If Mark de Castrique’s first mystery featuring retired FBI agent Ethel Fiona Crestwater, Secret Lives, was a little too confusing with all the cryptocurrency, try the second book, Dangerous Women. It’s hard not to fall under the sway of the resourceful seventy-five-year-old who can still make the heads of the FBI and Secret Service cower.
Chief Justice Clarissa Baxter may hold the key to an important decision involving clean energy. On a Friday night, two of the Supreme Court’s law clerks plan to work on her notes about the case. When they’re assaulted, one is dead, and one is in critical condition at the hospital. She had a business card for Homicide Detective Frank Mancini. She also boarded at “Ethel’s Dormitory” where Crestwater rents out rooms to law enforcement. Now that Ethel is involved, someone is going to pay.
With Ethel’s connections, she knows about the murder of a homeless man before some in law enforcement know. She also takes one look at the victim’s photo, and recognizes that he wasn’t homeless. He’s part of a conspiracy. And, every clue and every player leads back to a connection to the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision. Who benefits if they know how Justice Baxter will vote?
While I understand that de Castrique is emphasizing clean energy and the forces at play for the future of the environment and the country, I always read for character. It’s definitely worth reading these mysteries just for the character of Ethel Fiona Crestwater. There are a couple fun scenes that just made me smile. The politics, the high stakes, and the important players only add to the drama.
Even if you couldn’t read the complex story that introduced Ethel, there’s no reason you can’t meet her in Dangerous Women. She’s worth the introduction.
Mark de Castrique’s website is http://www.markdecastrique.com/
Dangerous Women by Mark de Castrique. Poisoned Pen Press/Sourcebooks, 2023. ISBN 9781728258331 (paperback), 324p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley through Net Galley to review for a journal.
Loved Secret Lives and Ethel Crestwater. Am waiting patiently for the arrival of Dangerous Women. He has two series that are probably under read – Burying Barry and Sam Blackman.
I think he is an excellent writer and storyteller.
I think you’re right, Jeannette. I like the Burying Sam series better than the Sam Blackman one, but that’s just me. A friend prefers Sam. But, I do think his series are not appreciated as they should be.
I agree that Mark DeCastrique deserves a much larger audience. Everything he’s written has been excellent. Maybe this series, with its endearing heroine, will be. breakthrough.
His books are so much better than others who get more praise, Sandra. We’ll see.
I looked for his books at the book sale recently to no avail. I was mainly looking for Secret Lives but also for books in the other two series. I haven’t read any of his books. It was a ten-day sale and someone could have found them all before me.
I did discuss it with the main woman who deals with mysteries (they have a big section) and she was unaware of him and took his name down and will look for some for next time. I hope she does.
I hope she does, too, Tracy. I like his writing.