Dancing With a Dead Man

Wolf Mallory Mysteries, Book 3, by Jon Dalton

Wolf Mallory’s between a rock and a hard place, literally. His girlfriend, Vicky, has moved out. His best friend, Vinnie, is barely speaking to him. Why? He’d only saved them from death, even if it’d landed both in the hospital! But when Vicky’s feisty Grammy’s implicated in the death of a Professor Finley, Vicky runs to Wolf for help. Soon, what started out as clearing Grammy’s name, turns into a full-fledged PI investigation. Wolf learns Finley was pushed in front of Grammy’s car. It was murder! Contacting Mrs. Finley results in Wolf investigating for her too. First question? Why does no one—Mrs. Finley, Dr. Kline (Finley’s department chair), Finley’s colleagues and friends—no one—seem to know anything about Finley’s trip? Second question? Why was Finley murdered? Third question? Why is the Director of Wolf’s old SEOPS unit calling him? Wolf soon stumbles across information, much as Finley did, information worth killing for. How much more does Wolf not know? Implicated are two Confederate era groups: the Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) and a modern offshoot, the Knights of the Confederacy (KOC). As Wolf’s drawn deeper into this insanity, his life with Vicky, Vinnie, his friends and family, is threatened. Is any of this worth the price? Then all hell breaks loose. Just what’s happening here? As the answers come into focus, Wolf realizes this may be the last case he’ll ever take. Is any of this worth the price he’s going to pay?

Wow! This story is gritty, chilling, and intense. Shades of Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and Erle Stanley Gardner echo throughout this book. I’m reminded of the old, original Fugitive, Perry Mason, and Peter Gunn TV shows. Wolf Mallory’s a very unique man, sometimes hard, sometimes loving and caring, very intense, often conflicted, always sharp and intelligent. He’s far from perfect, but you couldn’t find a more loyal friend. Vicky’s passionate about everything: her friendships, her love for her family, and even Wolf with all his imperfections. I loved Vinnie. He didn’t play a huge role in this story like he has in the past, but his sharp wit and subtle humor always make him stand out. The other characters (and there are a LOT) fill the plot with both darkness and light, rage, humor, passion, and danger. This plot is complex, a maze which leads you back and forth through tunnels galore. But Jon Dalton has the ability to keep you captivated while never confusing you. That takes true talent. I’m very much a fan of detective, mystery, and spy novels, and Mr. Dalton has created a story I enjoyed so very much. Congratulations, Mr. Dalton! This third addition to the Wolf Mallory Mysteries was a real treat to read.

This is an adult book in that it contains explicit language. It’s what I’d call a “hard-boiled” mystery, so if you don't enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. If you’re a fan of this genre, I recommend all the Wolf Mallory Mysteries. If you’re not certain, there are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and all booksellers' websites. Please use them. I urge you to leave a review, but with a proviso. Please don’t leave a negative review when you know you won’t enjoy the book. It's not fair to the author. He works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you'll object to a book's subject matter before you buy it, you're doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!