As I have just visited Richmond twice over the last few months, this book made more sense to me. Portraying the city carefully while also highlighting the current plight of local newspapers, the story centers around a journalist who in pretty good noir style investigates and stumbles about, surrounded by other dysfunctional folks. ( )

As The Bottom: A Willie Black Mystery by Howard Owen begins, it is the middle of September 2013 and more than a year since Les Hacker was murdered. Peggy, Willie Black’s mom, is still devastated and deep in grief and so she is barely functioning. At least Peggy knows what happened and that the killer was caught and is receiving some sort of justice in a prison hospital.

For the family and friends of others justice in the form of catching the killer of their loved ones can be a very elusive thing. Such is the case for the families and friends of four young female victims and counting as a serial killer or killers are working the streets of Richmond. Every six months another young and homeless teen is brutalized, killed, and dumped to be found by the authorities. Each body founds has the same strange tattoo which has caused some in the media to refer to the “Tweety Bird Killer.”

The fact that there is a small thin connection to the latest victim and his own daughter, Andi, makes Willie Black more than a little concerned. The connection is innocent and Andi did nothing wrong, but it does mean the police are going to be interested in her and therefore in Willie. They are not the only ones interested in the actions of Willlie.

A former state senator, Wat Chenault, is leading a development project that promises jobs, an increased tax base, and all the other usual amenities that make those in power grant tax incentives and other goodies. The fact that much of what is promised can just as easily go away the way the contract is written for the developer is a troubling issue, but one that is being ignored by the proponents. The fact that the development project will make traffic on the surrounding freeway system way worse as well as the fact that the project would be constructed on the graves of slaves is being ignored in the rush for the all mighty dollar.

Then there is the history of the lead proponent. Walt Chenault has a bad history and some of that has come back to light thanks to Willie Black’s reporting on the new development. Litigation is being threatened against the paper as well as Willie Black. He knows the stories were accurate. He also knows that with corporate vultures circling the carcass of his slow decaying paper yet again, those in charge are the paper are not going to do much to support and defend him or his work.

This latest installment, The Bottom is another very good read in the Willie Black Mystery Series. Rich in scene setting details, numerous twists and turns, and the occasional sarcastic commentary power along the latest mystery. As the series progresses overall, characters are not stagnant and continue to evolve as does Willie Black’s attempts to be relatively sober and have a relationship. The read works on all levels. The Bottom: A Willie Black Mystery by Howard Owen, like the previous reads in this excellent series, is
highly recommended.

The Bottom: A Willie Black Mystery
Howard Owen
http://www.howardowenbooks.com
The Permanent Press
http://www.thepermanentpress.com
August 2015
ISBN# 978-1-57962-392-0
Hardback (also available in audio, digital, and paper formats)
210 Pages

My reading copy came from the North Oak Cliff Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2019 ( )

Should have been good, and plot was promising, and characters coming along but became annoying--author tried way to hard to be "cute" --- got in the way of character and put. ( )

A fast, enthralling read; an un-put-downable mystery; a slice of real life on grim streets; a glimpse into the failing world of newspaper headlines... Author Howard Owen offers them all in great literary style. Protagonist Willie Black is a strong, clear narrator, with pitch-perfect voice, and dogged determination to seek out the past while keeping hope burning for the future. And the future of more than the Bottom is on the line.

Currently unmarried, Willie Black is getting older, maybe even getting balder. He’s not drinking so hard, and he’s trying to find himself in a new relationship rather than hiding in smoke. New readers will meet him and relate to a man whose daughter’s grown but not quite independent, whose mother’s in mourning, and whose job’s on the line. Followers of the series will delight to follow another investigation, and enjoy the insights into a slowly changing life. The newspaper’s still going under. The world of blogs and iphones still threatens Willie’s livelihood. The cops are still moderately competent, and journalists still need to avoid being sued.

Enter the hunt for a serial killer; enter the dichotomies of differing evils, crime and punishment, guilt and innocence, and the need for closure. Old wounds and new, painted black and white, or shades of brown and gray, all lead through evocative prose and convincing voice to something more than mystery, to a tale the reader can’t put down, because that would be like turning your back on someone you’d much rather have at your side.

Highly recommended, the Bottom opens and closes graves to set souls free.

Disclosure: I was given a preview edition by the publisher and I offer my honest review. ( )