December 2000 Fiction and Mystery Reviews

Purple Cane Road
by James Lee Burke

Doubleday

ISBN# 0-3854-8844-0
Suggested Retail Price: $24.95 or as low as $0.01 from Amazon.com!

This is number twenty for Burke, and I suspect it will be a big hit again. My first Burke novel was IN THE ELECTRIC MIST WITH CONFERDERATE DEAD. I liked that one, and so I backed up to read all of his novels. I think that this latest one follows through on the macho outlook of our hero, Dave Robicheaux. This time, Dave, who is as stubborn as mule, becomes absolutely single-minded about the death of his mother. She took off and left him with his alcoholic father when Dave was pretty young, and after that all he knew was that she was a suicide and he had been told that she was a prostitute. Roubicheaux sets out to find out the truth. Along the way he uncovers some pretty awful tales about New Orleans cops and their murderous cover-ups in years past. Dave steps on viscious toes and causes much harm himself, but he cannot stop uncovering the shocking history.

He is so macho and so single-minded that I found Dave Robicheaux a bit boring this time.

Dust to Dust
by Tami Hoag

Bantam

ISBN# 0553106341
Suggested Retail Price: $25.95 or as low as $0.01 from Amazon.com!

Once more Homicide Inspector Sam Kovac and his partner Nikki Liska are faced with a crime that invades their personal lives. The son of one of Kovac's old mentors in the police department is found dead. He hanged himself in his own bedroom, naked and facing a mirror that had "Sorry" scrawled on it. The son was gay, and his father could not accept that. The father is called "Iron Mike." He was a hero and badly injured cop who had to retire. Sam suspects something is not right. Murder might be the answer, but there is so much more to discover. Much dirty work is uncovered in the Police Department. A cop attacks Nikki, and Kovac is falling for the head of the Internal Affairs who is gorgeous, stiff and hiding something. A worthwhile read for thriller fans.

Cat in a Kiwi Con
by Carole Nelson Douglas

Forge

ISBN# 0-3128-6955-X
Suggested Retail Price: $24.95 or as low as $0.08 from Amazon.com!

Midnight Louie is back in all his feline best. The problem this time out is that there isn't enough of the detective cat, but there is too much of the various Las Vegas characters. The adventure takes place during the world's largest Comic Book and Science-Fiction convention. This is a collection of folks who love to experience all of the props of their favorite shows and stories. They dress up and act up. Louie is following his former love, the lethal Hyacinth, into this fan fest. There is murder and mayhem along with some strange critters called "Kiwis."

Temple, Max and Matt are all in the drama again, although that triangle is getting much too sad. Matt is babysitting the daughter of Homicide Lt. C.R. Molina through the show. The adventure is delightful, if dangerous. The characters we already know well are there and a bunch of fans most of whom are interesting. Molina, who is secretly a blues singer at a local club, has a surprise in store for all concerned - especially her daughter.

Before I Say Good-Bye
by Mary Higgins Clark

Simon & Schuster

ISBN# 0684835983
Suggested Retail Price: $26.00 or as low as $0.01 from Amazon.com!

Nell MacDermott is a touch psychic. She is also determined to run for the vacancy in Congress that occurred when her beloved grandfather dies. Neil's husband is very much opposed to politics. They have a quarrel about it the morning that Adam decides to try out his new cabin cruiser. Unfortunately, the boat blows up and kills Nell's husband. It turns out that the explosion was not an accident. Adam, the architect, has been involved in a major construction project. There were other people on the boat who might have been the target.

Nell's Aunt takes her to a medium who claims to contact Adam and gives her instructions to follow. Nell is being watched by people who do not want her to find out the truth about the ruthless killing.

Listen to the Silence
by Marcia Muller

Mysterious Press

ISBN# 0-8929-6689-0
Suggested Retail Price: $28.00 or as low as $0.01 from Amazon.com!

As we join Sharon McCone once again, her father has just died. She soon learns that her dad wanted only her to go through his personal paper. To her shock, Sharon finds out that she was adopted. Dropping everything at the McCone Detective Agency, she sets out to learn the truth about her heritage. The search takes her to a Shoshone reservation in Montana, and then to a sacred Indian lake in northern California. What she discovers is a dispute between the Indians and a high-powered land developer. She also finds murder and the answers to her own mysterious roots.

Sharon keeps learning and maturing as her adventures keep on being a good read.