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Jack McMorrow Mystery Series  
By Gerry Boyle

      Gerry Boyle creates a wonderfully balanced story line in his newest Jack McMorrow Mystery. He throws the reader immediately into a mixture of homespun values with the impending birth of his own child (with his “intended,” Roxanne Masterson, a social worker) and the befriending of a young teenage “nerd” who is being threatened by some of the bullies of the street, while at the same time running away from a very abusive step-father, who is hot on his trail.

    The involvement of young street kids, including not only Rocky, but a girl, Tammi, who befriends him, was indeed refreshing. It was great to see Jack allow himself to stick his neck out for perfect strangers. It was very much a modern-day Good Samaritan story. The story soon turned to tragedy when Tammi is murdered, and Rocky’s mother is found dead. Rocky knows a family secret that endangers his step-father, and every time he gets near Rocky, Rocky splits and runs into the woods.

     It was also a very nice touch that Rocky, while alone and on the streets, shows his true colors when he hides out in a local historical society building, and ends up giving Jack a lesson in history.

     This is one of the best mysteries I have read in a long time. I missed the earlier Jack McMorrow books, but I intend to hunt down this newspaper sleuth who works for the Maine Clarion so he can get medical coverage for Roxanne and the birth of their baby. Very highly recommended.