Book Review: R. I. P. 37E

Reviewed By: Carl Brookins - RAM

R. I. P. 37E     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Bob Garland
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Humboldt Prior # 3
Writer’s Digest, 224 pp.

Here is yet another tired homecoming novel, this one by a retired Saint Paul financial executive. A subtitle proclaims it the third Humbolt Prior mystery. Prior is a computer manufacturing executive who apparently stumbles from one dangerous crisis to another. Here, he returns to his Midwestern hometown to face crimes from a distant past and relationships from the present.

We have arson, political chicanery and of course, murder. We also encounter the involvement of one of the town’s old, wealthy, prominent families. The central motivator is a freeway project established by the state highway commission which is being heavily questioned on a several fronts. Prior dodges murder attempts and tries to deal with rambunctious protesters who want to kill or greatly alter the highway construction project. Oddly, Prior’s hometown is never named. The writing is uninspired and there is a great deal of telling and not enough showing. A strong editorial hand would have been of great benefit.

Carl Brookins - RAM

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