There’s a melancholy tone of loss in Andy Weinberger’s third Amos Parisman mystery. Even in the first in the series, An Old Man’s Game, Amos complained about his age. He still calls himself the “best Jewish detective in LA”, while admitting at least he’s the oldest.
Amos’ cousin Shelly is old and fat, but at least he’s family, and Amos doesn’t have much left. His wife, Loretta, has Alzheimers, and he visits her frequently in the nursing home, although she doesn’t always recognize him for very long. He’s found another woman he loves, but Mara’s husband is dying in the same nursing home. There are times they can console each other.
And, Amos still answers when Lieutenant Bill Malloy calls him to a crime scene. Amos doesn’t recognize the murder victim found in a dumpster, a Black homeless woman someone hit with a hammer before throwing away the body. He’s familiar with the neighborhood, though. And, he’s willing to help Malloy identify the victim because the police department isn’t going to spend a lot of resources looking for the killer of a street person. Even when a second victim is found, a man probably killed with the same hammer, there’s little interest in the murder.
Amos’ right hand man, Omar Villasenor, does point out, though, that one group seems interested in the deaths. The Mid-City Merchants’ Association has a meeting to talk about the homeless problem. But, the audience can’t get stirred up about the topic. They seem to think someone just found a radical way to deal with the problem – kill the homeless one-by-one.
Amos has nothing but time to investigate. A third, and then a fourth death don’t seem to fit the pattern. But, Amos tracks down the small church where a minister preached to the homeless. He’s just convinced there’s a connection.
As I said, this mystery is melancholy. The slow, careful pace of the story fits the elderly sleuth. Although honestly? Amos is younger than his seventy-year-old cousin, so I don’t know how “elderly” he actually is. But, with the weight of his wife’s health, and his loneliness, he seems older than his years. It’s a sad story of neglected people, both the homeless and Amos Parisman himself.
Andy Weinberger’s website is https://andyweinberger.com/
The Kindness of Strangers by Andy Weinberger. Prospect Park Books, 2022. ISBN 9781684428175 (hardcover).
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley to review for a journal.
Very sad
At times, it is, Carolee.
My library has this series, I might give it a try once I get past my current backlog. Strangely enough, it’s grouped with the movie Lovelace. The mysteries of library cataloging!
I argue cataloging with our cataloging manager sometimes, MM, because I agree. The mysteries of library cataloging befuddle me at times.
SOrry, but that drives me nuts in news stories too – 70 is not old!
Thank you, Jeff. No. It is not. And the constant references to 70 year old women as “grandmotherly” is dumb. I am a 73 year old woman who is healthier and in better shape and have way more energy and interest in the world around me than a lot of 40 year olds, I guarantee it.
Jeff and Kaye, I agree with both of you. But, remember, it’s the character himself that feels old because of the loneliness in his life, not the reviewer saying anything about age. After all, I’m 65. But, I agree with both of you. I get a little tired of that as well.