Things That Go Squeak in the Park

Alexander Moffat Mysteries #3

by R.S. Edwards

Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s...most people add a few pounds over the holidays. Police Detective Moffat adds unsolved murders to his caseload. When 10-year-old Gina finds a body in the community garden, Captain Moffat realizes something strange is going on at the Department of Environmental Health in the historic western town of Biglerville in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. A rational motive is elusive, the ‘persons of interest’ have too many secrets, and Captain Moffat will soon meet the most bizarre psychopath of his career. Just in time for Halloween, Police Captain Alexander Moffat uncovers a series of murders. The body count grows by Thanksgiving. A motive is as obvious as it is unconvincing. Otherwise, if this is the work of a psychopath, he or she is not interested in claiming credit and there is little hope of stopping the next murder. Moffat, “stalwart and a man of integrity,” uses post-9/11 government data-gathering to question dozens of innocent people. The destruction of a California Black Oak called Old Ironbottom to make room for a new road points in one direction. Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms and a thirty-three nanometer calicivirus point in two others. The most intriguing question what went squeak in the park? Captain Moffat struggles to solve the mystery by Christmas. Meanwhile he and his wife Jean, newly appointed guardians of a troubled but lovable teen, confront his worrisome secret.

Genres: Mystery

398 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 8, 2013

About the author

Hi, mystery readers. I'm Scott Edwards. I'm an admirer of the British-style mysteries of Colin Dexter, Caroline Graham, P.D. James and Leslie Thomas. My first novel, Nothing Done in Secret, introduces a police detective inspired by those British inspectors who use their intellect and knowledge of human behavior to solve the crime. It is set in the small towns of a fictional county in the California Gold Country, among rolling oak-studded foothills, pine forests and vineyards.
I grew up in Sacramento, studied management at Cal State Sacramento and UCLA, then worked for many years at an aerospace company.
My interests in science, medicine, history, politics and current events are represented in the stories I create. You'll probably guess that my characters also share my interest in food and beverages.

Reviews

[Aussie54 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Book 3 is the best in the Alexander Moffat Mysteries series, by a teeny margin. The introduction of Gina, the 10 year old child genius, is a superb touch. She's a great addition to the cast.

Once again, the meticulously thought out plot pulled me in. I really enjoy reading how Captain Moffat and his team sort through so many strands in these books. In this third offering, the murderer is very confident of getting away with their crimes. I was convinced they would too. Great story telling by the author in the last few chapters.

I was more than happy to learn that there's a fourth story, hopefully to be released in November this year. I can't wait to read it.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

It begins with one body found by ten-year-old Gina in the community garden and leads to many many more. But what is that tell-tale squeak she heard? Captain Moffatt defintely has his hands full.

Somehow I've stumbled into this series midway through, but this was not a problem as the main characters quickly identified themselves and became fast friends. This book was longer than my usual cosy - indeed, it's more a police procedural than a cosy - but well worth the time spent.

Recommended.

[Laddie Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story development, I like the characters

My reasons for only four stars: There are a lot of names to keep track and the overuse of pronouns made if difficult. Maybe I should have started with first book in the series. I !appreciate that the author doesn't use the street language of real life.