Spotlight on River of Secrets: A Wallace Hartman Mystery by Roger Johns

“River of Secrets: A Wallace Hartman Mystery” by Roger Johns

Louisiana detective risks everything to uncover the truth behind the murder of an infamous politician

Detective Wallace Hartman returns in Roger Johns’ new novel, “River of Secrets”

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. –  Louisiana is full of politicians who will say anything to suit their agenda, but when one of them winds up dead under suspicious circumstances, Detective Wallace Hartman must dig through his list of enemies to find out who wanted him gone – permenantly.

 

Was it the politician’s son, with whom he had a troubled relationship? Was it the social justice activist who also happens to be related to Wallace’s childhood best friend? Does the cleaning lady who discovered the body know more than she is saying?

While the detective works the case, she also has to deal with complications in her own life, including a standoffish new partner, her mother’s new suitor, and her own relationship.

Roger Johns fills his second Wallace Hartman mystery with details that will make you race to the end -- intriguing questions, disappearing suspects, an exploration of racial and political tensions, a rich Southern setting, and a strong woman who will do whatever it takes to solve this case.

Roger Johns, a 2018 Georgia Author of Year for his debut mystery, is a former corporate lawyer and retired college professor, and the author of the Wallace Hartman Mysteries, Dark River Rising (August 2017) and River of Secrets (August 2018) from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books. His checkered past includes, in no particular order, med school dropout, bookseller, ranch hand, drapery hanger, party photographer, hospital orderly, shoe salesman, and tuxedo rental clerk. Roger lives in Georgia, and belongs to the Atlanta Writers Club, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. With four other crime-fiction writers, he co-authors the MurderBooks blog at www.murder-books.com. Please visit him at www.rogerjohnsbooks.com.

  

About the Book

Herbert Marioneaux, a Louisiana politician infamous for changing his mind on hot-button issues, has been murdered and his body posed to send a message. Baton Rouge homicide detective Wallace Hartman has to figure out who’s sending that message. DNA points to Eddie Pitkin, a social justice activist who also happens to be the half-brother of Wallace’s childhood best friend. But even with the combative history between Pitkin and Marioneaux, murder seems out of character for Pitkin whose usual MO is to confront the wealthy and powerful with their inconvenient past. As Wallace digs deeper, she unearths a possible alibi witness, along with evidence of a deeply troubled relationship that points the finger of suspicion at Marioneaux’s son.

While Eddie’s supporters are convinced of his innocence, his enemies are equally certain of his guilt. Under pressure from all directions, Wallace pursues her investigation into the dark heart of the political establishment as Baton Rouge falls under the shadow of escalating violence. When it appears a police department insider may be sabotaging her efforts by leaking information about the case, and after menacing messages are left for her and her loved ones, Wallace is forced to untangle a trail of old and disturbing secrets unaided by those she most needs to trust.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.