Trace by Warren Murphy

Trace by Warren Murphy

The first book in the Trace series is really the fifth book in the Digger series. When Murphy changed publishers, they made him change all the names in the books, so Digger becomes Trace, Koko becomes Chico, etc. The atmosphere of the novels remains the same, so if you enjoyed Digger, you will definitely enjoy Trace.

 

The plot of this novel is a little bit difficult. Trace’s insurance company is about to pay out on a policy in which the deceased recently changed the beneficiary from his family to his doctor. The family is talking to lawyers and the insurance company wants to make certain everything is on the up and up—and while Trace is out there his boss wants him to check on a friend in the same hospital and make certain he isn’t about to die as well.

 

That’s where things get interesting because things are not good with the friend—but what exactly is wrong is not easy to tell. Throw in a séance or two, a couple of lawyers, an irate business partner, and a patient who seems to be in fear and you have a good mystery.

 

While all of this is unfolding, Chico is secretly exploring a job opportunity which would move her to the other side of the country from Trace. Chico and Trace’s strange and dysfunctional friendship/relationship is one of the most interesting parts of the novel. They don’t appear to want to get married. They aren’t particularly faithful to each other. And yet, both are also very jealous of each other.

 

All of this winds together into a very interesting mystery.