City Walls: An Amos Walker Novel

Early in Estleman’s superior 31st whodunit featuring old-school Detroit PI Amos Walker (after 2022’s Monkey in the Middle), Emmett Yale, a millionaire automobile manufacturer, spots the gumshoe at an Indians-Tigers baseball game (“one of Cleveland’s last games under its century-old name; after that, Custer’s job would be finished”). Yale, who’s under federal scrutiny after his self-driving cars crashed during test runs, hires Walker to look into the murder of his 42-year-old stepson, Lloyd Lipton. Lipton was driving home from a vintage auto event in a sports car when he was fatally shot from an overpass. The crime appeared to fit a recent pattern of snipers shooting at random motorists from similar locations, and an ex-con was charged with manslaughter, because the authorities theorize Lipton’s distinctive vehicle drew his killer’s attention. Yale believes the killing was intentional and is possibly connected with his business, as Lipton may have been involved in insider trading with a former executive of Yale’s company. Walker agrees to investigate, only to encounter more corpses, which muddy the waters. Decades after his debut, Walker remains as vigorous as ever. Fans of Chandler and Hammett will be thrilled. (Apr.)