For what seems like a month now, several
times a week, I have seen ads for the "Oswald Three Pack" which features this
great series by Harry Hunsicker. Constantly seeing those ads finally reminded me that it has been quite awhile since I reminded you of the very first book in the series, STILL RIVER: A Lee Henry Oswald
Mystery. This great series is the
real Dallas, warts and all. My review that first ran over twenty years ago...
Lee Henry “Hank” Oswald
is a private investigator who walks the mean streets of Dallas, Texas. It
begins as a favor for a former fellow high school classmate in the form of Vera
Drinkwater. Crying in his office, she tells Hank that her brother Charles (Charlie
to one and all) Wesson (two years behind both Vera and Hank in school) is
missing and has been for a little less than twenty-four hours. She knows
something is wrong. Hank knows at this point, Charlie hasn’t been gone long
enough to raise an eyebrow or anything else at the Dallas Police Department.
The fact that he is a former addict, allegedly clean and sober now, won’t speed
anyone to look for him as in all likelihood, he is off on a binge.
Charlie had been a
victim all through school both by bullies at school and a stepfather at home
determined to make a man out of him one way or another. Hank has memories of
those times as well as some guilt as he wasn’t in a position to really help but
witnessed enough to have some idea of what Charlie endured. Those memories
trigger his need to help and he agrees to make some calls and look for Charlie.
It should have been easy enough.
But, one thing life has
taught him with a name like his in Dallas, nothing is easy and this certainly
isn’t. Before long, it turns into a huge mess involving crooked real estate
developers, urban renewal in the form of yet another Trinity River project, the
Russian mafia, drugs, guns, and wayward relatives. Through it all, Hank keeps
going as he digs through the muck of Dallas whether they are rich and famous or
the nobodies on the wrong side of the river.
Author Harry Hunsicker’s portrayal of Dallas has absolutely nothing to do with
the chamber of commerce ads for the city. This is a hard-edged noirish style
Dallas that serves as a backdrop for all sorts of things that no doubt happen
on a routine basis and that no one ever talks about. While Still
River stumbles at first in terms of clichés, the book builds a
steady momentum and before long carries the reader violently along for a very
enjoyable read.
Amazon Associate
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4twTe6F
Or go wild and get the
entire three book series. Three books at this price is almost like getting one
free. https://amzn.to/4szQnbu
Kevin R. Tipple © 2005, 2012, 2019, 2026
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