As a fan of noir mysteries, this book is an absolute delight. (The entire series is really!)
This book is #3 in the Private Detective Mason Adler Mysteries series. When I received the ARC from NetGalley, I went back and purchased the first two stories, just in case I needed to read them in order – and I’m very glad I did! Each book’s ending gives small clues into what happens at the beginning of the next book. It’s so very clever and entertaining when binge-reading the series!
Even though the series takes place in the late 1940s, the characters and stories feel fresh and relevant. This particular mystery takes place at the Oasis Inn in Palms Springs while Mason and Walter are vacationing there. The setting of a hotel and the large set of secondary characters who are also staying there give plenty of fodder and red herrings to keep the story interesting.
The conclusion of the mystery is very smart and I would absolutely recommend this series to fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, or Dashiell Hammett.
I’m definitely excited to see if Mr. Pederson gives us more from Mason and Walter.
Thank you to NetGalley for a ARC of this book. Purchase your copy here.
Back Cover Copy of Murder at the Oasis:
A relaxing trip to a Palm Springs resort turns deadly for Mason Adler and his friend Walter Wingate when first one of their fellow guests, then another, ends up murdered. Suspects and motives abound among the remaining guests as well as the owner of the Oasis resort, Marvin Gagliardi, an old friend of Walter’s.
Mason investigates, hoping to prove Marvin’s innocence, but the more he uncovers, the more he wonders if Marvin actually might be the murderer. Distracting Mason is the handsome and eligible police detective assigned to the case, Brian Branchford. Mason had vowed not to become interested in anyone living a five-hour drive from Phoenix, but Branchford’s green eyes, gray hair, and toothbrush moustache are compelling reasons to give it a try.
It’s up to Mason to uncover the truth about the deaths at the Oasis, and to discover if there’s romance as well as murder at the Oasis.
About David S. Pederson:
David S. Pederson was born in Leadville, Colorado, where his father was a miner. Soon after, the family relocated to Wisconsin, where David grew up, attending high school and university, majoring in business and creative writing. Landing a job in retail, he found himself relocating to New York, Massachusetts, and eventually back to Wisconsin. He currently lives with his husband in the southwest.
He has written many short stories and poetry, and is passionate about mysteries, old movies, and crime novels. David also enjoys working out and studying classic ocean liners, floor plans, and historic homes.
Find out more at www.davidspederson.com
