Review: Would the Real Santa Please Put the Gun Away?
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 8, 2013
Mystery author/private investigator Jim Richards is asked by one of the detectives in the agency he owns to look into death threats being received by a local mall Santa and eccentric preacher Harold Renford. He’s reluctant, but finally convinced to do it. What looked like a relatively routine surveillance operation turns ugly and complicated when a Vegas mobster is gunned down in a local hotel by a man dressed in a Santa costume, and the finger of suspicion is pointed at Renford.In Santa Murders, the 31st Jim Richards’ family of mysteries by Bob Moats, you’re taken on a roller coaster ride of thrills and suspense as Richards finds himself caught up in mob machinations, greedy business deals, and marital infidelities. I’m tempted to say that Moats writes like Robert B. Parker, but that’s not fair to either, as both have singularly unique styles. No, Bob Moats writes like, well, Bob Moats – which is to say, extremely well.I received a free review copy of Moat’s latest Richards family mystery offering, and I dearly hope that he’ll decide to end the series on an even number, rather than stop at 31.