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Parker City Mystery #4
Black & White
Parker City, 1985 . . .
A picturesque spring morning takes a disturbing turn when the frozen body of a young woman is discovered in a field on the outskirts of the city. As Detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason arrive on the scene, they have no idea upon what type of an investigation they are about to embark. With no identification, no breadcrumbs to lead them to the girl’s origins, or even a cause of death, they face a daunting task ahead as they take on their latest case.
As the investigation lingers in limbo, a surprise revelation connects it to a mysterious chapter from Parker City’s past. One that Tommy's own uncle was a part of four decades early as a debonair private investigator working for the venerable Stride Detective Agency, tenaciously searching for the missing daughter of a former diplomat. It's a connection that binds two generations of detectives in an intricate web of intrigue.
In this captivating new installment of Parker City Mysteries, both investigations unravel simultaneously, forging an unbreakable link between the past and the present. As Ben and Tommy navigate their way through the case, they must confront the truth to a secret that has remained concealed for far too long.
A picturesque spring morning takes a disturbing turn when the frozen body of a young woman is discovered in a field on the outskirts of the city. As Detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason arrive on the scene, they have no idea upon what type of an investigation they are about to embark. With no identification, no breadcrumbs to lead them to the girl’s origins, or even a cause of death, they face a daunting task ahead as they take on their latest case.
As the investigation lingers in limbo, a surprise revelation connects it to a mysterious chapter from Parker City’s past. One that Tommy's own uncle was a part of four decades early as a debonair private investigator working for the venerable Stride Detective Agency, tenaciously searching for the missing daughter of a former diplomat. It's a connection that binds two generations of detectives in an intricate web of intrigue.
In this captivating new installment of Parker City Mysteries, both investigations unravel simultaneously, forging an unbreakable link between the past and the present. As Ben and Tommy navigate their way through the case, they must confront the truth to a secret that has remained concealed for far too long.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2024
13 people want to read
About the author
Justin M. Kiska
8 books95 followersJustin is a theatre producer, director, and mystery writer who can usually be found sitting in his library devising new and clever ways to kill people (for his mysteries). One of the former owners of The Way Off Broadway Theatre, outside of Washington, DC, he is the author of the Parker City Mysteries Series, as well as the mastermind behind Marquee Mysteries, a series of interactive mystery events he has been writing and producing for over twenty years. Justin and his wife, Jessica, live along Lake Linganore outside of Frederick, Maryland with their pups, Brownie and Cocoa.
Learn more about Justin by visiting www.JustinKiska.com.
Learn more about Justin by visiting www.JustinKiska.com.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 9, 2024
Black and White: A Parker City Mystery is the fourth book in the series. Despite not having read the previous books, I did not feel lost. The novel follows an old-style mystery with a detective reminiscent of Philip Marlowe - tough, hard-drinking, womanizing, and resembling Humphrey Bogart. The main character, Fitz Mason, had served at the embassy in Rome at the start of World War II.
This novel features a dual timeline that transitions smoothly between 1985 and 1945. I particularly appreciated the two detectives from 1985, all of whom were capable, intelligent, and smart. I enjoyed uncovering clues alongside the detectives and the surprises that linked the two storylines. The story kept me engaged, and the resolution of the mysteries tied everything together neatly. Black and White was a uniquely crafted and enjoyable read.
This novel features a dual timeline that transitions smoothly between 1985 and 1945. I particularly appreciated the two detectives from 1985, all of whom were capable, intelligent, and smart. I enjoyed uncovering clues alongside the detectives and the surprises that linked the two storylines. The story kept me engaged, and the resolution of the mysteries tied everything together neatly. Black and White was a uniquely crafted and enjoyable read.
March 4, 2024
Black & White is a mystery. This story is told in two times. Then was 1945. Stride agency investigator Francis “Fitz” Mason is hired by a retired US Ambassador to find the daughter who disappeared while dressing for her wedding. Now is 1985. Park City Police Detective Sergeant Ben Winters and Detective Tommy Mason are called to the scene of a woman’s body discovered in a field. She’s young, beautiful, and frozen solid. Winters and Mason take up the case where Uncle Fitz left off forty years ago.
Bottom line: Black & White is for you if you like mysteries driven by classic detectives, both cop and private investigator.
Strengths of the story. Black & White moves back and forth between the 1945 kidnapping case and the 1985 suspicious death case. The movement between the two periods are distinct, staying in each period for multiple chapters, with distinct indication of the change.
The 1945 story features PI Fitz Mason with a cast mixing the local rich and famous with local cops covering their own butts. The story is a solid kidnapping mystery with the who, why, and how largely making sense. Former ambassador Conrad Martin’s daughter, Lillian, went missing the morning of her wedding. Someone carried her out of her father’s mansion dressed in her wedding gown. The character of Fitz Mason is of the classic, heroic cut and is easy to cheer for. The supporting characters of Ambassador Martin, younger sister Lucy, the valet Joe Grainger, and police chief Buchanan are also well developed, three-dimensional characters who you can like, hate, laugh at, and sympathize for.
The 1985 story features police detectives Ben Winter and his partner and friend Tommy Mason. Childhood friends, they grew up listening to Uncle Fitz’s case stories. The suspicious death is intriguing. The who, why, and how are built off the 1945 case, so, while it has equal weight in the book, it feels secondary. Even in writing this review, I’m being careful to not reveal anything that would detract from your enjoyment. This is the fourth book for Ben and Tommy, so they have the history and depth of established characters. The supporting characters are more typical of police procedurals, being effective, informative, and often entertaining.
The scene setting in both 1945 and 1985 are distinctively drawn using language, clothing, and period appropriate relationships between father and daughters, men and women. I felt transported to 1945. The 1985 language was not very different from now. The biggest “feel” for the mid-80s came from Tommy looking and dressing like the original Magnum P.I.
Fitz does an excellent job of driving his story. He investigated, picked up the clues, and drove it to the next point, then the next point, etc. Ben and Tommy are more traditional cops, acting on information given to them by the evidence clerk, forensics, etc and ushering the story point to point.
Where the story fell short of ideal: To enable the two stories to be told simultaneously, the modern story had to be slowed down, so it didn’t give away the historic story. But in doing that the modern story felt to me like it was idling, sometimes waiting until Fitz made a move before Ben and Tommy took a step forward.
The logic on the kidnapping, as I said, largely made sense. However, Lillian was knocked out and carried out of a mansion busy with wedding preparation without being seen. While Fitz was investigating, he had a hard time buying that part of it and so did I. It was never explained how the kidnappers got her out of the house. In the end, it was the one flaw my head kept coming back to in a multi-faceted diamond case.
The logic on the suspicious death-why the body was dumped, the steps taken to cover up-where fun to read start to finish…but looking from finish to start, I had trouble with some of the decision making of otherwise smart characters. All three of these criticism are my personal preference, other readers may not notice or care about any of these.
Bottom line: Black & White is for you if you like mysteries driven by classic detectives, both cop and private investigator.
Strengths of the story. Black & White moves back and forth between the 1945 kidnapping case and the 1985 suspicious death case. The movement between the two periods are distinct, staying in each period for multiple chapters, with distinct indication of the change.
The 1945 story features PI Fitz Mason with a cast mixing the local rich and famous with local cops covering their own butts. The story is a solid kidnapping mystery with the who, why, and how largely making sense. Former ambassador Conrad Martin’s daughter, Lillian, went missing the morning of her wedding. Someone carried her out of her father’s mansion dressed in her wedding gown. The character of Fitz Mason is of the classic, heroic cut and is easy to cheer for. The supporting characters of Ambassador Martin, younger sister Lucy, the valet Joe Grainger, and police chief Buchanan are also well developed, three-dimensional characters who you can like, hate, laugh at, and sympathize for.
The 1985 story features police detectives Ben Winter and his partner and friend Tommy Mason. Childhood friends, they grew up listening to Uncle Fitz’s case stories. The suspicious death is intriguing. The who, why, and how are built off the 1945 case, so, while it has equal weight in the book, it feels secondary. Even in writing this review, I’m being careful to not reveal anything that would detract from your enjoyment. This is the fourth book for Ben and Tommy, so they have the history and depth of established characters. The supporting characters are more typical of police procedurals, being effective, informative, and often entertaining.
The scene setting in both 1945 and 1985 are distinctively drawn using language, clothing, and period appropriate relationships between father and daughters, men and women. I felt transported to 1945. The 1985 language was not very different from now. The biggest “feel” for the mid-80s came from Tommy looking and dressing like the original Magnum P.I.
Fitz does an excellent job of driving his story. He investigated, picked up the clues, and drove it to the next point, then the next point, etc. Ben and Tommy are more traditional cops, acting on information given to them by the evidence clerk, forensics, etc and ushering the story point to point.
Where the story fell short of ideal: To enable the two stories to be told simultaneously, the modern story had to be slowed down, so it didn’t give away the historic story. But in doing that the modern story felt to me like it was idling, sometimes waiting until Fitz made a move before Ben and Tommy took a step forward.
The logic on the kidnapping, as I said, largely made sense. However, Lillian was knocked out and carried out of a mansion busy with wedding preparation without being seen. While Fitz was investigating, he had a hard time buying that part of it and so did I. It was never explained how the kidnappers got her out of the house. In the end, it was the one flaw my head kept coming back to in a multi-faceted diamond case.
The logic on the suspicious death-why the body was dumped, the steps taken to cover up-where fun to read start to finish…but looking from finish to start, I had trouble with some of the decision making of otherwise smart characters. All three of these criticism are my personal preference, other readers may not notice or care about any of these.
March 3, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Justin M. Kiska and Partners In Crime Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
I thoroughly enjoyed Fact or Fiction (book three in the A Parker City Mystery) and jumped at the chance to read Black and White. Catching up with Parker City and Police Detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more.
It’s 1985, A picturesque morning turns disturbing when the frozen body of a young woman is found in a field on the outskirts of town. Detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason have no idea what’s in store for them when they arrive on the scene. There is no identification, no breadcrumbs leading to where the girl is from, or even a cause of death. With little to go on they face the daunting task of solving this case.
As the case lingers, a surprise revelation connects the murder to a mysterious chapter from Parker City’s past and with connections to Tommy’s uncle 40 years ago. At the time, his uncle was a debonair private investigator working for the venerable Stride Detective Agency tenaciously looking for the missing daughter of a former diplomat. As the two investigations unravel in parallel forging an unbreakable link between past and present, Ben and Tommy must confront a truth that has been buried for too long as they navigate their way through the case.
I continue to be impressed with Justin Kiska! In this installment, he continues to do an excellent job weaving past and present together to create a book that will give you all the feelings while also keeping you intrigued. Just when I thought I’d figured it out, another red herring was thrown into the mix. The author also continues to write a book that can be read as a standalone without feeling like you are missing out.
I love the writing style used, it made the book easy to read and kept me wanting to know more. The characters are well developed, and the supporting cast of characters are eclectic which adds additional dimensions to the story. The relationships between the characters are developing nicely and I look forward growing along side of them as they continue this journey.
I highly recommend this book to all who appreciate historical fiction combined with present day murder mysteries.
I thoroughly enjoyed Fact or Fiction (book three in the A Parker City Mystery) and jumped at the chance to read Black and White. Catching up with Parker City and Police Detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more.
It’s 1985, A picturesque morning turns disturbing when the frozen body of a young woman is found in a field on the outskirts of town. Detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason have no idea what’s in store for them when they arrive on the scene. There is no identification, no breadcrumbs leading to where the girl is from, or even a cause of death. With little to go on they face the daunting task of solving this case.
As the case lingers, a surprise revelation connects the murder to a mysterious chapter from Parker City’s past and with connections to Tommy’s uncle 40 years ago. At the time, his uncle was a debonair private investigator working for the venerable Stride Detective Agency tenaciously looking for the missing daughter of a former diplomat. As the two investigations unravel in parallel forging an unbreakable link between past and present, Ben and Tommy must confront a truth that has been buried for too long as they navigate their way through the case.
I continue to be impressed with Justin Kiska! In this installment, he continues to do an excellent job weaving past and present together to create a book that will give you all the feelings while also keeping you intrigued. Just when I thought I’d figured it out, another red herring was thrown into the mix. The author also continues to write a book that can be read as a standalone without feeling like you are missing out.
I love the writing style used, it made the book easy to read and kept me wanting to know more. The characters are well developed, and the supporting cast of characters are eclectic which adds additional dimensions to the story. The relationships between the characters are developing nicely and I look forward growing along side of them as they continue this journey.
I highly recommend this book to all who appreciate historical fiction combined with present day murder mysteries.
February 27, 2024
This book was definitely, one of the greatest mystery reads of the year so far, y’all! I really love that the author took us from the 1940’s with Fitz and then forward to the 1980’s with Ben who is a detective with a seemingly unsolvable case. The time travel between the two times was well written and there was no confusion at reading between the two.
The story itself is a very engaging mystery read as it leaves you not being able to put the book down as you are reading. I loved the characters of Fitz and also Ben. They are very relatable to the reader who may not have anything to do with police or detective work. And what a twist when they find out who the dead person is! OMG I wasn’t expecting that!
I also love the ending and hearing what happened to Fitz! I really hope that the author will continue making more of this series of mystery books and I will certainly be reading these moving forward!
The story itself is a very engaging mystery read as it leaves you not being able to put the book down as you are reading. I loved the characters of Fitz and also Ben. They are very relatable to the reader who may not have anything to do with police or detective work. And what a twist when they find out who the dead person is! OMG I wasn’t expecting that!
I also love the ending and hearing what happened to Fitz! I really hope that the author will continue making more of this series of mystery books and I will certainly be reading these moving forward!
March 3, 2024
I enjoyed reading this historical novel with dual mysteries decades apart. It was refreshing to read of a murder investigation without all the modern forensic technologies. Both mystery investigations required the old fashioned dedicated investigative techniques. I appreciate the parallel plot developments although we do know the ultimate life and death outcome of the older mystery before it is solved in that time. I like to learn about something when I read a novel and I found out about Nazi art looted by U S servicemen.
This is an entertaining historical mystery. While it is part of a series, it reads well on its own. It's a good book for any lover of mysteries.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Nook Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
This is an entertaining historical mystery. While it is part of a series, it reads well on its own. It's a good book for any lover of mysteries.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Nook Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
February 25, 2024
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publicity team. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I've been enjoying these Parker City Mystery series books, set in a medium size town in the 1980s mostly. Each book seems to have a dual timeline and so does the fourth book, Black & White. So far, all of the books alternate between the current date and the past. The chapters are clearly labeled as to which period they are. A key aspect of Parker City is the rich history and that is shown to us in these mysteries. I am enjoying the historical aspects. They show the development of the town, the class structures and the prominent families.
The main characters are the detectives Ben and Tommy. But the past timeline, forty years ago in 1945, has Tommy's uncle Fitz, who was military intelligence and then a private investigator. Fitz investigated the disappearance of the ambassador's daughter, Lillian. The new case involves her sister.
Ben and Tommy are capable investigators. Without the forensics and other technology, they still manage with fingerprints and other evidence, as well as interviews and facts in historical records and newspapers. The duo works well together with some humor.
The series does not seem to be in a chronological order. In fact, Tommy was retiring in an earlier book. But that is the back and forth of the timelines, the current dates do seem to stay in order of the series. So I believe one could enjoy these as standalones or in any order. Although, I might read the first book to start as it lays the character foundations.
Review copy was received from Publicity team. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I've been enjoying these Parker City Mystery series books, set in a medium size town in the 1980s mostly. Each book seems to have a dual timeline and so does the fourth book, Black & White. So far, all of the books alternate between the current date and the past. The chapters are clearly labeled as to which period they are. A key aspect of Parker City is the rich history and that is shown to us in these mysteries. I am enjoying the historical aspects. They show the development of the town, the class structures and the prominent families.
The main characters are the detectives Ben and Tommy. But the past timeline, forty years ago in 1945, has Tommy's uncle Fitz, who was military intelligence and then a private investigator. Fitz investigated the disappearance of the ambassador's daughter, Lillian. The new case involves her sister.
Ben and Tommy are capable investigators. Without the forensics and other technology, they still manage with fingerprints and other evidence, as well as interviews and facts in historical records and newspapers. The duo works well together with some humor.
The series does not seem to be in a chronological order. In fact, Tommy was retiring in an earlier book. But that is the back and forth of the timelines, the current dates do seem to stay in order of the series. So I believe one could enjoy these as standalones or in any order. Although, I might read the first book to start as it lays the character foundations.
May 18, 2024
I love Justin Kiska's writing style and the Parker City Mysteries. This book was a page turner as the timeline switches from 1945 to 1985 and back again. This is a great murder mystery. I loved it!!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews