The Vulture: An Ike Schwartz Mystery

At the start of Ramsay’s middling 10th mystery to feature Picketsville, Va., sheriff and former CIA operative Ike Schwartz (after 2014’s Drowning Barbie), an explosion kills an undercover cop after he accidentally drives Ike’s car away from a rendezvous. Ike and his wife, Calland University president Ruth Harris-Schwartz, go underground as the sheriff’s department and Ike’s contacts in the CIA, FBI, and NSA attempt to discover who’s behind the bombing. When the search identifies wealthy businessman Martin Pangborn and his militia group, Ike and Ruth travel to his compound in Idaho for a confrontation. Given the minimal backstory, readers new to the series might wonder about Ike, Ruth, their relationship, and the reasons for Pangborn’s animosity. Excessive dialogue slows the action without providing insight into characters or their interactions, and Pangborn and his crony, a junior state senator, fail to transcend ubervillain clichés. Still, series fans should enjoy the continuing banter between Ike and Ruth, as well as Ramsay’s scathing social commentary. (Dec.)