Book Review: Sinister Heights

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Sinister Heights     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Loren D. Estleman
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Noir
Series: Amos Walker # 15
Mysterious Press, Feb 2002, $24.95, 262 pp.

Rayellen Stutch, beautiful widow of deceased Michigan industrial millionaire Leland, hires Amos Walker to find the illegitimate child of her late husband. Though years ago Leland had a paternity case thrown out of court, he quietly paid child support until the child turned eighteen. Rayellen fears DNA testing would prove the offspring is Leland’s and erode her estate much more than a benevolent gift of a million or so would.

Amos figures the case is an easy one. He immediately proves himself right when he finds Leland’s daughter Carla Witowski. That leads him to Carla’s daughter Constance Glendowning and her grandson Matthew at a battered woman’s shelter run by Amos’ former girlfriend Iris. However, the case takes a strange spin when a Dodge rams Amos’ car. Iris is decapitated, Constance lands in a coma, and Amos is left unconscious, while Matthew is abducted. When Walker recovers he revises his assignment as he has some butt to kick while trying to rescue Matthew.

The latest Amos Walker case is a wild joy ride around Detroit as the hero accepts a simple case that leads him to one confrontation after another. Amos retains his hard-boiled with a mouthy retort to anyone persona as expected by fans of this "dance instructor". However, Amos and his renowned propensity for ending up in violent situations overwhelm the investigation. SINISTER HEIGHTS is for fans of the series who know what to expect from Loren D. Estleman and get that and two or three rounds more of violent action.

Harriet Klausner

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