EYE OF THE BURNING MAN
by Harry Shannon
A kidnapped boy and a voice from the past set California radio psychologist Mick Callahan on the track of a child-porn ring.
When a drug addict named Mary saved his life during a crime-busting episode back in Dry Wells, Nev. (Memorial Day, not reviewed), Mick promised to repay the favor. Now Mary phones him begging for rescue from her treadmill of starring roles in the adult films produced by the powerful Fancy. Mick rushes to find her, stares down Fancy for possession of his prize, stashes her with his lawyer friend Suzanne Walton and gets ready for the fireworks that are sure to follow. He knows that Fancy won’t take the loss of a prize-earner lying down, especially if it’s really true that Fancy has branched out to younger stars like Loco, the 9-year-old nephew of Mick’s housekeeper Blanca, who’s been frantic ever since the boy was snatched in broad daylight. Fancy’s trail will take Mick and his allies—hacker Jerry Jover, Northridge cop Larry Donato and Larry’s cousin, Sgt. Darlene Fernandez of Hollywood Vice—on a trail back to Dry Wells, where he’ll have to lay the ghosts of his debut all over again.
Like Travis McGee, Mick is sensitive, studly, good with his hands and well-armed to boot. But it’s not a good sign to see him settling the same old scores as early as his sophomore effort.