The Dead Horse Paint Company

I live in the Northwest and can put myself in the real life situations he writes about. Why do we have to wait so long inbetween books. I am hungrey for more.

In the past month I discovered Emerson's Thomas Black mysteries and was so consumed by them (or did I consume them?) that after finishing them all I headed right back to the store for as many of the Mac Fontana series as I could find.As a general rule, I don't care for continuing characters in mystery -- they rarely have enough "character" to hold my interest for more than 2 or 3 books. Emerson's work is miraculously entertaining for book after book, for both the Black and the Fontana series. His minor characters are as memorable as his heroes, and Mac Fontana is a real delight (and I know comparisons are odious, but what a treat to read a Fontana book after that dismal Kinsey Milhone character perpetrated by Sue Grafton, which I gave up on after letter C). I can't say that "Dead Horse " is the best of the Fontana series for the simple reason that all the Fontana books are so pleasing to me that it would be insolence on my part to rate one of them higher than another. I, too, must take issue with the reader who didn't like the chapter titles. I think writing interesting chapter titles is very nearly a lost art form, and feel much indebted to Emerson for his chapter headers. (In particular, the opening chapter of Dead Horse has a fine title that I showed around the office to those of a scatological nature.)Please, Mr. Emerson, stay out of burning buildings! Your books have become essential to my well-being.

I disagree with the reader who submitted the complaint about 'silly' chapter headings. I find they fit in with the dry wit that poliferates throughout the mac fontana books. Whatever your opinion, these are great books, IMO. Especially the first fontana book, Black Hearts and Slow Dancing...

I've been reading Earl Emerson's two series for over ten years, and have read every one. Originally I read them because I enjoyed the Seattle/Pacific Northwest setting. Now I read them because they're so damn good. In the Mac Fontana series, of which Dead Horse Paint Company is the latest entry, Emerson proves that mysteries don't have to have an gritty New York or Detroit setting to be realistic and riveiting. The Mac Fontana character becomes and more real with each book. Mac Fontana is different than the typical cliched character; there's a humanness and realism that never takes itself too seriously. Fontana is human without being pathetic or self-absorbed. He just . If you enjoy reading the better Rober tParker, Jermiah Healy or Robert Tappley books from Boston, or the J.A. Jance Seattle series, you'll find Dead Horse Paint Company to be not only be equal, but better. PS:After you've finished the Mac Fontana series, start on Emerson's Thomas E. Black series. You won't be disappointed.