Review: The life and Death of Rose Doucette: A Novel by Harry Hunsicker

The life and Death of Rose Doucette: A Novel by Harry Hunsicker brings readers to Dallas, Texas, and private investigator Dylan Fisher. His ex-wife asked to meet a bar in a certain hotel. They have not seen each other in three years, and while it has been a long time, neither is ready to forgive.

 

While he left the force a few years ago, Rose is still a homicide detective with the Dallas Police Department. From the first look at her, he can tell things are off with her. Further proof is the fact that she wants to hire him. She’s willing to do that because she is scared. A 20-year officer with the DPD is scared over a case.  She had a gunshot victim, white guy, early 40’s, was found dead in a cabana out by the pool at the same hotel they are meeting at today.

 

The dead man was Josh Gannon. He had been out of Huntsville for a few days. He had no income, no job, and no reason to be staying at an expensive hotel. He was shot in the chest. From the top down, the DPD brass want her to call it a suicide and let it go. So does the staff of the hotel who made sure to clean up all the evidence anything happened. She’s been pulled off their case. She wants to hire Fisher to find the killer. As they discuss the scene, the hotel manager and security show up to boot them off the property.

 

She was already mad at Fisher for the direction of the conversation, and getting booted off the property despite her badge, is the last straw. She takes off and Dylan realizes that she is being followed. He gets in his car and follows. He keeps following and trying to reach her on her cell phone and getting voice mail. He trails her to the Northeast Dallas police substation where he is in time to see her killed.

 

Arrested as a suspect, because he has her blood on him as he tried to save her, it gives a chance for old enemies on the force to go after him. Some would love to see him in state prison and are not going to do anything but help it happen. Obviously, he isn’t going to let that happen. Before long, he and people he cares about are in deep to their eyeballs in a mess that goes back decades.

 

As one expects from a Henry Hunsicker book, it is a complicated and mighty good read. Not only is the The Life and Death of Rose Doucette: A Novel a superb mystery, it is full of Dallas area landmarks. References that are often not positive and may bring a snicker while delighting those of born and raised in this city. A city where not everything is golden and good. A great read and well worth your time.

  

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3YeeCPF

  

 

My reading copy came as an ARC by way of Oceanview Publishing through NetGalley.

  

Kevin R. Tipple ©2024