MOURNERS: A NAMELESS DETECTIVE NOVEL, by Bill Pronzini, Forge, 285 pages, $24.95.
Probably the longest-running private-eye fiction series published over three decades, Bill Pronzini's Nameless character has won a string of awards. He created Nameless in a short story in 1967. The first book was published in 1971. All of the books are known by one-name titles, such as "Boobytrap," "Spook," "Hardcase," "Epitaphs," "Breakdown," "Quicksilver," "Scattershot," etc.
Now, 60 novels later, Pronzini is still writing.
In "Mourners," the suave, unassuming private eye — whom critics have called "the thinking man's private detective" — once again runs into violent situations he must calmly analyze without too much emotional involvement.
Even though Nameless hates funerals, his new case forces him to tail James Troxell, a man who seems obsessed with funerals and flowers. Hired by Troxell's wife, the detective soon amasses a convincing amount of evidence pointing to her husband's preoccupation with women who die by violent means. It just doesn't make any sense.
Then he finds other disturbing material — including magazines, books and videos belonging to Troxell that are all concerned with violence and women. When Nameless tells his story to Troxell's wife, she is stunned. They decide to confront the husband with the evidence and ask him what it's all about.
Troxell reacts with humility but cannot explain his obsession. But that's not the end of the story.
In the meantime, Jake Runyon is investigating a homicide/rape of a young woman. Beginning with only shreds of evidence, he slowly builds a profile of an extremely heavy-set man known only as "Fatso," who has a pony tail — and who apparently met the victim on at least two occasions. But he also disappeared for two years before the murder was committed.
After interviewing several people who may have known "the perp," Runyon discovers he has moved several times, had several employers and finally took great pains to lose weight and cut his hair so that he would be more attractive to his eventual victim.
Evidently, the young woman did not like "Fatso" even when he was trim. The result was her murder. To make matters worse, "Fatso" seems to have his eye on the victim's sister, an attractive woman who bears a startling resemblance to Runyon's deceased wife. He soon becomes emotionally involved.
For those who are drawn to private-eye fiction, this one is serviceable. The dialogue is very good. It's written in a low-key, understated style and runs true to the ideals of Sam Spade and Phillip Marlowe and all the rest.
It's also not too bloody, though it is a little too predictable. Pronzini has a way of previewing his stories, dropping hints 10-20 pages before an event actually occurs. It should be more challenging than this.
E-mail: dennis@desnews.com