In this fifth and final Truman
Smith mystery, Galveston Private Investigator Truman Smith still has no
interest in looking for anyone. Dino wants him to quit trying to figure why
alligators and birds get killed and get back to finding people. Because of the backstory
that series readers are familiar with, Truman is not remotely interested. Dino
has pushed this same idea before, but this time he swears things will be
different and wants Truman to trust him.
Truman knows better than that having
heard the “trust me” line before. Instead of looking for folks, these days
Truman works as a freelance contractor of sorts running a credit check or
background on folks. It is the middle nineties and he can easily accomplish
both from home when he is not reading a book. But, Randall Kirbo had come to
Galveston back in March for spring break and vanished. Nine months later the son of Jack Kirbo, who
used to play football at the same time Truman and Dino did back in day, is
still missing and Galveston PD has gotten nowhere. Jack and Dino were friends on
the football team and still are as well and have had some business dealings
that have worked out well for both parties. Because of all that and more, Dino
wants Truman to see if he can find the kid.
December on the island means it is
time for the annual “Dickens on the Strand” and the accompanying throngs of
tourists and traffic. Certainly not two of Truman’s favorite things and neither
are Mr. and Mr. Kirbo. Definitely not the boorish Jack Kirbo. His wife is devastated
and just needs some sort of answer as to what happened to her son. It is
because of her that Truman agrees to investigate the situation. That
investigation will lead him to the underground party scene, a murder, and a lot
more in Murder Takes A Break: A Truman Smith Mystery.
Fifth in the series that began with Dead
on the Island, the character of Truman Smith is pretty well fleshed out
as is his occasional sidekick, Dino. Readers know what makes Truman tick and
what demons continue to haunt him. That leaves the book to be about the mystery
and several are at work here in this complicated tale. As expected regarding
anything from Texas legend and author, Bill Crider the book works on all
levels. The twists and turns are many, the humor is occasional, the action is
frequent, and the read is mighty good from start to finish.
Murder Takes A Break: A Truman Smith Mystery
Bill Crider
Walker And Company
October 1997
ISBN# 0-8027-3308-5
Hardback (also available in audio
and e-book formats)
184 Pages
$21.95
Material supplied by the good folks
of the Plano Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2015
For more reading suggestions today make sure you check out Patti Abbott's blog.
For more reading suggestions today make sure you check out Patti Abbott's blog.
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3 comments:
Thanks, Kevin!
Vvery much enjoyed this book and the series. As a reader, thank you!
Just the name "Truman" wins my interest. Looks like a good series. Thanks for the intro, Kevin.
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