Out of the Shadows

Detective Dan Roman combs the country, following a trail of confused people and dead bodies, in order to find the long-missing heiress, Loretta Arganian, and bring her to see her dying mother

Mathis's sixth Dan Roman ( The Burned Woman , etc.) story blends some classic hardboiled elements, notably a tangled family-sprung plot, with its hero's new-style male sensitivity. Texas-based private eye Roman is hired by rich, middle-aged Phillip Arganian to find his 28-year-old sister, Loretta, who ran away from home 12 years before. Although the trail is long and cold, leading to California, Las Vegas, Tennessee and back to Texas, Roman is persuaded by Arganian's blind old mother and his beautiful young wife, Lee (who tries to seduce Roman), to stay on the case. He uncovers a long trail of Loretta's lovers of both sexes. While apparently ending with Loretta's death, the story explodes in a bloody aftermath to a family's lifelong deceit and ignorance. Roman, facing danger with traditional boozing and chain-smoking, has stolid appeal, even though his try at reconciliation with his own young wife is sappy. Readers who miss Ross Macdonald will like this.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Cool-handed and strong, series detective Dan Roman ( The Burned Woman, LJ 5/1/89, Natural Prey, et al. ) tracks a rich-kid runaway (female and pregnant) 12 years after the fact. The woman's mother, feeble and blind but still outspoken, wants the family money in family hands when she dies. Roman pursues information on Loretta Arganian (a.k.a. Nancy Taylor) from Texas to Nevada to Tennessee and back, uncovering evidence of a lesbian relationship, a porno-film career, and a possible murder. Mathis writes with a clear sense of direction, eliminating unnecessary verbiage, and provides evocative descriptions. His plot has bite and an ironic slant. A good choice.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.