In mid September of 1943, Detroit private detective Sam Flanagan is contacted by the husband of a woman who drowned in their backyard pool six weeks ago. Along with the Detroit Police Department, the Wayne County Coroner, Fergus Macgregor, is calling it "accidental". And without any real evidence pointing in a different direction, that's all they can do. The husband, Victor Girard, just wants to make sure he knows the whole story behind this tragic occurrence. There are troubling thoughts that continue to linger in his mind ...
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In mid September of 1943, Detroit private detective Sam Flanagan is contacted by the husband of a woman who drowned in their backyard pool six weeks ago. Along with the Detroit Police Department, the Wayne County Coroner, Fergus Macgregor, is calling it "accidental". And without any real evidence pointing in a different direction, that's all they can do. The husband, Victor Girard, just wants to make sure he knows the whole story behind this tragic occurrence. There are troubling thoughts that continue to linger in his mind; for instance, how could she have been so careless? How could Sondra Girard have done the things she did, prior to jumping in that pool for her nightly swim? When Sam delves into the case, he questions the deceased's state of mind that fateful evening in early August. Was this really accidental, or was the end result intentional on the part of the woman? Over an almost two week span of investigation, Sam stumbles onto something which is so dark and malevolent, that he finds it difficult to believe that it is happening in his own city.
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In the wake of the unanticipated demise of journalist Sondra "Sonny" Girard, Sam Flanagan, a private investigator, is engaged in unraveling the mystifying conditions surrounding her death. The case comes to him from Senator Victor Girard, Sonny's former husband, who harbors suspicions of foul play. While Detective Flanagan initially anticipates a straightforward case, an unexpected dismissal by Senator Girard leaves him grappling with dwindling resources yet an abundance of leads to explore. As he ventures deeper into the investigation, a labyrinth of conflicting testimonies, enigmatic clues, and a myriad of suspects awaits him, all potentially hinting at a grander narrative against the backdrop of World War II.
Drowning in Deception, penned by Judith White, is a compelling detective noir novella chronicling the investigative journey of Sam Flanagan, an ex-cop from Detroit who has transitioned into a private investigator. Set amidst the global tumult of World War II, Flanagan must rely on his keen intellect and intuition to delve into a death initially presumed accidental but soon unveils its deceptive layers. Thrown into the milieu of journalists and high-brow politicians, Sam discerns that Sonny's demise is far from a simple drowning, and uncovering the motive becomes pivotal to cracking the case.
The narrative unfolds at a brisk pace, driven by succinct and punchy sentences that complement the high-octane plot. White masterfully orchestrates the narrative such that readers become active participants in the unfolding mystery, formulating theories and conjectures as new characters and details are introduced.
White triumphs in crafting a credible period mystery rife with unexpected twists and red herrings that will undoubtedly captivate mystery aficionados. I recommend Drowning in Deception to readers who enjoy intriguing murder mystery stories.
