BRAIN WORM

Assassins make things difficult for a private eye hiding out in California in this fifth installment of Canfield’s series.

After previous cases have seriously complicated his life, 68-year-old shamus Max Bowman flees the East Coast for the West. He sets up a PI business under an alias there and doesn’t see much action; that changes when he meets with a ghostwriter, whom he enlists to write his tell-all biography (Max pretends to be a friend wanting to clear Max’s name). At that meeting, not only does Max spot an old pal from his former CIA days, but he also finds himself in the midst of a shoot-out with hooded assassins. In the ensuing days, he sees others from his past as well as return appearances by those assassins, though Max isn’t quite sure who they’re targeting. Is it possible that one seemingly paranoid client of his—a man who’s positive that someone’s manipulative tactics include subtly moving food around his apartment—is connected to everything that’s been happening? Fans of Canfield’s series likely won’t be disappointed this time out, as the endearingly quippy PI has hardly changed: In one scene, he characterizes a working theory as “possible,” only to clarify that it’s “also possible that my dog [is] the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.” The vibrant supporting cast is a blend of new and returning characters, including Max’s (much) younger neighbor, Denise, who witnesses one of those assassin attacks, and his lovable, clingy dog, Eydie. On the mystery front, Max does comparatively little detective work; other characters typically relay to him what they’ve unearthed themselves. The conspiracy that Max ultimately uncovers isn’t particularly far-fetched and has a real-world link that renders it even more plausible. The final act retains the novel’s overall breezy tone while ramping up the suspense.

This cheeky hero helms another gleefully offbeat detective story.