Double Takedown
A Mike Stoneman Mystery
In Kevin G. Chapman’s mystery novel Double Takedown, veteran detectives suspect that an open-and-shut murder case was, in fact, a frame job.
When a Broadway actor drops dead at a fundraising gala, all the evidence points to his director. However, as NYPD detectives Mike and Jason prepare for trial one year later, they begin to suspect that the director was framed. When a second person dies in a similar manner, Mike and Jason race to find out the truth and arrest the real killer.
The mystery unfolds with compelling speed. In an interesting twist, the identity of the killer is hinted at long before Mike and Jason catch on, and a large portion of the novel is spent discovering how the murder was done rather than who committed it. This makes for delicious dramatic irony and compulsive reading: Mike and Jason are often one step behind.
Both detectives are well-rounded and distinctive; their differences lead to comedic banter. Mike is a self-pronounced “old fart” with an intimidating reputation; Jason is a young father with a more flexible mindset. Jason’s toddler adds humor to the story, as when Mike buys him a blue snowcone so that the stains will blend into his blue Mets shirt.
Although many characters are introduced in rapid succession, they are each described well, and their personalities are fleshed out. For example, one witness has “the look of a veteran service worker who could probably heft a twenty-pound tray of drinks without blinking an eye.” These funny observations are abundant, layering the mystery with an upbeat tone despite its serious subject matter.
Two quick-witted detectives investigate the multilayered murder of a Broadway actor in Double Takedown, an exciting mystery novel.
Reviewed by
Leah Block
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
