Set in Phoenix, the novels commingle the present and the past mysteries in the later mysteries to create a complex layer of intrigue. The lead character David and his supporting cast are complex and lean characters with an empathetic touch that is quite the welcome change from the usual crotchety detective in many detective mystery novels. They are a suspense and clever set of narratives and even though they tend to be a bit formulaic, the author has a good grasp of what makes a good mystery and fully exploits the angles to make for some thrilling plot lines. Even as each novel is as engaging as the ones that came before it, all the novels will keep the reader guessing on just who the villain in the mystery could be. Talton writes his David Mapstone series in the first person as opposed to how many genre writers tend to write. However, even as writing in the first person only gives the lead protagonist’s perspective and makes it almost impossible to show action, the author manages to pull it off quite spectacularly. By moving the protagonist around and adding some minor characters with different perspectives, Mapstone follows the action and is on top of most happenings in the …show more content…
Mapstone just lost his job as a history professor and is back in Phoenix, Arizona where he gets offered a job as the sheriff’s deputy. The city has dramatically changed and is now a haven for West Coast sophisticates and wealthy retirees. Given his expertise on the area’s history, the sheriff who is an old friend of his believes he is uniquely qualified to assist in solving a series of cold cases. A few days after accepting the job, his college sweetheart appears on the scene dumping a new case onto his lap – her sister has gone missing and she needs his help in trying to find her. He resolves the mystery of the missing woman first by finding the body out in the desert, only to make a grisly discovery of the past. His investigation of the murder is related to the current four-decade-old case he is investigating for his boss Mike Peralta. The novel is a highly unusual mystery with an intriguing mystery that just goes on to show the changing face of America.
Camelback Falls is the explosive sequel to the first novel in the David Mapstone Mystery series of novels that sees Mapstone become the new sheriff in town. A sniper has just shot Mike Peralta, his mentor and friend and it is now up to David to take the reins, lead the investigations into the shooting,