Here’s another fine little mystery from the Canadian publisher Dundurn. A HARD WINTER RAIN is the second book by Michael Blair, and also the first of his Joe “Shoe” Schumacher series. This is the type of mystery I really enjoy.

The book starts out innocently enough, introducing us to a figure who will be the catalyst to the whole story. Of course, that person is a victim, shot within the first few pages in order to set the mystery into motion. His name is Patrick O’Neil, and he is waiting for an unnamed person to arrive, when some homeless person shows up and kills him like it was a professional hit.

See, Patrick worked for a company run by William Hammond, a total old-school boss. To say this guy is a poster boy to male chauvinism is an understatement. When he finds out that the dead is one of his men who just recently resigned, Hammond makes it his business to have the case solved, all the while imposing his will on anyone in his way, including Patrick’s widowed Victoria.

It’s revealed later on that, at one point, Victoria was one of many of William’s mistresses. This is the information Joe is given as he now investigates who killed his friend, vowing not to stop until he does. Of course, it leads to problems with Hammond. But the great thing is, Blair actually gives us two mysteries in one – something Joe doesn’t even realize until one of them is solved, since everyone thinks that the murder was somewhat business-associated.

This leads Joe looking into things that some people would rather be left alone –  especially Hammond, whose early days in business don’t reflect too well on him, including that one mistress’ mysterious death that was never solved. Joe also deals with the former wife of a man he killed years ago – the head of security who was ripping off the company badly – and Patrick’s family, who turn up for the funeral and might shine a light onto the case.

What really made HARD WINTER for me is that it doesn’t rely on the people-getting-hit-over-the-head style of action like other books of this type, in that Joe is not constantly beaten up as he makes progress. Actually, Joe comes off as a distant version of Travis McGee, especially with Joe wanting to set up shop in a marina, which plays into the new second novel of the series, THE DELLS. Blair is rising star in the world of Canadian crime. –Bruce Grossman

Buy it at Amazon.