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.
Grateful thanks to Angie Martin for the above review.
Angie runs a super bookblog site and you can check that out right here
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