New mysteries for the New Year

REVIEWS BY BRUCE TIERNEY

"Greetings," the note begins. "There is a body buried on your property, covered in your blood. The unfortunate young lady's name is Rita Jones. You've seen this missing schoolteacher's face on the news, I'm sure. In her jeans pocket, you'll find a slip of paper with a phone number on it. You have one day to call that number. If I have not heard from you by 8:00 p.m. tomorrow, the Charlotte Police Department will receive an anonymous phone call. I'll tell them where Rita Jones is buried on Andrew Thomas' lakefront property, how he killed her, and where the murder weapon can be found in his house. (I do believe a paring knife is missing from your kitchen.)" Fictional mystery author Andrew Thomas is almost ready to write the note off as the work of a fan with a slightly deranged sense of humor, but the part about the missing paring knife rings true. In a matter of a few short hours, Thomas will dig up the remains of a young woman, just where the author of the note said she would be, and his life will become a waking nightmare. Blake Crouch's first novel, Desert Places, displays the careful craftsmanship of a talented newcomer to the mystery genre. The premise may be a bit far-fetched, but he carries it off seamlessly. The interplay between the protagonist and the villain is crisp and clever, and the plot development is relentless. Can't wait for the sequel!


A husband's secret life

Another mystery debut, Jodi Compton's The 37th Hour, marks the beginning of a series featuring Minneapolis Sheriff Sarah Pribek, who specializes in missing persons cases. Still, it will come as a huge surprise to her to find that her husband has gone missing, and that the trail is as cold as a Minnesota daybreak. Doggedly, she pursues the smallest leads, each of which raises more questions than it answers. Apparently, Pribek's beloved husband exists (or existed) in a shadow world of half-truths, secrets and betrayal. As the investigation continues, it grows unclear whether she would want him back, even on the off chance she is able to turn him up. The 37th Hour is not a novel for fans of light mysteries (Janet Evanovich and Sue Grafton readers need not apply). Rather, it mines the darker side of the genre, territory familiar to readers of Jim Thompson, Andrew Vachss and James Lee Burke. An excellent debut novel, from an author worth watching!


Mystery of the month

January's Tip of the Ice Pick Award goes to veteran crime novelist and reigning King of the Police Procedurals Ed McBain for his hilarious and diabolical The Frumious Bandersnatch. Hip-hop diva Tamar Valparaiso is poised on the edge of superstardom. Her controversial new video, a rape-fantasy piece entitled "Frumious Bandersnatch" is set for release, and she plans to debut a live version of it from a rented yacht on the river adjacent to McBain's fabled 87th precinct. All goes awry when a sleek speedboat pulls up alongside. The shindig guests watch helplessly as two armed miscreants disguised as Yasir Arafat and Saddam Hussein make off with the almost-star. Because of the proximity of the crime to the 87th precinct, stalwarts Steve Carella, Cotton Hawes and Fat Ollie Weeks (you may remember the misogynist Weeks from last year's Fat Ollie's Book) will work the case, along with a loosely knit task force comprised of FBI agents and other assorted stragglers. As is often the case in such an unwilling coalition, there is inter-agency rivalry, and much stepping on toes (often creatively, and to the delight of the reader). McBain misses no opportunity to skewer the fickle music industry, sensationalist cable news coverage, our esteemed president, his minions and the so-called Patriot Act. The Frumious Bandersnatch is McBain's 53rd book featuring the cops of the 87th Precinct (this in addition to his legendary work under his real name, Evan Hunter, including the superb The Blackboard Jungle). It would be hard to single out one (or a dozen, for that matter) as the masterpiece(s) of the collection, but each new volume is clever, fast-paced, topical and funny. Not to be missed!


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