The Homeplace by Kevin Wolf

Published by St. Martin's/Minotaur Books on September 6, 2016

Former high school basketball star (and eventual NBA player) Chase Ford is back in Brandon. He has issues with the family life he left behind, but his parents are dead and he hasn’t entered the family home for years. Most people are happy to see Chase, as small towns celebrate their rare celebrities, but Chase is ambivalent about meeting anyone from his past.

Birdie Hawkins is the game warden in the district that includes Brandon. Investigating a complaint of murdered buffalo, she comes across a murdered high school student. The crime is outside her jurisdiction so she ships the case to Sheriff Kendall, a man she despises. She nevertheless assists in the murder investigation. Soon a second investigation begins as someone close to the student is also killed. That victim happens to be one of the few people in Brandon Chase still regards as a friend.

When a third victim is discovered, the police are challenged to understand whether the murders are related and to discover the killer’s identity. The reader, of course, faces that same challenge. The plot moves in interesting and unexpected directions as it wends its way to a conclusion that an astute reader will probably anticipate.

A group of colorful characters round out the cast, including an ambitious television reporter, a small town gossip who invents most of the stories he tells, and a paranoid anti-government survivalist whacko. None of the characters have great depth, but they are more interesting than the characters that populate most modern crime novels.

The story’s “you can’t go home again” theme might be a little obvious, as are the demons that make it difficult for Chase to visit his homeplace. Chase is one of those relentlessly good literary heroes who insist on feeling bad about themselves, which is perhaps too trite for comfort. The feel-good nature of the ending will appeal to readers who like feel-good endings. It too determinedly feel-good for my taste, but none of the novel’s flaws impaired my overall enjoyment of the story and its entertaining cast of characters.

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