The Dead Survivors: A Mars Bahr Mystery

Mars Bahr #2

by K.J. Erickson

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

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 11, 2002

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good mystery. I found it very prescient as it was based on the hard feelings and anger that can accompany Civil War artifacts and their display. The story is complex and absorbing although in one place the detailing of the search for evidence got a bit too much. One highlight of the book for me was the wonderful relationship between the main character and his ten year old son. If you like police procedurals, this is the book for you!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the Mars Bahr books. Mars is a father who is trying to do his best for his son. He is also a detective working on cold cases. When the son of a man who committed suicide comes to him and says he doesn't believe his father would commit suicide, Mars is skeptical, but looks into the case when another friends doesn't believe it either. Mars finds that the man has numbers written on his left arm. The man is right handed. Also the knot of the hanging is perfect and complex, who the man didn't know how to tie. Mars gets tied up in the case which involves a confederate flag captures during the battle of Gettysburg by the Minnesota regiment. He also determines that he is facing a serial killer. Max also winds up in the hospital with an appendix. I enjoy reading about Mars and his son, Chris, as well as the staff at the police station.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m really liking this series, although I’m not a Civil War buff, and this book did have a lot about the Civil War, I struggled to keep my focus on the story at times. All and all I did gain some knowledge on Civil War history. Mars did a great job at solving the killings and with the help of Hettie and all her research.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story is based in the Twin Cities area of MN and the plot reaches back to the First Minnesota’s involvement in the Battle of Gettysburg where they captured the 28th Virginia’s battle flag. Well researched and excellent use of history as a basis of a modern mystery.

[Eadie Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 are on the trail of a serial killer whose motive seems to be related to a contemporary controversy about Gettysburg and the descendents of the First Minnesota Volunteers, the legendary northern regiment who turned the tide against the Confederacy on that fateful day.

In this enormously compelling follow-up to Third Person Singular, KJ Erickson delivers a top-notch police procedural full of twists and turns, pitting a relentless cop against an equally determined killer.

My Review
This was an interesting 2nd book in the Mars Bahr series. Loved the history connection of the Gettysburg battle from The Civil War. Lots of twists and turns with interesting characters and plot. Looking forward to her next book The Last Witness

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I whipped through this as quickly as I did Third Person Singular, Erickson's debut novel. Wonderful! Erickson did a delightful job of keeping me guessing and throwing a juicy red-herring. She also continues to blend beautifully Mars' detective work with his personal life. In her hands, the personal stuff is rich, nuanced, and believable -- making the personal subplot just as interesting and engaging as the murder mystery.

[Felisa Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An apparent suicide leads Detective Mars Bahr (wtf?) to discover a series of murders that seem linked to the Battle of Gettysburg. Set in Minnesota and Virginia, this book is atmospheric and populated with solid characters. I enjoyed the historical element of the plot, but there were quite a few plot holes and leaps of logic that annoyed me. That said, this was an enjoyable read.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

.I hope the next two books of this series are better than this one. I had a really hard time getting into it and Mars flying here there and everwhere. Hard for me to get the drift of the story and keep up with the characters. Disappointed since I really enjoyed the first one.

[Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great read if you are a Civil War buff. Not so great read if you are looking for more suspense and action than continuous history lessons. I don't mind learning facts here and there as intertwined with a story, but in this case it seemed to take over the story.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erickson's usual detective-fiction strengths here are complemented by the foray into the strange world of Civil-War leftovers, reenactors, and wannabes.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the plot somewhat implausible and the story just dragged for me. However, I do like these characters a lot.

[Mary Ahlgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting reading as the controversy over flying the confederate flag is raging.

[Amber Hester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book if you like mysteries.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I live the characters in these books.

[Debra Kulchar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unusual premise. Wasn't sure how it would work, but she did it. I would read other books by her.