Jack Frederickson A Safe Place for Dying

A Safe Place for Dying

Jack Frederickson

Dunne, Nov 2006, $23.95

ISBN: 0312351682

In Chicago a blackmailer stalks the affluent residents of Crystal Waters by threatening to blow up the multimillion dollar mansions of those who fail to pay his or her fee. Feeling safe behind their walled community nicknamed "Gatedville", the rich and famous who reside there ignore the threat as that of a crackpot. Not long afterward the extortionist blows up the home of the Farradays to the shock of everyone; no one was hurt as the owners were away.

Crystal Water Chief of Security Stanley Novak asks Vlodek "Dek" Elstrom to join in as added security because he once lived there so he knows the place first hand and has investigative experience. He insists that he is the wrong person for the job as his residence was shorter than a cup of coffee so he does not know the community and that he has only investigated paper not humans. For some unknown reason Stanley hires him anyway. Dek accepts the case more for his desire to redeem himself with his ex-wife who he let down and still resides there than with the money he needs. However, Dek quickly realizes that the prime suspect is himself.

The hero no longer has any confidence in his skills after badly messing up in business and in his personal life, but sees this as the first step to redemption. However, when he concludes that he is being set up, Dek wants to run away and hide, but puts on "Depends" in order to uncover who is framing him. Dek makes this a fabulous private investigative that sub-genre fans will fully appreciate and want more stories starring this fascinating hero.

Harriet Klausner