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Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Down And Out In The River City by Wm. Stage is a crime novel set in St. Louis in 2017, centering around Francis X. Lenihan, an aging process server with a mystery to unravel. When his card is found on a dead homeless man, Francis and his partner, Cale Twohey, investigate the tent city where the man lived. Their search brings them face to face with a range of eccentric and dangerous characters. As they dive deeper into the homeless community, they discover a series of deaths linked to opioid overdoses in a plot filled with suspense, humor, and gritty urban realism.
Author Wm. Stage has crafted a gritty and highly engaging crime novel that stands out for its unique ability to balance dark themes with moments of sharp humor that had me both chuckling and holding my breath. There's a lot to take in for a concise work, with so much detail and nuance that has you stopping, pausing, and considering before you move into the next scene. His portrayal of St. Louis's homeless community shows remarkable empathy and depth, avoiding stereotypes while painting a vivid picture of life on the streets with real people and realistic dialogue. The pacing kept me glued to the pages, with each twist and turn revealing new layers to the mystery. I found it particularly impressive how the author wove the social, political, and cultural tensions of 2017 into the story, creating a rich backdrop that made the investigation feel even more urgent and relevant to our times. Overall, Down And Out In The River City is a must-read for anyone who appreciates crime fiction that combines a compelling mystery with meaningful social commentary, and I'd certainly recommend it.
