MUSIC, BOOKS, & MURDER: A REVIEW OF WILLIAM RANDOLPH PACKARD HEARSE

You can order a signed copy of William Randolph Packard Hearse and Tim's other books at his book store, The Bosslight -- https://bookshop.org/shop/thebosslighthttps;//bookshop.org/shop/thebosslightTim Bryant's series PI Alvis "Dutch" Curridge is one of the freshest and most unique to travel down today's literary mean streets. Being of loose morals and strong code, Dutch operates in fifties Fort Worth, telling his story as well waxing about his love for music, books, and women with his cockeyed charm. The latest book, William Randolph Packard Hearse, serves a fine example of the series.

Tim keeps Dutch busy in this one. He purchases a Packard hearse and goes into the side hustle of a gypsy cab driver, In his main profession, the

D.A. asks him to look into the unidentified body that was burnt up in a car. There's belief that in a mob connection. Another arson case may also be a part of it. If that wasn't enough, he has to hunt down an escaped mental patient.

The cases not only put Dutch's life at risk, but the relationships with the two people he is closest to. He perceives a betrayal from his loyal sidekick, transplanted Englishman Slant Face Sanders. His involvement with Charlene Arthur, a sexy and bold country singer, leads him to cheat on Ruthie Nell, the local reporter who often supplies him with information while he casually courts her.

The author uses Dutch's loves to engage with his cases. When he is able to narrow the list of suspects through a library book, he uses his knowledge of literature and fellow bibliophiles in his interrogation techniques. Tim's background as a musician and songwriter go to work as Dutch moves through the music scene, conveying Dutch's knowledge and love for the music and the lifestyle of Charlene and her cohorts.

Like in any strong P.I. series, the relationship between Dutch and his city is strongly depicted. With just a few words, the book supplies us with the right amount of detail to Fort Worth at the time, portraying it as a somewhere between a city and small town that hasn't shed it's wild west ways. Dutch moves in a honky tonk culture where sax legend Lester Young can be heard the same night as country western star Tex Ritter, and the likes of Carl Perkins invade with rockabilly.

William Randolph Packard Hearse travels through this colorful town with an equally colorful protagonist at the wheel. Tim Bryant adapts the conversational style from his mentor, Joe Lansdale, tailoring it to his good ol' boy PI facing a life and surroundings changing out of his control. As the song says, he's always been crazy but it's kept him from going insane.

You can order a signed copy of William Randolph Packard Hearse and Tim's other books at his book store, The Bosslight -- https://bookshop.org/shop/thebosslight