The Pilgrim: A Tale of the 3M Detective Agency

by Thomas A. Burns Jr.., Thomas A. Burns Jr.

185 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2026

Reviews

[Stjepan Cobets · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating 4.2

The detective crime novel "The Pilgrim: A Tale of the 3M Detective Agency" by Thomas A. Burns Jr has a very interesting story. The author takes us to the world of the eighties, when there were no cell phones or the Internet, where the main actors navigate in that world with completely different ways of solving complicated criminal cases. The book is very well written; the characters are solidly developed, as is the setting. All in all, a solid crime novel, with some small flaws at the very end, which influenced my rating.

The story follows the two main characters, Amos and Solly, who were US Marines and founded the 3M Detective Agency. Since they are new to the business, they are trying to find steady work through an insurance agency. At the same time, two Catholic Jesuit priests come to their door wanting to find a young priest who disappeared three weeks ago. They accept the priest's offer, expecting it to be an easy job even though the young priest's trail is quite cold. Everything that seemed simple, as their search uncovers more details, will put their lives on the line.

I would recommend the book to fans of detective stories.

[Madelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The genius of Thomas Burns’ books about Capital City is their ability to evoke any Southern capital city in the United States while portraying issues of social and political import without taking sides. In The Pilgrim, Amos Murdock and his partner Solly Pinkus are struggling to keep the 3M Detective Agency afloat after burying their comrade-in-arms and partner, Johnny Edwards. It feels nearly impossible to imagine just two men building up a sustaining clientele.

Amos is trying to secure contracts with insurance companies to follow up on claims—particularly disability and workman's comp claims. It would be boring surveillance work, but it would mean steady income. Judy McMasters, Amos’s sister, also a partner and now former secretary, will not be returning to 3M.

Sometimes help shows up under the worst of circumstances. Zeb Braddock, of the Camp Cunningham militia sting, wants a piece of Amos. He believes Murdock owes him for infiltrating the militia and turning him over to the feds. Amos’ solution to the Braddock problem is to offer him a job.

When the doorbell rings, Amos opens it to find two Catholic priests on his doorstep. Here we are given a glimpse into the Southern mindset regarding Catholics. We learn there is no Catholic church in Garton, where 3M is located, and only one in Capital City. The sense of otherness is obvious yet subtle. Father Peter Hennessy addresses Murdock by name and introduces his companion, Father Ryan Caulfield. Their blue Ford Taurus has New York plates. Once invited in, they acknowledge Solly by his full name—Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Pinkus. They’ve clearly done their homework.

The priests wish to hire 3M to locate a novice, August 'Augie' Sims, who went on a pilgrimage three months ago and has failed to return. Father Hennessy explains the rigorous path to becoming a member of the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits. Amos and Solly take the case after a discussion of rates—four hundred dollars a day, plus twenty-four cents a mile and whatever few expenses they run up. That’s for both of them, not each. The priests feel they can cover the fee for a week. Information is exchanged and an agreement reached.

The Pilgrim details an investigation that takes the partners farther than they may have expected to go, following a trail of homelessness, murder, and child abuse to its conclusion. The good ole boy dialogue adds context that speaks volumes.

I find the novels of Thomas A. Burns, Jr. to be raw, unflinching parables of modern America that need to be told. He’s dealt with everything from school shootings to sexuality—first in the Natalie McMasters books and now in the 3M Detective Agency series.

The Pilgrim can be read as a standalone story, but I do recommend reading To Keep Our Honor Clean, the first book in the series, which details the Vietnam experience of the Marines who go on to form the 3M Detective Agency.

Burns writes the kind of stories that refuse to look away—and rewards readers who don’t either.

[Audrey Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soon after I began reading this book (at the 16% point, to be precise), I thought it was leaning heavily into a bunch of stereotypes: white Southerners, US Marines, Brooklyn Jews, and Catholic priests (Jesuits, even). I still think so, but having finished the story, I must say it was an interesting and entertaining read. It took me a while to get used to Amos Murdoch’s accent being spelled out in dialogue (“nothin’,” evenin’,” etc.) and the liberal use of Yiddish words and phrases by his Jewish partner, Solly Pinkus. After I was immersed in the story, however, these things were less irritating.

Amos and Solly are partners in the 3M Detective Agency. “3M” meaning “three Marines,” although the book begins with the funeral of one of them. A guy called Zeb is recruited to replace him, rather inadequately, as it turns out. The plot revolves around a missing Jesuit novice, investigations for an insurance company, and Amos’s problems with his fiancée, a Southern belle named Dory Kate.

The strongest features of this book are the way it draws on the detectives’ Marine backgrounds, its vivid descriptions of locations, and an effective use of humour. Amos has left the Marines (after serving in Viet Nam), but even by 1988, the Marine way has not left him. It is invoked throughout the book, in attitudes, language, and problem-solving. It’s clear that Amos and Solly are principled guys, but they do a few sketchy things in the course of the book, when dire situations require them.

The most problematic element in the story is Amos’s girlfriend, Dory Kate. Without going into details (no spoilers here!) I must say that several scenes involving her strained credibility and provided a degree of melodrama.

I appreciated the quaintness of private eyes doing their jobs at a time before cell phones and the internet. Mentions of phone booths, pagers, fax machines, and newspapers on microfilm were reminders that 1988 really was a long time ago. On the whole, reading this book was an enjoyable experience. 4.5 stars, rounded up.

[Terry Birdgenaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Pilgrim' by Thomas A. Burns, Jr., is the second book in the ‘A 3M Detective Agency Novel’ series. Although it can be read as a stand-alone novel, I found that having read the first book gave me the bonus of knowing the main characters’ backgrounds. 3M is a reference to the agency's founding by three former Marines (Amos, Solly and Johnny), although this book begins with the funeral of one of them (Johnny) after his killing in book 1. Though it didn’t work out well, a fourth Marine (Zeb) joined them in this novel when Solly was AWOL, and they were receiving too many requests for their services. These jobs included various potential insurance fraud cases to be investigated for Piedmont Insurance Company, as well as a missing-person case involving a novice of the Jesuit Order, who did not return from his assigned pilgrimage. The story is a thrilling one that moves quickly, with interesting characters and snappy dialogue that makes for a page-turner of a detective story. The plot twists keep the reader guessing, and the author has a knack for vivid writing about characters and scenes which draws you into the story. Yet, there were a couple of plot issues that had me second-guessing the narration. First, the detectives assumed the murdered woman they had learned about at a Capital City homeless encampment was the one the novice had met on the bus he had taken there for his pilgrimage, before her true identity was discovered. Second, it wasn’t well explained why priests from New York City were involved in the Mass at St. Raphael’s in the Southern town of Capital City, though it is not unheard of for visiting priests from the same order to do so. Still, this was a riveting story that lovers of thrillers and detective novels will enjoy immensely, especially those who appreciate stories involving ex-military servicemen.

[Kris Maddox · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★☆ (4/5)

This took me a little while to get into. The opening felt slower than I expected, and I found myself stopping to look up quite a few words, which interrupted the flow of the story for me. Once I reached about the halfway point, though, everything clicked. The pace picked up, the mystery deepened, and I had a hard time putting it down.

One of my favorite aspects was the old-school investigative style. Instead of relying on modern technology to solve every problem, the detectives had to depend on experience, observation, and good detective work. It gave the story a refreshing, classic feel that I really enjoyed.

The premise surrounding the insurance contracts was unique, and Amos was an engaging character to follow. The addition of 3M, a former military operative now working with a private detective agency, added another interesting layer to the investigation and kept the story moving in new directions.

My only other criticism is that, at times, the descriptions became a little too elaborate. I occasionally felt the author spent so much time emphasizing certain details that the main point got a bit lost. Tightening those sections would have made the pacing even stronger.

Overall, this is a solid, well-crafted mystery with an original storyline and memorable characters. It takes a little patience at the beginning, but if you stick with it, the second half is well worth the investment. 4 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Gene Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE PILGRIM takes a setup you might see on a 1980s prime-time detective drama – a missing young Jesuit, a pair of ex-Marines, and a Southern town with plenty of secrets – and gives it enough personality to keep things moving. Amos Murdoch and Solly Pinkus make an appealing odd couple: differing personalities and worldviews, but a shared Marine background that gives the investigation a sturdy backbone. For sheer nostalgia (and who doesn’t love nostalgia?) the book deserves points for capturing an era before smartphones and instant searches, when detective work meant phone booths, paper trails, and a lot more legwork.

Arguably, the novel leans hard on typecast characters and dialect, but once the story settles in, the humor, atmosphere, and sense of moral tension start to win out. What begins as a straightforward search grows darker and more dangerous, and the ending carries real weight. Overall, this is a smart, entertaining noir-leaning mystery with more conscience than cynicism.

[S.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two retired marines operate the 3M Detective Agency in a small town in the deep south. Amos Murdoch and his partner Solly Pinkus are hired by two priests to find a novice who disappeared while on a religious pilgrimage. It sounds like a routine investigation that turns out to be anything but routine. To add to the mix, Amos is not having a great week. He has doubts about his fiancée. He and Solly have had a slight falling out. He hires another ex-marine that is more of a liability than an asset. To say more would be a spoiler.
From page one I felt immersed into a different era or society—although the story takes place only a few years ago. The writing was descriptive. Funny at times. Sad in others. High tension as the investigation ramps up.
The pacing was spot on. The investigation realistic.
To use the author’s own words, Amos’ “life…becomes entangled in a web of deceit, violence, and perversion. The latter without unnecessary descriptions. Well done.

[Liudmila Brus · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Piligrim' captures the spirit of a classic detective story and conveys a sense of time that is rapidly slipping away for the potential victim. The detectives are racing against death, while problems—including deeply personal ones—rain down on them.
The characters, both good and evil, are true personalities (a reader could recognize a friend or a neighbor in one of them). Detailed yet concise descriptions, along with the accents and jargon frequently found throughout the novel, strengthen the sense of immersion. I really enjoyed Solly and his vibrant vocabulary.
An unexpected parallel emerged between the sexual crimes of which various characters became victims. In their attempts to cover their tracks, the rapists bloodied their hands, and it turned out that individuals of both sexes are capable of such horrific acts.
There were at least 2 twists that made me whisper "What the hell?" and want to discover other novels in the series.

[Amber Daulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t read PI/detective books often, but I liked this one, and it works well as a stand-alone. Amos and his partner Solly take on what should’ve been an easy investigation, only for things to implode. Tack on Amos’s chaste romance with a Southern belle, and he’s in for a world of trouble. My only real issue with this story was the religious flow. Granted, the private detectives were hired by two Jesuit priests to find a missing priest-in-training, but every time there was a Bible quote or sermon or anything religious said, I breezed over it. I prefer my reading to be secular.
Anyway, I have no doubt readers of crime fiction will enjoy this book.
4 Stars

[J.A. Freely · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pilgrim is an entertaining read. It is comfort food for people who like to be told a good story. The setting is the South, the time is prior to cell phones, and the dialogue is Southern with some Yiddish added to the mix. It's an enjoyable quick read, and like any good story, things are pretty messed up and there is plenty of tragedy, but somehow it ends up just right. There isn't an unexpected lesson in morality that is imparted to it's readers, and the book itself is unpretentious. It's an entertaining story. If you like to read about gritty characters and detective stories, you'll be glad you read this offering.

[Jerry Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Private Detectives Investigate a Missing Jesuit Novice.

The 3M Detective Agency takes on a seemingly simple case of a missing candidate for the priesthood only to be dragged into an underworld of intrigue both inside the Church and outside in the world of the homeless. The book explores the differences in some of the major religious institutions. The Detectives have a sense of morality not found very often in todays society.
I found this to be a well written, refreshingly moral story with many twists and turns in the investigation and the story line

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story with a plot that makes for a good read. For me a little too much colloquialisms and religion.