Speak Ill of the Living, Mark Arsenault, Poisoned Pen Press, $24.95.

Speak Ill of the Living by Mark Arsenault

This is a snappy P.I. novel, Arsenault's second, set in Lowell, Massachussetts. Lowell may not be rich in culture, but not only is it rich in atmosphere, it's haunted by the spirit of Jack Kerouac, the legendary writer of the cult classic, On the Road. Eddie Bourque, Arsenault's hero, is a part time journalism professor and a part time reporter; he's irritated that none of his students even know who Jack Kerouac is (plus they can't write), and he's up for chasing any story, even when the call comes in the middle of the night. He needs to pay the rent. When a call comes asking him to follow up on a long presumed dead kidnap victim who has somehow turned up alive, Eddie jumps on it. He writes the story and then gets a mysterious message in the mail: "I know who's doing this". The message comes from his brother Henry, who's been doing time since before Eddie was born for a bank heist where two guards were killed. Eddie is their parents' "make-up" child - it's been a lot to live up to, and it's almost overwhelming for him to go to the prison and finally meet his mysterious brother.

This is one of the better and more unusual hooks for a mystery than I can think of - the brother in prison is a cipher both to Eddie and to the reader, and like Eddie, I imagine your interest and affection for Henry will grow as the novel progresses. The other really wonderful thing about this book is that it's a great story, and Arsenault wastes few words in getting his tale across, which eventually includes the requisite cop friend, a cranky cat, and Henry's colorful married-her-while-he-was-in-prison wife, Bobbi, who looks and acts something like you might expect she might. The story also includes some bang up car chases and a terrific scene in a well (you'll have to read it for yourself). The ability to write interesting action is not one evenly sprinkled among mystery writers; it's a trick to make it interesting, especially as it's a part of almost every good mystery. This novel reminded me a good bit of Doug Allyn's terrific The Burning of Rachel Hayes, a similarly explosively narrated story, also involving a dandy scene in a well (the two scenes are very different, it's worth reading both books to compare them). By the time Eddie hooks up with a yucky and ugly motorcycle only he could love, I think you'll be hooked on Eddie, his cat, his brother, and Arsenault's smooth, engaging and compelling storytelling style. Arsenault's first novel, Spiked, was nominated for a Shamus award; let's hope more acclaim and more readership will continue to follow this gifted writer. (Robin)

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