What do you think?
Rate this book
David Mapstone Mystery #3
Dry Heat
The past is never past on the mean streets of Phoenix, especially when the mercury hits a hundred and it's only April. Half a century after the unsolved murder of an FBI agent, the missing badge is found on the body of a dead transient. The case seems a perfect fit for David Mapstone, history professor turned Maricopa County deputy sheriff. That is, if he can get past a forced partnership with rival cold-case expert Sgt. Kate Vare and the FBI's strange stonewalling about the details of the agent's killing.
To complicate matters, there are the crimes making history today, like the arrest of Russian mafia members in a multimillion-dollar fraud case. David's wife, Lindsey, star of the sheriff's Cybercrimes Bureau, was on the task force that busted the case wide open. But her triumph is short-lived when a hit in Scottsdale leaves three task-force members dead. Lindsey's life in danger, Sheriff Peralta stashes Lindsey and David in a safe house. That doesn't get the good "History Shamus" off the hook, though, as Sheriff Peralta inexplicably demands that David solve the cold case.
The trail will take Mapstone to the most forlorn parts of Phoenix, as well as to San Francisco and picturesque southern Arizona, as he slowly uncovers the bloody secrets surrounding the mysterious FBI badge. He's got the brains and the leads. Now all he and Lindsey have to do is live long enough to bring justice to a fifty-year-old crime.
To complicate matters, there are the crimes making history today, like the arrest of Russian mafia members in a multimillion-dollar fraud case. David's wife, Lindsey, star of the sheriff's Cybercrimes Bureau, was on the task force that busted the case wide open. But her triumph is short-lived when a hit in Scottsdale leaves three task-force members dead. Lindsey's life in danger, Sheriff Peralta stashes Lindsey and David in a safe house. That doesn't get the good "History Shamus" off the hook, though, as Sheriff Peralta inexplicably demands that David solve the cold case.
The trail will take Mapstone to the most forlorn parts of Phoenix, as well as to San Francisco and picturesque southern Arizona, as he slowly uncovers the bloody secrets surrounding the mysterious FBI badge. He's got the brains and the leads. Now all he and Lindsey have to do is live long enough to bring justice to a fifty-year-old crime.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2004
60 people are currently reading
81 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 8, 2014
A Dlsappointment
Super criminals did not work for Agatha Christie in The Big Four and they have not worked for anyone since. This book has two intertwined plots: a thoroughly unbelievable super criminal revenge scheme and the problem of a dead FBI agent's badge turning up over 50 years after his death. Neither plot comes to much and most of the book is filler: chases, Mapstone's reflections and his descriptions of his wife. This is unfortunate, because the underlying premise of a history PHD handling cold cases for the Sheriff's Department is a good one. It has the added advantage of giving the narrator a reason to reflect on the changing nature of Arizona ( this asset becomes a liability when over used as it is in this Mapstone adventure ).
Super criminals did not work for Agatha Christie in The Big Four and they have not worked for anyone since. This book has two intertwined plots: a thoroughly unbelievable super criminal revenge scheme and the problem of a dead FBI agent's badge turning up over 50 years after his death. Neither plot comes to much and most of the book is filler: chases, Mapstone's reflections and his descriptions of his wife. This is unfortunate, because the underlying premise of a history PHD handling cold cases for the Sheriff's Department is a good one. It has the added advantage of giving the narrator a reason to reflect on the changing nature of Arizona ( this asset becomes a liability when over used as it is in this Mapstone adventure ).
August 2, 2024
#3 David Mapstone. An FBI badge lost in Phoenix in 1948 is mysteriously found 50+ years later sewed into the jacket of a man whose dead body is found in a swimming pool in the PHX suburban section of Maryvale. Love the historical descriptions and background of Phoenix but found the mystery confusing.
Read
April 7, 2023Jon Talton is a favorite author. I follow his Rogue Columnist which is Phoenix history and photos and discussion. His mysteries are set in settings where I live which of course is always fun to know where the person is hiding or stalking. However, if I lived in Baltimore I would still enjoy the hunt to solve the crime.
December 16, 2016
The third book in this series did not disappoint me as it was exciting and very difficult to put down. David Mapstone has a couple of problems to handle. He was called out to a canal drowning of a homeless man. The man, a missing FBI badge sewn-in jacket. The badge has been missing for a number of years. It belonged to a murdered FBI agent. The case is the only Arizona unsolved case of an FBI agent. Sheriff Mike Peralta orders David to work with a task force including Phoenix Sgt Kate Vare. Kate does not like David. The FBI is stalling the investigation.
Lindsey 's David's wife was a member a Cyberspace task force that cracked the Russian mobs' credit card stealing racket. Three members of the task are murdered and Mike and the FBI place Lindsey in a safe house.
The book is filled with betrayal, greed, police chases and actions that will hold the reader enthralled until finished. There are a few sex scenes. The ending is a surprise. I recommend this book.
Lindsey 's David's wife was a member a Cyberspace task force that cracked the Russian mobs' credit card stealing racket. Three members of the task are murdered and Mike and the FBI place Lindsey in a safe house.
The book is filled with betrayal, greed, police chases and actions that will hold the reader enthralled until finished. There are a few sex scenes. The ending is a surprise. I recommend this book.
August 13, 2018
A homeless man is found dead in a swimming pool behind an abandoned house. An FBI badge is found in his coat that belonged to an agent killed in 1948. As a cold case, David Mapstone is tasked with finding out who he was and how he got the badge. David searches Phoenix for answers and describes the plight of the homeless. David's wife, Lindsey, was part of a task force that shut down a Russian Mafia group, but the leader and some of his brigade are intent on eliminating that group, so David must also protect her. Despite resistance from the FBI and Phoenix PD, David manages to solve the mystery and also helps in eliminating the Russian Mafia threat.
Having some familiarity with Phoenix, I enjoyed how Mr. Talton included parts of the city in this story; but there were parts of the book that seemed to carry this to extremes, almost as if the author was required to have a specified number of pages or words in the story. Nevertheless, the plot is interesting with some twists and some violence.
Having some familiarity with Phoenix, I enjoyed how Mr. Talton included parts of the city in this story; but there were parts of the book that seemed to carry this to extremes, almost as if the author was required to have a specified number of pages or words in the story. Nevertheless, the plot is interesting with some twists and some violence.
May 12, 2018
The markings of mother's actions help a deputized historian solve a 1940s homicide in Phoenix while he evades modern-day thugs chasing his cyper-security expert wife. The story examines many facets of Phoenix's suburban and downtown development and the people who inhabit them. I could see an incredulous Bill Murray playing the main character in a movie adaptation. Probably not the best Mother's Day gift however.
May 29, 2023
A wonderful quick read mystery with just about everything: action, suspense, romance, plot and historical research. If you like a little history with your whodunit, then this one's for you. I liked the first book in the series, but this one, the third, is better. Jon Talton doesn't fool around with excess detail or wording, very concise and clear. I even learned a bit about Phoenix, enough to think I don't want to live there.
April 16, 2018
I didn't mean to start reading this series. But I found the first one as an library ebook readily available, when really I was hoping for one of my library in-line requests. And still I wait as I gobble these down. LOL!
March 29, 2019
A very good, serious mystery centered around a current murder linked to a cold case homicide, both in areas of Arizona that I'm somewhat familiar with. I *do not* recommend it because of how often the Lord's name is taken in vain. Otherwise, a great read.
October 4, 2022
Fun read , author and series...loan from neighbor Eila ...she lent me 3, this is 1/3. Fast reads, a professor/former cop/ in Phoenix...lots of great history of Phoenix ,he solves old crimes, good friends with the Sheriff. Like the characters...
Next
Next
May 27, 2017
Like Jon Talton's writings. Keeps you interested in the plot, while giving you history and landmarks.
November 15, 2018
Good book.
September 23, 2021
Lately I've become a big fan of mysteries attempting to solve crimes that occurred years earlier, like the British TV series Unforgotten. This is one of those. the badge belonging to an FBI agent found murdered in Phoenix decades earlier is found on a dead transient. It's part of the David Mapstone series: a detective who is a former college history professor. It allows Talton lots of opportunities to explore how Phoenix got to be like it is today - which often irritates the author (and Mapstone).
Read
December 16, 2016The third book in this series did not disappoint me as it was exciting and very difficult to put down. David Mapstone has a couple of problems to handle. He was called out to a canal drowning of a homeless man. The man, a missing FBI badge sewn-in jacket. The badge has been missing for a number of years. It belonged to a murdered FBI agent. The case is the only Arizona unsolved case of an FBI agent. Sheriff Mike Peralta orders David to work with a task force including Phoenix Sgt Kate Vare. Kate does not like David. The FBI is stalling the investigation.
Lindsey 's David's wife was a member a Cyberspace task force that cracked the Russian mobs' credit card stealing racket. Three members of the task are murdered and Mike and the FBI place Lindsey in a safe house.
The book is filled with betrayal, greed, police chases and actions that will hold the reader enthralled until finished. There are a few sex scenes. The ending is a surprise. I recommend this book.
Lindsey 's David's wife was a member a Cyberspace task force that cracked the Russian mobs' credit card stealing racket. Three members of the task are murdered and Mike and the FBI place Lindsey in a safe house.
The book is filled with betrayal, greed, police chases and actions that will hold the reader enthralled until finished. There are a few sex scenes. The ending is a surprise. I recommend this book.
November 14, 2013
Another solid book featuring David Mapstone as the Maricopa County's Historian and investigator of cold cases. In this one, an FBI badge from an agent who died in 1948 is found sewn into the jacket of a dead homeless man. The FBI doesn't want Mapstone investigating, Peralta is mysteriously over-interested in the case and Lindsey, now Mapstone's wife, has her own troubles to contend with having just solved a huge credit card fraud case involving the Russian mafia.
My only problem with this book is Peralta, Mapstone's former partner and the Maricopa Sheriff. He acted like a huge jerk through most of the book and while his intensity is somewhat explained near the end, it doesn't justify acting as horribly as he did. I rooted for Mapstone to quit.
My only problem with this book is Peralta, Mapstone's former partner and the Maricopa Sheriff. He acted like a huge jerk through most of the book and while his intensity is somewhat explained near the end, it doesn't justify acting as horribly as he did. I rooted for Mapstone to quit.
February 1, 2017
Oops. Really read them out of order, Dr Mapstone went from newly dating to married in the two books I've read back to back. Good thing that doesn't bother me much (short attention span?).
It's hot in Arizona, as usual. A transient is found floating dead in a pool, and hey the missing but not publicly known that it was missing, badge of an FBI agent, long since gone was hidden in the transient's jacket lining. Hmmmm...What's going on here? As far as the FBI is concerned, the agent committed suicide. But did he? And what about these Russian people that are trying to kill the new Mrs Mapstone, who fortunately didn't bite it with her coworkers who had gone out socializing together?
What's up with this cold case, Doc?
It's hot in Arizona, as usual. A transient is found floating dead in a pool, and hey the missing but not publicly known that it was missing, badge of an FBI agent, long since gone was hidden in the transient's jacket lining. Hmmmm...What's going on here? As far as the FBI is concerned, the agent committed suicide. But did he? And what about these Russian people that are trying to kill the new Mrs Mapstone, who fortunately didn't bite it with her coworkers who had gone out socializing together?
What's up with this cold case, Doc?
March 29, 2016
My brother recommended this author to me; Talton authors a series of mystery novels based in our hometown of Phoenix. Mysteries aren't really my jam, but after spending a vacation week in Phoenix with my brother and feeling those familiar pangs of nostalgia, we went to The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale and he bought me a (signed) copy of Dry Heat. The writing is good, the story intriguing, the action believable. I'm not clamoring to buy the whole series, but when I feel that nostalgia for the desert again, I'll pick up another of Talton's books.
January 10, 2016
If you know the Phoenix area, it will enhance your enjoyment of this mystery. All the requisite
pieces are here---complicated plot, complex relationships plus Russian mafia. I found the detective's nostalgia for "old Phoenix" charming when he first reminisced but less charming as he repeated his complaints like a bell tolling the hours chapter after chapter.
pieces are here---complicated plot, complex relationships plus Russian mafia. I found the detective's nostalgia for "old Phoenix" charming when he first reminisced but less charming as he repeated his complaints like a bell tolling the hours chapter after chapter.
July 27, 2016
Historical Syncretism
What could be better than a commie around every corner? A post modern ruskie trampling on the same pathway as his cold war comrade!
Jon Talton creates a collars and contrast within the fictional world of a very real Phoenician city. A marvelous intellectual story that keeps on bouncing around in my head.
What could be better than a commie around every corner? A post modern ruskie trampling on the same pathway as his cold war comrade!
Jon Talton creates a collars and contrast within the fictional world of a very real Phoenician city. A marvelous intellectual story that keeps on bouncing around in my head.
March 27, 2007
Talton's books are entertaining mysteries, but unless you're from AZ, and more specifically Phoenix, several of the references might seem random. If you're from AZ and you like mysteries, though, this is perfect for you.
December 27, 2011
The 2nd in a series of books written be a former reporter of our Phoenix paper. His books all take place in Phoenix, so it's a real pleasure to not only read a good story, but also to always know where he's talking about!
Read
January 27, 2016A David Mapstone mystery. Not a great mystery fan, but these are entertaining. Especially liked that it's set in a city I know a little bit. Shows me a side of Phoenix I don't know. I may read another one while I am in Phoenix area for the atmosphere.
May 2, 2009
A fine, unfussy mystery set in Phoenix, AZ. Excellent use of local color and lore to deepen characterizations.
July 30, 2011
This is good crime series that takes place in Phoenix. The author lives or at least did live in Phoenix and does an excellent job of capturing it both physically and psychically.
February 16, 2016
Good mystery and well written.
March 31, 2016
In addition to producing a credible mystery Talton demonstrates a love and understanding of the American Southwest and Phoenix in particular.
September 27, 2008
I like David Mapstone mysteries
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews