Twist Phelan, Heir Apparent

Heir Apparent

Twist Phelan

Poisoned Pen, May 2007, $14.95

ISBN: 1590584333

In Arizona, Atticus Barclay of Barclay, Harrington & Merchant was driving on the Beeline Highway when his car exploded into flames, leaving him roasted inside the "car-be-cue." A week later at the law firm's office in Pinnacle Peak, new associate attorney Joe McGuiness expects to be downsized as a result of the murder of one of the senior partners.

Joe drives out to a ranch owned by wealthy client Mrs. Barrett to give her some important legal papers. Due to car trouble he misses her by ten minutes, but meets her personal assistant Mia Ortiz and gets her to go out on a date with him just as he is breaking off with his girlfriend Amber Sulvane. When he takes Mia back to the ranch after their first date, they are stunned by the murder scene that they find; someone killed Mrs. Cordelia Barrett and her somewhat estranged son, Busch Car racing driver Sonny. The police believe Mia killed them so she is arrested for the crimes as the motive involves the recently changed will that cuts off the obvious HEIR APPARENT. Joe believes otherwise that a murder suicide occurred and sets out to prove it even as his law firm superiors warn him to back off.

HEIR APPARENT is apparently somewhat of a rewriting of the first Joe McGuiness tale, but how much this reviewer does not know as this is my first read. The storyline, as with the other McGuiness thrillers, contains two fine whodunits that eventually merge, but it is the eccentric secondary cast that makes the tale fun to read. The law firm, the rodeo, the former girlfriend are all delightful, unconventional protagonists who bring out the best and worst in the hero. Though the legal aspects are downplayed except for the office setting, fans of the series or anyone who appreciates a fun Arizonian investigative tale will want to join Joe as he tries to prove Mia is innocent.

Harriet Klausner