Eight stars
After enjoying another series by Joseph Flynn, I needed to find more to whet my appetite. This shorter collection by Flynn is less political and more crime-based, but just as impactful with its action. A small California community has a police force to match, just what Chief Ron Ketchum wants at this point in his career. When a man has been found crucified on the outskirts of town, Cheif Ketchum is shocked, both at the brutality don the apparent racial nature of the crime. While he tries to get this investigation in order, a prowling mountain lion has also begun to cause havoc, forcing Chief Ketchum to call on the services of some outside help. With a killer on the loose and this animal looking for prey, there will be no down time for anyone around town. Flynn does a masterful job with this piece and has me eager to continue the series.
Ron Ketchum spent a great deal of time handling crime and the darker side of humankind while working for the LAPD. Now, wanting something a little quieter, he took the role as Chief of Police for the small California community of Goldstrike, where people live in relative harmony. That bucolic nature is shattered when the body of an African American man is found crucified to a tree on the outskirts of town. The victim is a local preacher, who happens to be the son of a nationally televised minister, Jimmy Thunder. While the case has the markings of a racial crime, there are too many factors too brand it as such.
While the town's mayor, Clay Steadman, wants things solved soon, Chief Ketchum has a number of things working against him, namely the lack of compassion many felt about the man and how his race played into this. The victim's family begins speaking of how God will place a curse on the town until the killer is found, which sends waves through the community. After a rogue mountain lion has begun attacking the population of Goldstrike, many feel it aligns with the aforementioned curse, a troubling sentiment that can only get worse. This is another fire that Chief Ketchum and his department could do without during their tense investigation.
After calling in some outside assistance to handle the mountain lion attacks, Cheif Ketchum tries to get back on task and grind a killer. He digs deep and discovers that there is more to the story than meets the eye. Suspects pop up, from all walks of life around Goldstrike, and leave the options wide open for interpretation. With a jittery mayor and a family demanding answers, Chief Ron Ketchum has little time to rest on his laurels. A killer lurks in the shadows, and we're not talking about the mountain lion. A brilliant series debut that has me wanting to read more and see how talented Joseph Flynn can be in another setting!
After a long and thoroughly enjoyable journey through a political thriller series by Joseph Flynn, I wanted more. Happy to see that he has a few other series, some of which tie-in with the Jim McGill collection, I could not wait to get started. This series debut is much different from the McGill work and is wholly crime-based. This gives the reader a different perspective, while keeping things on point. The narrative is strong and pulls the reader in from the opening pages, never letting things wane until all comes together. Ron Ketchum is a great cop and his character helps flavour things well. I am eager to learn more about him and the others who find themselves as secondary characters throughout the series. Flynn has been able to keep things fast-paced and on point throughout the opening novel, something that I hope continues.
As in the past, Flynn provides strong plot points throughout the story, which shapes the direction and intensity for the attentive reader. There is a great deal of mystery and some strong social issues that emerge throughout, keeping the reader forging ahead to discover the truths and commentary that surrounds some of the race matters. I was especially pleased to see how the two sub-plots merged in a way and left the reader enthralled with all that was taking place. I am looking forward to more in the series and new characters who can make strong connections with the reader. Flynn has the skills and is using them well with this series.
Kudos, Mr. Flynn, for a great start to this series
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