From Publishers Weekly
A disappointing follow-up to a promising debut (2001's Third Person Singular), this second novel featuring Minneapolis Special Detective Marshall "Mars" Bahr stumbles in ways mystery fans do not easily forgive: a meandering plot, a too-obvious killer and a limp rendering of what should have been a riveting investigation. Bahr, the head of the elite First Response homicide unit, takes on a case that appears to be a cut-and-dried suicide, except for a 13-digit number written on the dead man's arm. Then other "suicides" begin showing up, all bearing the same number. Gradually, it becomes clear that someone is targeting descendants of a famed Minnesota Civil War regiment, and dozens of volunteer genealogists work furiously to track them down. The real source of tension here is this race against the clock, but it is curiously tame and leaves readers unsatisfied. More satisfying is the very appealing relationship between Bahr, a divorced father, and his young son. The only true source of warmth in the book, as it is in Bahr's life, their time together is a joy to witness. One utterly charming scene between father and son about the birds and the bees almost makes up for the many gratuitous scenes throughout that add nothing and go nowhere but not quite. Erickson's obvious strengths make the flaws all the more apparent by contrast, and leave us longing for a more polished work next time. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
A Minneapolis man burdened with debt, disease, and family problems apparently commits suicide, but Special Detective Mars Bahr believes otherwise because the right-handed dead man could not have written a series of numbers on his own right arm. Bahr's far-reaching investigation first uncovers a connection to his psychologist friend's husband, who had unfortunate business dealings with the victim, then finds similarities to a murder in Wisconsin. The common link appears to be that both victims had Minnesota ancestors who fought in the Civil War. A thoroughly satisfying narrative, a sympathetic protagonist, descriptive details, and clever plotting place this follow-up to Third Person Singular high on the "buy" list. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Erickson's second novel brings back Minneapolis Special Detective Marshall "Mars" Bahr, who reports directly to the chief of police. Erickson's debut, Third Person Singular (2000), featured strong character development but a weak plot; here the balance is better. There are two puzzling aspects to the apparent suicide death of Frank Beck: the perfect hangman's knot on the noose and the string of numbers written on Frank's arm. Much research and another hanging victim finally lead Mars to the conclusion that a serial killer is tracking descendants of the First Minnesota Volunteers, a Civil War regiment. Mars interacts with a strong supporting cast, including his 10-year old son, Chris; his tough partner, Nellie; and his quasi-girlfriend, Evelyn. Although the final showdown is a letdown, readers will enjoy Erickson's complex characters and interesting history lesson. Mars Bahr is a delicious hero in a series that shows promise. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"A spiffy police procedural."--Houston Chronicle
"Mars Bahr is a delicious hero in a series that shows promise."-Booklist
"Mars Bahr is a sensitive and appealing protagonist."--Kirkus Reviews
Book Description
A SUSPICIOUS DEATH
When Frank Beck, a sympathetic dreamer on a lifelong losing streak, is found hanged during a lonely Minnesota snowstorm, everyone assumes that he committed suicide. But Minneapolis Homicide Detective Marshall Bahr can't make sense of the numbers inscribed on Beck's right arm or the fact that a guy who was described as sloppy could tie a perfect hangman's noose for himself...
A LEGENDARY BATTLE
Mars begins to dig deep into Beck's life and uncovers an obscure fact in the dead man's ancestry-a connection to the Battle of Gettysburg-and to make sense of its bearing on this homicide, he needs to understand nineteen seconds of action at the end of this historical battle. Could Beck's death-by-hanging be related to the Civil War?
A PSYCHOTIC KILLER ON THE LOOSE
Then another body turns up-and another. Now Mars is on the trail of a serial killer whose motive seems to be related to a contemporary controversy about Gettysburg. From the freezing Minnesota winter to Richmond, Virginia, Mars embarks on an investigation where he discovers that past and present co-mingle-and old grudges lead to modern murder
Inside Flap Copy
THE DEAD SURVIVORS
"A spiffy police procedural."--Houston Chronicle
"Mars Bahr is a delicious hero in a series that shows promise."-Booklist
"Mars Bahr is a sensitive and appealing protagonist."--Kirkus Reviews
THIRD PERSON SINGULAR
"One standout mystery."--Ellen Hart, author of The Merchant of Venus
"A riveting crime novel...sit back and prepare to be amazed."
-William Kent Krueger, Anthony Award-winning author of Iron Lake
"The writing is so flawless, the tone so true, that the reader wholeheartedly enters the world of Mars Bahr...this is the first in a worthy series."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Erickson's sensitive, intelligent detective makes a creditable debut."--Kirkus Reviews
"Readers will enjoy the well-drawn character of Mars - particularly his relationship with his eight-year-old son."--Booklist
"This novel is a virtual page-turner, well worth your time and money."--Rapport
Back Cover Copy
A SUSPICIOUS DEATH
When Frank Beck, a sympathetic dreamer on a lifelong losing streak, is found hanged during a lonely Minnesota snowstorm, everyone assumes that he committed suicide. But Minneapolis Homicide Detective Marshall Bahr can't make sense of the numbers inscribed on Beck's right arm or the fact that a guy who was described as sloppy could tie a perfect hangman's noose for himself...
A LEGENDARY BATTLE
Mars begins to dig deep into Beck's life and uncovers an obscure fact in the dead man's ancestry-a connection to the Battle of Gettysburg-and to make sense of its bearing on this homicide, he needs to understand nineteen seconds of action at the end of this historical battle. Could Beck's death-by-hanging be related to the Civil War?
A PSYCHOTIC KILLER ON THE LOOSE
Then another body turns up-and another. Now Mars is on the trail of a serial killer whose motive seems to be related to a contemporary controversy about Gettysburg. From the freezing Minnesota winter to Richmond, Virginia, Mars embarks on an investigation where he discovers that past and present co-mingle-and old grudges lead to modern murder
"Erickson writes in a fine style, and she conducts the procedural drill like a trouper."
--The New York Times Book Review
"A thoroughly satisfying narrative, a sympathetic protagonist, descriptive details, and clever plotting place this follow-up to Third Person Singular high on the "buy" list."
--Library Journal
About the Author
KJ Erickson was raised in Chicago and Watertown, South Dakota, and now lives in Minneapolis. This is her second novel.
Dead Survivors FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Frank Beck, a man with terminal colon cancer, a new divorce, and a stack of debts, hangs himself. It's an open-and-shut suicide - except for a string of numbers inscribed on Beck's right arm. Minneapolis Homicide Detective Marshall Bahr can't make sense of the numbers or the fact that a guy everyone describes as sloppy tied a perfect hangman's noose for himself. But then he uncovers an obscure fact in the dead man's ancestry - a connection to the Battle of Gettysburg - and to make sense of its bearing on this homicide, he needs to understand ninety seconds of action at the end of this historical battle." Mars and his partner, Nettie Frisch, begin to theorize based on the idea that this death-by-hanging just might be related to the Civil War. Then another body turns up, and before Mars can even believe it's true, they're on the trail of a serial killer whose motive seems to be related to a contemporary controversy about Gettysburg and the descendants of the First Minnesota Volunteers, the legendary northern regiment who turned the tide against the Confederacy on that fateful day.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
A disappointing follow-up to a promising debut (2001's Third Person Singular), this second novel featuring Minneapolis Special Detective Marshall "Mars" Bahr stumbles in ways mystery fans do not easily forgive: a meandering plot, a too-obvious killer and a limp rendering of what should have been a riveting investigation. Bahr, the head of the elite First Response homicide unit, takes on a case that appears to be a cut-and-dried suicide, except for a 13-digit number written on the dead man's arm. Then other "suicides" begin showing up, all bearing the same number. Gradually, it becomes clear that someone is targeting descendants of a famed Minnesota Civil War regiment, and dozens of volunteer genealogists work furiously to track them down. The real source of tension here is this race against the clock, but it is curiously tame and leaves readers unsatisfied. More satisfying is the very appealing relationship between Bahr, a divorced father, and his young son. The only true source of warmth in the book, as it is in Bahr's life, their time together is a joy to witness. One utterly charming scene between father and son about the birds and the bees almost makes up for the many gratuitous scenes throughout that add nothing and go nowhere but not quite. Erickson's obvious strengths make the flaws all the more apparent by contrast, and leave us longing for a more polished work next time. (Mar. 18) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
A Minneapolis man burdened with debt, disease, and family problems apparently commits suicide, but Special Detective Mars Bahr believes otherwise because the right-handed dead man could not have written a series of numbers on his own right arm. Bahr's far-reaching investigation first uncovers a connection to his psychologist friend's husband, who had unfortunate business dealings with the victim, then finds similarities to a murder in Wisconsin. The common link appears to be that both victims had Minnesota ancestors who fought in the Civil War. A thoroughly satisfying narrative, a sympathetic protagonist, descriptive details, and clever plotting place this follow-up to Third Person Singular high on the "buy" list. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
If ever a death by hanging had the look and feel of a suicide, Frank Beck's did. Six months earlier, his wireless electronics business had gone belly-up, costing friends and other investors dearly; his much-loved wife of 30-plus years had left him; and his advanced case of colon cancer was leaving him racked with continual and intensifying pain. Never mind that his youngest son insists that adversity served only to fuel Frank Beck's fighting spirit. In the experience of Special Detective Marshall (Mars) Bahr of the Minnesota PD, denial of this sort is commonplace. And yet . . . and yet. There was that highly sophisticated hangman's knot supposedly tied by someone who could barely lace his shoes, and those weird numbers written on the dead man's right arm. Whatever they mean, they certainly let the air out of the official suicide theory when the M.E. reports that the numbers were inscribed after Beck was dead. Soon enough, Bahr and his task force are locked in an intricate and scary contest with a vengeful psychopath for whom the battle of Gettysburg is still to be resolved. And Bahr had better master the rules of the game in a hurry, or a lot of unsuspected latter-day noncombatants will be added to the list of Union dead. Mars Bahr, the Candy Man, remains a sensitive and appealing protagonist (Third Person Singular, 2001), but that cryptic numbers game drags on well past the point of diminishing returns.
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