From the back cover: When Hurricane Katrina strikes New Orleans, forensic entomologist Nick Polchak signs up to help with the recovery effort. He is known as the Bug Man for his knowledge of insects and what they can reveal about the dead. The government’s mandate is clear – rescue the living first, recover the dead later. But something is very wrong in the toxic soup-bowl of post-Katrina New Orleans. Something beyond the headline-making misery of a drowning city. Something that began before the winds blew and the levees started to crumble. Someone is using the cover of disaster to kill…hiding the victims of murder in the same watery grave as the victims of Katrina. It’s a tale only the dead can tell. but no one besides the Bug Man is listening.
My Review: This book was wonderful! I love all the characters in this book, but the main character, Nick Polchak, is by far my favorite. Nick is SO different and funny. He is a brainiac and because he is a forensic entomologist and knows and appreciates insects through and through, he considers himself part of the insect species rather than human. He is driven to solve murders and right the wrongs of life. He goes against direct orders and goes with his gut instincts, many times getting himself in trouble. This story also includes a slight love interest, which the other books in this series hadn’t, also adding much to the story. Dr. Elizabeth Woodbridge, psychiatrist for the DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) is on this trip to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This book has all of the elements of a mystery that I love – suspense, drama, great characters, and on top of all that – IT’S CLEAN! Yahoo! I didn’t have to filter out offensive language and sexual content. Thank YOU, Mr. Downs for writing such a riveting book! I give this book 5 stars.
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October 28th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Have you read any of the others in this series? I started with
Shoo Fly Pie and definitely enjoyed it. I am wanting to read them all in order so am going to get Chop Shop soon – but my library doesn’t have it so looking around for it.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
This is my least favorite of Tim’s Bug Man novels because I think made Nick more cantankerous than usual. (Michele, you will love Chop Shop and his new one Less than Dead which might his very best of the series. It’s my favorite.)
October 28th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I’ve been wondering when authors would get around to writing about New Orleans before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina. This sounds like a good read.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:55 am
This does sound really good. I will have to add it to my list. Great review!