Book Review: Dead Hot Shot

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Dead Hot Shot     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Victoria Houston
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural
Series: Loon Lake Fishing Mysteries # 9
Bleak House Books, 2008, 240 pps.

Thanksgiving is a holiday for family and friends, relaxing after dinner, and just all around good food and fun. Chief of Police Lew Ferris plans for a peaceful Thanksgiving with Doc Osborne, retired dentist and part time deputy. Doc plans for an early dinner with his family and then a later a leisurely dinner with Lew and hopefully dessert in front of the fire and thoughts of future plans.

First, the death of a local resident intervenes. Nolan Reece is found dead down by her dock early on Thanksgiving. This is just the first of many tragic incidents to happen on this holiday. Lew’s coroner is out of town and she finds it necessary to call Doc in to work. Nolan’s husband and daughter seem to have strange reactions to Nolan’s death which raises questions in Lew and Doc’s minds.

Soon another local person is found dead and there is no doubt this one is a murder. Ray Pradt is called in to help out and then Gina Palmer, former investigative reporter arrives in town. Gina is working on a case of credit card theft that may have links to Canada and she soon discovers links to Loon Lake as well.

Most of the characters from the previous Loon Lake Mystery series are on hand and the reader meets a few other residents of the area. The scenery is stunning and the mystery is one that kept this reader on edge. It is not necessary to have read the previous Loon Lake Mysteries to enjoy this one but I would highly recommend latching onto the whole series.

Pat Reid - RAM

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