A Harpur & Iles Mystery

There’s intrigue right from the start of this new entry in Bill James’s Harpur and Iles series: A houseful of paintings is stolen and the body of a finely dressed stranger is discovered. Villainous drug dealers fight for dominance on Constable Iles and Detective Harpur’s turf. While the kingpins maneuver and scheme, Harpur is helped-or hindered?-by his very persistent daughters and by Iles’s irregular and perhaps illicit methods. In this fast-paced thriller, there’s no telling who will catch the next bullet.

“[Bill James'] strangely compelling series offers its own ample rewards.” —Mystery Scene

“A master at creating chaos, James contains the paranoia through sheer force of style—an ironic idiom of elegant manners, ornate language and seething rage. Nothing vulgar or barbaric, but, like the style of assassination that Ember so admires, 'tidy' and 'hygienic' and madly funny.” —Marilyn Stasio, New York Times