Yesterday, I sent in my last two reviews for this month for Library Journal, so I’m sharing one of Kevin Tipple’s reviews today. Pierce by Patrick B. Simpson is a March 2024 release. Thank you, Kevin, for sharing this review!
Pierce by Patrick B. Simpson opens with the discovery of a body. College professor Danielle
Hutchins was found face down in her classroom late one day. She was found by the janitor,
Truman Pierce, who had been out on a date with her the day before. The same janitor who turned
the body over as well as lifted evidence from the crime scene. It is a small town and he neglects
to tell Detective Longhorn and Detective Johns any of what he did upon finding her.
The 28-year-old Pierce was supposed to have a second date with Daniele that very evening. They
were supposed to go out for dinner. Now that will never happen.
Pierce doesn’t trust the cops for reasons that are never fully articulated so he holds back possible
relevant information, does not even tell them he touched the body, and does not disclose that he
lifted possible evidence from the scene. He also decides to start investigating on his own
beginning with where Danielle worked part time.
The visit to Danielle’s second job, a bar, brings unwanted attention in a variety of ways. It also
starts him down the road of being a murder suspect, a useful pawn for bad folks, and on the trial
of Danielle’s killer.
Pierce is an interesting story, that could have used the assistance of a continuity editor. Among
other things, the community college setting comes across more through various descriptions as a
public school though “community college,” “university,” and “college,” are all also referenced.
Pierce goes to fill a glass with water, does so, and the drinking object is then subsequently
described as a “cup” or a “water cup.” These and other inconsistencies in continuity are
distracting in the read.
It would also have helped the read if the backstory of Pierce and why he acts more like a cop
than a janitor as well as why he had a negative attitude towards police was explained. Both
aspects were not dealt with much at all in the read. Those details may not be an issue for readers
not well familiar with crime and mystery fiction.
Overall, despite the aforementioned negatives, Pierce by Patrick B. Simpson is an entertaining
mystery. Published by Apprentice House Press of Loyola University Maryland, the book is the
author’s first novel. For those well familiar with crime fiction and mysteries, that fact shows
throughout the read. The book also shows a lot of promise as the author creates an entertaining
and interesting story.
My digital reading copy came from the publisher, Apprentice House Press of Loyola University
Maryland, through NetGalley with no expectation of a review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2024
