Gone Before

Gone Before is the second Rory Naysmith mystery, something I wasn't aware of until I started reading. One of these days, I'll check those details before I actually crack open what turns out to be part of a series. So, what I'll say about that is yes, I feel like I was behind the game a bit with getting to know the characters of small-town Winterset, but it didn't take long before I had them figured out. And those characters are part of what makes this detective mystery work so well, what makes it stand out from the crowd. Terry Korth Fischer has a great sense of humor as well as a good sense for the timing of that humor. There are many chuckle-worthy moments throughout the story, but it doesn't take away from the tension of the mystery. A small-town setting like this one with quirky characters can often fall into cozy mystery territory, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's just not one of my favorite mystery sub-genres. What I do like is a good detective series with likable characters that I can follow from one case to the next. Rory Naysmith is a likable character. He's not perfect, and he's not the picture of health with a rock-hard body. Nope, he's a regular guy who happens to be good at his job, which makes him feel more realistic than he might have. The story has good pacing, and it held my interest all the way through, so I'll have to keep an eye out for whatever comes next.

I enjoyed this story as well as the idea of older main characters. The relationship between Rory and Esther added a softer side with all the danger, violence, and death filling the rest of the pages. Secondary characters brought the feeling of family and support so that Rory was not so isolated, alone. The mystery itself was full of twists and surprises. Again, I enjoyed this story and look forward to the next one. I received a copy of this story through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.