Book Review: The Day After Yesterday

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Day After Yesterday     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Wayne D. Dundee
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator   Hard Boiled   Conspiracy   Terrorists
Series: Joe Hannibal
Five Star, Sep 2007, $25.95

From Ogallala, Nebraska Abby Bridger calls private investigator Joe Hannibal to inform him her Uncle Bomber Brannigan and his companion Liz Grimaldi died in a nearby car crash. A stunned Joe leaves his home Rockford, Illinois to attend the funeral of his two best friends.

Nine days after the funeral, an upset Abby calls Joe informing him something is not right about the deaths of Bomber and Liz. Deputy Clint Barnstable was the first law enforcement official on the scene and he reported alcohol and the pair were having sex when they took a turn way too fast. Abby and Joe know Bomber cannot drink and would not, and that the pair were close buddies but not lovers; someone rigged the crime scene. Joe agrees to return to the Cornhusker state to investigate, not yet realizing that he will soon be dealing with a militia, Homeland Security agents, an enigmatic undercover Fed, and a Russian terrorist; but none of that matches his female troubles or the need to rescue Abby’s kidnapped child.

This is an interesting Great Plains conspiracy thriller starring a hard boiled private investigator skirmishing with the government, the militia, and a terrorist. The subplot involving Joe with his estranged girlfriend is well written; however his romantic involvement with Abby feels more like a sub-genre requirement that detracts from an otherwise strong tale of betrayals.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner