BLOOD IN THE WATER

Walker Holmes has been on a perpetual drinking binge for quite some time. His regretful condition stems from his guilt over Rachel Townsend, a college student and rape victim who had gone to him for help. After Walker published an article on human trafficking in his alt-weekly, Pensacola Insider, Lester Judson, one of the men who assaulted Rachel, abducted and murdered her. Walker finally comes out of his funk once a severe storm floods his Florida town. But what really puts him back on the investigative track is an explosion at the local county jail that kills several people and injures many others. Sheriff Ron Frost doesn’t seem keen on investigating the accident, but perhaps even more shocking is the news that he and the chief deputy were inexplicably absent on the night of the blast. Still, the public wants answers, and that includes Walker’s ex-wife, whose police officer brother died in the explosion. Sadly, Frost, who’s running for reelection, is anything but cooperative, as he despises Walker, whom he blames for an exposé that led to his brother’s suicide. Walker, his trusty staff, and a handful of friends start digging and, before long, uncover corruption in the sheriff’s office. Those who don’t want their crimes revealed try intimidation and worse, and one of Walker’s pals winds up dead. Meanwhile, Walker continuously receives texts from Lester, who blatantly taunts and threatens the reporter.

In this second novel to feature Walker, the series protagonist is flawed but sympathetic. For example, Rachel’s murder dredges up memories of Walker’s dead fiancee, whose kidnapping and murder two decades earlier remain unsolved. At the same time, it’s painful to watch him drink excessively while his habitual retorts provoke many of the punches that Walker endures. The strongest among the cast are Walker’s allies, particularly his female friend Dare Evans, who refuses to give up on him, no matter how deep in the bottle he falls. Nevertheless, the most indelible character is Walker’s chocolate Lab mix, Big Boy, whose steadfast loyalty is a welcome contrast to the human characters’ underhandedness. Less nuanced are the villains, consisting primarily of police officers who are aggressive, transparently racist, and amoral. Their crimes include arresting someone on unquestionably trumped-up charges. Still, they’re definitely a danger to Walker and all of his comrades. Outzen excels at detailing the environment, especially the town in the aftermath of the destructive storm. Some businesses suffer such damage that they close down for weeks or longer while Walker’s loft becomes home to a few members of his temporarily homeless staff. The loft situation sparks comic relief, as there’s apparently a looming dispute between Big Boy and a feline houseguest. The tale boasts a bit of mystery since the killers responsible for a murder or two later in the story aren’t immediately apparent. And though identifying the culprits isn’t difficult, watching a determined Walker search for solid evidence is certainly gratifying.

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