 |
The assignment a rich man gives private investigator Brig Ellis is straightforward enough: intercept the last of a set of twelve historic palomino horse sculptures that he’s collecting during a prearranged hand-off. The apparent ease, though, understates the challenges Ellis encounters, such as the rich man’s sexy daughter, a string of deaths in San Diego and Mexico, and the rich man’s cagey employee. Beyond obtaining the miniature statue, the real test is of Ellis’ character.
Compromising situations abound for Ellis to prove his integrity, starting with the fake client meeting the rich man sets up to confirm Ellis’ stellar reputation. Ellis passes with flying colors, and the narrative proceeds with confidence. The question is not whether or not Ellis is trustworthy but how he’ll continue to come out on top when the hand-off doesn’t go as planned. The edgy dialogue during the initial scenes and others shows Ellis keeping his cool with clever comebacks. The repartee serves as a welcome release valve to the tension, as do humorous metaphors, such as “that alibi has more holes in it than a hooker’s underwear.”
In Ellis’ suave demeanor, he keeps sensitive information from people he meets while finishing his job. In this way, readers are treated to insider knowledge and drawn into the plot. For example, readers know what Ellis doesn’t tell his police officer friend investigating the dead bodies piling up along Ellis’ path. However, no one seems to know how the dead people relate to one another except perhaps the dead themselves, which builds intrigue and suspense. Just when Ellis thinks he’s closer to solving a mystery, another pops up, such as the husband the rich man’s daughter wants Ellis to find in the meantime. Does he have anything to do with the palominos? And why is the rich man’s employee so rude to him? Ellis is kept on his toes, following clues and connecting dots. Just as Ellis acts with decisiveness, so, too, is the pace kept swift in short chapters, each with a distinct focus. The result is a quick read.
The places Ellis meets associates set the stage for these enticing mysteries. Dive bars around San Diego, warehouses in Mexico, and the rich man’s mansion are described with cinematographic detail, betraying Kilgore’s ability to make lasting impressions, honed by a background in advertising and the television and film industries. The chemistry between Ellis and the rich man’s daughter is no break from the dark and suspicious tone the book’s settings cast. In reality, theirs is a fraught and tense affair. Troubled psychological landscapes are part of the tale. The rich man’s daughter turns out to be a wild card. Ellis’ personal history remains virtually unexplored in this outing, although the four previous books in the series likely fill in the missing information. Instead, the horses’ historical significance is given more weight in the narrative than character background.
The climax arrives when Ellis himself becomes a target. He traces the links between everyone involved with the palominos, including himself. Although the climax is destructive, healing ensues. Intact and improved relationships make for a satisfying conclusion. Ellis is a hero for succeeding and for helping people make amends. This is a mystery thriller with a heart and laughs—a truly winning combination.