Death by the Riverside by J.M. Redmann

Death by the Riverside by J.M. Redmann

Bella Books, 2001. Originally published 1990.

Overview: Micky Knight is a scrappy independent private investigator living from paycheck to paycheck when a seemingly routine case leads her into an investigation of drug-running and murder. While Micky has a tough case to unravel herself, the reader gets a little bonus mystery as Micky is forced to deal with a mysterious tragic past that is revealed in bits and pieces.

My reaction: Micky Knight definitely wins first prize for Traumatizing Backstory and Quantity of Whiskey Consumed in the mysteries I've reviewed here! In a refreshing twist, however, the Traumatizing Backstory actually involved other characters that Micky has to deal with as she investigates the drug-running and murder.  For all that I may poke fun at seeing yet another tough-as-nails functioning alcoholic private eye with a tragic past in print, Redmann managed to do something really interesting with the tropes by making them relevant to the plot, instead of just letting them stand as a lame attempt at color. 

It was also pretty well written, aside from the occasional typo, and kept me engaged to the last page. I'll definitely be reading more!

Other titles in the Micky Knight Series:

Deaths of Jocasta, 1992.
The Intersection of Law and Desire, 1995.
Lost Daughters, 1998.
Death of a Dying Man, 2009.
Water Mark, 2010.
Ill Will, 2012.
Forthcoming: Shoal of Time, 2013.