Stateline

Stateline: A Dan Reno Novel (Dan Reno Novel Series, BookI)
Dave Stanton (LaSalle Davis Books, 2013)

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     I could come to really like detective Dan Reno, as long as author Dave Stanton does not get in the way. Stanton's character is reminiscent of the noir detectives of the 1940s and 50s. There will never be another Sam Spade or Phillip Marlowe, but Dan Reno is a modern version of a hard-luck, self-destructive hero who will always save the day. In "Stateline", Reno finds himself in the middle the investigation into the murder of the son of a very wealthy man on the eve of his wedding. Our hero must navigate a maze of crooked cops, drug addicts, bigotry, prostitutes, and his ex-wife. The story is intriguing and at first I was flying through the pages of the mysterious drama. The author's descriptions of winter in Lake Tahoe and smoky barrooms is absolutely excellent and he has crafted complex villains that the reader will easily loathe. The action is brisk and exciting and you will be rooting for Reno to beat the bad guys. The fault I find is that the story goes on for just too long. Stanton takes Reno, and the reader, a bit too far away from the setting over the last few chapters. Otherwise, this is a well-crafted, noirish murder mystery with a very likeable hero and tight plot.