Literary Scene

Enjoy Three New Thrillers in the New Year

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Lost Hills
by Lee Goldberg
www.LeeGoldberg.com

The newest book by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg introduces readers to Deputy Eve Ronin, who’s shot up the ranks of the LA County Sheriff’s Department, moving from burglary to homicide in short order. A viral video showing Eve arresting an abusive movie star went viral, so in a PR move, her boss made Eve the youngest female homicide detective in department history. Now, with every eye on her, she just has to prove that she belongs.

The main story here is based on a true crime story from Ohio. Eve and her grizzled partner Duncan Pavone respond to a call to find a shockingly bloody home where three people—a mom and two kids, they think—have been slaughtered and mutilated. There’s so much blood, but nowhere near enough evidence to make this an easy case for anyone.

Duncan’s nearly to retirement, and Eve needs to prove herself, so she takes the lead and is willing to pay the price to get the answers she needs. She’s tough, smart, and realistic, which makes her a quality protagonist to follow.

In short, Goldberg has created a solid procedural here without the overt sense of humor you find in many of his other stories. He also brings in a level of forensic science that will please fans of the TV show Bones or books by Patricia Cornwell. This is a promising series with an engaging heroine well worth rooting for.

Ryan’s Rating: 4.25 out of 5

The Missing American
by Kwei Quartey
www.KweiQuartey.com

The latest book by Ghana writer Kwei Quartey is separate from his Inspector Dark Dawson series. The Missing American introduces 25-year-old PI Emma Djan, whose dreams of rising through the ranks of the Ghana Police Service were dashed when she refused the advances of a corrupt boss and she got the boot.

She’s given a second chance at being a professional investigator, though, after being hired on by PI Yemo Sowah, who’s just been enslisted to find out what’s happened to DC widower Gordon Tilson, who’s been scammed out of money by a non-existent Facebook friend. He flew to Accra to get the real story, but soon simply disappeared. It doesn’t take long for Djan to realize the web of deception and lies is bigger than anyone imagined, which includes the world of sakawa, a Ghanian term for con men who use high-tech Internet fraud schemes combined with African traditionalist rituals to target, manipulate, and steal from foreigners. Add in a sniper assassin who kills a Ghanian presidential candidate running on a popular anti-corruption campaign, and things start to get really interesting fast.

Quartey’s book reveals his expertise in West African culture and people—it all feels well-researched, authentic, and compelling. Emma Djan, too, has become a welcome addition to the ranks of capable female investigators. This is the launch of an intriguing new series.

Ryan’s Rating: 4 out of 5

Identity Theft
by Bob Avey
www.BobAvey.com

Bob Avey’s latest novel—his fourth in the Kenny Elliot mystery series—has our hero considering a significant change of careers. For three books, he’s served as a Tulsa police officer. Now, he’s ready to move on from that role. The problem is that his investigation skills are so good—bordering on supernaturally so—that his boss doesn’t want him to leave. He’s nothing if not loyal, so he agrees to hold off severing his relationship to the Tulsa police department. For now.

But he’s barely out the station door before he’s embroiled in yet another case that requires his own brand of sleuthing to solve. After all, how can so many people be involved in crimes that for some strange reason, they can’t quite recall? Something very odd is indeed afoot.

If this is your first dive into the life and times of Kenny Elliot, you’ll find a few references to his past that go beyond the context clues, but the story works well enough on its own. Avey likes to toe the line of the supernatural, though this is most clearly in the vein of crime thrillers. I’ll bet he’s a fan of mid-20th century mysteries, too, since that pacing and style seems to have influenced this series.

Ryan’s Rating: 3.75 out of 5