For those of you who enjoyed the salty detectives of Randy Alcorn’s Deception, J. Mark Bertrand’s Back on Murder, and for any of you who’ve ever watched “The Rockford Files” or its reruns, you will love former Detective-now-Private Investigator Ray Quinn in Mark Mynheir’s second book in his Ray Quinn Mystery Series: The Corruptible published by Multnomah Books. If you haven’t read his first book in this series, The Night Watchman, I give it equal high marks with The Corruptible and highly recommend both novels, preferably read in order to savor the experience of getting to know Ray and his assistant, cop-wannabe Crevis Creighton.
Private Investigator Ray Quinn, basically crippled physically and emotionally from losing his partner/fiancée in a shoot-out a year and a half before this story begins, spends a lot of time numbing his pain from his hip replacement and useless leg leaning on his cane and soaking in his pal Jim Beam. The pain killers make him unable to focus and “loopy”, but the whiskey takes some of the sting away from the ever present pain and simply dulls his senses, leaving him with a hangover. He counts on his young socially-challenged friend, Crevis, who’s survived a difficult upbringing and wants more than anything to be a cop—or so he thinks as he studies with Pam, Ray’s client from The Night Watchman. Crevis is dyslexic but determined, and Pam is dedicated to seeing him triumph over his inadequacies, but the young man’s devotion to protecting Ray and being his partner surpass everything else to him.
Sought out and hired by the germophobic Howard Hughes replica Armon Mayer, Ray is asked to locate some hijacked files of clients and transactions supposedly stolen by former undercover cop, Lance, who was disgraced by his conduct, forced out of police work, and employed by Armon. Immediately knocking heads with Armon’s security advisor, Ray accepts the job but is simultaneously thrust into solving Lance’s murder which takes place quickly after Ray’s hiring. With enough suspects to cause considerable suspicion and confusion, Ray is heckled by Armon to find those records under the threat of being fired with little regard for who murdered his employee.
There are obvious hints as to who’s involved in what Ray determines are more than just financial records of clients, but because of the number of people who might’ve wanted Lance dead, he misses some key points in solving both the murder and the missing hard drive. With police assistance suspects are brought in and dismissed, but the case continues to confuse, especially since Ray can’t squeeze out the real reason Armon is desperately concerned about acquiring his lost files.
Ray falls prey to a mild smokescreen but eventually brings the case to a close after a huge payday from Armon. When he finally puts it all together, Ray brings justice to all concerned.
Interlaced in the story is the persistence of Pam, who Ray believed and solved a case for in the previous book, a Christian woman who deeply cares for Ray and prays for him unashamedly. At the end of The Corruptible, Ray finally listens to what Pam has to say and discovers the value in what she proposes to him.
Realistically written from Ray’s POV, this is a quickly engaging, complex, and entertaining read. As crusty and sardonic as Ray Quinn can be, the depth of his pain is transparent and keeps us believing in him. He’s a great character who stays consistent, hiding the remnant of his tender heart until faced with the unconditional love of a lady who believes in him. There’s no real romance in this novel, only detailed investigation and a developing picture of the main characters in the series. Good book.
Thanks to Tim George who sent me the ARC for The Corruptible. Available April 5th, 2011.
Father, you know Mark's heart and soul. You've given him stories to show diverse characters in the throes of real justice. Keep supplying him with those stories and characters and watch over him with your protective hand. Bless him for all of his efforts to honor you in his writing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.