Book Review: Still River

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Still River     Amazon US HC Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada HC
Harry Hunsicker
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator
Series: Lee Henry Oswald
St. Martin’s, May 2005, $23.95

In Dallas, Vera Drinkwater visits her friend from high school former Special Forces soldier turned sleuth Lee Henry Oswald III to hire him to investigate what happened to her half brother Charles Wesson, who vanished less than twenty-four hours ago. Hank, as the private investigator prefers to be called, quickly learns from his client that Charles has had a drug problem having been to detox twice. He also works at Callahan Real Estate. Though he informs Vera that her sibling probably fell off the wagon he takes the case.

Hank visits his mentor Ernie Ruibal, who is in the hospital ironically dying from liver cancer. Ernie asks Hank to do him a favor by keeping an eye on his niece Nolan O’Connor who is processing papers on a nasty person tonight. Hank agrees helping Nolan succeed. She soon joins him on his case in which he has been tailed, thugs accosted him, and now threaten to kill him if he fails to back off from Wesson. Apparently Hank has the attention of South Dallas drug kingpin Coleman Dupree and his enforcer Jack the Crack.

This is a strong urban noir starring an intriguing character with the wrong name for this city (sort of like A Boy Named Sue) who is a martial arts expert and not afraid to use it to defend himself or those he cares about. The story line is fast-paced as a minor case turns into a life threatening war with Hank caught in the crosshairs. Sub-genre readers will welcome Harry Hunsicker into the fold as his champion is a fabulous protagonist making the rounds of the underside of the city.

Harriet Klausner

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