Synopsis
How much do you owe a past love? Ever wonder about it? Private Detective Ron Shade does when he bumps into his former lover, Paula Kittermann, late one lonely December night in a hotel bar. Paula had once been a major factor in Shade’s life, but that was a very long time ago. Against his better judgement, he lets her back in, but when she’s gone, without so much of a goodbye kiss, leaving him once with only bittersweet memories of what might have been. Then Paula turns up dead, the apparent victim of a hit-and-run accident. Though shocked, Shade moves on with is life until Paula’s young cousin, Laurie, shows up in Chicago, asking him to look into the matter. Shade’s investigation takes a walk on the seedy side, and begins to attract the attention of some very powerful enemies. But whenever Shade gets close to the truth, somebody seems to end up dead, and he suddenly finds himself the prime suspect in a homicide investigation. Working to clear himself and find out who killed...
Publishers Weekly
Chicago kickboxer Ron Shade's knight errantry sometimes misfires in his second appearance (after 2002's A Killing Frost) from Illinois police sergeant Black, but the throwback PI goes the distance. Shade's work, which includes stints providing security for a downtown hotel and its two bars, doesn't interfere with his ambitious goal of winning the heavyweight kickboxing championship. But his proclivity for rescue work, ranging from an old girlfriend to a stray kitten to a Russian boxer in thrall to a gangster, throws a serious monkey wrench into his plans. Shade's old high school flame, Paula Kittermann, re-enters his life in dramatic fashion, only to become a hit-and-run victim soon after. When Paula's beautiful cousin, whom he remembers as a freckle-faced youngster, asks his help in finding the driver, Shade can hardly refuse. While the supporting cast, among them a crusty trainer, a cop buddy and a cop enemy, is fairly standard issue, Shade himself is an attractive blend of tough guy and sentimental softie. One gets the feeling that Shade may never take top honors in the ring, but he'll always be an entertaining fighter as long as he answers the bell. (Apr. 21) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.