Motherless Child is only the second book in V.M. Burns’ RJ Franklin mystery series, but I feel as if I
know Franklin and his world. He’s a homicide detective, but he’s also a member of his Indiana community, devoted to his adopted grandmother, Mama B. He’s been dating Paris Williams, a successful businesswoman, for three months, and worries about what to get her for her birthday. He’s a churchgoer, partially because of the women in his life. And, now he’s teaching law students as well. But, first he’s a police detective.
He’s a detective who gets called away from a college football game on a perfect day. Paris calls him from a wedding reception to say there’s been a murder. He’s been at the game with his partner from work, Harley Wickfield IV, so they both show up at the crime scene. The victim is the father of the bride. But, the bride dislikes him so much that she and the groom take off for their honeymoon at Disney World. She says everything else can wait.
Franklin doesn’t think the murder investigation can wait. But, he doesn’t know when he’s met so many people who hate the victim. JP Rollins was a billionaire, but he wielded his money and his power like a club. His daughter and his lawyer both say anyone who knew him hated him enough to stab and kill him. Harley and Franklin spend a lot of time interviewing people, but they don’t seem to get anywhere. Yes, everyone hated the man. But, “everyone” seems to have been elsewhere when JP was killed.
There are very few nice people associated by JP Rollins. The groom was having an affair with a bridesmaid, both before and after the wedding. The bride surprised everyone by her appearance at her wedding, an appearance meant to shock her father. JP was having an affair with his daughter’s best friend. He had ruined people’s lives, their businesses, their homes. So many people had reasons to want him dead.
Franklin knows something is missing in his puzzle. He can’t put his finger on it. It only takes a conversation with the wise elder in his life, Mama B, for him to catch a glimmer of a clue. Franklin and Harley may have been looking at JP’s murder from the wrong angle.
While the mystery was interesting, there were very few admirable characters in JP Rollins’ life. However, readers will discover a number of admirable characters in RJ Franklin’s life. Mama B is the voice of wisdom, a respected figure in “the hood”. Paris is a strong woman. RJ admires a retired judge who asked him to teach first year law students about law enforcement. And, he respects his boss. Burns surrounds RJ with ethical people, giving him a strong network of family and friends. While RJ Franklin is dedicated to his job, he leads a full life filled with people he loves, church, and Mama B’s soul food.
Motherless Child is the story of the investigation of a murder. It’s also a study in contrast between two men, one who becomes a victim, a cruel, abusive man, and RJ Franklin, a man of strength, a man who cares.
V.M. Burns’ website is https://www.vmburns.com
Motherless Child by V.M. Burns. Cavel Press, 2019. ISBN 9781603816922 (paperback), 188p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – The author sent me a copy of the book, hoping I would review it.
