Book Review: The Nature of Midnight

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Nature of Midnight     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Robert Rice
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Forge, June 2003, $25.95, 400 pp.

Postal Inspectors are the law enforcement branch of the US Post office and have full police powers for cases within their jurisdiction. Max Dombrowski is a Postal Inspector who is forced to work in Internal Affairs by Constance Barton, finding the dirt on people she wants out of the service. He is forced to obey her orders because she has something on him that if revealed could send him to jail.

Connie is sending Max to Norris, Montana for two reasons. A postal worker and a customer were murdered in the rural post office. Max is to serve as the lead investigator on the case but he is also ordered to find some dirt on the resident agent Gillian Loomis so Constance can legally fire her. When Max arrives in Norris, the duo conduct their investigation and find that there is information about the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 that someone doesn't want to surface. Max and Gillian race against the killers to see who can get their hands on the documents and in the process two more innocents are murdered.

Conspiracy buffs are going to love THE NATURE OF MIDNIGHT a thriller that portrays a realistic scenario on how the Germans knew where the Lusitania was located. Robert Rice has plenty of action and chase scenes but what makes this novel stand out in the crowd are the two protagonists who make a great team despite the demons that are haunting them. It is to be hoped that Mr. Rice will have more novels starring this dynamic duo.

Harriet Klausner

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