David J. Walker (1) (1939–)

This novella about a murder at a library is fairly engaging, but the mystery and its solution are second rate, to put it mildly. A law student plays detective, with the help of the library handyman, to find out who pushed the library director down the dark basement stairs late at night. The characters are stereotypes, at best.

Far better are the two short stories included (one by each author) from the CHICAGO BLUES collection. Both stories are far darker and more effective than the novella. show more “Your Sweet Man” is about a son picking up his father from prison—after serving 25 years for the murder of the boy’s mother. There is a lot going on here and the twist ending is pretty effective. More entertaining is “Weekend in the Country”, a fairly explicit tale about police officer mischief involving hookers (and a little fishing), that also includes a father-son element, though that part of the story doesn’t work as well as the story of a party gone very wrong. show less

Father Paul Clark is fast on his way to becoming a bishop. After all, he’s done everything right and has managed to avoid controversy of any sort until now. A secret from his past has come to light, and Father Clark will do anything and everything to hide it. Unfortunately, a mysterious woman who claims to represent “an agency of the federal government” uses her knowledge of his secret to manipulate the priest into doing some unpriestly things. Father Clark’s life is turned upside show more down when his friend becomes a casualty of the need for secrecy, and he vows to set things right before someone he cares for becomes the next victim.

The Bottom Line: This fast-paced thriller features plenty of action. Once you start reading, the story rapidly gains momentum making it difficult to put down. As a former Catholic priest, author David J. Walker brings authenticity to the character of Father Paul Clark. The behind-the-scenes look into church politics was fascinating as well; however, this is not Christian fiction at all. Furthermore, I enjoyed the vivid Chicago settings. Since I live in the Chicagoland area, I was able to picture the scenes as I read along. Enthusiastically recommended for fans of thrillers and those interested in books set in Chicago.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. show less

Barbara Adams, head of the Windbrook Library in suburban Chicago, has died, apparently from a fall down the stairs to the library's basement. But when Julia Fairbanks, her closest friend's daughter starts to poke around, she finds troubling emails that indicate Barbara was not the victim of a heart attack, but a vicious killer instead. Can Julia find the murderer? Or will she end up on The Last Page? This breezy mystery is a novella, approx. 20,000 words. It also includes two short stories show more by the authors, both from the acclaimed crime fiction anthology, CHICAGO BLUES. show less

I appreciated this book's ability to show some of the consequences of child abuse both on its victims and the priests who abused them while retaining a decent mystery plot. It was definitely an enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.