Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Mitch; interesting plot
Cons: Rest of the cast
could use some development
The Bottom Line:
Strong main character
Propels us through mystery
Full of emotion
You Shouldn't Go Home Again
You might think that with all the hobbyists that are main
characters in the mystery series I read that they are the only stars of mystery
series, but there are lots of old standbys.
One of those is the investigative reporter. And that's what Mitch Malone is. A Case of Hometown Blues is the third book to
feature him, and also the most personal.
After his parents died, Mitch swore he'd never return to his
small home town. But when he is told to
teach a class on investigative journalism at the local newspaper, he has no
choice.
To make matters worse, his arrival coincides with his high
school reunion, which means he must face not only the class bully (his cousin),
but his crush on the homecoming queen.
She seems to want to tell Mitch something, but can't quite get it
out. The next morning, she's dead and
Mitch is the only suspect the police are considering. Can he clear his own name when so many demons
of his past are distracting him?
This is the third book in the series, but it's only the
second one I've read. In both of these
books, I've felt that Mitch was a strong main character, but that's enhanced
here since Mitch is pretty much the focus of the story. We really get to know him as we watch him try
to make sense of this current murder and how it relates to his tragic
past. This isn't quite the normal light
fare I enjoy, but I enjoyed the darker tone the story took at times.
Unfortunately, the rest of the cast seems to be a bit
underdeveloped. There's one character
that stands out, but the rest don't get enough page time to become fully
real. They certainly work for the story,
and I had no trouble keeping them all straight.
The story started quickly and moved forward at a steady
pace. A couple of times, I felt it
snagged a little, but it got moving forward quickly again. The climax brings everything to a logical
conclusion, which is pretty amazing with everything that happens in the story.
Sense of place isn't something I always comment on, but I
felt it was very strong here. I was able
to get lost in the small town and could feel and smell the old fashioned
printer working in the newspaper office.
The writing was very adept at creating these scenes without spending so
much time on them that the story truly lagged.
At some point, I'm going to have to go back and read the
first book in the series, although I feel like I already have a feel for what
happens in it from references in this book.
The second book in the series remains unspoiled, however.
A Case of Hometown Blues was enjoyable, and I am certainly
looking forward to reading more about Mitch.
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