Trophy Kill (A Sidney Reed Mystery, #1) by R.J. Norgard

TROPHY KILL by R.J. Norgard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With a great plot, great characters, and an attractive setting, I read it from start to finish in one go!

Since his wife's unexpected and sudden death a year earlier, private investigator Sidney Reed has holed up inside a small apartment with only his cat, Priscilla, and a steady stream of Corona as his only company. But when a new client, Elizabeth Landers, shows up at his door with what seems like an easy, straightforward surveillance job, he decides to take a step back toward living, and the money she offers is enough to take care of his past due rent. However, it's the simple cases that never seem to work out as they should, and suddenly Sidney finds himself investigating a suicide and a two-year-old possible murder.

Trophy Kill was such a good story with great characters and an interesting Anchorage, Alaska setting that I read it from start to finish in one go. Sidney Reed is just a nice guy still dealing with a load of hurt from Molly's death. He's never gotten the answers to his questions of why she killed herself and carries a ton of guilt that he should have been able to prevent it. He's been self-medicating with Corona and isolated himself from everyone he knows as he avoids coming to terms with her death. Like the original job, Sidney's investigation is straightforward, focusing directly on what is known about the cases.

Sidney gets help from several friends from his past and meets a local newspaper reporter, Maria Maldonado, who is also tracking down leads for the story about the same cases. I liked Maria almost from the start. She is young, energetic, creative, smart, and on Sidney's side. Initially, I thought she would be a thorn in his side, but that role (of being a thorn in Sidney's side) is fulfilled by Barney Pendleton, chief investigator with the Alaska State Troopers. Barney is a real jerk with a long-held grudge against Sidney. I look forward to more clashes between those two and perhaps, a real romance between Sidney and Maria.

The story combines good old-fashioned detective work and action with superior and witty dialogue. I recommend TROPHY KILL to mystery fiction readers, especially those who enjoy an excellent private eye tale.


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