DERANGED

4 stars out of 5

This is the third in the series featuring Jessie Cole, a private investigator in Sacramento, California. It's a good one, but I do strongly suggest reading the other two first. In large part, that's because all the recurring characters have storied (and very troubled) pasts; with so many in the mix here, it helps, I'm sure, if readers already have a leg up on what's happened in the past. I read the first, and  I have no doubt I'd have enjoyed this one more if I'd had the second under my belt as well.

At the epicenter here is Jessie's friend Ben Morrison, who is an investigative reporter with a past he can't remember, courtesy of an auto accident. But while Jessie believes in him, plenty of other folks from his past claim he's got a mean, sadistic streak that he's trying to hide. That includes Ben's father, who's in jail for murder (in fact, he insists Ben is "deranged"). Other early-on characters include Jessie's teenage niece Olivia, who lives with her aunt; Jessie's assistant Zee Gatley, who needs meds to control her schizophrenia but is nonetheless colorful and fun; and Colin Grayson, a local homicide detective with whom Jessie has an on-again, off-again romantic relationship.

To kick off the action, a young woman turns up dead in a barn; just as that investigation gets underway, Zee agrees to take on the case of a man who's looking to prove his wife is having an affair (Jessie eschews domestic cases, but Zee wins this battle, in large part because the firm can use the hefty retainer). Meantime, Jessie is trying to uneath Ben's real backstory; she sees him as a friend, but could it be that he really does have a history of violence? Speaking of violence, I must mention that while it doesn't bother me, there's some super-salty language and [brief] descriptions of lewd sexual acts here that might be offputting for those who may be sensitive about such things.

Other murders follow, leading to the suspicion that a serial killer may be at work. Throw in the coach of an athletic team on which Ben's daughter plays; Ben thinks he's up to no good, putting him at odds with his wife and daughter, both of whom think he practically walks on water. Ben's father, Lou, threatens his psychological counselor at Folsom Prison in an effort to get out of jail free. Chapters shift from the perspectives of several characters (plus from that of the killer, whoever he or she may be). While I'm not a huge fan of this technique, it's done well enough that I have no complaint at all. 

But the big question is, do any of these goings-on relate to Ben's past and the person he really is? If so, how? Those questions get answered for the most part, with plenty of fodder left for the next book (said to hit the presses early in 2019). Overall, this is an enjoyable, fast-paced read - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to review an advance copy.

Deranged by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, October 2018); 288 pp.