Murder Takes a Break by Bill Crider Review

Walker & Co., Oct., 1997.
Hardcover, 184 pages.
ISBN: 0802733085.
Ordering information: Amazon.com

Galveston private eye Truman Smith hates missing person cases so when his friend Dino shows up on his doorstep asking him to investigate the disappearance during Spring Break of University of Texas student Randall Kirbo, Truman knows the case will be trouble. He's right. Kirbo was last seen at a party given at a beach house owned by notorious local crook Big Al. As Truman digs deeper he finds out that the body of a young girl that washes up on the beach is probably related to the Kirbo disappearance. Smith knows he's on the right trail when his digging elicits a violent response from Big Al's goons. As the case wears on, Smith must work to prove what happened that night at the beach party and keep himself and Dino out of harm's way.

Murder Takes a Break is another pleasing entry from the hand of Bill Crider. His prose is as smooth as ever and the subtle humor and detailed backdrop of Galveston and South Texas add flavor to the tale. Fans of Truman Smith are in for a treat with his latest adventure.

Return to the April 1998 issue of The IWJ.