Robers' Roost by Loren D. Estleman from AMOS WALKER The Complete Story Collection

Walker is summoned to the bedside of a dying man.  He is asked to solve the death of a Prohibition era driver who's vehicle broke through the winter ice of the Detroit River.

The dying man, Oscar Chubb, an ex-cop, wants Walker to get enough evidence to prove Specs Kleinstein, a known racketeer and bootlegger, was responsible for his adopted brother's death, who was driving that car.

Walker has to get a vehicle pulled from the Detroit River that has been lying at the bottom for over 50 years.

Even though this is the coldest of cold cases, somebody does not want it investigated.

A solid story.

Greektown by By Loren D. Estleman from AMOS WALKER, The Complete Story Collection

This is my fist stab at the Amos Walker cannon.  I thought a collection of short stories would make for an easy introduction to a new series, at least, new for me.  Eastleman has been writing this series since the 1980's.

Amos Walker is like a lot of PIs in fiction; he's a loner and has pals in the police department and at the city newspapers.  Unlike most PIs his character is based in Detroit, the only other author I know of who uses Detroit is Elmore Leonard - good company.

This first story revolves around a serial killer; Walker's client thinks it's his own half brother and wants him to find his brother before the police do.

Walker then has to walk a fine line around the police, never letting on that he's in fact on the case representing the suspect.

The police get their man and Walker discovers the reasons behind it all.

First published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, August 1983.

August 1983

Loren D. Estleman