ONE DAY YOU'LL BURN

4 stars out of 5

This one got me fired up right at the start with

the discovery of a once-human crispy critter under a Thai pagoda in Hollywood. Called in on the case are LAPD Detective Marcus Tullius ("Tully") Jarsdel and his partner Morales. An ID is next to impossible (as it will remain for some time after the body cools off), but signs suggest it wasn't your average body dump. Rather, someone deliberately picked both the modus operandi and disposal site. That brings out Tully's professorial side; the son of two gay fathers, he left the halls of academia for the police ranks (to the total and continuing dismay of both his dads).

Meantime, the two partners have been trying unsuccessfully to learn who's behind the killing of several dogs - each of which bit the dust after biting into poisoned meat on their owners' wedding day. As part of the investigation, the single Tully meets Aleesa, one of those who lost a dog a while back (long enough ago for her to have lost her husband as well). She's a bit on the kooky side - but then so is Tully, who's fond of expounding on history and philosophy at the drop of a page or two. Truth is, I found that characteristic enjoyable, educational and fitting with his character, but I'll also say that my sweet husband - who loves police procedurals perhaps more than I do - wouldn't appreciate Tully's lengthy pontifications nearly as much as I did.

At any rate, Tully and Aleesa hit it off from the git-go, adding a bit of romance to the plot. Before long, the over-baked body is identified; seems he was a huxter who once tried to sell jars of "Hollywood Dirt" to Hollywood looky-loos. Later, Tully also finds evidence that ties the victim to an unsolved case under investigation by a different LAPD department, ruffling feathers of those who are less than thrilled to have Tully and Morales digging around.

Tully tries to put his brain to work on a motive that prompted the human pot roast (leading, hopefully, to the killer's apprehension); but the closer he and Morales get to the flame, the greater the chance one or both will get burned. Making matters worse, yet another couple's official coupling day is spoiled by the killing of their precious pet, leading Tully, almost in desperation, to suggest setting up a sting operation. 

It all leads up to a suspenseful, fiery ending that certainly kept me turning pages (well, okay, swiping my Kindle screen) to the very last word. This is the first in a series, and while I didn't totally warm up to Tully (pun intended), his quirkiness and background make me eager to read the next one. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy of this one. 

Dare I say well done?

One Day You'll Burn by Joseph Schneider (Poisoned Pen Press, February 2020); 336 pp.