End of the Line
by Mike Manno
Humorous
feel-good mystery!
When
a bus driver finds a man dead at the end of the bus line, Captain
Hodges and special investigator Detective Sergeant Jerome Stankowski
(known all too frequently as Stan to his chagrin) make the connection
between the victim, banker R. J. Butler and a case of bank
embezzlement. The murder investigation brings together all of
Stankowski's eccentric friends and irritating colleagues.
Annoying Deputy Attorney General Parker Noble is assigned as an adviser
to the case. Newspaper reporter and sometimes girlfriend Buffy
Cole sees this case as the opportunity to boost her career. To
make matters even more exasperating, bank teller Kitty Quinn and Teri
Barkley, niece of one of Parker's classmates, enter the picture to
assist the case and confuse his love life.
As Parker Noble and Stankowski investigate, R.J. Butler's complex
family entanglements turn up a variety of motives. R.J.'s first
wife Ann's engagement to a man connected to Johnny Capo, a local mafia
figure, turns up one path of clues while his widow Linda turns up
another. Linda's was in the process of divorcing R.J.
when he was murdered. A former model, she is now undergoing
drug rehab under the care of Bob Maxwell, her therapist but their
relationship seems to be more than therapist-client. Even when
the
suspects are narrowed, the motive remains elusive.
In END OF THE LINE, Mike Manno assembles a wonderful cast of
characters, characters as lovable for their flaws and quirks as for
their ability to solve a baffling murder case. Parker
Noble is aggravating, irritating and condescending but a perfect
counterpoint to Detective Stankowski. Indeed, Parker Noble's
character gives this mystery much charm. One just can't help but
enjoy both him and his talk radio loving basset hound Buckwheat
Bob. Stankowski is a bit of a ladies' man but his innocence and
enthusiasm makes him downright lovable. Even Buffy
adds humor and spirit to the scene. Mike Manno has a
talent for bringing readers into the locale of his mysteries, not only
the place itself but also the spirit of the place. END OF THE
LINE is a delightful, humorous, feel-good mystery with a clever twist
that
will leave fans eager for more Parker Noble mysteries.
Publisher: Five
Star / Gale-Cengage Learning (June 2010)
A Parker Noble Mystery
Author
website
Previous Parker Noble mystery: MURDER MOST HOLY
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
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