Book Review: Dead Man Running

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Dead Man Running     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Rett MacPherson
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Victory O'Shea # 9
St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2006, 230 pps,

Torie O’Shea’s current adventures include a confrontation with a member of the Chicago mafia, the construction of a new home outside New Kassel as well as a wild hayride, and worries about her teen-age daughter’s new infatuation. This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the problems Torie daily confronts with her usual humor and inquisitiveness.

The town is getting ready to elect a new mayor. Sheriff Colin Woodrow Brooke is running for mayor against Bill Castlereagh. Torie has an on and off relationship with Colin who is also her father-in-law. Colin has hired a new female deputy and Torie immediately dislikes her.

Torie starts spotting strange men with shiny shoes around town. They seem to be watching Mayor Castlereagh’s home. The editor of the newspaper asks Torie to check out the family trees for Colin and Bill. Torie immediately begins to find discrepancies in the papers Bill has filled out.

Torie’s mother, new found sister, her husband, children and all the residents of New Kassel make MacPherson’s books really good reading.

I highly recommend all nine of MacPherson’s Torie O’Shea stories. The stories are set in the Midwest in the small town of New Kassel by the Mississippi River. It is a typical tourist town and if I could find it I would certainly go visit.

Pat Reid - RAM

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