August
Octavio Snow, the Detroit ex-cop and self-appointed protector of the
Mexicantown neighborhood where he grew up, is the inspired creation of Stephen
Mack Jones, who has deservedly won a number of awards for Snow’s adventures.
In Snow’s
fourth appearance, Deus X (Soho, November 2023), he is visiting his
long-time girlfriend in Norway. He receives a panicked call from home: one of
his elderly neighbors is in ICU with a heart attack. The two older ladies have
been his special project for a long time. They took in the young computer whiz
from an earlier book as a boarder and the three have become a tight trio. Of
course Snow returns to Detroit, where he deals with the immediate crisis and in
the process learns that the Catholic priest who baptized him and who has been
omnipresent in his life suddenly retired and is quietly fading away. After some
prying Snow learns a secret group within the Church has targeted the good
father and Snow will not stand for a threat to the people he considers his
family. While Snow’s mother was a devout believer, he is not quite as convinced
so he has no trouble going after the rotten apples in the Church hierarchy.
Snow is a
fine addition to the roster of fictional unlicensed investigators who do favors
for friends – think Rush McKenzie, Henry Malone, Tom Bethany, J. W. Jackson,
and Matt Scudder. He also cooks. A lot. Plan on keeping a bag of chips and dip
nearby to assuage the hunger pains that will arise as you read this one.
While the
themes are nothing new, Jones imbues the plot with crackling energy and creates
memorable characters. His imagination apparently knows no bounds: In Dead of
Winter I thought his depiction of the afterlife was striking; in Deus X
he introduces a witch who practices quietly but openly in a residential
neighborhood.
The very best
part of this very good book is the portrayal of the profound connections that
Snow forged with his parents and that he has replicated in his growing chosen
family and the deep affection they all have for each other.
One of the
few series that I track these days, I am looking forward to the next title.
Highly recommended.
· Publisher: Soho Crime (November 7, 2023)
· Language: English
· Hardcover: 360 pages
· ISBN-10: 1641294957
·
ISBN-13: 978-1641294959
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4cSxhpE
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2024
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
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