Steve Leshin’s The Killer’s Code delivers. It has a compelling plot as private eye Josh Oates must track down the kidnappers of a young girl who might be his daughter; in his search, he uncovers so much more, including a rat’s nest of police corruption in 1920s Los Angeles. It has romance with both Josh’ ex-wife Calissa and his current lover, Angie Lang, who is a New York police detective. It has historical atmosphere, embodied in the return to the series of Wyatt Earp and Harry Houdini, plus the new addition of sharpshooter and star of Hollywood westerns, Tom Mix.
And most of all, The Killer’s Code has plenty of action, including its fair share of fights and three distinct and impressive climaxes. For good measure, Leshin throws in some nice twists. Simply put, the Joshua Oates novels are loads of fun. They are wonderful throwbacks to an earlier detective era, marked by a likable hero whose determination leads to fine yarns for Leshin to unwind. The Killer’s Code is rip-roaring fun.- Michael P. Hartnet, Author