Demons

Demons is one of the best books in the Nameless Detective series. Those who have read the prior 21 books will be especially delighted with this one because it develops new variations on past themes that worked well in the books. When Nameless says that he doesn't like domestic relations cases, he means it. We haven't seen anything much in that direction since Undercurrent . . . and that book is a terrific tale that would challenge any author to beat. But Demons seems to make the grade.Kay Runyon is sure that her husband Victor has found a new love. She hires Nameless to find out who the new love is, so that she can have a woman-to-woman talk with her. If Kay had wanted Nameless to develop divorce evidence, he probably wouldn't have taken the case. From the beginning, the affair is odd. Victor leaves on many "business" trips, probably to be with her. He's also gone many evenings until late. But he seems strangely withdrawn. And Victor has started getting harassing telephone calls. An angry man tells him to stay away from Nedra. Kay thinks that Nedra must be Victor's paramour. From that slim beginning, Nameless begins his search for Nedra. Along the way, he finds an amazing tale of a woman whose bewitching eyes seem to capture every man who looks into them . . . and turns them into sexually obsessed stalkers. Like males fighting for dominance in the wild, the stalkers fight one another for Nedra's affections . . . and Nedra doesn't care for any of them. Who is this woman? Why are men so enchanted with her? Why does she ultimate reject so many of them? Nameless sets on a long and twisted search for those answers. Along the way, there's lots of unexpected danger . . . and personal revelations.The case is made more difficult by Eberhardt remaining alienated from Nameless, and Kerry Wade ignoring Nameless. What's worse than being ignored is when a friend oversees Kerry having dinner with a good looking man and kissing him on the lips. Then, Kerry lies to cover up her date. Nameless is very worried, but cannot get Kerry to talk to him. What will he do?More obsessed than ever with his work, Nameless becomes the focal point for all of the emotions that surround Nedra.The solution echoes back to Shackles in a way that will delight fans of that very special book.As I read the book, I was reminded of the Sirens from classical mythology whose songs lured sailors to the rocks and their deaths. Using Nedra's eyes as the attraction in this case also refers to Medusa. I was pleased to see that Mr. Pronzini decided to create a new reference to describe the power of attraction that women hold over men. There?s also a nice bit of symbolism in having Kay be an artist who uses dryer lint to create her works.

A top-flite "Namless" mystery driven by a good story and, as always in Pronzini's books, and equally good personal back-story.Why isn't this book in print? Why isn't the "Nameless" series more acclaimed? In my opinion, "Nameless" ranks as among the best detectives in the genre (along with Block's Scudder).

Along with "Shackles," I think this is a high point of the Nameless Detective series. The PI agrees to take on the kind of job he hates the most as a favor to a friend -- help a woman whose husband is having an affair. The husband's paramour, Nedra, is a seductress with whom he is completely obsessed. Eventually, Nedra goes missing -- and in her absence, the cheating husband goes off the deep end. This is a totally absorbing book, made even more so by the addition of personal problems in the detective's life (his longtime love, Kerry, appears to be having an affair of her own; his ex-partner, Eberhardt, continues giving Nameless the cold shoulder). I'm so grateful to Pronzini for continuing this series and really wish more people realized how great it is!