Dead Man’s Bridge: A Jake Cantrell Mystery

In this strong series launch, Mrazek (The Bone Hunters) makes a familiar setup fresh by combining tight plotting with a flawed but empathetic lead. Guilt-ridden army veteran Jake Cantrell, still haunted by the men who died under his command in Afghanistan, now works as a campus security officer at St. Andrews College in upstate New York. His ailing dog, Bug, is his only genuine companion. When a body turns up hanging from the pedestrian bridge that connects the campus with the town, Jake’s rules-bound superior instantly deems the death a suicide. Jake is convinced it’s foul play. After the dead man is identified as St. Andrews alum and major donor Dennis Wheatley, his widow demands that Jake be put in charge of the investigation. Meanwhile, Jake takes on another sensitive inquiry after the college president, a friend married to Jake’s lost love, asks him to find the person blackmailing him. The complex characterization of the lead bodes well for the series’ longevity. Agent: David Halpern, Robbins Office. (Aug.)