From a High Place

The book introduces Dan Roman, a former cop turned P.I. who works a case in the small town of Burning Wells in East Texas, his old hometown in which he grew up as a local football hero. Roman is an alcoholic, the mood is dark, and we are in film noir land here, effectively done. Roman is tough and smart, leaves a pretty high body count behind, and this is a very good first effort within this genre. I like the character of Roman and a few of the minor players as well, especially his client. The plot is tight, the resolution OK if somewhat predictable and a bit corny. Mathis still had a lot to learn about writing dialogue and making his characters more three-dimensional, but he does this better as the series progresses. The series reminds one of several of the P.I.s of the 70s and 80s, who reflect the cynicism of the post-Viet Nam era in the USA. For those who like a good book by a writer still learning his craft, this one is recommended highly. Good sense of place (rural Texas), good P.I. character, pretty good plot, and a good read.