SPARKY

In this thriller, a wealthy, menacing East Coast businessman sets his sights on an architect and a realtor who may have incriminating evidence against him.

During his morning run, architect Mark Mays hears a gunshot and sees two men arguing over an apparently dead woman. He heads back home with his canine companion before notifying authorities, but the gunmen show up at his door. While hiding, Mark realizes that, prior to her death, the victim slipped a thumb drive into his dog’s bandanna. Unfortunately, police are soon hunting a suspect with a pooch so Mark asks realtor Melinda Cox, a stranger, to watch his dog and subsequently flees. Now the gunmen have their eyes on Melinda. She and Mark eventually team up to examine what’s on the thumb drive, which contains a series of dates that may be linked to dirty business deals. One of the men connected to this puzzle is entrepreneur Thomas Avant, who’s determined to retrieve the thumb drive at any cost. Mark, unable to resolve his mother’s murder years ago, wants to do something about the death he witnessed. As he and Melinda make sense of the thumb drive’s contents, the two form surprising alliances while targeting the exceedingly dangerous Avant. Leatherbury’s story, which features a hero and villain who are African American men, moves at a steady clip thanks to numerous brief chapters and punchy dialogue. Similarly, the author deftly manages an ample cast, including a crooked cop and a disgruntled mistress, by introducing each character organically. Even with intermittent flashbacks and a heavily populated final act, the narrative is never convoluted. Nevertheless, Mark and Melinda don’t always make the smartest decisions. For example, they don’t stay away from Melinda’s house after threatening gunmen have twice paid a visit. Still, the two protagonists are appealing, and the romance between them, however fleeting, is certainly welcome.

An enthralling crime tale with well-rounded characters and especially likable leads.