G. W. Allison

GW Allison is clearly channeling Nelson DeMIlle's John Corey. His character, Leroy Cutter, isn't quote so brash or sexist, but boy the voice is very much the same (and one that appeals to me).

It what turns out to be the second book in a series, Cutter, a former Detroit investigator, has left and force and is piloting a boat down to the Keys to hook up with an old Navy buddy who's reached out for help. Before you know it, murder ensues and Cutter is a suspect. I enjoyed the book but felt it was a little disjointed. That said, I'm interested in reading the first book and following Allison's career.

I also want to thank LIbraryThing.com and their Early Reviewers program for gifting me this book.… (altro)

3.5 stars rounded up for an interesting murder mystery set in Key West, Florida. Leroy Cutter is a retired Detroit police detective. He retired rather than being fired, which was explained in book 1 in the series The Sinful. He is also an ex Navy veteran, and left the Navy with an Honorable discharge with Conditions. These conditions meant that he couldn't reenlist unless an Admiral or above approved his reenlistment. Leroy has a problem with authority. He purchased a used boat on eBay and sailed to Key West after receiving a coded postcard from an old navy buddy asking for help. Before he can talk to his buddy, Dan Yarnall, Dan is murdered, and Key West Police decide that Leroy is their prime suspect.
Leroy realizes that he has to solve Dan's murder, not only for Dan's sake, but to clear himself. He does solve the case, with help from a couple of unlikely assistants, including a professional treasure hunter, and the Key West detective who initially suspects Leroy of being Dan's killer.
Pros: the plot moved along quite well and the characters were believable, except for Leroy, who had too much of a urge to self destruct.
The book has more narrative than dialogue, with Leroy being the narrator, somewhat similar to the Spenser series by Robert B. Parker.
Cons: Leroy is prone to unnecessary smart aleck remarks. Describing a meeting with the harbormaster: "Behind the desk was a man I figured to be Javier. Like the shingle outside the mobile home, his shirt had a name tag on it that told me so. Again, I used to be a detective."
Thanks to G.W. Allison for sending me a signed copy of this book through LibraryThing.… (altro)

Into The Marrow by G.W. Allison is an engaging murder mystery that is sure to grasp the reader's attention. Leroy Cutter, a retired cop turned private investigator, finds himself immersed in a murder investigation while vacationing in the Florida Keys. G.W. Allison provides the reader with an intricate and tangled plot that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

The story is dark and atmospheric, with a cast of riveting characters. While it’s not always clear how Cutter arrives at his leaps of logic, the story is nonetheless entertaining and engaging. Into The Marrow is an evocative and stirring murder mystery that is sure to delight fans of the classic noir murder mystery genre.… (altro)