Tonight I Said Goodbye

August 30, 2004
A pair of PIs investigate the murder of one of their own in Koryta's sharp, fast-paced debut. Crusty old John Weston hires partners Lincoln Perry and Joe Pritchard to investigate both the death of his son, Wayne, in an incident the cops have ruled a suicide, and the disappearance of Wayne's wife and young daughter. Perry and Pritchard soon determine that Wayne was working for Jeremiah Hubbard, "Cleveland's answer to Donald Trump," in a series of surveillance jobs that brought him into contact with Russian mobsters. The case heats up considerably when the detectives locate Randy Hartwick, a Marine who served with Wayne in a special ops unit, only to have him shot right before their eyes. The cat-and-mouse game shifts to South Carolina, as Perry noses around a Myrtle Beach resort where Hartwick had worked security, only to stumble into Wayne's daughter and wife, who are staying at the same hotel. Julie Weston reveals that she has a videotape her husband made of the mobsters committing a murder, and soon they're both in danger when the Russians come looking for the tape. Although he occasionally tries to substitute jaded PI patter for genuine character development, 21-year-old Koryta delivers well-crafted scenes and genuinely surprising plot twists. This riveting detective novel should delight fans looking for new talent. Agent, David Hale Smith.

A man is dead--a suicide--and his wife and daughter are missing in a high-profile case. Lincoln Perry and partner Joe Pritchard reluctantly investigate and are thrust into a world of Russian mobsters. The story, well paced, with great character development, is told from Perry's point of view. Scott Brick offers his usual versatile narration, lending very different voices to both partners, one younger than the other. Additional voices are unique, appropriate, and spot-on: irritated cops, powerful Russians, an elderly father-in-law, and an endearing little girl. This mystery, set in Cleveland, moves along wonderfully. It sounds like Brick had as much fun creating voices for the characters as the author did in writing this story. M.B. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine