cover image Thirst

Thirst

Pete Larson, . . Bleak House, $24.95 (213pp) ISBN 978-1-932557-34-3

S et at a fictional Texas university, Larson's sharp debut blends religion, philosophy and murder. The day after finalizing her divorce from talented artist Daniel Lackland, Gwen Lackland marries Dr. Andrew Washburn, Travis University's pompous and very shady dean of fine arts. This makes Daniel a prime suspect after the dean is poisoned by cyanide-laced Scotch while drinking at a university function where Stu Carlson, a divorced former minister, is tending bar. Stu, who not only admires Daniel's art but also had an anonymous one-night stand with Gwen just a few days before, tries and fails to resuscitate Washburn, and becomes obsessed with solving the crime. Though his informal sleuthing makes him a target and he's warned repeatedly by Travis City authorities to steer clear of their investigation, Stu's conflicted but stubborn faith and belief in Daniel's innocence help to close a case complicated by greed, art and love. (July)