KILL ROMEO

In his second foray into crime-solving, private eye Freddy Ferguson finds a potential murder victim who haunts him.

Diamond’s sleuth, having wrapped up a background check in Virginia, takes an extra day for R&R. But Freddy’s hike in the woods finds him standing over a woman’s body. He barely has time to examine the scene before a rainstorm washes away evidence and knocks out power in the town. Freddy alerts local cops, but as they’re busy handling the storm’s aftermath, there’s nothing he can do but return to his Washington, D.C., investigative firm. He does, however, hold on to the one crucial clue he found on the woman. That, along with new info from the Virginia police working to ID the victim, ultimately steers Freddy south. Now his unofficial investigation gets decidedly more complicated, soon involving thugs with guns, three-letter agencies, and data theft. The case also ropes in Claire Chastain, a co-worker Freddy may be falling for. In due time, she and Freddy find themselves in the company of killers. Diamond’s story moves at a steady clip. Even when Freddy is in Washington, he struggles to keep his relationship with Claire professional while persistently checking updates on the Virginia case. Further investigation bounces him to other U.S. states as concise details breathe life into scenes of the sweltering August heat or Freddy’s having no choice but to take some punches. Still, the ex-boxer–turned–PI, who has the brawn and wherewithal to take care of himself, tends to stay levelheaded instead of leveling fists. He shows off his sleuthing skills by piecing together evidence and making great progress, though as the investigation reels in more people, Freddy’s participation unfortunately wanes. While the whodunit isn’t hard to crack, surprises involving the cast make a worthy denouement.

A hero with the muscles and charm returns in fine form.