Reluctant investigator encounters radical group

This week I chose “Such a Deal: Three Nice Jewish Detectives (and a Bonus.)” Because it is a four-book set, I selected “Samson’s Deal” by Shelley Singer.

In his former life, Jake Samson was a New York City cop. But it soon became apparent that he simply did not fit that role. Moving to California, Jake tried real estate. He did well enough financially but didn’t like that career, either. Eventually, using his savings and a small inheritance, he was able quit work entirely.

He now lives near Berkeley in a small house with two cats. The property also has a tiny cottage, which he rents to a carpenter friend named Rosie. Jake isn’t rich, but he is free to choose where, when and if he works.

One morning he receives a call from Professor John Harley, asking to see him immediately. Jake agrees to meet him only because Harley said Jake’s friend Rebecca Lilly suggested it.

Once on the Berkeley Campus, Jake finds a dozen or so protesters milling around. Some carry signs accusing Professor Harley of spreading liberal propaganda in his teaching.

Jake isn’t impressed by Harley’s attitude as he explains that he had found his wife, Margaret Brusky Harley, dead the day before. It appeared that she had fallen off their deck into a deep ravine, but the police have ruled it a homicide. Harley offers Jake $2,000 to find the killer before the police learn about his affair with Rebecca and make him a suspect.

Jake is not an investigator, but he has nothing better to do and agrees. To create a cover, Jake asks a friend to “hire” him as a freelance writer working on a story about the once-famous Margaret Brusky. He begins by learning everything he can about the dead woman. His ruse opens a few doors but gleans little information.

Margaret Brusky had once been a successful painter on a lucrative career path, but she painted less and less after marrying John Harley and moving to California. Before her death, Margaret was a homemaker with few activities outside the house. Other than being a regular at a meditation group and being involved in group therapy, few people know her.

Strangely, some found her cold and unfriendly while others felt she was very nice but troubled. There seems to be a strange connection between the mediation and therapy groups and the radical right wing group named CORPS picketing her husband’s office. As Jake learns more about CORPS, he uncovers Margaret’s relationship with Ted Cutter, one of their more radical members.
Using more guts than sense, Jake breaks into Cutter’s apartment and finds Margaret’s missing sketch pads as well as an encrypted notebook. Knowing some of the principal characters, he breaks the code. But before he can do much with it, Cutter and another man beat him up, demand the drawings and warn him to drop his story. He’s already been told to stay away by the police, as well as someone in CORPS named Jared.

None of their threats stop him, and soon Rosie decides to go undercover at CORPS. That brings on another attack. Bruised and angry, Jake doubles down on digging into everyone in CORPS, the members of meditation group, her therapy group, John Harley and Rebecca Lilly.

Now Jake is in a difficult position. He needs to share his information with the police, but he can’t do it without incriminating himself and involving Rosie. After mulling over all the facts and using more than a little intuition, Jake decides to confront the person the others least suspect. To his great surprise, he gets a complete confession and reveals inside information that all but destroys the terrorist plans of CORPS.

One book down … three and a bonus to go. Reading is great whether you choose stand-alone or sets. Your public library has lots of both. Get in there soon so you can check it out.

AT A GLANCE
BOOK:
“Samson’s Deal”
AUTHOR: Shelley Singer
PUBLISHER: booksBnimble
PUBLISHED: Jan. 17, 2014
PAGES: 184

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