The Fitzgerald Ruse (Sam Blackman Mystery)

Mark de Castrique
Ingram (2009)
ISBN 9781590586297
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (7/09)


“The Fitzgerald Ruse” was my first Sam Blackman Mystery and the first Mark de Castrique novel that I have read, and I am hooked.  This fast-paced mystery had me on the edge until the surprising twist at the end.  The author does a great job weaving real life local places, events and history into his story, which adds to its authentic feeling. 

Sam Blackman is a former Chief Warrant Officer who served in Iraq until he lost his leg.  Fully recovered, he has moved to Asheville, North Carolina where he and his girlfriend, Nakayla Robertson, have set up a detective agency.  Both are set financially, but hope to thrive on the excitement of a good case. 

The first week at the detective agency brings murder and mayhem for both Blackman and Robertson when an elderly lady hires them to retrieve a lockbox supposedly holding something of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s inside of it.  Blackman retrieves it and is surprised to see the Nazi swastika on the outside of it.  The box is stolen when he leaves it in his office so that he can take it to his client the next day.  To top it off, Sam finds the security guard to his building murdered in his office. 

As Sam and Nakayla pursue this case, an acquaintance from the last case that Sam was investigating in Iraq shows up to let Sam know that he is in danger.  As he works to unravel both cases, he sees similarities that lead him to believe that they might be linked in some way. 

“The Fitzgerald Ruse” is a great book, but be forewarned once you pick it up you might not be able to put it down until it is finished.  Mark de Castrique is a master story teller.  I hope to read his earlier books and look forward to future works by him.

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