This is definitely not a love story for Phoenix. I used to read Jon Talton's columns when he wrote for the AZ republic (and his jabs at it in the book ring true!). This book exposes much of what is wrong with the city and brutally portrays the worst side of us. The sliding of the city parallels the slide of Mapstone, the main character. I have read all the books in the series and this is the toughest to read because of both of these. But it is a good story and worth the read. I only hope the closing comments about making a stand apply to both the person and the city. Got this free as an advanced reader copy.It’s hot. Gasoline is running in short supply. Tempers are ready to flare. Gangs are at each others’ throats. Foreclosures are rampant. And deputy David Mapstone Maricopa County sheriff’s department historian has been called back into uniform duty due to cutbacks. Mapstone combines his skills as a historian with law enforcement knowledge to solve cold cases.In this page-turner, Mapstone’s sister-in-law (David’s wife, Lindsay Faith has moved to Washington to take a job with Homeland Security) has been dating a sociologist from NYU, Jax. She’s been living in Mapstone’s garage apartment and one evening receives a package from him. Inside is Jax’s severed head. Mapstone, who was in the process of resigning from the department to return to teaching following his mentor non-re-election for sheriff, soon learns that NYU has no record of Jax and that he may have really been a notorious assassin.David’s boss, Peralta, warns him he needs to protect Robin from the gangsters who sent the head. Then David notices that Robin is wearing a necklace that has blood on the back. In a confrontation, she admits that the chain, which has two dog-tags attached, bith dating from WW II and belonging to a Nisei soldier, was in the box with the head. Did she scream before or after she took the chain from the box, David wonders. Then it turns out Jax was ATF. David is soon in the midst of a jungle of mistaken identity, murder and mayhem. Phoenix does not come off well. “[It] was increasingly a freak show. Ted Williams’ head was frozen in Scottsdale, waiting for the day the slugger could be regenerated. Unfortunately some employees decided to use his noggin for batting practice. The richest man in town didn’t support the arts, but he spent money to try cloning his dead dog. A disgraced former governor remade himself as a pastry chef. It was a city where a man left his wife by killing her and his children and then blowing up his suburban house, where a woman cut up her lover and left him in a dumpster.”Excellent story with a nice blend of history and investigation and a great read.
What do You think about South Phoenix Rules (2010)?
This book was a lot darker than the previous ones in the series.
—brittanyjean
Not bad at all. Great descriptions of Phoenix...
—odezsa
O.k. I need to read something light now!
—schumi_SRB
