Book Review: Paint It Black

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Paint It Black     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
P. J. Parrish
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Louis Kincaid # 3
Kensington, Jan 2002, $6.99, 416 pp.

At twenty-six, his police days seem over so when his former boss in Mississippi Sam Dodie calls to offer him some private work, Louis Kincaid leaves his current home in Michigan for Sereno Bay in the Florida Gold Coast. Sam introduces Louis to attorney Scott Beldsoe who wants the former cop to investigate who killed Walter Tatum, the husband of his client. The local police believe Walter's wife Roberta and her missing brother Levon Baylis committed the murder that looks like a crime of passion.

Louis immediately realizes that his black skin got him the job because the white lawyer needs someone to communicate with his difficult black client. A second similar murder of a black man, Anthony Quick, soon occurs. As Louis works closely with Police Chief Wainright, a deadly pattern of a nasty serial killer surfaces, one who must be stopped if the carnage is to end.

PAINT IT BLACK is an exciting private sleuth tale that actually reads more like a police procedural because of Louis's background and his cooperative alliance with Wainright. The story line is fast-paced and loaded with non-stop action. Louis is an engaging lead character and the support cast augments the plot by allowing the audience to see the star in different relationships. PJ Parrish has crafted a tense serial killer thriller that sub-genre fans will appreciate and they will want to read Kincaid's previous novel DARK OF THE MOON.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner