The Least of These

Detective Abbey Rhodes Mystery, #2

by

Mitchell S. Karnes

What appears to be a simple carjacking gone wrong may be the coverup for something quite different.

The Least of These is the second book in author Mitchell S. Karnes's riveting series of police procedurals featuring Nashville homicide detective Abbey Rhodes and her partner, Detective Sam Tidwell. This latest set of cases involves an apparent carjacking and the murder of a well-connected social media influencer and the suspicious disappearance of several residents of a riverside homeless encampment. The mayor himself takes an active interest in the carjacking when he discovers the victim was the stepson of a wealthy friend. He orders the two detectives to drop all their other cases to focus solely on the murder, which grates on Abbey's sense of right and justice. So, when a friend similarly disappears, she's all in on solving this mystery, no matter the cost to herself or her career. 

Abbey is a likable, engaging main character who has experienced her own trauma in her past. But after a stint in the military, she's more than capable now of taking care of herself while still suffering moments of insecurity and flashbacks to those earlier times. Not quite two years into her assignment with the homicide division, Abbey has some good experience and a couple of high-profile successes under her belt, but understands there's still more to learn about her craft. I liked that she and her partner, Sam Tidwell, have started to coalesce as a team, but they are still learning about each other, and their relationship has a way to go before they form a solid and comfortable partnership. 

The action gets going immediately with the early morning discovery of the murder victim and the call-out for the detectives. What initially appears to be a carjacking gone wrong looks like a sloppy setup to divert the police from is really going on. Across the river, in clear view of the crime scene, is a large community of homeless individuals, perfectly situated for a front row seat to what went down as the crime unfolded. Hoping to locate possible witnesses, the detectives encounter a diverse assortment of people at the unique encampment, including their mysterious and menacing self-proclaimed mayor, a well-meaning but dangerously ill former social worker turned missionary who has chosen to join the community to help serve their many needs, and an elusive veteran. I empathized with Abbey's anger and felt Sam's unease and discomfort as they tried to do right by the people of the camp, while others seemed oblivious and tried to pull them from investigating those they felt didn't warrant the time and effort. Still, their case progresses quickly, with twists and turns all along the way, making this book an absolutely gripping tale. 

I recommend THE LEAST OF THESE to readers of mysteries and thrillers, especially those with an interest in the plight of the unhoused or a Nashville setting. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.