Penance

Private investigator Holland Taylor finds himself drawn into the campaign of a ditsy gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota. Anyone can be governor of Minnesota, especially when their opponents have scandals in their personal lives. The murder of an ex-con who had served time for killing Taylor's wife and child while the man was driving drunk puts some suspicion on Taylor. His own investigation of the murder leads into the gubernatorial campaign.When he is hired to recover a video tape, supposedly being used for blackmail, Taylor stumbles into a string of dead bodies. The tape has some surprising (or should I say revealing) details of the candidate. There are some side comments or inferences about how some women worked their way through college. Some people want the tape revealed, and others want it destroyed.The story concludes with some surprising revelations. Along the way there are some digressions into a problem Taylor's bookie is having with a card sharp. Taylor has his own ways of dispensing justice when evidence will not support criminal prosecution.

"Penance" is the first Holland Taylor novel by David Housewright. This book won the Edgar Award for the Best First Novel. PI Holland Taylor has lost his wife and daughter to a drunk driver. When the driver of the car, John Brown, is found murdered, the police think Holland is the prime suspect. To clear his name, he begins to search for the real killer. Every avenue he looks into leads to C. C. Monroe, a candidate for the governor of Minnesota. The plot is rather complex, but I really liked the novel and the character of Holland Taylor who has some personal demons that he struggles to deal with. I especially enjoyed the parts with Ogilvy, his pet rabbit, because we own a male lop-eared rabbit. This is an excellent debut novel, and I look forward to reading the next 2 Holland Taylor novels.

I couldn't believe there were no reviews for this book. David Housewright is one of the best mystery fiction writers I have read. His stories are fast paced, witty and exceptionally well plotted. There are two other Holland Taylor mysteries equally excellent.

I like this character (Holland Taylor) from David Housewright. He may not be completely original but I like his smart mouth and I like a P.I. that knows how to defend himself. There were plot twists aplenty here and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I look forward to the next Holland Taylor (Don't call him Holly!)book.Ree-views

I write mainly because the previous review of "4" is way off base. "Penance" isn't perfect, but a lot of fun ... definitely a goodly-twisted plot. As a transplanted Minnesotan I must say the local desciptions are well done with a hell of a lot more detail (in both geography AND plot) then Mary Higgen Clark's "Pretend You Don't See Her" ... you KNOW Housewright has at least set foot in the state. Housewright is following well John Sandford's large shadow.