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David Mapstone Mystery #8
High Country Nocturne
A cache of diamonds is stolen in Phoenix. The prime suspect is former Maricopa County Sheriff Mike Peralta, now a private investigator. Disappearing into Arizona’s mountainous High Country, Peralta leaves his business partner and longtime friend David Mapstone with a stark choice. He can cooperate with the FBI, or strike out on his own to find Peralta and what really happened.
Mapstone knows he can count on his wife Lindsey, one of the top “good hackers” in law enforcement. But what if they’ve both been betrayed? Mapstone is tested further when the new sheriff wants him back as a deputy, putting to use his historian’s expertise to solve a very special cold case. The stakes turn deadly when David and Lindsey are stalked by a trained killer whose specialty is “suiciding” her targets.
In depressed, post-recession Phoenix, every certainty has become scrambled, from the short hustle of the powerful real-estate industry to the loyalties Mapstone once took for granted. Could Peralta really be a jewel thief or worse? The deeper Mapstone digs into the world of sun-baked hustlers, corrupt cops, moneyed retirees, and mobsters, the more things are not what they seem. Ultimately, Mapstone must risk everything to find the truth.
High Country Nocturne is an ambitious, searing, and gritty novel, with a fast-paced story as hard-edged as the stolen diamonds themselves.
Mapstone knows he can count on his wife Lindsey, one of the top “good hackers” in law enforcement. But what if they’ve both been betrayed? Mapstone is tested further when the new sheriff wants him back as a deputy, putting to use his historian’s expertise to solve a very special cold case. The stakes turn deadly when David and Lindsey are stalked by a trained killer whose specialty is “suiciding” her targets.
In depressed, post-recession Phoenix, every certainty has become scrambled, from the short hustle of the powerful real-estate industry to the loyalties Mapstone once took for granted. Could Peralta really be a jewel thief or worse? The deeper Mapstone digs into the world of sun-baked hustlers, corrupt cops, moneyed retirees, and mobsters, the more things are not what they seem. Ultimately, Mapstone must risk everything to find the truth.
High Country Nocturne is an ambitious, searing, and gritty novel, with a fast-paced story as hard-edged as the stolen diamonds themselves.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2015
44 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Jon Talton
25 books93 followersJon Talton is the author of the David Mapstone novels, which follow the adventures of a historian-turned-deputy, working the mean streets of the urban West.
Jon's first novel, "Concrete Desert," was hailed by Kirkus as "an impressive debut." The Washington Post said it "is more intelligent and rewarding than most contemporary mysteries." The series has continued with "Camelback Falls," "Dry Heat," "Arizona Dreams" and "Cactus Heart." "Dry Heat" received Arizona Highways magazine's best fiction award in 2005.
Jon's first novel, "Concrete Desert," was hailed by Kirkus as "an impressive debut." The Washington Post said it "is more intelligent and rewarding than most contemporary mysteries." The series has continued with "Camelback Falls," "Dry Heat," "Arizona Dreams" and "Cactus Heart." "Dry Heat" received Arizona Highways magazine's best fiction award in 2005.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 2, 2015
In High Country Nocturne, Jon Talton's elegiac descriptions of the old Phoenix almost gives the book a hard-boiled feel, and that sad, cynical, resigned tone is perfect for this story. It's good to see Talton get out of Phoenix for a bit and take readers to places like Flagstaff and Ash Fork up in Northern Arizona. Even sections of Route 66 get a mention or two. In a tale of betrayal, murder, and a desperate search for the truth, the occasional sparks of humor he adds are as welcome as they are unexpected.
Mapstone has been tested before in the course of this series, but not to this degree. Mike Peralta has not only been his boss and his partner, he's also been his closest friend, and to have him be the prime suspect in a diamond heist and murder is beyond belief. At this point, all he's going to want to do is prove Peralta innocent. However, everyone seems determined to stop him. FBI agents are crawling all over the place, making demands, asking questions, keeping an eye on him. The new sheriff insists that Mapstone comes back to work for him. Matters are made even worse by the deadly killer who's stalking him. What scares Mapstone the most is that the killer may not only target him, his wife Lindsey may also be in danger.
When he does start piecing a few things together, he begins to doubt his friendship with Peralta. Just how much can he trust his partner? This is a fast-paced story that does make occasional references to previous books in the series, but it does stand alone very well.
There are two authors who have series set in the Phoenix metropolitan area whom I always recommend. Jon Talton is one of them. High Country Nocturne is another strong entry in an excellent series.
Mapstone has been tested before in the course of this series, but not to this degree. Mike Peralta has not only been his boss and his partner, he's also been his closest friend, and to have him be the prime suspect in a diamond heist and murder is beyond belief. At this point, all he's going to want to do is prove Peralta innocent. However, everyone seems determined to stop him. FBI agents are crawling all over the place, making demands, asking questions, keeping an eye on him. The new sheriff insists that Mapstone comes back to work for him. Matters are made even worse by the deadly killer who's stalking him. What scares Mapstone the most is that the killer may not only target him, his wife Lindsey may also be in danger.
When he does start piecing a few things together, he begins to doubt his friendship with Peralta. Just how much can he trust his partner? This is a fast-paced story that does make occasional references to previous books in the series, but it does stand alone very well.
There are two authors who have series set in the Phoenix metropolitan area whom I always recommend. Jon Talton is one of them. High Country Nocturne is another strong entry in an excellent series.
May 5, 2020
Synopsis: A cache of diamonds is stolen in Phoenix. The prime suspect is former Maricopa County Sheriff Mike Peralta, now a private investigator. Disappearing into Arizona's mountainous High Country, Peralta leaves his business partner and longtime friend David Mapstone with a stark choice. He can cooperate with the FBI, or strike out on his own to find Peralta and what really happened.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I don’t know if it was the pleasure of reading about places in my home state or just the mystery itself-- it was probably both! This was a grittier mystery than I usually read where the more Mapstone digs into the world of corrupt cops, moneyed retirees, and mobsters, the more things are not what they seem. Let’s just say, nobody was baking scones in this book.
I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, but couldn’t pass up on the deal at Poisioned Pen Bookstore. I don’t think it is necessary to read all of the books in the series before reading this one, but reading this book makes me want to read the whole series! I especially want to learn more about Mapstone’s wife Lyndsey who is a “good hacker” in law enforcement.
If you are from Arizona or just missing your home state, this is a fast-paced mystery that will satisfy your homesickness. 4.5/5 (rounded up for Goodreads)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I don’t know if it was the pleasure of reading about places in my home state or just the mystery itself-- it was probably both! This was a grittier mystery than I usually read where the more Mapstone digs into the world of corrupt cops, moneyed retirees, and mobsters, the more things are not what they seem. Let’s just say, nobody was baking scones in this book.
I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, but couldn’t pass up on the deal at Poisioned Pen Bookstore. I don’t think it is necessary to read all of the books in the series before reading this one, but reading this book makes me want to read the whole series! I especially want to learn more about Mapstone’s wife Lyndsey who is a “good hacker” in law enforcement.
If you are from Arizona or just missing your home state, this is a fast-paced mystery that will satisfy your homesickness. 4.5/5 (rounded up for Goodreads)
June 22, 2016
David Mapstone is immediately confronted with a perplexing dilemma in this mystery, part of a series, when his partner, the former sheriff, Mike Peralta, under whom he served as a deputy and is now his partner in a PI agency, shoots a fellow guard and absconds with a rolling bag of diamonds which they were guarding for delivery. Mapstone can’t believe Peralta has turned thief, but is confronted with the evidence. What to do?
Acting independently of the FBI and local law enforcement, Mapstone follows his nose, antagonizing them in the process, in an effort to discover the truth: Is Peralta really a thief or part of an undercover operation? Meanwhile the new sheriff, who replaced Peralta, uses subterfuge to entice Mapstone to serve as a deputy in an unsolved murder of which he was the discoverer as a uniformed cop many years before. This subplot has no bearing on the main mystery and really is superfluous to the main thrust of the novel.
The author, a long-time resident and nativee of Phoenix, uses every opportunity to draw attention to the deterioration of the environment, as well as note various buildings, roads, mountains and the deserts of the area. This is a well-presented mystery/crime novel, and an intriguing read, and it is recommended.
Acting independently of the FBI and local law enforcement, Mapstone follows his nose, antagonizing them in the process, in an effort to discover the truth: Is Peralta really a thief or part of an undercover operation? Meanwhile the new sheriff, who replaced Peralta, uses subterfuge to entice Mapstone to serve as a deputy in an unsolved murder of which he was the discoverer as a uniformed cop many years before. This subplot has no bearing on the main mystery and really is superfluous to the main thrust of the novel.
The author, a long-time resident and nativee of Phoenix, uses every opportunity to draw attention to the deterioration of the environment, as well as note various buildings, roads, mountains and the deserts of the area. This is a well-presented mystery/crime novel, and an intriguing read, and it is recommended.
April 17, 2016
Well done in most ways but falls short of spectacular. Still, a good book for those who enjoy the crime/thriller/mystery genre.
June 22, 2021
As someone who moved to Phoenix from southern California and lived there for 18 years, I felt impatient with the author's constant references to the bad changes that happened to Phoenix. I agree with him that the housing boom and the whole basis of our lives on suburban living is awful and making climate change worse. But he repeated his arguments almost verbatim. I particularly remember him bemoaning the potential loss of friends at least twice if he talked about climate change. Then he defended a developer for being "honest" about his paving of the desert. It just felt clumsy and heavy handed and took me out of the story. I think his views could have been integrated better. I did somewhat enjoy the castigation of his sheriff who sounds a lot like Joe Arpaio. Ugh.
As far as the mystery, it was decent as far as I could tell. There was so much going on that it felt a bid muddled for me.
As far as the mystery, it was decent as far as I could tell. There was so much going on that it felt a bid muddled for me.
October 21, 2015
This novel deals with a diamond heist that is apparently perpetrated by a former county Sheriff Mike Peralta who many people including the main character(Mapstone) refuse to believe did it. Mapstone is a private detective and the former police partner of Peralta back in the days when he was on the force. So, Mapstone gets back on the force to clear his buddies name. To complicate things there is a young female assassin who believes Mapstone knows where the diamonds are and shoots Mapstone's love interest by mistake. Lots of twists and turns in this compelling mystery.
July 7, 2018
The more Talton writes, the complexity and timing of his stories improves. I met Talton many years ago at a local book festival and he was a fairly unassuming man, who seemed uncomfortable with any recognition. He is an excellent journalist and his novels are very well-written. I love his books because they are set in Phoenix and he knows Phoenix in more detail than almost anyone I know. While I have lived here for 34 years, his tenure exceeds mine and I love how his stories incorporate so many of the stories and eccentricities that lie under the surface that newcomers to the area have no idea about. As I follow his stories, I follow him through the streets of Phoenix, Maricopa County and other parts of Arizona. I have ridden the same streets, know the same stories and am so happy someone else remembers them the way I do. His commentary includes potshots at the urban sprawl and rapid development of the city. While I do share his concerns, I don't feel the same level of anger he displays.
January 1, 2020
I've been ready Talton's series of books for several years now and they keep getting better and better. I am drawn to the characters, to the setting (in my former life I lived in Phoenix and the High Country), to the mystery and pace of the writing. Don't start with any of the latter books but read them from the beginning, in order.
November 1, 2019
Nov 2019. Turning into one of my favorite writers Now, if I can only remember his name. By the time I read another 10-12 stories, I'll remember his name. I do remember the name David Mapstone! Good stories!! For some reason, the violence in this story was offensive to me. Who knows?
August 12, 2024
Takes place in Phoenix which is interesting to me. Former history teacher and former cop has a PI businesss with a former sheriff. Very convoluted plot with Russian and Mexican drug cartels, possibly dirty FBI agents, stolen diamonds, a hitwoman, etc. Very violent scenes. Very dark and depressing. C.2015
March 8, 2018
Great book
As always, another great read by Jon Talton. I enjoy reading about the old Phoenix. As David Mapstone drove to Payson I could smell my beloved desert and high country.
As always, another great read by Jon Talton. I enjoy reading about the old Phoenix. As David Mapstone drove to Payson I could smell my beloved desert and high country.
November 27, 2018
A very good book, I used audio. Recommend
February 14, 2020
Jon Talton is one of my favorite authors. Have read most of his books Just keep looking for new publications
June 1, 2020
And so the saga continues a few years later....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2015
David Mapstone is comfortable with his life. He loves his wife, lives in a quiet old Phoenix neighborhood in Midtown and has a Private Investigating business with his friend Mike Peralta, the former Sheriff of Maricopa County. The problem is Peralta is missing as well as the diamonds he was hired to guard.
As with most cases, things are not always what they seem. Good guys are bad and bad guys are good. Mapstone needs to find where Peralta falls on that scale. Both eye witnesses and surveillance cameras show Peralta shooting the other security guard and making off with the suitcase containing the gems. Did he really flip from lawman to lawless? If so, what could possibly motivate him to do an about face and turn his back on all his beliefs, family and friends?
The clues Mapstone discovers just don’t add up to Peralta deciding to risk his life and those he cares about for money he doesn’t need. Then things go from bad to worse in Mapstone’s life as he tries to find Peralta before the cops do.
First, a mysterious woman is trying to kill him. She has impersonated a deputy, stalked him and is earning the nickname Mapstone gave her: Strawberry Death. When she gets too close to someone he loves, Mapstone realizes the stakes are much higher and more personal than he imagined.
Then he gets a call from the current Maricopa County Sheriff Christopher Melton. He is, from all reliable evidence, a dirty cop. As deadly as a scorpion, the sneaky Sheriff “Call me Chris” Melton makes an offer Mapstone can’t refuse. He cannot risk his wife’s reputation and safety, so he reluctantly agrees to work for Melton investigating a old cold case file. Mapstone was the first deputy on the scene of a suicide in the desert. Now Melton wants Mapstone to find out if this was really a murder.
Mapstone has so much on his plate he needs a platter. He doesn’t need one more thing to complicate the mess he is trying to untangle with the missing diamonds and the cold case. But life keeps adding another heaping helping of trouble to the pile. His personal life is in disarray, he is working for a man he hates, his best friend might be an international jewel thief and his cold case might be heating up and somehow linked to his other problems.
This fast paced mystery is intricately woven to end up with a completely surprising, yet deliciously satisfying end. The main plot of finding Peralta didn’t mind sharing page space with the subplots. Strawberry Death and Sheriff Melton frequently took over demanding attention from Mapstone and the reader.
Talton made me hate some characters, like others and become very frightened for Mapstone when some showed up on the page. Only extremely talented authors can create characters that resonate so deeply with their new readers and he is one of them.
High Country Nocturne is the eighth book in the David Mapstone Mystery Series. Set in Maricopa County, Arizona It works very well as a stand-alone book, with just enough background without long flashbacks or walks down memory lane. This fast-paced novel is easy to read in spite of the twists and turns. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
Copyright © 2015 Laura Hartman
As with most cases, things are not always what they seem. Good guys are bad and bad guys are good. Mapstone needs to find where Peralta falls on that scale. Both eye witnesses and surveillance cameras show Peralta shooting the other security guard and making off with the suitcase containing the gems. Did he really flip from lawman to lawless? If so, what could possibly motivate him to do an about face and turn his back on all his beliefs, family and friends?
The clues Mapstone discovers just don’t add up to Peralta deciding to risk his life and those he cares about for money he doesn’t need. Then things go from bad to worse in Mapstone’s life as he tries to find Peralta before the cops do.
First, a mysterious woman is trying to kill him. She has impersonated a deputy, stalked him and is earning the nickname Mapstone gave her: Strawberry Death. When she gets too close to someone he loves, Mapstone realizes the stakes are much higher and more personal than he imagined.
Then he gets a call from the current Maricopa County Sheriff Christopher Melton. He is, from all reliable evidence, a dirty cop. As deadly as a scorpion, the sneaky Sheriff “Call me Chris” Melton makes an offer Mapstone can’t refuse. He cannot risk his wife’s reputation and safety, so he reluctantly agrees to work for Melton investigating a old cold case file. Mapstone was the first deputy on the scene of a suicide in the desert. Now Melton wants Mapstone to find out if this was really a murder.
Mapstone has so much on his plate he needs a platter. He doesn’t need one more thing to complicate the mess he is trying to untangle with the missing diamonds and the cold case. But life keeps adding another heaping helping of trouble to the pile. His personal life is in disarray, he is working for a man he hates, his best friend might be an international jewel thief and his cold case might be heating up and somehow linked to his other problems.
This fast paced mystery is intricately woven to end up with a completely surprising, yet deliciously satisfying end. The main plot of finding Peralta didn’t mind sharing page space with the subplots. Strawberry Death and Sheriff Melton frequently took over demanding attention from Mapstone and the reader.
Talton made me hate some characters, like others and become very frightened for Mapstone when some showed up on the page. Only extremely talented authors can create characters that resonate so deeply with their new readers and he is one of them.
High Country Nocturne is the eighth book in the David Mapstone Mystery Series. Set in Maricopa County, Arizona It works very well as a stand-alone book, with just enough background without long flashbacks or walks down memory lane. This fast-paced novel is easy to read in spite of the twists and turns. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
Copyright © 2015 Laura Hartman
March 3, 2017
In this episode....Peralta is protecting a diamond delivery, from jeweler at the airport to a jewelry store, but apparently this is a different drop - he shoots his partner and runs off with the diamonds and hides out somewhere.
What? Has he switched sides? Mapstone knows nothing. But who's this blond gal who's wreaking havoc on Mapstone's personal life? And where's Peralta and what is he up to? And why did the blond shoot Lindsey? And what's Sharon's role in this?
What's going on? Are the bad people Russians? Or FBI? Or sheriffs?
What? Has he switched sides? Mapstone knows nothing. But who's this blond gal who's wreaking havoc on Mapstone's personal life? And where's Peralta and what is he up to? And why did the blond shoot Lindsey? And what's Sharon's role in this?
What's going on? Are the bad people Russians? Or FBI? Or sheriffs?
June 3, 2015
Read my full review here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c... "In the end, the truth was almost beside the point."
David Mapstone, the narrator of High Country Nocturne, is a complex man. He has a PhD in history and has taught at universities. He has been a deputy sheriff and a private detective. He is also born and bred in Arizona, and is remarkably opinionated about the course that his beloved city Phoenix has taken.
Mapstone has been working with his friend Mike Peralta for several years, first serving as a deputy when Peralta was sheriff, and then as his partner in a private investigation company. In this 8th novel featuring Mapstone, Peralta, and their wives, Peralta has gone missing following a heist of raw diamonds. As the story unfolds, we believe that Peralta is either deeply undercover or is dirty. In any case he is gone, and a dangerous woman is out to get him and the diamonds. She almost kills Mapstone and gravely injures his wife, Lindsey.
The reader learns a lot about the political system of Arizona, the corruption of the FBI, and the death of Mapstone's beloved Arizona. Frankly, figuring out where the diamonds are is almost secondary to all the other bits and pieces of information being bandied about. Talton is a talented storyteller, and he throws in enough complications to keep the reader on her toes. He also has comments and opinions about nearly everything; from corrupt politics, the militarization of police departments, immigration and racism, and the paving of the paradise that used to be Arizona. Mapstone muses: "Phoenix is not my city now. It belongs to the millions of newcomers drawn here by sun, a pool in the backyard, and big wide freeways to drive. To the ones that bulldoze its history and throw down gravel and concrete where there once were flowers and oleanders and canopies of cottonwoods, ficus, and Arizona ash over open irrigation ditches. I hear the ghosts of the Hohokam and love it when it rains. Newcomers want championship golf and endless sunshine. They own this place now, not me."
Luckily for the reader, there is enough action and taut drama to keep the book on track, even as Mapstone is diverted by his rambling observations. His love for his wife is palpable. He also believes that he will find Peralta, the assassin, the dirty cops, and the diamonds. The action is nonstop. High Country Nocturne has a noirish feel to it, although Mapstone does not quite fit the image of a "hard-boiled" detective. He does have the same cynicism, and one can almost hear the organ playing in the background, just like it does behind Guy Noir on the Prairie Home Companion radio show.
There is a subplot about the widow of a rich land developer that almost seems superfluous to the novel. I'm not sure why Talton inserted it except that it is another indictment of the people that Talton believes ruined his state. All in all, High Country Nocturne is taut, well-written, with an action-packed conclusion.
David Mapstone, the narrator of High Country Nocturne, is a complex man. He has a PhD in history and has taught at universities. He has been a deputy sheriff and a private detective. He is also born and bred in Arizona, and is remarkably opinionated about the course that his beloved city Phoenix has taken.
Mapstone has been working with his friend Mike Peralta for several years, first serving as a deputy when Peralta was sheriff, and then as his partner in a private investigation company. In this 8th novel featuring Mapstone, Peralta, and their wives, Peralta has gone missing following a heist of raw diamonds. As the story unfolds, we believe that Peralta is either deeply undercover or is dirty. In any case he is gone, and a dangerous woman is out to get him and the diamonds. She almost kills Mapstone and gravely injures his wife, Lindsey.
The reader learns a lot about the political system of Arizona, the corruption of the FBI, and the death of Mapstone's beloved Arizona. Frankly, figuring out where the diamonds are is almost secondary to all the other bits and pieces of information being bandied about. Talton is a talented storyteller, and he throws in enough complications to keep the reader on her toes. He also has comments and opinions about nearly everything; from corrupt politics, the militarization of police departments, immigration and racism, and the paving of the paradise that used to be Arizona. Mapstone muses: "Phoenix is not my city now. It belongs to the millions of newcomers drawn here by sun, a pool in the backyard, and big wide freeways to drive. To the ones that bulldoze its history and throw down gravel and concrete where there once were flowers and oleanders and canopies of cottonwoods, ficus, and Arizona ash over open irrigation ditches. I hear the ghosts of the Hohokam and love it when it rains. Newcomers want championship golf and endless sunshine. They own this place now, not me."
Luckily for the reader, there is enough action and taut drama to keep the book on track, even as Mapstone is diverted by his rambling observations. His love for his wife is palpable. He also believes that he will find Peralta, the assassin, the dirty cops, and the diamonds. The action is nonstop. High Country Nocturne has a noirish feel to it, although Mapstone does not quite fit the image of a "hard-boiled" detective. He does have the same cynicism, and one can almost hear the organ playing in the background, just like it does behind Guy Noir on the Prairie Home Companion radio show.
There is a subplot about the widow of a rich land developer that almost seems superfluous to the novel. I'm not sure why Talton inserted it except that it is another indictment of the people that Talton believes ruined his state. All in all, High Country Nocturne is taut, well-written, with an action-packed conclusion.
June 4, 2015
In the seventh David Mapstone mystery, diamonds are stolen and the main suspect is David Mapstone's business partner and friend Mike Peralta, a private investigator who is the former sheriff of Mericopa County. Mapstone doesn't know what to think. Is he innocent, or did he go rogue? And who is the hitwoman hunting him down, whom he dubbed Strawberry Blond? Are they all working together, or is everybody after the diamonds?
The summer months are now here, and along with that comes a slew of many book publications. If you're a fan of mystery, High Country Nocturne is one you don't want to miss out on. This novel has it all: jewel thieves, mobsters, a hitwoman, corrupt cops, the FBI, you name it. Add in the Arizona setting and there's a lot of ground that David Mapstone has to cover in order to solve this mystery.
The one thing I really like about Jon Talton's writing style is rather than just telling the story of the mystery as it's unraveled and solved by the protagonist, he also tells the story of the setting, specifically Arizona. He does not go off on a tangent to talk about it, it's seamlessly wrapped into the story and flows great. Mapstone is a history fan just like me. Not only that, but he is also a fan of trains. Never have I related to a character as much as him!
Talton writes in such a way that you keep turning the page more, both for the plot and also for the history. He's written yet another intriguing novel, making this one a success in my book. The book may be a work of fiction, but there's definitely a few things you can learn about Arizona from this book.
This review has also been posted on Devin's Book Hub. I did receive an ARC for reviewing purposes - thanks Poisoned Pen!
The summer months are now here, and along with that comes a slew of many book publications. If you're a fan of mystery, High Country Nocturne is one you don't want to miss out on. This novel has it all: jewel thieves, mobsters, a hitwoman, corrupt cops, the FBI, you name it. Add in the Arizona setting and there's a lot of ground that David Mapstone has to cover in order to solve this mystery.
The one thing I really like about Jon Talton's writing style is rather than just telling the story of the mystery as it's unraveled and solved by the protagonist, he also tells the story of the setting, specifically Arizona. He does not go off on a tangent to talk about it, it's seamlessly wrapped into the story and flows great. Mapstone is a history fan just like me. Not only that, but he is also a fan of trains. Never have I related to a character as much as him!
Talton writes in such a way that you keep turning the page more, both for the plot and also for the history. He's written yet another intriguing novel, making this one a success in my book. The book may be a work of fiction, but there's definitely a few things you can learn about Arizona from this book.
This review has also been posted on Devin's Book Hub. I did receive an ARC for reviewing purposes - thanks Poisoned Pen!
November 26, 2015
The latest David Mapstone mystery finds Mapstone lamenting a city that is no more as well as wondering what the heck is going on with his business partner, Mike Peralta. The former Maricopa County Sheriff and Mapstone run a private investigator business that does the occasional security type job such as transporting diamonds. Peralta was on one such job earlier in the day.
A job that went very strange as Peralta apparently shot the guard that he was working with and stole the diamonds. In the hours since a major investigation spearheaded by the FBI has been launched and a manhunt is underway. All the FBI has managed to do so far, after grilling both Mapstone and Peralta’s wife, Sharon, and doing a lot of searching is finding a business card that has a note on it from Peralta stating that Mapstone had nothing to do with the theft and for him to stay out of it.
As if that would ever happen.
This is just the tip of a multi tentacled octopus that has Mapstone and his wife, Lindsey in the crosshairs. The result is one of the best books in the series in years as it has plenty of action, complexity, and suspense. No review will do this book justice. In the series that began years ago with Concrete Desert author Jon Talton takes readers on one incredible ride in High Country Nocturne: A David Mapstone mystery.
Very much recommended.
High Country Nocturne: A David Mapstone Mystery
Jon Talton
http://www.jontalton.com
Poisoned Pen Press
http://www.posionpenpress.com
2015
ISBN#978-1-4642-0398-5
Hardback (available in e-book, paperback, and audio formats)
326 Pages
$24.95
Material obtained by way of the Plano Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2015
A job that went very strange as Peralta apparently shot the guard that he was working with and stole the diamonds. In the hours since a major investigation spearheaded by the FBI has been launched and a manhunt is underway. All the FBI has managed to do so far, after grilling both Mapstone and Peralta’s wife, Sharon, and doing a lot of searching is finding a business card that has a note on it from Peralta stating that Mapstone had nothing to do with the theft and for him to stay out of it.
As if that would ever happen.
This is just the tip of a multi tentacled octopus that has Mapstone and his wife, Lindsey in the crosshairs. The result is one of the best books in the series in years as it has plenty of action, complexity, and suspense. No review will do this book justice. In the series that began years ago with Concrete Desert author Jon Talton takes readers on one incredible ride in High Country Nocturne: A David Mapstone mystery.
Very much recommended.
High Country Nocturne: A David Mapstone Mystery
Jon Talton
http://www.jontalton.com
Poisoned Pen Press
http://www.posionpenpress.com
2015
ISBN#978-1-4642-0398-5
Hardback (available in e-book, paperback, and audio formats)
326 Pages
$24.95
Material obtained by way of the Plano Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2015
December 20, 2015
High Country Nocturne is a very exciting novel, and if done with a lighter hand it'd be a farce ... but it's too noir and black for that. Still, the intricate interwoven plot elements remind me of such.
While this novel is well into author Jon Talton's David Mapstone series, and I have not read prior books in it, Talton gave me enough background woven into the plot to catch up -- though I may well read previous volumes for more depth.
The basic plot is a very complicated diamond heist. Add in federal and local agencies who do not necessarily know even what their own outfit is doing, let alone anyone else's; Russian mobsters; an independent and all-too-skillful hitwoman; and schemes within schemes, and betrayal of one kind or another is pretty much inevitable. I think this plot works well.
The secondary plots, though, did not make much sense to me. The case that suckered our protagonist in had me saying "huh?" at the supposed resolution, when the framing could not possibly have worked as the framer intended.
OK, I guess that's realistic, but it does not make good fiction.
The positive and dubious characters are well-drawn and complex, and one does end up caring about them, even when they seem to be acting inexplicably. The Bad 'Uns, however, are more like cliches, including our hitwoman.
It's set in Phoenix AZ, which is a character in its own right, and both the present and its past are evoked beautifully.
This book is recommended for Phoenix fans, and for people who like complicated plots with a fairly grim perspective.
I received this book in exchange for writing an honest review.
While this novel is well into author Jon Talton's David Mapstone series, and I have not read prior books in it, Talton gave me enough background woven into the plot to catch up -- though I may well read previous volumes for more depth.
The basic plot is a very complicated diamond heist. Add in federal and local agencies who do not necessarily know even what their own outfit is doing, let alone anyone else's; Russian mobsters; an independent and all-too-skillful hitwoman; and schemes within schemes, and betrayal of one kind or another is pretty much inevitable. I think this plot works well.
The secondary plots, though, did not make much sense to me. The case that suckered our protagonist in had me saying "huh?" at the supposed resolution, when the framing could not possibly have worked as the framer intended.
OK, I guess that's realistic, but it does not make good fiction.
The positive and dubious characters are well-drawn and complex, and one does end up caring about them, even when they seem to be acting inexplicably. The Bad 'Uns, however, are more like cliches, including our hitwoman.
It's set in Phoenix AZ, which is a character in its own right, and both the present and its past are evoked beautifully.
This book is recommended for Phoenix fans, and for people who like complicated plots with a fairly grim perspective.
I received this book in exchange for writing an honest review.
May 11, 2015
I was so happy to see David Mapstone back in action and boy does he have his work cut out for him in this newest addition to the series.
A cache of diamonds has been stolen and Mapstone's partner, former sheriff Mike Peralta has been fingered as the thief. David doesn't believe this is the case at all and believes his friend is involved in a deep undercover operation he knows nothing about. There is also an unknown woman assassin who claims those diamonds are hers and will stop at nothing to find them even if it endangers the lives of people David loves. Throw in a cold case that the new underhanded sheriff gives David to solve to throw him off the intriguing diamond show and one of the first cases Mapstone investigated as a rookie cop and you have a thrill ride of the first degree through the city of Phoenix. A city that Mr. Talton loves very much but is mourning the loss of what this wonderful city use to be, and very concerned for its future.
Enjoy!
A cache of diamonds has been stolen and Mapstone's partner, former sheriff Mike Peralta has been fingered as the thief. David doesn't believe this is the case at all and believes his friend is involved in a deep undercover operation he knows nothing about. There is also an unknown woman assassin who claims those diamonds are hers and will stop at nothing to find them even if it endangers the lives of people David loves. Throw in a cold case that the new underhanded sheriff gives David to solve to throw him off the intriguing diamond show and one of the first cases Mapstone investigated as a rookie cop and you have a thrill ride of the first degree through the city of Phoenix. A city that Mr. Talton loves very much but is mourning the loss of what this wonderful city use to be, and very concerned for its future.
Enjoy!
June 7, 2015
*Disclaimer: I was provided a free review copy of this book by the publisher.*
David Mapstone's best friend and partner in their PI business seems to have gone rogue. There is video footage of him shooting another hired guard and stealing a suitcase of diamonds, and he has disappeared. A mysterious killer seems to think Mapstone knows where the diamonds are and is threatening him, the new FBI agent assigned to Phoenix is a suspicious jerk, the new jackass sheriff in town is putting pressure on Mapstone to come back to work for him, his partner has left him a few mysterious clues, and his partner's wife is counting on him to find her husband and prove his innocence. It's going to be a rough few days.
I've never read a Mapstone mystery before, but it was a pretty great hard-boiled detective novel. It was not too easy to figure out; the characters were pretty interesting; the writing was pretty good. It's not ground-breaking, but it's good.
David Mapstone's best friend and partner in their PI business seems to have gone rogue. There is video footage of him shooting another hired guard and stealing a suitcase of diamonds, and he has disappeared. A mysterious killer seems to think Mapstone knows where the diamonds are and is threatening him, the new FBI agent assigned to Phoenix is a suspicious jerk, the new jackass sheriff in town is putting pressure on Mapstone to come back to work for him, his partner has left him a few mysterious clues, and his partner's wife is counting on him to find her husband and prove his innocence. It's going to be a rough few days.
I've never read a Mapstone mystery before, but it was a pretty great hard-boiled detective novel. It was not too easy to figure out; the characters were pretty interesting; the writing was pretty good. It's not ground-breaking, but it's good.
August 1, 2015
Absolutely fulfilling thriller! Talton is a masterful writer--and really struts his stuff in his latest, High Country Nocturne, another excellent David Mapstone mystery. David and his wife Lindsay, Mike and Sharon Peralta and a few others who series readers will recognize, do not disappoint plus there are some fabulous new folks who join this exciting and well-written mystery set against the history, geography and culture of Phoenix, its surrounds and beyond, into the high country, north of the area. If this is your first Mapstone read, not to worry as Talton brings what's important to the table for everyone.
Besides developing engaging plots and memorable characters that build excitement, Talton's knowledge of and passion for history elevates a great story even more to a memorable read that is information-rich.
Besides developing engaging plots and memorable characters that build excitement, Talton's knowledge of and passion for history elevates a great story even more to a memorable read that is information-rich.
May 14, 2015
Talton amps up the Arizona heat as well as excitement as David Mapstone, PI, former cop, and academic historian, tracks stolen diamonds. High Country Nocturne captures the flavor of a unique city. I loved the comments about Phoenix – politics, law enforcement, and real estate history. When Mapstone's wife is shot, we see the introspective side of his character as he struggles with the past and characters who may or may not be who they seem to be. Some referrals to previous books in the series, but stands alone well. Talton definitely knows not only Phoenix, but all of northern Arizona.
I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2015
As long as Jon Talton keeps turning out David Mapstone books -- this is his 8th -- I will continue to read them.
To me, crime/mystery/noir novels set in contemporary as well as historic Phoenix are irresistible.
I think the next time I read a David Mapstone novel, I am going to buy an all day pass on the light rail and spend all day on the train reading the book. I am sure that at some time during the day I will run into Mapstone chasing bad guys.
If you have lived in Phoenix for any length of time at all, you really need to introduce yourself to David Mapstone. It will be like running into an old friend.
To me, crime/mystery/noir novels set in contemporary as well as historic Phoenix are irresistible.
I think the next time I read a David Mapstone novel, I am going to buy an all day pass on the light rail and spend all day on the train reading the book. I am sure that at some time during the day I will run into Mapstone chasing bad guys.
If you have lived in Phoenix for any length of time at all, you really need to introduce yourself to David Mapstone. It will be like running into an old friend.
September 30, 2015
What a surprising mystery--diamond heist in Arizona--watching two PIs caught in nastiness and double dealing and then learning about the high country of Arizona and Payson, where Zane Grey holed up and his cabin is to this day (who knew?) were delights. Yes, Mapstone bashes the ugly concrete sprawl beautiful Phoenix has become, but I really didn't mind--he let us get up into the high country. Undercover police work is so interesting to figure out and this plot is intricate and scary and revealed only at the end. More Mapstone!
July 10, 2015
I love reading the Mapstone mysteries, I love learning about about Arizona and how it was a beautiful land before it became very populated. Some things had me on the edge of my seat in this book, good twists and turns!
July 27, 2015
I may have just found a new mystery author to follow. I thought this book was well written and had just enough plot twists. I also liked the ongoing narrative about the different parts of Phoenix and surrounding areas.
August 29, 2015
Set in Phoenix and nearby mountain range, the former sheriff turned detective must find a way to clear his name and catch the real jewel thieves. The author paints a picture of corruption, bias, and selfishness that leaves the reader wondering how close to reality his story might be.
June 29, 2016
Engaging characters, especially David Mapstone, the historian/deputy. Enjoy learning the history, geography and politics of Arizona and law enforcement that Talton weaves into his stories. Physical violence is brief, not repetitive or indulgent....furthers the story.
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