Shallow Grave

May 15, 2017
In Thiem’s cleverly plotted third Matt Sinclair mystery (after 2016’s Thrill Kill), the hardheaded Oakland, Calif., homicide sergeant investigates the murder of Phil Roberts, his former partner and mentor who was the current supervisor of police intel. An easy answer presents itself when Reggie “Animal” Clement, the sergeant-at-arms at a biker bar, fatally shoots Shane Gibbs, a motorcycle gang member who appears likely to have killed Roberts. Sinclair’s not one for easy answers, though. When he and partner Cathy Braddock begin to uncover evidence connecting Animal and councilman Preston Yates, the police chief—who’s adept at playing politics—suspends him. Sinclair tries to go it alone, but he soon runs into opposition from entrenched interests. Thiem provides a cynical take on the city’s power structure, along with trenchant prose (“He’d heard people in AA describe the personality of a typical alcoholic as an egomaniac with an inferiority complex. That was exactly how Sinclair felt right now”). Agent: Paula Munier, Talcott Notch Literary Agency.

May 15, 2017
Oakland PD Sgt. Matt Sinclair's third case awakens painful, and painfully specific, memories of his second.After he's labored in vain (Thrill Kill, 2016, etc.) to link Councilman Preston Yates and power-broker industrialist Sergio Kozlov to the murder of prostitute Dawn Gustafson, Yates' pregnant mistress, it's something of a relief when Sinclair is asked to deal with a much more routine crime: the death of Shane Gibbs, a member of the Savage Simba gang who was reportedly shot at the Iron Horse Bar by Reggie "Animal" Clement. Sure, Animal's lawyered up, but everybody knows who did the deed, and it's only a matter of time before Oakland's finest wear him down. A second corpse, however, darkens the case considerably, and not only because it's the body of Sgt. Phil Roberts, Sinclair's old mentor and ex-partner. Roberts, ditched in a shallow grave, was shot, then suffocated, and the prints on the trash bag containing his remains are quickly traced to Shane Gibbs. Case closed, announces Police Chief Clarence Brown, but Sinclair's not having any of it. The fact that one of Animal's private-security clients was Maureen Yates convinced him that he can tie Sinclair's death to her husband, even after he's warned to leave the councilman alone and then, when he doesn't, asked for his badge and gun. Sinclair's FBI buddy, Upton Bellamy, offers to reinstate him as an acting U.S. deputy marshal, but Sinclair would rather go it on his own. In the process he finds that Preston Yates is indeed involved this time too--and that Roberts was keeping some dark secrets from his old friend. Part sequel, part remake of the hero's last case. It will be a distinct pleasure to see him move on to fresh targets next time.

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2017

Oakland homicide sergeant Matt Sinclair is unexpectedly sent to the crime scene when someone calls in the discovery of a body in a shallow grave. Matt recognizes the victim as his former partner Phil Roberts who headed the police department's intelligence unit. Although his fellow cops want to find the culprit, it's Matt who goes behind the police chief's back and pushes the investigation into forbidden areas. As a result, he's suspended, which leaves him with time to hunt for the killers. Thiem's third police procedural is linked closely to its predecessor, Thrill Kill. VERDICT As a former homicide officer, Thiem draws on his experience to build his detailed plot and realistic characters that will be appreciated by fans of authentic police procedurals.--LH

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.