Dead Drop by Jesse Miles

Dead Drop by Jesse Miles is a modern day LA P.I. story with a nostalgic feel from days gone by.  Jack Salvo is a part time philosophy instructor at a local college and full time P.I.  He works alone but relies on a network of consultants and acquaintances that back him up and provide information on demand.  Most of his research is done from his iPad and access to a couple law enforcement databases.  He has a wise-ass demeanor and sharp deductive reasoning skills but is nothing special when it comes to physical combat… kind of a Millennial Phillip Marlowe.

Salvo is hired by an aerospace company to investigate a small-time embezzlement.  A elite group of top level officials have narrowed the suspects down to four employees.  They want to avoid law enforcement involvement due to the potential for negative publicity.  With many top secret government defense contracts, the company has an image to maintain.  Company security expert, Lilith Lin is assigned as Salvo’s contact.  Jack has an instant physical attraction to Lilith.

A quick cyber background check leads Salvo to the most likely thief and a B & E of the perp’s apartment solidifies his hunch.  Salvo also uncovers an accomplice but the partners in crime are suddenly murdered just as Salvo reports his findings and collects his fee.

 

The company’s auditor, on heightened alert, discovers another older but more extensive embezzlement from the company.  After such quick and discrete results, Salvo is hired to investigate this earlier breach in security.  Salvo rattles a few cages and another person of interest that he had interviewed turns up dead.  He suspects a high level employee of selling classified information and his illegal search of her apartment supports that suspicion.  Surveillance of her activities reveals her making a dead drop of information in a Beverly Hills remote canyon.  Suddenly Salvo is in the middle of espionage, kidnapping and murder plotted by a brilliant psychopath.  The company’s stealth technology secrets are being jeopardized and only Salvo and Lilith stand in the way of a breach in national security.

Dead Drop is a good effort for this first time author.  The plot is plausible with a quick moving pace that efficiently and methodically reveals new twists and turns.  The characters are likable and well developed.  I particularly like Jack Salvo, the lead character.  His breezy banter and imposing style yield quick results.  Put me in mind of Phillip Marlowe, Jim Rockford of the TV show “The Rockford Files” and the Jack Nicholson character in the movie “Chinatown”… pretty good company to keep.  I hope we see more from Jesse Miles.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance opportunity.