Book Review: A Beer At a Bawdy House

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

A Beer At a Bawdy House     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
David J. Walker
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator   Married Couple
Series: Wild Onions # 2
St. Martin’s, Jan 2000, $23.95, 320 pp.

Dealing with the devil means you must dance to his tune. However, when the individuals involved in the malevolent tango consists of a Chicago Bishop and his brother, the police department Organized Crime Division acting chief of detectives, one hardly suspects evil. Bishop Peter Keegan believes his half-brother Walter is nothing less than Satan personified. When Peter begins to receive blackmail threats involving an incident in his past as well as getting the sensation that someone is stalking him, the bishop feels Walter is involved.

Due to his sensitive position, Peter knows he cannot turn to the police. He has no idea what Walter wants, but figures his sibling will tell him when he is ready to do so. Instead of waiting and fretting, Peter hires Wild Onions, a private detective security firm to help him. The owners Kirsten and Dugan agree to take the Bishop on as a client even as they quickly understand that any dealing involving Walter is a struggle to survive.

A BEER AT A BAWDY HOUSE rotates the narration among three different players (Dugan, Kirsten, and Peter). The technique works very well as David J. Walker makes the three characters feel so genuine. Dugan and Kirsten will remind readers of “Hart to Hart”. The flawed Bishop has insecurities that turn him into a human being. The mystery is well-designed and special.

Harriet Klausner

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

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