Soundings in the Dark by Brian Anderson

 About the Book: Minneapolis PI Lyle Dahms is drawn into the investigation of the murder of an old high school buddy. Suspicion has fallen on the dead man’s son, a star athlete and scholar who, virtually overnight, turned into a rebellious skinhead whose hate-filled diatribes spare no one, least of all his privileged, liberal father. Hired by the widow to help protect her son, Dahms soon discovers a host of others with motives to kill his old friend. But before he can close in on the truth, his investigation is hampered by the arrival of the dead man’s former girlfriend, now an embittered hooker. Claiming to know who killed his friend, she refuses to tell Dahms for fear she will be the next victim. When she bolts, she abandons her three-year-old daughter to his care, leaving Dahms—and the series’ cast of quirky returning characters—charged with keeping the little girl safe, finding her mother, and solving the murder before the killer can strike again.

 Our Review: Writing in a style reminiscent of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser PI, author Brian Anderson brings PI Lyle Dahms back for another adventure in this intriguing series. Littered with a cast of unique, quirky characters the pages turn quickly. If sharp, biting humor is your thing, this is the one for you. And this time--the star of the show this time is a 3-year-old every reader will recognize from someone in their own sphere. Ava is bright, charming and intrepid. The scenes between here and Dahms will break your heart.  

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Soundings in the Dark merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews