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Sid Chance,
relatively new at the PI game, reluctantly takes on a tough
challenge—prove that a young man just out of prison for a murder
committed at age twelve is not guilty of a new homicide. Working
with his sometimes assistant Jaz LeMieux, a wealthy
businesswoman and former cop, he locks horns with a pair of
Metro Nashville homicide investigators. Jaz is burdened by a
spurious charge of making racial slurs against an employee of
her company. As they begin to make progress in the murder
investigation, things turn nasty. Jaz is accused on a despicable
crime and a hit man puts Sid in his sights.
What the reviewers are
saying:
"This is the second novel in the Sid Chance series
by a skillful suspense writer...Chance gets help
from a fascinating array of characters along the
way. This book is a page-turner. As a reader, it's
great to put yourself in the hands of a writer who
knows what he's doing."
Bruce DeSilva, author of Rogue Island, winner
of the 2011 Edgar Award for Best First Mystery
"The reader is soon caught up in a fast-moving,
complex plot peppered with twists and turns, plenty
of colorful characters, and some nifty action
scenes. Little doubt this will leave readers wanting to
take another chance on Chance, as soon as Mr.
Campbell makes one available."
Wayne D. Dundee, author of the Joe Hannibal mysteries
"Vietnam
veteran and ex-park ranger Sid Chance goes to work for a young
black man that just got out of jail. The ex-con is charged with
a murder he swears he didn't commit. Chance is helped out by a
quirky cast of sidekicks in this satisfying mystery filled with
enough action, twist and turn to please any PI-fan. Chester
Campbell also happens to be a member of the Hardboiled
Collective, so it comes highly recommended."
Jochem Vandersteen, Dutch mystery author
"This is a great addition to the Sid Chance series.
The problem of Medicare fraud needs to be addressed
because so many older people like Djuan’s mother
don’t take time to analyze all the information they
receive from Medicare so phony charges many times
are paid and go unnoticed. Chester Campbell’s books always make good reads
but the Sid Chance series is special."
Patricia Reid, Bestsellers World review
"This novel deals
with the serious issue of one cop on the take. Yet, it manages
to honor, acknowledge and respect the majority of the force --
the ethical, good cops. What makes this novel especially
appealing is that it addresses a flawed character and allows
good to triumph over evil -- without the pitfall into which many
authors fall -- it does not preach.
"What the novel
does, and does well, is to engage the reader on a variety of
levels. The character development is superb. Hard decisions are
made by realistic characters. Are these really just characters
in a book? They seemed so real to me. In my mind's eye, each
character has a face, a body, a voice.
"The plot
development is equally well done. The plot moves along and keeps
one engaged. Finally, an author whose plot and characters are
strong. They do not require the addition of contrived boiler
plate romances or terrifying scenes. Nor will you find any
boiler plate scenes in the book.
"Like a fine wine, a very satisfying
read. Sid Chance is definitely worth investigating, be prepared
to fall in love with the characters. I did. And, now, I am
reading the first Sid Chance novel and awaiting the next."
Janet A. Ohles, MLS, Associate
Director of Library Services
Western Connecticut State University
"This book
had a unique plot with enough surprises to keep the reader
engaged and off balance. Sid and Jaz are easy to like, and the
bad guys are easy to NOT like, making for a natural “good vs.
evil” flow to the book. There are crooked cops, hired killers,
and Mexican drug cartels to keep the action moving. I
particularly liked how the author established early on how the
hero Sid Chance had morals and character developed over years of
community service, first as Special Forces soldier in Vietnam,
then as a police officer and park ranger. Not your average PI,
Chance’s character is key to his decision to take on a case that
seems clearly open and shut when a recently released young man
is accused of another murder.
"Police
mystery fans will enjoy this book, as will veterans looking for
something outside the military genre that features a veteran as
the hero."
Rob Ballister, Military Writers
Society of America reviewer
"In his seventh novel [six have
featured p.i. Greg McKenzie], Chester Campbell has brought back
for only the second time Sid Chance. Chance is a former member
of the Army Special Forces in Vietnam, and had been a National
Parks ranger for nineteen years, as well as a small town police
chief for ten. He has now set up shop as a private investigator
in Nashville, Tennessee, occasionally but ably assisted by his
good friend, Jaz LeMieux. At Jaz's behest, and despite Sid's
skepticism, he agrees to look into the arrest of a young man
accused of murder. One of the major factors in how convinced the
cops are of his guilt is the fact that he had served several
years in prison after killing another young man when he was all
of twelve years old in the aftermath of a drug deal. The current
murder, of which he protests his innocence, and as Sid and Jaz
investigate it, appears to have connections to a Medicare fraud
set-up. As the investigation proceeds, Sid becomes more and more
convinced that the boy is innocent, and that moreover his own
personal integrity is at stake, and things heat up. On a more
personal level, Jaz herself has been accused of racial
harassment of an employee of her company, which morphs into
something much more serious as the tale unfolds, and she and Sid
believe that they are both being set up. The good, the bad and
the murderous indeed.
"Jaz is a fascinating character: Now a
successful businesswoman, she had served in the Air Force
Security Police, and spent a few years as a professional boxer
before becoming a patrolwoman with the Metro Nashville police
force. This is a well-written and strongly plotted novel, and is
a welcome addition to the series. I loved the regular poker
group to which Jaz and Sid belong, which they call the Miss
Demeanor and Five Felons Poker Club, among whose members are a
former Criminal Court Judge and a retired reporter, as well as
the tip of the hat from the author to Tim Hallinan and his
Bangkok mystery novels, and to Lee Child and his Jack Reacher
books.
"A very enjoyable read, and one that
is recommended."
Gloria Feit, Crimespree Magazine,
Midwest Book Review
"(Sid) Chance is a former Special
Forces veteran, a former Forestry ranger and small town police
chief. Now he's dipping an experienced toe into different waters
as he establishes himself as a private investigator. When a
young man, fresh out of prison, is arrested for a murder, the
case appears to be a slam dunk. But the accused man has a
fervent supporter in his grandmother and she appeals to Jaz who
turns to Sid. And as Sid remarks, "Do I sense Messers Pro and
Bono arriving?"
"Things spiral out of control as the
motive for the murder becomes much more than originally
considered and both Sid and Jaz are targeted. The writing is
straightforward and very believable. There's plenty of detail
but it's rarely more that we need. Characters, setting, plot
points are all rational and nicely handled. Readers won't finish
this novel musing over revealed heavy philosophical truths, but
they will have a bang-up satisfying time skulking about and
sliding through dark tunnels with Sid Chance and Jaz LeMieux."
Carl Brookins, author of Devils
Island and other mysteries
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