I usually put every other book aside to read Elizabeth Gunn’s latest Jake Hines mystery. There’s just something logical and satisfying about these police procedurals set in Rutherford, Minnesota. Noontime Follies is no exception.
Jake Hines runs the detective division of the Rutherford police department. And, the department always seems to have strange crimes. This time, the head of the Property Crimes unit reports they’ve had fourteen break-ins in five days. Offices were broken into, and nothing was taken. Most of the companies were start-ups, and there were messages left behind warning them about messing with the science, GMOs, and the earth. It seems there’s some quiet protest movement against genetically altered foods. And, then one of the scientists is found dead.
Usually, Gunn combines stories of the personal lives of Jake and his department with the story of the investigation. It was slightly disappointing that there was very little about the detectives’ lives. It may be that Jake and his team are not currently in the stages of upheaval they’ve dealt with in the past.
Despite the lack of personal stories, Noontime Follies, is an enjoyable procedural. The team works together to track down the answers, investigating step-by-step. For those of us who appreciate the logic, the carefully measured strategy of a police investigation, the Jake Hines mysteries are engaging crime novels.
Elizabeth Gunn’s website is www.elizabethgunn.com
Noontime Follies by Elizabeth Gunn. Severn House. 2015. ISBN 9781847515964 (paperback), 188p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
For some reason unknown to me my library doesn't get many of the Severn House books, including the Gunns, so I've had to buy many of them, generally secondhand ex-library copies. I thought the last one I read (THE TEN-MILE TRIALS) was about the weakest, but like you I generally like them for their personal stories as well as the procedural element. I'm sure I'll catch up on the rest as long as she keeps writing them. (She is 88 this year.)
Jeff M.
This one was a good procedural, Jeff, but the weakest when it came to personal story. Even so, I like Jake and his team. And, I guess when an author reaches 88, I can give them a break.
Just out of curiosity: have your read her other series (Sarah Burke, Tucson homicide detective) and what do you think of it? I've only read the first so far. I agree, I like the personal stuff too. And I like regional mystery series – Joe Gunther in Vermont (Archer Mayor), Posadas County in New Mexico (Steven F. Havill), Garth Ryland in Wisconsin (John R, Riggs), among many others.
Jeff M.
Lesa, are you going to do a July Treasures in my Closet?
Even though I lived in Arizona, Jeff, I haven't read her other series. I started that one, and just couldn't get into it. I'm a big fan of Steven F. Havill's Posadas County series. I need to try the others. I think, for me, it all goes back to Dorothy Simpson's Luke Thanet series set in Kent, England. Terrific police procedurals with good family development. I read all of them into she stopped writing.
Do you want a July Treasures, Cindy, since it won't get published until this weekend? I wasn't sure readers would still want it when I didn't do it at the beginning of the month.
Yes, please, you always have books that aren't mentioned elsewhere!
Thank you, Cindy! You got it.
Yes, I read all of the Dorothy Simpson series as well. Sorry she stopped. And the late Jill McGown's Lloyd and Judy Hill series was another favorite. She died way too young. At least Cynthia Harrod-Eagles is still writing the Bill Slider series.
Jeff M.
You continue to add series to my TBR pile,Jeff. When you use them in the same discussion of Gunn, Havill & Simpson, it sounds as if those books are right up my alley.