Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Dying For The Past-TJ O’Connor

Dying For The Past
TJ O’Connor
Midnight Ink, Jan 8 2015, $14.99
www.midnightinkbooks.com
ISBN: 9780738742069

In Frederick County, Virginia police detective Oliver Tucker was killed in his home by an intruder.  However, instead of moving on, he investigated his murder (see Dying to Know).  His university archeology professor wife Angela and their dog Hercule know he remains with them, but his former partner Bear Braddock refuses to accept the evidence that Oliver still wants to work with him. 

Angela hosts a fundraiser to help the archeology department.  To his consternation, Tuck becomes jealous when affluent guest Mr. Carnation dances with his Angel until someone shoots and kills his spouse’s partner.  None of the guests, the cops including Bear or Tuck saw who pulled the trigger.  Also the donations vanished.  Tuck seeks a man in Al Capone style of dress who he observed earlier but apparently disappeared.  He soon meets gangster Vincent Calaprese who was killed in 1939 in the same house where Angela’s soiree was held. Vincent orders Tuck to return to him his journal that the Feds and the Russian mob want too.

The second Gumshoe Ghost Mystery is a twisting paranormal whodunit with some jocularity from Tuck’s interplay with the living deniers especially Bear.  The fabulous investigation is anchored by a human, ghost and canine characters; past and present.


Harriet Klausner

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