The Sound of Sirens
The Sound of Sirens - An Inspector Walter Darriteau Murder Mystery
The ancient city of Chester, Friday night, and the weekend starts here. High summer, skimpy fashions, it’s a hot night, and the town’s relaxed. It’s 11pm and the pubs are beginning to close. The band has just finished playing; packing their instruments away, but the night is still young.
A young man enters the crowded pub. Walks up to the small stage. Pulls a handgun from his light jacket and empties four shots into the lead singer. One, two, three, four. Waves the gun at the stunned and shocked crowd. Yelling, hollering and screaming break out, the crowd part like the Red Sea, and the killer walks through the valley of death and out into the night, laughing as he goes.
The Sound of Sirens floats across the humid city.
Inspector Darriteau is soon on the scene. He only lives locally, and truth is, he’d much rather be at work than lying in bed. The local crime reporter turns up too, Gardenia Floem, nice woman, nice teeth.
‘Is this drugs related?’ she asks.
How the hell do I know? Get her out of here!
So begins David Carter’s new Walter Darriteau murder mystery, "The Sound of Sirens", but is it drugs related, Walter ponders the thought, and if it isn’t, what’s it all about?
Walter doesn't yet know it but this is only the first of three dreadful killings.
He's going to be a busy man.
*****
Amazon review written by Author Angie Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning mystery!
In "The Sound of Sirens" Inspector Walter Darriteau is faced with one tough crime. A young man, gunned down onstage in a local pub by a hitman, who has just killed the wrong person. There are suspects galore, and clues leading this way and that, leaving the reader wondering until the end, "Whodunit?"
"The Sound of Sirens" is my first introduction to Inspector Walter Darriteau, but I felt as if I was greeted by an old friend. His character is very well developed, and though he appeared in a previous book ("The Murder Diaries Seven Times Over"), the reader can pick up this book without fear of jumping in the middle of a story.
All of the characters, in fact, are three-dimensional and interesting. As each character is introduced, their role in the tangled web of murder for hire and other such nasty business is carefully revealed, leading to multiple "ah-ha!" and "oh no, no, no!" moments for the reader.
The familiar mystery theme is well-done and contagious, reminding me of all my favorite mystery writers. The truth behind the murder at the beginning of the story is slowly leaked over the course of the story, and the pacing is beautifully set. I couldn't help but turn the page long past bedtime, hungry for that next clue. Though there are a few subplots, they are tied directly to the main plot so that they do not disturb the reader as they race with Walter to solve the crime.
David Carter's writing style is unique and intriguing. Fragmented sentences shouldn't work in a book, that's what all writers are taught, but Carter uses them in such a way that his writing has a tempo of its own, much like a familiar song that soothes one's soul. He masterfully weaves words in and out of the story, planting a perfect picture in the reader's head.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It is fun, exciting, humorous at times, and bloody and shocking in all the right moments. If you're salivating for a new crime-solving hero, look no further than Inspector Walter Darriteau.
"The Sound of Sirens" is out now in paperback and on Kindle.
Like to read a sizeable excerpt? You can do that right now by clicking here.
Like to read what they are saying about "The Sound of Sirens"?
You can read some early reviews right here right now by going here.
Thanks for reading and thank you for your interest!