The Now-And-Then Detective (Jack Starkey Mysteries)

As luck would have it, I may have just found my new favorite detective. Jack Starkey is one fun guy to follow around as he sets out to solve the case. In The Now-and-Then Detective, the attraction is not so much the case itself but how Starkey goes about getting his way throughout the book. This guy really has a pair and is not afraid to do things “off the record” in order to solve the case. The story starts out by introducing us to the murdered philanthropist Henry Wilberforce, who seems like the nicest elderly man. The whole town seems to love him and is really sad when he turns up dead. Starkey sets out to find Henry’s heirs: two nieces, their husbands, and one nephew. Interviewing on the verge of harassment seems to be Starkey’s style, but he sure does get the job done. Telling a little fib here and there to get people to talk was one of his finer skills as well. I also enjoyed the bit of action that closed out the case as it was no more than a plan, albeit a dangerous one, put in place, but it was also a great way to end the case. Knowing that there are two other Starkey mysteries out there, I will have to go hunt them down and give them a read as well. This is a fantastic book with a great main character. A winner for those who are fans of realistic detective novels.