Christopher Geoffrey McPherson

Like the previous three novels in Christopher McPherson’s James Murray Mysteries, Blackmail at Wrigley Field tells two tales simultaneously, switching between the mystery written by a young author in Depression era Los Angeles, and the life he lives day to day as he tries to write.

While the earlier three novels stand alone without difficulty, Blackmail at Wrigley Field leans more heavily on the characters’ previous experiences and romances. It’s a satisfying tale of a young man facing his demons after losing the love of his life. Writers’ block, the dangers of drink, human (as well as societal) depression, and honest human kindness all play their part, as this “defeated lonely loser who had once shown so much promise” is guided back toward hope. Meanwhile he and his alter ego have a blackmailing mystery to solve, and, as always in this series, there’s an immense satisfaction to seeing how the fictional author’s life feeds into his character.

Nicely researched and convincingly told, the story takes James to an Oxford Group meeting in the days before AA, portrays a questioning faith in a loving god, introduces honest god-fearing “lavender types,” and, of course, invites readers to walk the streets of LA, to hear the sound of bat on ball, and to revel in the hauntingly evocative atmosphere of a town not yet grown. With well-drawn characters that stick in the mind, complex situations, neat mysteries, and thought-provoking but wholly believable musings, Blackmail at Wrigley Field is another pleasingly different novel that really should become a classic.

Disclosure: The author offered me a free ecopy and I’m offering my honest review. I love this series!… (altro)

Third in the James Murray Mystery Series, Christopher McPherson’s Abduction at Griffith Observatory continues the pattern of parallel mysteries set in Depression-era Los Angeles. Young James almost has it made as a writer at last. He’s got a contract and he’s trying his best to meet it. But his fiancée offers repeated distractions, and when he witnesses the kidnapping of a scientist at the newly opened Griffith Observatory, neither novel nor fiancée will get enough of his attention. Blending real-world clues (or “clews”) into his fiction, the aspiring (fictional) author solves two mysteries at once, while the (real) author carries his readers into a beautifully researched, convincing and captivating world, filled with authentic characters, surprising insights, and inspiring locations.

“A good writer is always listening, never knowing when an interesting word or turn of phrase could lead to his next writing project.” So thinks James (in a voice so convincing I hear him speak in my head) as he attends a lecture on astronomy. Meanwhile for readers, half the fun of these dualled mysteries is in guessing where that word or phrase might lie. Meanwhile the world’s real history waits in the wings. Germany is rising. German Jews are falling. Women seek independence from the kitchen sink, and even in “a country as rich and successful as ours... people go to bed hungry at night.”

I love the convincingly different points of view of the two protagonists. I love the clever twists as stories intertwine. I love the plausible commentary on recent history. And most of all, I love the convincing voice in which these tales are told, pulling me in, filling in details and scenes, and leaving me caring, not just about the world, but about regular people too, and quietly broken relationships that diverge with their storylines.

Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review. I’m hooked on this series!… (altro)