Nantucket. An island of the privileged class, or so most of us think. However… it has its share of troubles. It has varied inhabitants just like everywhere else. Some with old money, new money, and some with NO money. Though for the rest of America a sawbuck is a $10 bill, a Nantucket sawbuck is $100. After all everything IS more expensive there.
This is the first novel in a prospective series which features Nantucket’s moral and honorable police chief, Henry Kennis. “Nantucket Sawbuck” begins with the murder of Preston Lomax, a ruthless, despicable, unethical, corrupt man who is ‘new money’. Since he is the epitome of vile it is not difficult to imagine that there are many, many people who would wish him dead. It is up to Henry Kennis to investigate the myriad motives to find that ONE which proves who committed the murder. A tall task indeed. Was the murderer a normally ‘nice person’ who was driven to commit this desperate act? As a reader, I found myself rooting for the murderer this time. The victim was so distasteful that he deserved what he got.
Henry is not without flaws. Like everyone he has temptations that he gives in to. Guilt he carries around. But we wouldn’t like him if he was too perfect then would we? He reminds me a lot of Robert B. Parker’s ‘Jesse Stone’ character crossed with the poet detective made famous by the inimitable novelist P.D. James… her Inspector Dalgliesh.
I can’t help but notice the similarities between the author and one of the main suspects, Mike Henderson. Did he base this character upon himself?
This police procedural is written with insight and understanding of human weaknesses and flaws. A quick and entertaining read with strong characterization which will appeal to fans of the genre. “A father of two, Steven Axelrod lives on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, where he paints houses and writes, often at the same time, much to the annoyance of his customers.”–Numéro Cinq. If you are interested in reading more about the author, who lives on Nantucket click here.
Fictionophile 