DEAD AT DAYBREAK

As Detective Zapotec's story opens, the scene is a brawl, and Simon Vance's graceful narration seems slightly at odds with the situation. However, as the life of the broken-down South African detective unfolds, Vance's soft-spoken style allows the depths of his character to come through. On the surface, Meyer's novel is about the search for a missing will, but it turns out to be more about the revitalization of the investigator. As he crosses paths with a serial killer and a conspiracy, things take several violent turns. There's also detail on sexual encounters and sexual violence. It may be too intense for some, but Zapotec makes an intriguing protagonist. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2012]