#1500. White Out by Dana King

Back in Penn’s River, PA. On the Appalachian side of Pittsburgh. PRPD has their share of crap to clean up and keep in line with Chief Sullivan (Sully) on the downhill slide to retirement. But he has a good, if kinda small, force. Mainly Detective Benjamin (‘Doc’ to everyone but a couple family members) Dougherty as a voice of reason in the House (the station) and on the street. Biggest employer in Penn’s River is the Casino that is set to host a $1 million poker tournament this coming Sunday.

Late February Monday in Penn’s River. Snowing, but nothing unusual or too bad. Trevor Boston is somewhat new to the force. While on his rounds about town, he takes a call about a dust-up at Fat Jimmies bar. Upon arrival, he finds the tail end of a fight at the pool table. Boston starts in taking statements. When he gets to Richard Johnson, one of the combatants, Boston quickly learns that Johnson doesn’t play well with Blacks. Turns out he’s a card-carrying member of Potentia Albus – a white supremacy outfit mostly headquartered in western PA. And he’s not going to allow Boston to touch him much less make an arrest.

Questions turn to raised voices turn to Johnson slapping Boston and running out the front door. Boston pursues. Pulls his sidearm as he carefully moves through the snowfall and trash. As he rounds a corner to the back of the bar, Johnson jumps out from behind a dumpster and Boston puts three bullets into him. Despite his best efforts at some first aid, Johnson dies is the debris-ridden slush behind the bar.

Sully sends Doc and other cops to the bar. Boston is of little help; too stunned at how things evolved so quickly. SOP for an officer-involved shooting is to place Boston on suspension, take his badge and gun, and call the PA state police to come in to do the IAB job that small-ish departments Penn’s River can’t do.

The word gets out. Fast. Black cop killed a white citizen. The spokesmen for Potentia Albus call in the true believers to attend Johnson’s funeral set for the coming Sunday and about 500 are expected. Sully knows he must get his force ready. Cancels all leave. Frees up overtime money. Doc is the boots-on-the-street commander who’s running logistics moving law enforcement units and personnel around town like pieces on a chessboard to keep brush fires from becoming a full blown nightmare. His army experience from tours to Afghanistan and Iraq come in handy.

And despite most all resources being devoted to the potential for a race riot, there still remains the usual Penn’s River issues like domestic calls, fights over a basketball game, Doc’s aging parents . . . and that damned poker tournament . . . all coming together right when mother nature decides that a foot or more fresh snow might be an appropriate accompaniment to the weekend's crowded calendar.

White Out in Dana King’s 8^th Penn’s River crime novel, this being the 3^rd that we’ve reviewed. Small-ish town police procedural told in a fine, straight forward, and colorful narrative. Dialogue is on point. Descriptive prose takes you right in the living rooms and the jail within the House. King has been nominated for a Shamus Award on multiple occasions. I’ve been remiss in waiting so long since my last visit to Penn’s River. Good stuff. Realistic small town police procedural. Think you’ll like it.

Published 26 July 2022. First learned about King from Charlie Stella, an MRB power rotation author. When Charlie speaks . . . ECD listens. He hasn’t steered us wrong yet.   

 

East Coast Don