Today, I’m shedding light on my latest reading foray: The Yellow Hair, the 10th entry in Dwight Holing's Nick Drake Mysteries. This series flew under my radar until now, but it hums with a vibe reminiscent of C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett books, albeit with a wildlife ranger-turned-sheriff instead of a game warden.
Nick Drake isn’t just any lawman; he’s a Native American Vietnam War veteran. The story takes place in the haunting backdrop of late 1979 or early 1980, and I've deduced this from the brand-new 1980 Cadillac Sedan de Ville referenced on the first page. Now, while the book is marketed as a "Contemporary Western," I'd argue it straddles genres better suited for a breezy mix of Joe Pickett and Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee novels. Sure, there are Western elements, but don't expect gunfights at high noon or dusty saloon brawls. This isn't the Wild West.
Now, let’s talk about the plot: Nick’s tenure as sheriff gets off to a brutal start with a double homicide; a couple found dead in a scene so meticulously fabricated to resemble a tragic murder-suicide that it’s almost a paint-by-numbers tragedy. Convenient, isn’t it? A smooth lie crafted to soothe the masses, but Nick’s far from fooled. As he begins peeling back the layers of this rotten onion, he finds himself embroiled in a two-front battle.
On the internal front, he’s grappling with a motley crew of green deputies who’d need more than just a badge and a uniform to keep the peace. On the external front? A ruthless political machine, fueled by shadowy figures hell-bent on burying him before the truth sees the light of day. Outmaneuvered and isolated, Nick is caught in a high-stakes game, and he must strike first and strike hard.
Despite my stark differences with the character Nick Drake, I found him remarkably relatable. The historical threads about the First Tribe woven throughout the narrative added depth, painting a vibrant picture that enriched the plot. The prose itself leaned towards the simplistic and procedural, occasionally teetering toward cliché territory, with some overly detailed dialogue that felt more like a lecture than engaging conversation. Don’t get me wrong, the descriptions had their moments, but I yearned for the texture and grit that truly bring a story to life.
What did I think of the murder mystery? It kept me flipping pages with suspense. Yet, the pacing hit a few snags along the way, resulting in a somewhat rocky reading journey. But let’s not be all doom and gloom: The Yellow Hair is far from a disaster. There were definitely nuggets of enjoyment I unearthed, particularly the character of Nick Drake, who managed to get under my skin in a good way, so much so that I might just give the earlier entries in this series a shot… eventually.
Despite my nitpicking, I recommend The Yellow Hair to any readers looking for a story that blends intrigue with a dash of the unexpected. ╌★★★✰✰
Please consider supporting future reviews on this blog by purchasing The Yellow Hair, paperback [*], or a Kindle eBook [*].
〜B.J. Burgess
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“The plot thickens… especially when you comment.” 〜B.J. Burgess