A Lonesome Blood-Red Sun is the second Dave Beckett procedural by David Putnam. Released 17th Oct 2023 by indie publisher Level Best Books, it's 302 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's
worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of
contents as well as interactive links.
This is a very gritty and direct procedural featuring an abrasive "old-school" style cop. He's got insubordination problems, rules infractions, and has been on his last chance to turn things around for several years. He gets results and that's apparently why he's still hanging on to his job.
There are a couple of intertwined stories here and both are engaging, well written, and resolved satisfyingly. The prose is quite raw in places and there's a fair amount of violence. Definitely more along the lines of Deaver, Iles, and Kellerman, and fans of those authors will likely find this one appealing.
It's the second book in the series but works well enough as a standalone. It's not from a larger traditional publisher, and as such, might not be on library acquisition lists. It's a high quality mystery procedural and would be a good addition for public library or home reading.
Four stars. Warnings for police brutality, very realistic violence, and language. The author was a former deputy sheriff in California, and the book reflects his past experiences and there's a definite aura of jaded, world weary cynicism.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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