The January Corpse

How do you prove a man is dead when his bullet-ridden car is discovered but his body is not? In Pennsylvania, you wait seven years and hope you hear nothing. But it is embarrassing if a judge finds that a man is dead after seven years only to have him pop up during the eighth. So a law firm seeking to prove that the man who owned the car is in fact dead hires lawyer-turned-investigator Dave Garrett to see what he can find out over the weekend. The case promises to be anything but ordinary when Garrett learns that the law firm turned to him after one of the more prestigious investigative firms dropped the case. Clearly, the forces at play must be pretty powerful, and it does not take long for Garrett to realize some of the forces he's up against. In Dave Garrett, author Neil Albert gives us a protagonist who is both intelligent and resourceful. But "The January Corpse," a thoroughly enjoyable mystery throughout, cannot truly be appreciated until the ending, which is reminiscent of Christie's "The Murder of Roger Akroyd" for the twist that Albert provides. Only after the mystery pays off can we truly appreciate Garrett for the complex character he is. Initially, for example, we learn that he was disbarred. Later, though, we realize why and can appreciate him all the more for it. But his reaction to the twist ending truly indicates what a wonderful character he is. "The January Corpse" provides an excellent test for those who believe they can solve any mystery where the author plays fair. Albert does play fair, but few readers will be alert enough to pick up all the clues to arrive at *precisely* the right answer. (A large part of the answer is rather obvious, but that by no means diminishes the story.) For those who prefer their mysteries to be rich in character, "The January Corpse" is a wonderful ride and will no doubt send the reader looking for the next in the series, "The February Trouble."