Nightfall: A Chase Dagger Mystery By Lee Driver

by Cynthia Chow

Details on how to win a copy of this book at the end of the review.

When a man is murdered in an apparent hit-and-run, the fact that he carried no identification is the least unusual aspect about the death. Not only was he wielding a weapon ideal for assassination, but hidden in his shoe was the business card of private detective Chase Dagger. In the past few years, Dagger has had his number of extraordinary experiences, so even when the body of this John Doe is stolen from the morgue, he barely raises an eyebrow.

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Much more alarming are recent murder cases across the nation that have Cedar Point Police sergeant Jerry “Padre” Martinez concerned. Seven women have been murdered, all named Sara, and all bearing a distinct resemblance to Dagger’s assistant, Sara Morningsky. She and Dagger have only recently become more than co-workers, and he is protective of the young woman. A shapeshifter who can transform into a wolf as well as a hawk, Sara is far from the shy, eighteen-year-old woman he first met when she was an injured wolf. Now the couple, along with a paranoid schizophrenic conspiracy theorist, must once again battle a lethal curse they had thought was defeated.

When the author first began this series in 1999, she was at the forefront of novelists blending mysteries with fantasy. In the latest installments, Driver has added an element of science fiction, as drones, cloning, and nanotechnology all come into play to explain Dagger’s mysterious origin. His ex-fiancée Sheila Monroe continues to plague his existence, but now her attentions elsewhere may attract an even greater threat.

Image source: Full Moon Publishing

New readers may be challenged by the considerable mythology of this series, but the author does an admirable job at smoothly reintroducing her characters and summarizing previous events, showcasing a fascinating blend of mystery, myth, and science fiction. Perhaps the real highlight, though, is how the author also manages to balance humor with a pervading threat of menace, ensuring a read that is as fun as it is suspenseful.

To enter to win a copy of Nightfall: A Chase Dagger Mystery in your choice of hardcover, trade paperback, or ebook, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Nightfall,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen September 12, 2015. If entering via email please include your mailing address.

Use this link to purchase this book and a portion goes to help support KRL & it supports an indie bookstore:

Nightfall

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).