Rob Thy Neighbor

Charlie Henry #3

by David Thurlo

Charlie Henry and his friends are enjoying a cookout on a relaxing Sunday afternoon. But when a gunshot rings out in the neighborhood, Charlie is abruptly brought back to a world he's all too familiar with.

As he and best friend Gordon run to the source of the shot, they happen upon two masked intruders in their next-door neighbor's house. The men seem to be there to kidnap Sam Randall, the owner of the home, but upon the interruption from Charlie and Gordon, they abandon their mark and get away in a waiting van outside.

Detective DuPree has been investigating a string of similar home invasions in the area, but this one seems out of the ordinary. Sam Randall hires Charlie and Gordon to investigate the crime, not trusting the police to keep him and his wife safe. Detective Dupree warns Charlie and Gordon not to overstep their bounds in police business, but he needs all the help he can get. The investigation reveals Ray Geiger, son of retired NYPD cop Frank Geiger, as the prime suspect. As the simple home invasion case continues to turn into something more, it is up to Charlie and Gordon to protect the Randall's and themselves as they attempt to uncover the truth.

Genres: Mystery

336 pages, Hardcover

First published August 16, 2016

About the author

David Thurlo, is co-author of the Ella Clah series, the Lee Nez series of Navajo vampire mysteries, and the Sister Agatha novels. His other works, co-written with his wife Aimée, include Plant Them Deep, a novel featuring Rose Destea, the mother of Ella Clah, and The Spirit Line, a young adult novel.
David was raised on the Navajo Reservation and taught school there until his recent retirement. He left Shiprock briefly to complete his education at the University of New Mexico.He lives in Corrales, New Mexico, and often makes appearances at area bookstores.

David and Aimée Thurlo were married for forty-three years. Aimée, born in Havana, Cuba, died in February 2014.

The Thurlos' novels, translated into many different languages, are available around the world.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Henry and business partner Gordon are enjoying a cookout with friends Nancy and Gina when they hear gunshots from the next door neighbors. Rushing over to help, they encounter three masked men trying to kidnap Sam Randall, the next door neighbor. Sam runs a successful construction company and hires Charlie and Gordon to protect him and his wife from unknown assailants. All of a sudden, Charlie seems to become someone's target, although his overseas tours of duty serve him well as the action becomes intense.

I read some of the reviews that said this book was not up to the usual Thurlo standards. I haven't read any of the other Thurlo novels so I can't compare but I liked the action and the characters in this book. I'm interested in locating and reading the first two books in this series.

[Rich Van Ollefen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good story overall, downgraded it a star because to me the dialogue felt poorly written, it was not a "smooth" read to me, I'd still say give it a read though

[RC Prentice · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a prime example of bad writing: “Frank staggered back, instinctively kicking out, anticipating that Charlie would move in quickly to finish him off. Charlie, instead, had maintained his balance and a defensive stance, anticipating an immediate strike from his second opponent, the taller instructor. It was the right move. The man rushed in, aiming a blow with his baston at Charlie’s shoulder Charlie had already closed the gap, and the attacker found himself too close to be effective… The impact caused him to lose his grip on the weapon…”

What’s wrong with this series of sentences? Besides the misprint (baston instead of baton), first, we are never privy to the thoughts, motives, or reasonings of the perps; point of view is confined to the protag, Charlie, and his partner, Gordon. So it is majorly flawed to suddenly have the perp’s point of view—his instincts and anticipations--intruding. Second, it is a prime example of the verbose, stilted, writing that characterizes this book. (Other examples will follow.) How could it have been worded better? Try this:

Frank staggered back and kicked out. But Charlie moved away, toward the taller instructor. He turned and braced so that on contact, the second attacker’s wrist buckled and cracked against Charlie’s shoulder. The baton flew from his hand...

And is it believable that knowing it was “Frank” and his son “Ray” who committed the “home invasion” that they are trying to resolve, Charlie and Gordon confront them at Ray’s dojo studio and then just walk away? And then calmly view CCTV DVDs to try and figure out just who it is that is trying to kill Charlie? It seems awfully lame that no suggestion about who and why can be made except for “something hinky going on” and the baddies’ “revenge for the deaths of their friends.” And Charlie himself is just not a very believable character. We are constantly reminded of how his military tours in Iraq Afghanistan shaped his habits (but not those of his partner Gordon, with whom he bonded on one of those tours?) made him intuitive and astute, instilled skills, and make it so that pseudo-military jargon such as “copy” can be wryly thrown around. Yet Charlie and Gordon come out of all those military tours without a hint of PTSD? Is Charlie’s Native American identity there just so quips like, “Maybe you should … take up a bow and arrows” can be inserted? Having lived for nearly four years on various Indian reservations, I can’t say that I ever encountered anyone as superficially Indian as Charlie. He just does not ring true. Neither does the ultimate reason for Charlie and Gordon getting in the way of what turns out to be a long-in-the-past case of false identity. As it is, the tension keeps unwinding and the efforts to wind it up again just spring loose; a chase on foot through an arroyo is more laughable than knuckle-biting. A far more clever plot unfolding would have been to portray the events and situations from two perspectives: that of the Charlie-Gordon contingent and that of their adversaries, and to go back and forth between them.

[Ron Chicaferro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a further adventure of our two heros; Charlie Henry and Gordon Sweeney. Both are ex-military and both know a thing or two about taking care of themselves and others. This third book is as much fun as the first two books - Both Charlie and Gordon are up to their ears in dead bodies, shootings and general mayhem. How so much could happen to these two guys, who own a pawn shop since getting discharged from the Army, is almost beyond imagining. This takes place in New Mexico; not New York or Detroit. But, its all good action and suspense. There is rarely a dull moment. If you like action books this series by David Thurlo will fill the bill.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie Henry and Gordon are at a cookout with friends when an attempted kidnapping takes place. Soon the duo are up to their necks trying to protect the mystery neighbor as Charlie becomes a murder target. A gripping story.

[Al Stoess · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was o.k. I just could not get interested in it.

[Sharon Bell tabbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this story line it just takes a few chapters before you get really interested in it. I am going to the next one now. I just hope he has more to come.

[Elexndra · Rating 3 out of 5]

not very satifsying ending..... perhaps there will be another book to sort out what happens with Margret and Bill/Sam?

[Linden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the Thurlos Ella Clah series—mysteries were always tied in with native traditions and the southwestern setting was emphasized. Consequently, I was disappointed with this series, written only by David since Aimee’s death. I liked the concept of the two veterans owning a pawn shop in Albuquerque, but I felt like it could have been set anywhere—there were even some East Coast gangster bad guys. And the plot was somewhat farfetched (someone’s at a cookout when the house next door has a home invasion, the neighbor is living under an assumed name, and the home invaders, who are operating under the auspices of a crooked former NYC cop, then target the people at the cookout…) The book was OK, but I don’t think I will be reading any more in this series.

[T J · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Thurlo has done it again! This is one exciting who-done-it from beginning to end which will keep you guessing till the very end. Charlie Henry and friends are having a fun evening when all hell breaks loose and they are thrown into a mystery of why someone would attacked some friends. That is just the beginning of what will be one good read.

[Catherine Mihm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read this author before. I was thrilled with the book. It starts off with action and continued to the very end. Charlie and Gordon are great BFFs. They can depend on each other no matter what. This story has them in some tight spots, working together they prevail and the bad guys are rounded up. I'll be looking for more of Charlie Henry stories by this author.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a New Mexican version of “Die Hard,” Charlie Henry hurtles from one fight to the next. Both Charlie and Gordon, his partner in the FOB pawn shop, are developing as characters. Both are tough and action-oriented - but also human enough that a reader might want to step into the story to offer some helpful advice.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is probably a better read for anyone who appreciates a major infusion of testosterone ! Not one of Thurlo's better efforts, but that's to be expected so soon after Aimee's passing... May she rest in peace..

[Thea · Rating 1 out of 5]

His books are so boring.