In the latest book from Rick Mofina, it seems that no matter
how many times reporter Jason Wade cracks an exclusive he
always ends up teetering on the edge of being fired. His
boss is pushing him hard, and he’s been stuck on the
worst shift imaginable, with the warning that if he misses
anything he’s out of a job.
Jason’s situation at work is compounded by problems
of a personal nature. Jason’s father, a recovering
alcoholic, looks like he’s about to fall off the wagon,
and he’s reaching out to his son for help. Jason’s
job situation means he’s distracted, and has to hope
his dad can hold on until he has time to help him through
his problems.
When we last spent time with Jason in Every Fear, a potential
romance with homicide detective Grace Garner was blossoming.
When we catch up with them at the start of A Perfect Grave
Jason has been left to figure out why Grace suddenly ended
the relationship. The strain between them personally contributes
to issues when a nun is murdered. Grace is working the case,
Jason is working the story, and the tension between them
builds to a boil.
In A Perfect Grave, Mofina tackles many questions. Is the
dead nun a sinner or saint? What does her murder have to
do with the abduction of a young boy? And what does it have
to do with Jason Wade’s father, and the reason he’s
fighting to urge to pick up a drink?
Mofina has woven an intriguing tale about how the past always
catches up to you, sooner or later. He does an excellent
job of bringing a sense of closure to some of the lingering
issues in Jason Wade’s life. I think one of the strengths
of the story is that the omnipresent pressures on Jason
elevate the tension. For fans of the series this is a must-read,
and those new to Mofina will not find themselves lost. He
carefully incorporates just enough information so that the
reader can fully appreciate the story, even if they haven’t
read the previous Jason Wade books, and does a wonderful
job of creating suspense. Enough surprises to keep you turning
the pages, and a sense of closure at the end that may suggest
the series is going on hiatus for a while.
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER
Sandra Ruttan’s debut suspense novel, Suspicious Circumstances,
was released in January, 2007. For more information about Sandra visit
her website
Return to Summer 2007 Table of Contents
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2007 SPINETINGLER Magazine - All rights reserved
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