The first novel for July's CFBA Tour is J. Mark Bertrand's Nothing to Hide, the third book in the Roland March Mystery Series, published by Bethany House.
With each new Roland March story another layer is peeled back or added to the loner detective. The books clearly stand on their own, but readers who want a true and fuller experience with March miss out on so much without reading the previous two novels Back on Murder and Pattern of Wounds. Nothing to Hide takes us on a wild ride down Mexico way into the realm of procured American guns bought for drug cartels. Sound familiar? The novel was written before the infamous and tragic Operation Fast and Furious conducted and under fire by the current US administration.
March and his once nemesis Jerry Lorenz are partners on the investigation of the headless corpse, one arm to the side with a skinless finger pointing in a direction which Jerry thinks might indicate where the wayward head might be. When March decides to look in that direction, he falls crossing a ditch and dings up his back and hip. To top it off there's no head in that direction or anything else that he can find.
Through a clandestine and confidential meeting with his Lt. Bascombe and the diminutive FBI agent Bea Kuykendahl, March starts his suspicious methodology of adding two and two together to make sure the number four comes up. When it doesn't, he's again in that place where he always arrives in his investigations: out on a limb and on his own but as far as the department is concerned, everything he's doing is unknown.
With insights from Jerry and a genuine fondness and respect for the younger man developing, March is impressed when Jerry discovers important information about the headless man with the pointing finger.
The investigation takes a dangerous turn when tragedy strikes. March is compelled to stay away from the case, but when has that ever stopped him from searching for the underlying truth. Plagued by the recurring physical pain from his fall but determined to get to the bottom of this convoluted trail of deceit and weapons, he is rescued from one unexpected crisis by a young man (Jeff from the gun range March frequents) who knows someone from March's distant past. Gun fans, you're in for a treat with this book.
Woven in between the investigation are references to Dante's Inferno, the ugly smugness of atheism, March's history as an MP in the Army, Carter and Gina's due date for their first child approaching, and Charlotte's new faith causing ripples of silent anger in March's psyche. Charlotte is less visible in this offering but her presence resides at a distance in March's heart.
The scenes in Mexico rival those in thrillers and warrant a tighter grip on the bookcovers or your e-reading device. Intense, riveting, and emotional. And possibly presenting the slightest chink in March's spiritual armor.
If you've read any of the Roland March novels, I don't need to tell you how superb the writing is, but I will anyway. Roland March is J. Mark Bertrand - or vice versa. This is a character who's come to life through the pages of these stories, and in an ever growing and enlightening way, we see through all the bluster and proclamations of his aloof aloneness. The language and tone for March, for Charlotte, for every character rings right. Descriptions, quirks, nuances of behaviors, actions, and personalities give visual recognitions and perceptions to the intimate details of each person, place, and thing. I'm not a gushy praiser of authors, but there's no question J. Mark Bertrand is a student of people and a master at creating characters. He was indeed born to write. And complex mysteries are his forte at present.
Another great read and clever title from J. Mark Bertrand with Nothing to Hide.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/200764206397
Father, you are the lover of Mark's soul. You've gifted him with exceptional abilities to create stories. I pray your blessings to continue on his life, and I ask you to continue to lead him in your ways everlasting. Keep him and Laurie safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.