This week’s book has so many characters and plot twists that I’ve decided to give a thumbnail sketch. Don’t pay any attention to the title in Dave Dobson’s “What Grows from the Dead.”
Morris Drummond isn’t having a good year. About the time his widowed mother died, his university shut down his department. Unemployed and severely depressed, Morris returned to Fairwater, North Carolina.
Unable to move forward, he uses his mom’s Chevy Cobalt to drive for PeopleRide. His only client is Steve. Steve dresses and looks like an old-time movie vampire. He even drinks a concoction that closely resembles blood.
Steve owns a popular gaming shop and is a generous tipper, so Morris doesn’t ask questions. His main focus is a lawsuit against the university. His high school crush and lawyer, Annette (Annie) Robbins, is doubtful that it is worth the time and money, but he refuses to drop the suit.
Morris’ life becomes total chaos when his 16-year-old daughter, Mindy, shows up. Her mother, Debbie, and stepfather, Giacomo, went to Italy, leaving her in Alpharetta, Georgia, in the care of “Uncle Marco.” Marco promptly disappeared, so Mindy decided to hop a bus and visit her father. He’s shocked but happy to spend time with the girl.
That night, they get a visit from a woman claiming to be Officer Williams. She demands Morris give her permission to search the house. He refuses and calls Annie for advice. They are sure this has something to do with his mother.
The next day, Morris and Mindy open his mother’s safety deposit box. All the find is a gun and a cellphone with a short note telling them to take both. Morris can’t imagine why his mother had a gun, but they take both items home. After charging the phone, they find a video his mother must have taken while stuck in traffic due to a police chase and arrest.
Morris buries the gun in the backyard. That same night, the sheriff’s department arrives with a search warrant to look for drugs. As they are leaving Detective Ross lets it slip that they are actually looking for a gun. The next day he gives the pistol to Annie, who stores it in her safe.
After a meeting with a man who claims to be searching for his brother’s killer, Morris is confused and terrified. Annie’s father tells him to trust retired Sheriff Clark Martin. He gives Martin the phone and a thumb drive video of a double murder. Within the hour, Morris gets a message. Annie’s office has been robbed. Her secretary was shot and claims that Morris did it. Annie has been kidnapped.
Determined to save Annie and clear his name, Morris walks directly into a trap. Things move fast and some real stupidity is involved, but eventually we find out who the bad guys are and round them up.
After the dust clears, Morris has a job at the high school, Mindy now lives with him and he might have a future with Annie. Life is good, but Morris can’t help wondering if his mom had other secrets hidden and who or what is Steve?
Mom’s video leads to murder, intrigue
