"Murder in Metropolis is a taut mystery, faster than a speeding bullet."

Murder in Metropolis is a taut mystery, faster than a speeding bullet. Lonnie Cruse incorporates a tightly crafted plot and couples it with a compelling story about people in the small town of Metropolis, Illinois. She manages to create and maintain tension and suspense from the opening chapter until the end of the book, while introducing, building on and master well-defined characters that the reader can't help but relate with.

Sheriff Joe Dalton thinks he's responding to a routine call to round up the town drunk bent on disturbing the peace in the center of town. Instead he discovers the body of high school football buddy Jack Hatfield, owner of the Hatfield Hardware Store. The victim is dressed in his Halloween Superman costume, and has been deposited onto a giant statute erected in honor of the man of steel.

Dalton's cast of five deputies take the murder series as the investigation begins. And there is no shortage of suspects. A tragic family history was like a cloud over the Hatfield's. The victim took over the hardware store and supported his non-intelligent siblings, Mark and Peggy. Always running the show, brother and sister had no idea what to do, or how they'd survive now that Jack was gone. Mark told Dalton that Jack had plans to meet with a hardware salesman. The odd thing was they were going to meet after business hours. So who was the salesman? And Jack, who had a long time relationship with Ruby, seemed to be spending less and less time with the love of his life? Was something going on there? The town drunk was the first to discover the body. Could he have been responsible for the murder—or might he have useful information about who might be behind the crime?

Jack Hatfield isn't the only unfortunate Metropolis resident to lose his life. As more bodies are discovered Dalton's quest for answers becomes more urgent. Personal and work issues arise and only complicate matters. Remaining as focused as possible Dalton is determined to unmask the evil threatening to destroy his town.

Crisp dialogue, packed chapters and wonderfully illuminated characters make Murder in Metropolis a top-notch mystery novel with plenty of psychological and exciting elements. Cruse doesn't just know what genre readers expect in a book, she delivers. I look forward to the second in the series.

© 2004 Phillip Tomasso III

Reviewed by Phillip Tomasso
Posted February 27, 2004