October 10, 2016
Anthony Award–winner Coyle’s gripping third Rick Cahill novel (after 2015’s Night Tremors) finds the vulnerable, well-meaning La Jolla, Calif., PI in fear of losing his house to a bank foreclosure. Even worse, the town’s police chief, Tony Moretti, is preparing to arrest Rick for murder in a case involving a missing person as soon as he gets enough evidence. Meanwhile, singer Brianne Colton hires Cahill to prove that her police officer husband, Jim, didn’t commit suicide but was murdered. Jim didn’t trust Moretti, which puts Cahill in a tough position. The detective must also contend with criminal lawyer Alan Rankin, who once took a beating from Cahill. A kick in the nose from Rankin’s assistant, mixed martial arts–expert Miranda Jennings, is a reminder that Rankin hasn’t forgiven Cahill, though Miranda later provides some unexpected help in the Colton case. The deck is stacked against Cahill, but he comes up trumps by the end of this satisfying hard-boiled adventure. Agent: Kimberley Cameron, Kimberley Cameron & Associates.
October 1, 2016
Coyle's latest, featuring private investigator Rick Cahill, juggles several different story lines, and each one is compelling. There is the mysterious disappearance of a man whom the chief of police believes Cahill murdered. The chief has aspirations of holding political office, so solving the case would be a major coup. Cahill himself is on the verge of losing it all and desperate for funds. He reluctantly takes a case from the lovely Brianne Colton, who believes that her husband did not commit suicide, but was murdered. Cahill must dodge law enforcement, who are out to prove his guilt for the disappearance, while he also tries to solve a case without their help. Some of the elements fall into familiar territory, but the mysteries will keep even jaded readers turning the pages to see how everything fits. Those who enjoy gritty crime dramas will like Cahill and appreciate Coyle's writing style. Though this is the third in the series, Dark Fissures is a great place to start.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)