Too Many Motives For Murder

In Sinisi’s debut murder mystery, the discovery of a dead body in a Catholic church shocks a community.

When investment analyst Drew Bresson’s body turns up in a confessional at Saint Brigit’s, Detective Peter Guthrie brings in his pal Steve Garvin, a criminology professor who also works as a police consultant and profiler. Both Bresson and the church were robbed, but it seems that Bresson’s murder was the true aim. There’s no shortage of probable killers; suspects include Bresson’s wife, Diana, who’d had an affair; his co-worker and mistress, Hilda Xavier; and his affluent client Mike Reilly and investment broker Vincent Tindari, both of whom he’d accused of illicit or immoral conduct. The possible motives are also numerous, as the victim was often quick to point out the poor ethics of others. There’s a break in the case, however, with the arrival of an anonymous letter—which is followed by a second murder. Much of Sinisi’s novel reads like a police report, summarizing witness statements, evidence gathering, and Guthrie’s and Garvin’s conjectures. This sometimes makes the narrative feel mechanical, but it also allows for methodical examination: The investigators scrutinize every possibility, even looking into associates of the suspects, such as Diana’s lover and Tindari’s wife. Sinisi also manages to insert some emotion into the investigation: As Garvin develops feelings for Diana, Guthrie has him argue a theoretical case against her so that he’ll remain objective. Some of the duo’s rationales aren’t always clear; at one point, for example, they believe that a “sex group” involved drugs and minors, despite no evidence to support that belief. However, watching the two men debate every aspect of the case is a sheer delight, and the author smartly avoids flagrant signs of smoking guns.

A solid opener to a proposed series that’s at its winsome best when its sleuths share the spotlight.