The Art of Murder: A Nestor Pike Noir Satire Mystery

Don West was born in Kentucky, but spent most of his childhood in Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State and went on to complete an MFA in theater direction and poetry at The Ohio University. He has published one prior novel, DREAM OF THE GREAT BLUE, which was nominated for ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award in 2005. He has also garnered awards for short stories and poems THE ART OF MURDER is his first Nestor Pike mystery. He presently lives in Tucson, Arizona. Nestor Pike is a noir private eye, a la Mike Hammer. His wife, Shirl, is a foxy waitress and emerging artist, and they "date," but don't live together. The death of their son, Nathanial, looms between them, although it hasn't diminished their obvious love for one another. The tale opens on a Friday afternoon after Carter Lee Hollenbeck III, Trustee at the Getty gallery, is found crushed beneath a sculpture. As Nestor reads the story in the paper two thugs show up to beat him up. The trouble is, he has no idea what they are talking about when they warn him off "the case." What case? "I turned off the phone, put it on my desk, and sipped my coffee. I needed some time to mull over what Maldonado has just told me. Who would've hired this killer to pay little ole me a social call? And more to the point, why? But that would have to wait. I looked at my watch. It was ten past nine, and I was beginning to think Ms. Smith was standing us up again, when I heard someone, a woman by the sound of her voice, enter the outer office. I unclipped the Magnum from my belt and put it in my desk, leaving the drawer open. I stood up and walked around in time to meet Felia and whoa--." Noir Satire is Don West's writing modus operandi. The hero, in this case, Nestor Pike, is a sad loner, although he is surrounded by beautiful women. There are supposed to be no happy endings, and we don't want to give anything away. But Nestor is a great detective, although he is banged up for much of the story. The ending has a bit of a twist, ensuring the reader will want to come back for more. Suffice to say that there is gritty humor; a great plot; characters that really are oddballs; and lots of fun in this dark tale of the detective world. And there's all the old chestnuts...a poor, misunderstood, P.I.; his sexy secretary; and the cops he works with...some trustworthy; some not. A great read! Shelley Glodowski Senior Reviewer