Cracked Crystals

Larry Rochelle
Zumaya Publications (2004)
ISBN 189486977X
Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (3/07)

“Cracked Crystals,” by Larry Rochelle, is the third in a series of eight mystery novels with Palmer Morel as the main character; however, the book can be read without having read the previous two novels. Oddly, nowhere on the book does it mention it is part of a series--I only learned that from the publisher’s website. Several references are made early in the book to events in Palmer’s past which are never fully explained, and which the author must assume the reader already knows from the earlier books; it is sufficient for the reader to know Palmer is divorced and he is trying to escape his past.

The story begins with Palmer Morel moving to Kansas City because his old friend, Ronnie, tells him about a job teaching tennis at a local club. Palmer is an old tennis pro and jumps at the chance for the job. He immediately flies to Kansas City; then gets hired at the club by Myra. Just as quickly, he realizes Ronnie is a drug user, and not wanting to be involved in the drug scene, he instead takes Myra up on her invitation to stay with her and share her bed. Palmer’s inability to resist his sexual impulses has only just begun to get him in trouble.

The next day, Palmer learns his friend, Ronnie, has been murdered. He gives a statement to the police, hoping he will be able to help them solve the murder. Only then does Palmer learn Ronnie and Myra’s pasts were intertwined, and since Palmer is now sleeping with Myra, his own life becomes mixed up in the murder mystery. As he learns about many more things Myra has been keeping from him, he finds his own life threatened by a religious cult mixed up with astrology, numerology, crystal meth, and prostitution. And he finds himself caught in several sexually compromising situations.

The reader may find Palmer’s sexual behavior a bit much--Palmer admits himself that his sexual appetite tends to get him in a lot of trouble. When Myra ends up in the hospital, her own life a target for murder, Palmer barely thinks twice about sleeping with another woman, which only puts his life in more danger. Later, Palmer finds he must escape from his enemies, which results in his running naked through a hospital looking for a hiding place. He makes his escape, but not without having to give out a few favors first. This sexual escapade is over the top and the reader will probably find it laughable. The plot twists require some willing suspension of disbelief, but this scene in particular was difficult to swallow.

The book is fun to read and filled with plot twists the reader won’t see coming, even though the reader will probably figure out before Palmer, that something isn’t quite right when Myra is sexually knowledgeable, yet friends with a priest who knows some surprisingly colorful language. I have to admit I am curious what kind of sexual situations Palmer will get mixed up in while solving mysteries in future books. Summaries of the other novels in the series can be found at the publisher’s website. I recommend “Cracked Crystals” to anyone not easily offended by sexual content who likes a light yet fast-paced mystery.

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