Back in Memphis after splitting from his girlfriend and
on a leave of absence after the death of his partner,
Sergeant Detective Billy Able gets back to unofficial
work more quickly than he thought. Old friend and
bluesman, Little Man Lacy is found dead in a construction
pit, shortly after speaking with Billy; Lacy had
mentioned death charms.
Shortly after, Lacy's music partner Red Davis, is also
found dead at the train station, where he had spoken with
Billy earlier. Patrol Officer Frankie Malone had found
Red, who had some sort of powdered substance on his face
and clothing. She suspects the dust was a curse and it
killed Red. It is said that, an ebbo, a charmed dust,
when blown in the face of a believer, causes death;
Frankie is familiar with Santeria, a religion that uses
those charms.
Upon investigating the building where Little Man and Red
were squatting, Billy and Frankie found their precious
instruments smashed, and the place thrashed. Frankie says
it was cursed. Seeing this, Billy pockets the conjure bag
that contained the magic dust he found on Red's body, as
well as pictures in the pockets of the coat Red has
purchased at Goodwill. Billy finds a picture dating back
from the 1960s, where a man is wearing the same jacket.
As Billy and Frankie dig further, the murders seem
intimately tied to the civil rights movement and
unfortunate relationships that were formed during those
difficult times.
Ms. Turner sets the mood at the beginning with mentions
of great bluesmen and classic songs so we really feel
enveloped by the sounds and the atmosphere of Memphis.
The character development is superb, and what seemingly
innocuous details the author includes are in fact crucial
elements in the intricate plot and the denouement. I
loved the interaction between Billy and Frankie: although
there might be a hint of some romance between the two law
officers in the future -- and I sincerely hope THE GONE
DEAD TRAIN is the beginning of a series -- they remain
professional work colleagues, and Frankie is a terrific
female lead. Ms. Turner weaves a spider's web out of the
characters' quirks, new-formed and long-time
relationships, and events that happened half a century
ago into a solid mystery.
Readers who might feel hesitant at the mentions of death
charms and magic need not worry: THE GONE DEAD TRAIN is
an excellent police procedural; the magical aspect is but
one of the many pieces of the puzzle in this meticulously
crafted and ingenious thriller. I also very much
appreciated that nothing is black or white; appearances
can be quite deceiving indeed. THE GONE DEAD TRAIN is a
first-rate suspense which kept me on my toes until the
thrilling conclusion!
Recovering from the aftermath of a case that left his
partner dead, Billy is back in Memphis and drawn into an
ever-widening murder mystery that focuses on a disgraced
major league baseball player, two legendary blues
musicians on the lam, a straight-arrow cop tortured by her
guilty conscience, and two iconic civil rights warriors
with secrets so dark they'll shock the nation.
Detective Billy Able is at a crossroads. His previous
case left him questioning everything he believes about his
abilities as a cop and a friend, yet he's unable to turn
off instincts he's honed after a decade on the force.
After he stops a crime from being committed, he finds
himself embroiled in an even bigger scandal--a murder
connected to a series of crimes dating back to the civil
rights movement. Billy investigates and uncovers secrets
so layered he can barely keep the truth from the lies. And
Frankie Malone, the female cop on the case, is hiding
something big, but is it connected to the investigation?
With the help of a Santerián priest, Billy's search for
the truth leads him deep into the underbelly of Memphis'
past. But will he make it out alive?
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