The Corruptible

Yesterday was Molly's graduation party, bringing to an end a very busy season. It was great yesterday seeing family and friends I hadn't seen in such a long time, several not since Doogie's graduation party two years ago. Jess and I were talking last night about how time slips away. I see people I love and think how much I miss them and want to see them soon, but I never make the time to make it happen. I can't believe how fast the time has gone with Molly growing up. On Saturday I made two photo boards with pictures of her from birth through recent pictures. I ran out of room all too quickly, and it made me nostalgic seeing these moments captured on film, memories each one. She's grown from my blonde haired baby girl to a dark-haired beauty to big dreams and the drive to make them happen. This school year was a season of lasts: last Christmas concert, last Solo Ensemble, last Homecoming, etc. It's a very bittersweet time joy and pride and grief and loss. Today's picture is of Molly and I at the end of yesterday's party.

The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir is the second book in the Night Watchman series about private investigator Ray Quinn. Ray is a former police officer who was shot in the hip while on duty, leaving him in constant pain and forced to use a cane. That day he also watched the woman he loved shot to death. The emotional and physical pain has left him dependent on alcohol to get through each day. Ray has been hired by enigmatic tycoon Armon Mayer to track down missing employee, Logan Ramsey, who disappeared from work after stealing some important files that Mayer is desperate to get back. Ramsey was a cop, so Ray is familiar with the man and his undercover work with a motorcycle gang that led to his firing from the force. Working with his partner, Crevis, who keeps failing his police academy exam, and friend Pam, whose brother's murder Ray solved in the first book, Ray quickly finds Logan's dead body, but no sign of the missing files. The investigation turns from a theft to murder, and Ray works with his old buddies at the police department to solve Logan's murder. From high-priced boardrooms to a motorcycle gang's drug infested lair, Ray rarely loses his cynical sense of humor and quick wits. Mynheir's writing is reminiscent of Dashiell Hammet and Mike Hammer with Ray's running commentary and the where did that come from twists. The writing is impeccable. Ray says he needs Jim (Jim Beam) to get to sleep, and Joe (coffee) to get up each day. He describes his crippled leg as being good for filling his jeans and keep him from throwing his shoes away. Despite Ray's bitter humor, he has a soft heart and an unerring determination to make things right. I can't wait to read the next book in this amazing series.

Thank you to Blogging for Books for providing me a copy of this book for review.