I'm just now catching up on some of the books I learned about at Left Coast Crime. Joel Fox was one of the debut mystery authors who spoke at the New Authors' Breakfast, and I found the premise of his book, Lincoln's Hand, intriguing. I was right. Fox's Zane Rigby is an appealing protagonist with a great deal of potential for future books.Just when FBI Agent Rigby thinks he has the Monument Bomber in his sights, he discovers he fell for a decoy, and the bomber attacked a different American monument. Rigby's boss, the new FBI director, feels he made the whole agency look foolish when he failed to get the bomber, so she reassigns him to Springfield, Illinois, on what appears to be a fool's errand. He's to be there when Abraham Lincoln's tomb is opened to make sure he's in it. An Illinois congressman sponsored a bill ensuring that any time a case involving historical significance is being investigated, the feds are to be a part of it. Since the Director received a hand, accompanied by a note asking for ransom for the rest of Lincoln, there's the possibility the body isn't there. So, Rigby is assigned to confirm that Lincoln is in his tomb.
Leave it to Zane Rigby to get involved with a bombing, two murders, and an old girlfriend. Who knew Springfield, Illinois could have all that excitment, along with the possibility of a missing body, and conspiracies surrounding the body? Oh, yes, and there's still that Monument Bomber out there, taunting the FBI.
Joel Fox combines an ethical man determined to find justice, even if he has to do it on his own, with an intriguing historical puzzle. It's easy to root for Zane Rigby, an FBI agent with a sense of humor, along with his dedication to his job. One way or another, he's determined to find answers. And, the reader will be just as eager to learn the truth. Let's hope FBI Agent Zane Rigby has a long career.
Joel Fox's website for the book is www.lincolnshand.com
Lincoln's Hand by Joel Fox. Echelon Press.©2010. ISBN 9781590806746 (paperback), 313p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The publicist sent me a copy of the book since Joel Fox will be doing a guest blog later this month.
