Book Review: Dry Heat

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

Dry Heat     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Jon Talton
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Government Agency   FBI   Police Procedural
Series: David Mapstone # 3

David Mapstone began his career as a cop, then moved on to teach history at the college level. He has returned to law enforcement, hired by the county sheriff for the Phoenix Arizona area to work on cold cases, using his dual set of skills to ferret out details which can solve the long standing questions of what happened and why.

The body of a homeless man has been found in an abandoned swimming pool. An autopsy reveals that he suffered from several serious illnesses, and his death is not related to foul play. However, sewn into the lining of his jacket, investigators have found the badge of an FBI agent who died in mysterious circumstances nearly 50 years ago.

The sheriff directs Mapstone to investigate. Things don't go well almost immediately. It seems the FBI doesn't want to release the records of the agent's death. Mapstone's wife, who also works in law enforcement, has been placed in protective custody as a result of one of her recent cases, and Mapstone is followed and threatened as he strives to answer the questions raised by the discovery of the FBI badge.

Talton is very familiar with Arizona, and his love for the area and his intrigue with its history enriches the story. The reader learns quite a bit about Phoenix Arizona, both its past and its present.

The portrayal of Mapstone's investigation is done quite well, less effective Talton's presentation of his human relationships.

Woodstock - RAM

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