Dead Silver Neil McMahon Harper June 08

Hugh Davoren and his Native American pal, Madbird are carpenter contractors. Renee Callister is the daughter of Professor John Callister. John's death brings her back to Helena, Montana to deal with the estate. Renee's step mother, Astrid was a wild card, who ended up killed in a tryst. Most of the town presumed John guilty but justified. Renee, Hugh, Madbird and a few others, including the sheriff had their doubts that he'd killed two people. When Renee finds evidence exonerating her dad she calls Hugh and Madbird to help her find more.

Dead Silver is a straight ahead mystery. The usual low life and high living suspects appear. Hugh and Madbird are an easy going team. Their involvement in the mystery is totally believable. There's a clever little twist at the end. McMahon has a smooth style and the story is a concise two hundred and seventy four pages long. The book takes place in the late winter early spring and McMahon uses Montana to good advantage. Dead Silver makes a nice read.

Dave Biemann