Hellbox

May 21, 2012
MWA Grand Master Pronzini has finally given his unnamed hero a name—Bill—but otherwise turns in a lackluster effort with the 37th entry (after 2011’s Camouflage) in a series that may have passed its sell-by date. Bill, the semiretired PI, and his wife, Kerry, who are looking for a second home in California’s Sierra foothills, are pleased to have found an attractive property in Green Valley, a modest house surrounded by pine woods on three sides with a good view of the valley. Alas, disaster soon overtakes the happy couple. While hiking alone in the woods, Kerry has an encounter with hothead Pete Balfour—who’s plotting revenge against a man who has teased him mercilessly and made him a local laughingstock—that puts her life in jeopardy. Illogical actions on Balfour’s part ensure that the ending turns out better than it might have for Bill and Kerry. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary Agency.

July 1, 2012

Pronzini's series sleuth's (Camouflage) vacation in the Sierra foothills is disrupted when an angry individual takes his wife, Kerry, hostage. Clues are scarce, and so is the local help. Expect the best from Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Pronzini.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2012
Bill, the once nameless detective, now retired from his agency, and his wife, Kerry, are considering a country home. After a recent scare with cancer, Kerry, while still ever the careerist, has decided to take some time to smell the roses. They are considering a cabin in the Sierra foothills, which seems to offer all they need. There's a trout stream for Bill and hiking paths for Kerry and a small town fairly close with its share of small-townie festivals. But even seemingly idyllic towns have tragedies. A local woman was killed when a gas leak at her home ignited and exploded. The police are doing their best to investigate. So when Kerry goes missing while hiking on her own, a frantic Bill can't rouse anyone to action. The mantra is hikers get lost and then find their way back. No need to worry. Yet. Bill calls on a trusted operative in his firm, Jake Runyon, to help after a frustratingly delayed search by local volunteers fails to find Kerry. Bill's experience screams foul play, and Jake, as skeptical of coincidence as Bill, agrees. Pronzini's masterful mix of first- and third-person narratives keeps the suspense building even as we know what's happened. Of course, we don't know what will happen. Another white-knuckle entry in a classic series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)