A year or two ago, my sister suggested I try a mystery about a PI who was a former Ohio State quarterback. She hadn’t read any of Andrew Welsh-Huggins’ books, but she saw a synopsis on a list of Ohio authors. I finally had a chance to read the seventh in the Andy Hayes series, An Empty Grave. I may have to go back and find earlier books in the series about the disgraced quarterback turned barely successful PI.
With two teenage sons and two ex-wives, Andy Hayes is a little strapped for cash. When Preston Campbell interrupts him at dinner to talk about a forty-year-old case, Hayes is a little reluctant. But, he makes an appointment to hear Campbell’s slightly iffy story. Forty years earlier, his father, Howard Campbell, was the cop who stopped a string of burglaries by the “Buckeye Burglar.” Howard was shot three times, but managed to shoot John J. Ebersole, the burglar, who ended up in the hospital. Howard Campbell was permanently disabled, and committed suicide just recently. But Ebersole seems to have just walked out of the hospital and disappeared, although a man who shot a cop should have been under guard. Preston Campbell is convinced Ebersole is still alive despite a newspaper account from Rochester, NY saying he died in a fire. Campbell’s sister is angry that Andy would even consider taking the off-the-wall case, but Andy assures her he’ll just give it a little time, and return Campbell’s money if nothing pans out.
Preston Campbell had already compiled a file of John J. Ebersole’s associates who ended up dead, including a cop who was investigating him. Andy is surprised to find several people who received money from a mysterious person in Rochester, even though Ebersole was supposed to be dead. He’s also surprised to find a connection to a small local liberal arts college, an East German professor who taught there in 1979, and another PI investigating on behalf of a college trustee who wants to run for Senate. But, what could a Senate candidate, an East German professor, and a burglar possibly have to do with a forty-year-old case? Another death and a break-in at Hayes’ house only add credence to Andy’s belief that he’s on the right track.
I liked Andy Hayes. He and his personal life are a mess, but that’s common for so many PIs in mysteries. But, he has a couple interesting friends who back him up, even if it’s a little messy as to how they do that. It’s just too bad his dog is aging. He’s a PI who needs a friend or two. Looking for an interesting series? You might want to track down this one.
Andrew Welsh-Huggins’ website is https://www.andrewwelshhuggins.com/
An Empty Grave by Andrew Welsh-Huggins. Swallow Press, 2021. ISBN 9780804012323 (paperback), 264p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a .PDF to review for a journal.
