Bones of the Barbary Coast

Dan Hecht has written two previous books about Cree Black, a psychologist and 'psychic' investigator with a knack for paranormal contact. In these books she and her partners become enmeshed in what are, for the most part mystery stories where past events are a determinant in a present situation. You could describe them as forensic parapsychology and not be wrong. Bones of the Barbary Coast is a different animal. The story revolves around the discovery of a skeleton of a human being with a weird deformity that makes the victim appear to be part wolf. There is no apparent murder here, the death was caused by the collapse of a house during the San Francisco earthquake. Cree is asked to come to San Francisco to investigate by an old friend of the family. So you are led to expect some psychic event, but one never really materializes. Instead Cree finds herself in a difficult investigation and discovers some remarkable, but not murderous facts. The other part of the story revolves around Bert Marchetti, who asked her to come to town, and Cameron Raymond, an X-ray specialist who helps with the study of the bones. Marchetti is a cop on the verge of retirement, profoundly unhappy about his accomplishments and desperate for one last, redeeming arrest. Raymond is a man who has remade his life, but who bears a terrible scarred face as the result of a brutal arrest. The brutality in question was from Marchetti, and you can cut the enmity between the two with a knife. These two men and Cree, who plays this novel solo are all lonely poles in a drama that parallels the slowly emerging story of the wolfman. These are set aside by disease, by loss, and by fear of the isolation each has to deal with in a story where redemption is a rare commodity. Each must face their flaws and either come to terms with them or fail tragically. As you can see this is far more a novel than a genre mystery or suspense story. If you've followed the series you may experience some initial discomfort as Hecht sets out into uncharted waters. But, as truth would have it, this is a very readable story, with much that is worthwhile if disquieting. For those that have noticed the author's strong writing skills, this will be a worthwhile exercise.

This was definitely my favorite Cree Black novel. As usual, Mr. Hecht creates deep, complex characters that intrigue the reader, like Bert and Ray. The book is beautifully and thoughtfully written, and it's suspenseful, touching, and interesting, especially the journal entries. It's a captivating and one-of-a-kind novel. Highly recommended.