Into the Fire

One Right Thing, Book 3 in A Marty Singer Mystery Series by Matthew Iden.

One Right Thing was inspired by an actual billboard seen by this author but of course unrelated in facts to the story. I always find it an extra bonus to learn what inspired an author to write a particular story.

In this adventure for retired MPDC homicide detective Marty Singer, he's traveling home from visiting friends on his first trip away after successful cancer surgery. His young friend Amanda is babysitting his house and cat so he's taking the trip at his leisure. When he spots a huge billboard along the highway in rural Virginia, he pulls over to be sure of what it says. And that's the impetus for his desire to do the one right thing if he can. 

Marty Singer has a history with the man on the billboard by the name of J. D. Hope. He's not surprised to learn he's dead, but he is surprised that someone cared enough about the man who spent 20 years in prison for a murder – like many convicts – Hope insisted he didn't commit. Singer jots down the phone number on the sign and discovers Hope's sister is responsible for the billboard much to J.D.'s snobbish mother's distaste. This begins the odd adventure of investing in a criminal's history who was put away by a former coworker. Nothing's falling into place, and Singer is basically warned to get out of town by the Chief of Police in the small town.

The bullying Brewer brothers and their cohorts provide the minimal lawbreaking in the town, but for some reason nothing sticks to them. Singer recognizes they aren't smart enough to do what he's just discovered so there's a mastermind operating the system somewhere. He calls his friend Bloch from the case he recently worked with him and shares some details. Bloch agrees to check into what he can for him. 

The frustration of the search, the conflicts Singer faces, and the continuous dead-ends discourage him until Singer finds an unexpected ally when something disturbing causes that unlikely alliance, and Bloch comes through with shocking information at the last possible moment. 

One Right Thing continues to develop Marty Singer for the reader, giving a fuller picture of his bull-headed determination and his necessity to find answers and, if possible, solutions. With this novel, the frustration lingers for the reader experiencing it right along with Singer as slim leads and no progress prove daunting. By the time it's over, the result leaves the reader as deflated and disgusted as Marty Singer when he leaves this small town behind after accomplishing the "one right thing" only to find how wrong everything leading up to it was.   

Father, please continue to give Matthew the stories you have just for him to tell. Bless him and his family. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.