The Silent Second: A Chuck Restic Mystery

Human resources executive Chuck Restic, the narrator of Phillips’s absorbing first novel and series launch, looks into the disappearance of Ed Vadaresian, a valued mid-level employee at the large corporation in Los Angeles where Chuck works. Concerned by what his initial casual inquiries reveal, Restic turns to investigative journalist Easy Mike for help in making sense of Ed’s complex real estate dealings with the scent of extensive fraud and possible ties with the so-called Armenian mafia, as well as corruption in city government. The case becomes personal when Restic fears that his estranged wife, Claire, is somehow involved. Then one of his contacts is murdered, but he still has no idea of what happened to Vadaresian. The stakes rise further when Restic is beaten up and Easy Mike is killed. The motivations for the crimes are complex and hard to follow and the solution is a bit glib, but the insights into the workings of the corporate mind and the machinations of L.A. real estate are worth the price of admission. (Aug.)