Sam Blackman, a white man, and Nakayla Robertson, also white, are partners in the Blackman Agency, a private investigation firm out of Asheville, North Carolina. They are hired by the widow of an environmentalist who died while monitoring water quality in the Pigeon River, downstream from paper mills. Two days earlier, Sam had watched an altercation between the husband of his client and Luke and Ted Kirkpatrick, the heir to and owner of a papermill. "Solid eighth mystery... the complex plot builds to a satisfying conclusion. Series fans will be pleased." - Publishers Weekly. “A vivid gallery of suspects, lively dialogue, and an attractive pair of sleuths.” – Kirkus Reviews. This is the 8th mystery in this series and de Castrique’s 20th book. He was born in Hendersonville, North Carolina, the son of a funeral director there, but spent his career in Washington, D. C. in the broadcast and film business. He now lives in Charlotte.
Napierville, Illinois: Poisoned Pen Press, 2021. 252 pages. Trade paperback.