CHOKER: AN IKE SCHWARTZ MYSTERY

CHOKER: AN IKE SCHWARTZ MYSTERY
Author: Dr. Frederick Ramsey
Copyright June 2009
Poisoned Pen Press
ISBN: 978-1-59058-635-8
Hardcover $24.95
290 pages
Mystery
Ike Schwartz is the sheriff of the small town of Picketsville. He reminds me of Sheriff Andy from the old “Andy Griffith Show” who also has prior CIA experience. He’s the type of person that even the CIA employs when there is a problem. This is exactly the situation in CHOKER.
Charlie Garland, an old-time CIA associate, calls Ike while he is on a vacation requesting him to investigate a disappearance of an airplane three months prior. The pilot had been engaged to Charlie’s niece and Charlie felt there were too many unanswered questions regarding the incident.
As Ike investigates and discovers more information, it becomes apparent that someone does not want anyone to find out anything about the incident. Also, nearby where the plane was believed to have disappeared into the water, two people who were on a sailboat were murdered. Were the two incidents related?
To add realism, back in Picketsville, the acting sheriff is having his own adventure with the teenaged population exploring Satanism. The priest of the neighboring Episcopal Church initially discovered the disappearance of silver used in communion as well as an elderly woman’s cat missing.
Also, Ike tries to continue his relationship with the local college president, Ruth. She begins to wonder more about Ike’s background and what his past really involves.
Dr. Frederick Ramsay is the fifth novel in the Ike Schwartz mystery series. He has been a part of the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and also now, is a retired Episcopal priest.
The pacing of this is perfect. The characters are realistic and they feel like actual friends and acquaintances. The writing of this series is enjoyable, action-packed, but realistic all at the same time.
I personally am looking forward to more books from Frederick Ramsay.
By: Teri Davis June 21, 2009