“High Country Nocturne” by journalist Jon Talton (Poisoned Pen Press, $24.95 hb, $14.95 pb) is a highly atmospheric, entertaining crime novel that’s set mostly in Phoenix and Northern Arizona.
It’s the eighth book showcasing private investigator and dedicated academic historian David Mapstone. He’s quite surprised when his business partner and longtime friend Mike Peralta is accused of involvement in a major jewel heist.
Peralta, the former Maricopa County Sherriff, is working as a security guard. He’s captured on tape shooting another guard and making off with 15 million dollars worth of rough diamonds.
It gets a lot more complicated from there, as Mapstone and Peralta’s wife Sharon initially try to figure out the truth.
In the opening chapter, Mapstone and Sharon are stopped and confronted by a woman police officer in a car with flashing red and blue lights.
A dangerous situation develops but is diffused; the private eye is convinced the woman isn’t a state cop – he dubs her “Strawberry Death”.
Mapstone gets called in by Chris Melton, the sleazy current Sherriff, who blackmails him into investigating a special cold case and deputizes him.
Soon Mapstone’s wife Lindsay, a reformed top-notch computer hacker, is joining in; they discover that Strawberry Death is after the rare gems.
After bullets fly, Mapstone’s in a tense, highly emotional state; he is trying to use information that has been uncovered.
The FBI’s been called in, but a new Special Agent is in charge; a friendlier, earlier Special Agent in Phoenix has been re-assigned to duty in Alaska.
Mapstone doesn’t know who can trust, (except for his wife), corruption is rampant and the old, cold case suddenly turns much warmer.
The intricately plotted, fast-paced police procedural novel becomes even more complex when another body is discovered; the deceptions behind the daring jewel heist are slowly revealed.
Talton’s dark, brooding tale frequently reflects dourly on the growth of Phoenix and the surrounding area. He deftly utilizes local landmarks in his narrative, offering insights on the area’s development and economic decline, smoothly combining past and present.
This is an excellent, compelling page-turner with a riveting, surprising conclusion - it serves well as a stand-alone novel, but is likely to make you seek out earlier books in the series.
Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing’s Curious Book Shop, has reviewed crime novels and Michigan mysteries regularly since 1987.
Find this book and other great titles
It’s the eighth book showcasing private investigator and dedicated academic historian David Mapstone. He’s quite surprised when his business partner and longtime friend Mike Peralta is accused of involvement in a major jewel heist.
Peralta, the former Maricopa County Sherriff, is working as a security guard. He’s captured on tape shooting another guard and making off with 15 million dollars worth of rough diamonds.
It gets a lot more complicated from there, as Mapstone and Peralta’s wife Sharon initially try to figure out the truth.
In the opening chapter, Mapstone and Sharon are stopped and confronted by a woman police officer in a car with flashing red and blue lights.
A dangerous situation develops but is diffused; the private eye is convinced the woman isn’t a state cop – he dubs her “Strawberry Death”.
Mapstone gets called in by Chris Melton, the sleazy current Sherriff, who blackmails him into investigating a special cold case and deputizes him.
Soon Mapstone’s wife Lindsay, a reformed top-notch computer hacker, is joining in; they discover that Strawberry Death is after the rare gems.
After bullets fly, Mapstone’s in a tense, highly emotional state; he is trying to use information that has been uncovered.
The FBI’s been called in, but a new Special Agent is in charge; a friendlier, earlier Special Agent in Phoenix has been re-assigned to duty in Alaska.
Mapstone doesn’t know who can trust, (except for his wife), corruption is rampant and the old, cold case suddenly turns much warmer.
The intricately plotted, fast-paced police procedural novel becomes even more complex when another body is discovered; the deceptions behind the daring jewel heist are slowly revealed.
Talton’s dark, brooding tale frequently reflects dourly on the growth of Phoenix and the surrounding area. He deftly utilizes local landmarks in his narrative, offering insights on the area’s development and economic decline, smoothly combining past and present.
This is an excellent, compelling page-turner with a riveting, surprising conclusion - it serves well as a stand-alone novel, but is likely to make you seek out earlier books in the series.
Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing’s Curious Book Shop, has reviewed crime novels and Michigan mysteries regularly since 1987.
Find this book and other great titles
at the Curious Book Shop, an independent
book shop in East Lansing, founded in 1969.
Curious Book Shop
307 East Grand River Avenue
East Lansing, Michigan
517.332.0112
This review was originally published by the Lansing State Journal on July 19, 2015.
No comments:
Post a Comment