The Devil Went Down to Austin / Rick Riordan - 3***

[Book Concierge]

The Devil Went Down to Austin – Rick Riordan
3***

Book # 4 in the Tres Navarre mystery series starts when Tres learns that his brother, Garrett, has mortgaged the family ranch to fund a start-up software security company, and has missed the last four payments. When Tres goes to Austin to confront his brother he finds a financial and “with-friends-like-this-who-needs-enemies” mess. Things get worse when Garrett’s business partner, and perennial fuck-up Jim, is found dead. Add a ruthless business man, and a wealthy family intent on keeping family secrets buried and Tres has his work cut out for him in unraveling the disaster. As an added complication, Garrett’s attorney is Tres’s former love interest, Maia, who has flown in from San Francisco.

I like Tres as a character. He’s a PhD English professor, specializing in Middle English lit, a tai chi master, and a private investigator. He’s intense, has a sarcastic sense of humor, treats women well, does not suffer fools gladly, and loves his cat, Robert Johnson (who usually eats enchiladas). The books are full of Texas culture and locations that are familiar to natives. The plots are intricate with lots of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. This time around I didn’t ID the culprit until just a step ahead of the reveal. (Literally, a footstep is heard in that key scene and THAT’s when I realized who the culprit is.)

There are a couple of things that don’t quite make sense to me, but I can’t say more or I’d give away the plot.

I wish Riordan would go back to writing mysteries aimed at adults. He wrote this series before he started the Percy Jackson series (which really catapulted him to author famedom). I certainly understand why he continues to focus on that immensely popular (and lucrative) franchise, but I dread the day when I run out of Tres Navarre books (only 3 left in the series for me).


LINK to my review

[KateNZ]

Love your review, BC! This sounds so entertaining. I had no idea Riordan wrote books targeted at adults - definitely must give them a go.

[Book Concierge]

KateNZ wrote: "Love your review, BC! This sounds so entertaining. I had no idea Riordan wrote books targeted at adults - definitely must give them a go."

First in the series is Big Red Tequila

[[deleted user]]

Good review. I didn't know he wrote books targets for adults either.