Half the Truth

Chicago PI Malachy Foley is often too cute for comfort, what with his BMW motorcycle and his titled landlady and his part-time job playing jazz piano in a bar. While many series writers can make their atmospheric touches work effectively for many books, Walker comes close to wearing out this series' distinguishing marks in only the second entry (following last year's Edgar nominee Fixed in His Folly). On the other hand, his prose is lively, and Foley, with a mouth as quick as his hands, has some interesting edges. Here, Foley is hired by the sister of Jason Cooper, a talented college basketball player who's gone missing. Jason's coach doesn't know where he is; neither does a local crime boss on whom Foley often relies for information. It seems that Jason is on the run. But from whom? And why are people associated with him coming to untimely ends? Some dogged pursuit, characterized by a bit more guts than brains, leads Foley to Jason, and he soon finds himself hiding the kid, who either doesn't know or won't tell who is out to get him and why. But then Cass, the estranged wife Foley is desperately trying to win back, is kidnapped, along with Jason's sister, a switcheroo that puts the PI in a bit of a moral dilemma. Walker's twisty plot and moments of genuine wit are enough to make up for the bouts of cuteness. (Nov.)