Synopsis/blurb ....
With enough suspects to fill a stadium, Detective Jack Lisbon must race against time to find a cold and calculated killer.
A popular sports coach lies shattered on the road. The calculated hit-and-run murder sends shock waves through Yorkville.
After years of waiting, the struggling Scorpions basketball franchise is finally knocking on the door of its first ever championship title. The community of Yorkville is united behind the home team, spirits are high.
But with the playoffs in sight, their coach Dale Collins is mowed down in broad daylight. The killers leave no trace – no DNA, no prints, no clues, nothing.
Ex-boxer DS Jack Lisbon and his partner DC Claudia Taylor must unravel dark secrets and long-standing grudges to peel back the layers of this baffling mystery. If those obstacles aren't enough, Jack has to battle his own personal demons that threaten to cripple him at every turn.
With the long list of suspects all harboring a motive, Detectives Lisbon and Taylor pull no punches to find the killers.
Justice served with a side order of vengeance.
The perfect pulsating novel for fans of Jo Nesbo and Ian Rankin.
Another enjoyable dose of Australian crime from Blair Denholm with a hit and run death - the victim a basketball coach - needing investigating by DS Jack Lisbon and underling Claudia Taylor.
I liked the back drop of basketball in the story, with all the possibilities that threw up for suspects .... disgruntled players, ex-players, failed trialists, his wife, his support team and the hierarchy at the club. Possible motives including thwarted career ambitions, professional jealousy, or a crime of passion.
I liked catching up with Lisbon and Taylor. I enjoy the dynamics of their relationship and that with their boss. Lisbon is attracted to Taylor and always seems a whisper away from doing something reckless and endangering to their relationship (and possibly his health). It's quite amusing to watch, especiallly as he has issues with anger control and impulsiveness. These sometimes comes to the fore when over-stepping boundaries during suspect interviews and arrests. He has a difficult relationship with alcohol as well. Foregoing it for weeks at a time, before succumbing big time to its allure.
The setting revolves around the Scorpions, the local basketball team who are enjoying some rare success. Denholm builds the buzz around the team nicely into the story. There is the excitement of the games themselves, as well as the heightened interest in the team and the lift it gives the local community. I could relate, especially as I'm a fan of sport and follow a team. It's easy for emotions to be intrinsically linked into how well or badly your team is faring.
Setting, characters, story, pace and outcome - all worked well for me here. I enjoy Denholm's writing with the insertion of some humor at times into the situations Lisbon finds himself in. I think these characters have legs. Hopefully he has plenty more Lisbon tales to tell in the future.
Blair Denholm's work has been enjoyed before - Kill Shot, Fighting Dirty, Sold to the Devil, Boyd and Sarge: NYPD Law and Disorder and Sold
Read - April, 2021
Published - 2021
Page count - 264
Source - review copy from author
Format - Kindle
This does sound like a good 'un, Col. And even though I'd never call myself a sport fanatic, it can be a great context for a murder mystery. I like Denholm's writing style, too. Glad (and I must say, not surprised) that you enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margot. I think Denholm likes sport as a backdrop to this character's stories. Lisbon is an ex-boxer.
DeleteI believe I have one of his books in my TBR stack :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it when you get to it, June.
DeleteWho doesn't like to feel appreciated?
ReplyDelete