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A Garden of Vipers
A Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus mystery, No. 3

by Jack Kerley



      Young journalist Taneesha Franklin is found slashed to death in her car. Mobile, Alabama police investigators Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus arrive at the scene to find the woman was tortured and then murdered with no apparent motive. They find she was being mentored by Carson's girl friend, TV reporter, Dani Danbury. Each clue seems to lead to the wealthy and powerful Kincannon family. Both detectives have had unpleasant encounters with the leading son, Buck. Buck as owner of the TV station, is wooing Dani and taking her away from Carson. There follows a series of crimes: a blind woman is kidnapped and brutalized, a high price call girl is burned alive, a convict is poisoned. All seem connected, but are dissimilar in a forensic way. All trails of murder lead to the Kincannon family with secrets and untold incidents in the past, and evidence of cover ups which are revealed by the investigation. But which of the Kincannon sons is the guilty party?

This is a suspenseful and engrossing story, which effectively depicts the corrupting influence of power and money. The plotting is believable with lively dialogue and a vivid cast of characters. The team of Ryder and Nautilus share competence, camaraderie and bravery with a professional relationship and personal friendship. The villains are truly evil, with disturbed minds. The author depicts the demands on the lives of the homicide detectives. There is a real feel for the atmosphere of the Gulf area. There are enough subtle and misdirected clues to keep the reader off balance... never sure who is the real villain... leading to a suspenseful and surprising conclusion.

The Book

Dutton
June 2006
Hardcover
0525949526
Mystery
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Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Barbara Buhrer
Reviewed 2006
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© 2006 MyShelf.com