The Secrets of Harry Bright 1985 detective book
The Secrets of Harry Bright (1985, United States)
Industrialist Victor Watson contacts LAPD detective, Sergeant Sidney Blackpool and tries to convince him to undertake the investigation into the death of Jack Watson, his son. Jack was found in a burnt Rolls-Royce in a desert canyon near small town of Mineral Springs in California, miles from house belonging to his father. The Rolls-Royce also belonged to his father, Jack did not like to drive it, no one knows why he left the house in the middle of the night or why would he drove to this secluded place. The initial investigation was based on the assumption that Jack was somehow forced to drive this car, or even that he was kidnapped by unknown assailants. Since there were no evidence to support any of the theories, the investigation reached a dead-end. The only thing that was certain is that Jack died in the car, and the autopsy found a bullet in his head. Blackpool is sceptical that he might find anything useful since more than 18 months have passed and the local police found no new leads, but Victor Watson offers him a job in his company if the investigation will be brought a closure to his grief. Together with his partner, Otto Stringer, he decides to have a look at the case, even though it is formally outside his jurisdiction. Mineral Springs seems to be a place that neither of them was ready for.
Joseph Wambaugh worked as a police detective in Los Angeles before he became a writer, and The Secrets of Harry Bright carry all of his traits - a ragtag of local police officers, colourful characters living in a desert part of California and an unsolved murder mystery. Each of the characters is introduced together with a story or anecdote that shows the unique quality of that person, each details the detectives uncover, creates further problems for them. It is an interesting novel, with quite unique atmosphere, although big chunks of the anecdotes are just filler, which add nothing to the plot, they are just there to paint the picture in the background.
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Creators of The Secrets of Harry Bright
One Lost Soul - British Thriller
British detective thriller - The darkest secrets often hide in plain sight
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