Review: A Long December

Carl Houseman returns, an event always worth waiting for! The shrewd deputy sheriff of a rural county in Northeast Iowa, Houseman is part of an effective investigative team, often confronted with situations not normally associated with the "peaceful rural Midwest." In Harstad's hands, the reader learns that peace is a commodity only rarely encountered, whether in rural or city life, and the problems which plague society as a whole are found where ever one chooses to look.

In this installment in the series, a vicious plan for a type of domestic terrorism is being tested at a local Kosher meat packing plant. Houseman and other law enforcement officers first encounter the plan when they receive a call from two local farmers who have witnessed a gangland style execution in the road directly in front of their farm. Attempts by Carl and his colleagues to identify the dead man produce a string of invalid social security numbers, dummy addresses for next of kin, fake or non existent green cards, and empty residences where potential witnesses were believed to be living.

An impressive phalanx of federal officials soon arrive, bringing the chilling news that the local Kosher plant is the source of poisoned meat sold in large Eastern US cities. Working with the assistance of a local police informant, Houseman's team gradually pieces together the puzzle of what is going on.

Harstad begins the book with an ambush of Houseman's team as they are holed up in an abandoned barn. From there he jumps back to the first inkling of trouble, then forward to the ambush scene, then back to the unfolding investigation, then forward again and so on. After a few chapters of this, the reader is firmly gripped to her/his seat and hanging on for dear life as the pages turn and the story flies by.

Once more Harstad portrays the wry understated wit of the Iowans. All the characters are delightfully real and believable. An abandoned, energetic beagle puppy joins the team, and the soft, compassionate hearts hiding behind the badges are revealed.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM

Book Review: A Long December