Mark Arsenault - Gravewriter (2006)
Reviewed by David J. Montgomery
Mark Arsenault's Gravewriter is a mystery with a noir edge, but also a touch of dark humor. Billy Povich used to be a hotshot reporter on the crime beat in Providence, R.I., until his ex-wife died and he found himself up to his ears in debt to the local shylocks.
Now he's been busted down to writing obituaries. He's still gambling and regularly gets beat up for not paying his debts. But when Billy is called to serve on the jury in a murder case, his old investigative instincts are awoken, and he can't help but poke around in the case.
Gravewriter is a little slow-moving at times, but the well-drawn characters and the touching relationship between Billy and his son overcome the limited suspense. The off-the-beaten path setting of Rhode Island is also used to good effect.
Posted by David J. Montgomery in Book Reviews | Permalink
