Review: Dead Drop: A Nathan Parker Detective Novel by James L'Etoile

Dead Drop: A Nathan Parker Detective Novel by James L'Etoile takes readers to south central Arizona. As the book begins, Detective Nathan Parker works for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Several years ago, his partner Detective Josh McMillan was killed. The murder was never solved and Parker has always felt he should have died and that he should have made different choices that horrible night. Now he is back in that same area to meet Billie Carson.

 

He knows Billie Carson and knows that the reclusive woman doesn’t scare easily. She lives in an old trailer and scavenges the surrounding dessert for things. It is a hard life. She has her reasons for being out there and away from folks and he has never pried into her business.

 

It was while she was out in the desert, in a dry wash, she found the drum barrels. She thought they might be worth something. She managed to get one open and found the body. She called Detective Parker so he came out to meet her and see what she found.

 

What she found is the latest body drop. Somebody is putting people in large drum barrels and dumping them out in the desert. They are not doing a very good job of hiding the dump sites either, for whatever reason. Chances are the bodies are of illegals coming across the border and getting caught up in border violence. Though it could be something more.

 

It does not take long before Detective Parker realizes it is something way more. And he and Billie are very deep into it with no help coming. They could easily be in barrels before anyone knows they are missing.

 

A very good read that is also the first book in an ongoing series. This title was released in 2022. The fifth and most recent book, Darkness Falls: A Detective Nathan Parker Novel, was released late last month.

 

Published by Level Best Books, Dead Drop: A Nathan Parker Detective Novel is a mighty good read. There is quite a lot going on here and I have only scratched the surface as to not cause any spoilers. I can tell you though, as a warning, if you are claustrophobic as I very much am, it might get you a bit in spots. Push through as the read is well worth it.

 

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4hoBxRU

 

 

My digital ARC reading copy came from the author a number of years ago with no expectation of a positive review. I was reminded that I had it in my massive TBR pile when he reached out about the new one in the series.

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2026