Here I am, catching a series again after the first one. But, I’m satisfied that David Carlson’s second
mystery, Let the Dead Bury the Dead, is an excellent introduction to the series and the two sleuths. Meet Christopher Worthy, a Detroit police lieutenant, and Father Nicholas Fortis, a Greek Orthodox monk.
What a pairing! Worthy is a loner, often in trouble in the police department despite his success rate with cold cases. He’s divorce, a man who can’t communicate with his oldest daughter,who disappeared for five months, and then reappeared. Father Fortis, “Nick”, became acting pastor at a church when the aging pastor was strangled in the church. It wasn’t Worthy’s case, but his new boss turns it over to him. She knows he’ll work with Father Fortis. She also wants him to try to work with Henderson, a police detective who often seems off in his own world. If this sounds like an unlikely introduction to a mystery, it is. But, this novel is such a character study, a book that hinges on character while Worthy examines himself, that it’s important to understand their background. In fact, the new boss, Captain Lorraine Betts, takes the investigating officer off the case, and turns it over to Worthy. “His gift or specialty was closing cold cases, and that meant that when he succeeded, his police colleagues resented him even as the media lauded him. And when he failed miserably, as he had not long ago, his colleagues rejoiced.”
Worthy and Nick have an interesting case. While the previous detective wanted to look in the projects for answers, Worthy and Nick want to look at the people who were closest to Father Spiro. Worthy has a theory that the victim gives death an opening. Who were the parishioners that Father Spiro met? Who did he know that could get close enough to strangle him face-to-face? Both men want to know what led Father Spiro to the church when he died.
If you think I found the two main characters as fascinating as the mystery itself, you’re right. In fact, the conclusion was satisfactory, but the relationship between the two men, and Worthy’s self-examination, was much more interesting. Worthy is troubled by his own flaws, but he listens to Nick’s analysis and advice, and he’s willing to try. What more can we ask of our sleuths? They’re not all-powerful or all-knowing. We want them to try. David Carlson’s Let the Dead Bury the Dead introduces characters just trying to understand life and death.
David Carlson’s website is www.davidccarlson.net
Let the Dead Bury the Dead by David Carlson. Coffeetown Press. 2017. ISBN 9781603813952 (paperback), 216p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – I reviewed the book for a journal.
Is it possible that you have the wrong URL for David Carlson's website? Looks as if it should be http://davidccarlson.net.
Thank you, Georgia. I changed it. Darn. There were three different David Carlson's with website's. I appreciate it that you caught that. Thanks!
Hi Lesa – this sounds very interesting, I will look it up. I've just finished Susan Howatch's 'Absolute Truths', the last one in her Starbridge series – not about murder, but wonderful studies of life in a cathedral close, the Church of England, and more importantly, people and relationships.
I haven't been on here for a while – that's what my summer's been like! – but now it's autumn and I'm hoping for a slightly quieter life and the time to catch up on many things, including your much loved blog. Though of course you must be about to depart for La France – bon voyage et bon retour!
Rosemary
And PS – I did the same with a link to an artist, thought I'd got the right one but…fortunately he took it in good part!
Hi Rosemary! I know a number of people who loved that Starbridge series. Someday…
I'm glad you had a busy summer, but it's always good to see your notes. It's always wonderful to catch up with you. We leave Friday! Thank you for your good wishes. I wish I spoke French! I took Spanish in school, which actually makes sense in this country. But, I wish I had taken more of that, too. Ah, language regrets.
Hugs, and it's good to have you back!
Lesa, you'll be fine – everyone in Paris speaks English! So much so that my husband struggles to practise his French – as soon as people realise he is English they just switch languages. I'm sorry to say speakers of other languages rarely get such a helpful reception in the UK. All the ticket machines at the major stations (including the train and bus ticket machines at the airports) can be used in several different languages too – you just choose which one you want. (Just note that at some metro stations the ticket barrier doors do not open automatically – your ticket releases them but you still have to shove them open – took me a while to work that one out!)
Have a fabulous time – I'm looking forward to hearing all about it 🙂
Rosemary