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The Hidden Assassinsby: Robert Wilson |
Midnight Passby Stuart KaminskyMidnight Pass is not, as you might expect, a pass through the mountains, but rather a pass through two islands off the coast of Florida – a pass which has now gradually been filled in by nature. The basis of the book consists of the political maneuvering to help a rich man get richer by opening it up again and keeping it open. Stuart Kaminsky has given us an interesting story; all the more interesting because of its plausibility. This is one of Stuart Kaminsky's Lew Fonesca series. Lew Fonesca is actually a process server, but seems to get in the middle of murder mysteries somehow, and predictably solves them!Lew is a widower, friends with Dave, who owns the Dairy Queen in Sarasota, Florida where Lew lives. It's summer – hotter than hell – and they are both sitting outside the Dairy Queen when interrupted by the Reverend Fernando Wilkens, a large black man who happens to be the only African American on city or county government. Reverend Wilkens wants Fonesca to find a William Trasker, a dying man who has gone missing, and who has the deciding vote on Midnight Pass. Lew refuses at first, but Wilkens eventually persuades him to find Trasker before the Commission meeting. Lew agrees if Wilkens can restore a driver's license to a female who needs ability to drive her van for her baby. Fonesca regularly visits his shrink, Ann Horowitz. Lew is still filled with depression and anger about the loss of his wife. Ann insists Lew bring her at least three jokes before their next session. Fonesca then he gets another client – Kenneth Severtson, who wants Lew to find his wife and children. In spite of Lew's protests that he doesn't do that kind of thing (ready to give Severtson the name of a reliable detective or tell him to go to the police) he finally gives in to Mr. Severtson's request. So in between collecting jokes, serving one of two process papers (and getting drenched while he does it), Lew manages to track down Janice Severtson and her children plus Andrew Stark, Kenneth's former business partner whom Janice wants to marry. Fonesca finds Andrew Stark is dead in the hotel room. Janice initially tells Lew she murdered Andy (Andrew) because he tried to rape her, but he finally gets another story. Andy was attempting to molest one of Janice's children. Lew contrives a story to save Janice and calls 911. Then Lew goes to interrogate Roberta Trasker, William's wife, who claims she has no idea where her husband has gone. Roberta is also obviously scared. When Lew tries William Trasker's business office, he's told in strict confidence, to go visit Kevin Hoffman, who would profit financially if Midnight Pass were opened once more. When Fonesca visits Hoffman, he discovers a huge estate manned by Stanley, Hoffman's bodyguard. Hoffman tells Lew that his dear friend William Trasker is upstairs in the house, dying, and heavily sedated under the direction of a Doctor Obermeyer, who maintains that Trasker mustn't be moved. Then Roberta Trasker is murdered. Excitement and unpredictable circumstances pile one on top of the other. Lew serves his other papers and winds up buying a number of gifts for his friends from the man's store. When he goes to do his laundry, he's shot at in the Laundromat. Fonesca manages to gain unauthorized entrance to Hoffman's house in order to free Trasker for the Comission meeting, and Hoffman shoots Stanley in front of Lew and the friends (who found the way in). Obviously no intellectual slouch, Lew Fonesca solves everything and gets money from the individuals who were shooting at him. He gives the cash to those who need it most. He also gets William Trasker to the Commission meeting in time for the vote. Kevin Hoffman is left with his expensive lawyer to defend him for the murder of Stanley, and the book ends with a barbeque. With the publication of Midnight Pass, Stuart M. Kaminsky (the 'M' is for Melvin) adds still another Fonesca novel to his impressive list of accomplishments. Probably best known for The Rockford Files, Mr. Kaminsky has written abundantly, including series about his fictional Toby Peters, Abe Lieberman, and Porfiry Rostnikov as well as the books featuring Lew Fonesca. Stuart Kaminsky knows how to entertain his readers. He presently lives in Sarasota, Florida with his family, where his Lew Fonesca books are based. Alan Paul Curtis |
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