Rob Thy Neighbor

June 27, 2016
Thurlo’s third Charlie Henry mystery, the first not to be written with his wife, Aimée Thurlo (1951–2014), falls short of the standard set by the first two books in the series, The Pawnbroker and Grave Consequences. Charlie and his friend Gordon Sweeny, who own a pawnshop in Albuquerque, N.Mex., are enjoying a barbecue in the backyard of police sergeant Nancy Medina and Nancy’s life partner, attorney Gina Sinclair, when they hear a gunshot. A moment later, Margaret Randal, a neighbor of Nancy and Gina’s, climbs over their wall. A bleeding Margaret says that three men are taking her husband, Sam. Gordon, Charlie, Nancy, and Gina proceed to foil the kidnappers, but they have plenty of questions in the aftermath. Why is Sam, a construction-firm owner, a target? Was burglary really the motive? Why are Charlie and Gordon now in danger? Satisfying action sequences make up only in part for some awkward dialogue and plotting. Agent: Peter Rubie, Fine Print Literary Management.

June 15, 2016
Albuquerque is as dangerous as Afghanistan for two Army buddies.Gordon Sweeney and Charlie Henry are enjoying a barbecue with police sergeant Nancy Medina and her life partner, lawyer Gina Sinclair, when all hell breaks loose at the house across the alley. Shots and screams bring the pair dashing to save Sam and Margaret Randal from a gang attempting to kidnap Sam. The housebreaking may be part of a series of recent burglaries, but this latest incident doesn't seem to fit the pattern. So Sam, wondering if he's been specifically targeted, hires the two former Army Rangers, who luckily have a good team running their pawn shop, to protect him and his wife until the case is solved. Charlie identifies one of the invaders as Ray Geiger, who operates a martial arts school specializing in troubled teens. Ray's father is a former NYPD cop who left the force early under suspicious circumstances. Although Sam and Margaret can't think of anyone who'd want to harm them, it's clear that they have some serious enemies when Charlie and Gordon are targeted for injury or death and a sniper shoots up Sam's place of business. It's lucky that the dynamic duo has a good history with the Albuquerque police (Grave Consequences, 2015, etc.), because every day they get into more trouble trying to escape booby traps and what seems like an endless stream of people out to kill Charlie and kidnap Sam. Until the good guys can figure out why Sam's on the spot, they're all in danger. A little mystery and a lot of mayhem keep the pot boiling in another wild tale of former military men putting their skills to good use in civilian life.

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July 1, 2016

Albuquerque, NM, pawnshop owner (and former Special Forces operative) Charlie Henry and his buddy and business partner Gordon Sweeney are grilling steaks at their friends' cookout when gunshots ring out from next door. Charlie and Gordon race into the house to find masked men trying to kidnap homeowner Sam Randall. Not trusting the police, Sam hires Charlie and Gordon to investigate the home invasion. Yet as the case becomes more complicated and Charlie is targeted as a suspect, they have to find out who wants Sam dead and why. VERDICT Charlie's Navajo background adds local color and interest to a basic police procedural. This is the third book in the series (after Grave Consequences), following the death of Thurlo's wife and cowriter ("Ella Clah" series), Aimee.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Navajo special-ops veteran Charlie Henry is having a peaceful cookout with his pawnshop partner Gordon and two friends when a bleeding woman crawls over his fence. Charlie and Gordon run next door and stop what appears to be an armed robbery and attempted kidnapping. Three masked men had tried to abduct Sam Randall from his home in broad daylight (the bleeding woman was escaping the melee). The Albuquerque businessman hires Charlie and Gordon to protect him and his wife until the culprits are caught. As per usual, Charlie and his pal get pulled into the investigation, soon learning that a dirty cop and his son may be the key to finding the culprits, both of the narrowly averted crime and the subsequent attempts on the witnesses' lives. This is the third Charlie Henry mystery by the prolific Thurlo. He and his late wife, Aimee, coauthored several popular series, including those featuring Ellah Clah and Sister Agatha.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)