reviewed by Marlene Pyle
I used to really enjoy reading John Grisham’s work, but I found his last couple of books disappointing. It seemed as if he’d found a formula that worked, so he just kept using it; same story, different day. It was like watching all the Rocky movies in a row, only to realize they were getting progressively more inane. I’ve been on the lookout ever since for an author to replace Grisham as my favorite writer of legal thrillers. In John Lescroart, I’ve finally found him.
Treasure Hunt is set in San Francisco. Private detective Wyatt Hunt and his new associate, Mickey Dade, are investigating the homicide of one of the city’s most prominent citizens, the head of several charities. Though the victim was very popular with the public, his murder does not appear to be random. Hunt and Dade quickly find themselves up to their armpits in behind the scenes maneuvering and shady deals. To make matters worse, the prime suspect is a beautiful young woman and Dade is deeply attracted to her.
Hunt and Dade are appealing characters. They bring to mind the best heroes from the old cop shows—guys like Baretta and Columbo. They’re up against some big players, but they hold their own with an elegance and finesse rarely seen in recent thrillers, which seem slapped together in comparison. Lescroart has published twenty-one novels, but he hasn’t resorted to the easy money, “churn out another one” machine yet. Let’s hope he never does.
Copyright ©2009 Marlene Pyle
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION
I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
Review: ROCK & ROLL HOMICIDE by R.J. McDonnell
Posted by Marlene in Classic PI, Crime on August 13th, 2009
Rock & Roll Homicide
R.J. McDonnell
Kileena Publishing
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-9814914-1-7
$25.95
Admit it, when you were a teenager, you wanted to be a rock star, or if you’re a woman, you wanted to date a guy who was in a band. The ugliest guy in the world can get a date if he’s a drummer or a lead singer. If you don’t believe me, I have two words for you: Mick Jagger. There’s just something about musicians that surpasses even the captain of the football team in terms of hotness.
While I will not classify myself as a former groupie under any circumstances, I do fondly remember a lot of Saturday nights in my college years spent at a bar called Beethoven’s in Davenport, Iowa. The band that played there was called Lynn Allen and the lead singer (hi, Billy!) had a sexy, gravelly voice that lent itself well to cover tunes by Loverboy and John Cougar. (I realize I just gave myself away—yes, it was the 80’s and I’m past the big 4-0.)
But I’m not too old to appreciate a good rocker story, and McDonnell delivers it. The lead singer of an up and coming band gets blown away by his own music when his headphones explode during a recording session. (Sorry. I know that was bad, but I couldn’t resist.) His widow is the police’s prime suspect, so she quickly hires a private investigator to dig deeper into her husband’s murder. The PI is Jason Duffy, himself a former musician and the son of a cop. Convinced of the widow’s innocence, Jason soon learns that the band’s record company has ties to the Russian mafia, and the remaining band members aren’t squeaky clean either.
It’s a great murder mystery. I had a few problems with the editing—for example, when you “peek” into a kitchen, it’s not spelled “peak” but that’s just me, I’m picky about that kind of thing. That said, the description is witty, as in “a toupee that probably makes squirrels horny.” You gotta love that. The transitions are not always smooth—in some places it seems a little choppy, but it’s not a major issue. This is a novel I highly recommend, especially if you’ve got fun memories of a Beethoven’s in your past.
Copyright Ⓒ2009 Marlene Pyle
Review: THE SUREST POISON by Chester D. Campbell
Posted by Larry in Classic PI, Crime, Suspense on June 11th, 2009
Night Shadows Press, April, 2009
Hardcover: 978-0-9799167-9-3
$26.95
Trade Paper: 978-0-9799167-8-6
$15.95
272 pages
Reviewed by Larry W. Chavis
Nashville P. I. Sidney Lanier Chance is not a typical private investigator. Sure, he has a military and law enforcement background; he lives alone, has a brash female associate, and is a man’s man when it comes to physical size and ability. Sid Chance, though, is fifty-nine years old. He lived for three years in a cabin he built with his own hands in the mountains of East Tennessee, only reluctantly allowing himself to be persuaded to return to the city and hang out his P. I. shingle. He is more deliberative than reckless, treats women as his equals yet hasn’t forgotten the manners his mother taught him, and reflects in his manner something of the poet and Confederate blockade runner for whom he is named. In short, Sid Chance is a Southern gentleman; not the silly, drawling, white-suited caricature, but the solid, modest man of character you can count on in a bind.
In The Surest Poison Sid is hired by a lawyer representing a company under the guns of the government and the public for a toxic chemical spill. HarrCo Shipping, though, bought the property years after the contamination occurred. With the serious health effects only now showing up, the company stands to suffer expense, both monetary and in good will, for a problem it had no part in. Sid Chance’s mission is to find the people responsible. He quickly learns how difficult this will be, as one lead after another runs into a blank wall. A night-time explosion and three possibly-connected murders ratchet up the stakes, and Sid finds the routine task has suddenly turned deadly.
Mr. Campbell does a masterful job of plotting, and tells us a tale that keeps the pages turning. The best part of the book, though, is the cast of characters he has assembled and the atmosphere their interactions create, right down to the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, string beans, and peas they have for Sunday dinner (lunch for those north of the Mason-Dixon Line). I’m looking forward to the further development of Sid, Jaz, and The Five Felons and Miss Demeanor Poker Club (you’ll have to read the book).
Copyright ©2009 Larry W. Chavis
Review: KILLER CUTS by Elaine Viets
Posted by Marlene in Classic PI, Cozy mystery, Crime, Romance on May 26th, 2009
Hardcover, 272 pages
ISBN 978-0-451-22686-0
Published by Penguin
Reviewed by Marlene Pyle
Most writers do extensive research when they begin a new novel. Many travel to different locations to scout for unique settings. Often, they interview specialists to be sure they have all the procedural details correct. There is a great deal of time and energy invested in the book long before Chapter one. But I think it would be safe to say that few immerse themselves as deeply into the lives of their characters as Elaine Viets, the best-selling author of the Dead End Job mystery series.
Her character, Helen Hawthorne, is a former accountant, but thanks to a shady ex-husband, Helen prefers to keep a low profile. She has relocated to Florida from the Midwest and doesn’t even have a telephone listed in her name. She’s started a new life and intends to keep her old one firmly in the past. Instead of crunching numbers, Helen seeks employment at places where she can work “off the books” and not be easily tracked down. Her minimum wage work has included stints as a telemarketer and as a hotel maid. In this novel, she is an assistant at an upscale hair salon, where her duties include sweeping the floors and bringing magazines and drinks to the clients.
Here’s the really interesting part: Ms. Viets always spends time working in the jobs she gives her heroine. She says it gives her a better feel for the character. Now that’s dedication. I’ve done my share of crummy jobs—Ever been to Chuck E. Cheese? I worked there years ago, and trust me, you haven’t lived until you’ve walked around in a giant mouse costume, previously worn by some stinky, sweaty fellow employee. That costume was the reason I went to college, and I am all but sure my days of dressing as any type of furry creature are over, unless, of course, someone should offer me a book contract to do so.
That said, I applaud Ms. Viets for her in-depth research. It makes for a very realistic character. The story line is rich with detail, and smart, snappy dialogue like this gem: “Helen discovered ex-husbands were like cockroaches; you never quite got rid of them.” I also really like this one: “She’s stew meat who thinks she’s prime rib.” Also, describing a couple of models, “You could have built condos on their jutting cheekbones.” Now, that’s description.
Helen is working at a big-money wedding, assisting stylist Miguel Angel, as he does the bride’s hair and make-up. Everything goes beautifully until the groom is found dead in his swimming pool. Helen is busy planning her own wedding, but she can’t resist trying to find the killer. Her fiancée is a private investigator so he (somewhat reluctantly) pitches in.
I don’t want to ruin the ending, so I will just say there’s a surprise cliffhanger, and I’ll be looking forward to the next installment. Who knows where Helen will be working next? Maybe she’ll end up at Chuck E. Cheese.
Copyright ©2009 Marlene Pyle
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