Kirk Russell Dead Game

Dead Game

Kirk Russell

Chronicle, Oct 2005, $23.95, 320 pp.

ISBN: 0811850781

California Fish and Game Special Operations Unit Warden John Marquez, is concerned with the poaching of sturgeon in the Sacramento/San Joaquin River delta. Someone was killing the sturgeon to "extract" the eggs to make caviar, and is unconcerned about collateral damage to other fish. However, Marquez does not have the manpower to stop the poachers, as his unit has shrunk down to three while the criminals have gotten smarter, bigger, and more energetic, and the FBI steps in and out looking for sound byte poser cases only.

Still he tries using informants to help him catch the crooks, such as former sturgeon poacher Abe Raburn, who Marquez pressures into testifying against former KGB agent Nikolai Ludovna, who came to the states allegedly as a Realtor, but is the caviar poaching kingpin. Abe proves uninformative, perhaps out of fear of retaliation. Russian-born field guide Anna Burdovsky agrees to help, but she vanishes without a trace following a meeting with specialty food store owner Don August, who Marquez believes sells illegal caviar. With potential problems at home, Marquez concentrates on expediting Anna from danger, though he fears he is too late.

The key to this fine fish and wildlife police procedural is the different personalities that make up the sturgeon poaching crowd, as readers will understand the economic motivations of poachers, sellers, store owners, users, law enforcement officials, and informants. The storyline is somewhat typical of the undermanned and under-equipped cops struggling to defeat superior forces, while knowing a victory today just means a new criminal takes over the territory. DEAD GAME is a fabulous tale that entertains the audience, while also educating readers with how complex the environmental-economic issues are.

Harriet Klausner