Dearly Departed

Housewright is a very recent addition to my collection and am I glad found him. His books have great characters, dialogue and sense of place. Truman isn't the biggest, strongest or best-looking detective of the genre. But he is smart, determined and ethical, which personally appeals to me. This book has twists I didn't expect, right up to the very end. Housewright is well worth reading.

This the third novel in the author's series about private investigator Holland Taylor, and the best so far. While some people prefer to read a series in order, these can be read as stand alone novels. Like Sherlock Holmes and other good series, each is an entirely separate case. This novel is a fast paced mystery that is hard to put down. It kept me up late.Holland is hired to investigate the disappearance of a woman seven months earlier. The door to their house was standing open when her husband arrived, and she was gone with nothing but the clothes on her back. Foul play is suspected. There is a list of suspects including her husband (who is trying to collect on a life insurance policy) and former co-workers. She was young, pretty, and extremely intelligent.As the investigation proceeds, it goes through twists and turns, right up to the last page. Every time you think you know the solution, there is another twist. I was reminded of an old song refrain, "Never, never trust a woman. You'll be sorry if you do." There are a lot of sleazy people involved. One has to wonder at the end if everyone really got what they deserved.

This is the first of the series that i read, and I thought it was exceptional. (I agree, however, with the reviewer who disliked the virulent anti-marijuana preaching). The best feature is a plot that keeps moving and twisting. The characters held my interest. Looking forward to more.

David Housewright has yet to take a false step in this series. Dearly Departed is every bit as convoluted and entertaining as the previous two books. First-person narratives are always tricky, but Housewright manages to make Holland Taylor sensitive but not maudlin, droll, and very human. This search for a supposedly dead woman takes the reader to some very interesting places and introduces us to a cast of entirely believable characters. The reader's curiosity equals that of the hero, as Housewright's Holland becomes fascinated by the missing woman and seeks to unravel the mystery of what became of her.A first-rate book in a fine series.

As with PENANCE and PRACTICE TO DECEIVE, Holland remains a fabulous detective whose insolent, running narrative spices up DEARLY DEPARTED. The story line engages the reader when it focuses on the lead protagonist's investigation into the life of Alison. However, moral preaching on drugs and the casino business, leads to disjointed moments that occasionally overwhelm the jocularity that Holland provides the audience. Still, David Housewright continues to provide readers with an entertaining, lighthearted series that deserves fan attention.