Dan Spalding is a former state police detective who has
retired from that work to run a vintage record store he inherited from his
brother in Ozark City, a picturesque tourist destination reminiscent of
Branson, Missouri. Not surprisingly, though, trouble keeps popping up that
requires Dan to use his detective skills.
ANSWER DEATH is the first novel in this series by Richard Prosch, and it’s a good one. Dan’s problems start when a couple of shoplifters make off with a signed album by a signer who has a theater in Ozark City, as well as kind of a sleazy reputation. Dan’s efforts to recover the record lead him to discover a murder, and then the notorious singer winds up dead, too, leaving Dan with two murders to solve. Unfortunately, his efforts put everything he cares about at risk.
Modern technology plays an important part in the story, but the plot, the pacing, and the slightly melancholy first-person narration in this novel remind me very much of some of the great private eye series of the Seventies, such as Arthur Lyons’ Jacob Asch books. Dan Spalding isn’t officially a PI, but he functions much like one. He’s a fine character and makes for a very likable protagonist. Prosch’s writing is lean and effective. This is an excellent novel and the beginning of what looks like it will be a very good series. I give it a high recommendation.
ANSWER DEATH is the first novel in this series by Richard Prosch, and it’s a good one. Dan’s problems start when a couple of shoplifters make off with a signed album by a signer who has a theater in Ozark City, as well as kind of a sleazy reputation. Dan’s efforts to recover the record lead him to discover a murder, and then the notorious singer winds up dead, too, leaving Dan with two murders to solve. Unfortunately, his efforts put everything he cares about at risk.
Modern technology plays an important part in the story, but the plot, the pacing, and the slightly melancholy first-person narration in this novel remind me very much of some of the great private eye series of the Seventies, such as Arthur Lyons’ Jacob Asch books. Dan Spalding isn’t officially a PI, but he functions much like one. He’s a fine character and makes for a very likable protagonist. Prosch’s writing is lean and effective. This is an excellent novel and the beginning of what looks like it will be a very good series. I give it a high recommendation.
2 comments:
I'll have to give it a try.
Thanks for the review, James. I will read, "Answer Death." Like you, I have terrific memories of Arthur Lyons' Jacob Asch novels.
Jim Meals
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