Review: Dead Beckoning by Mike Cobb

Steeped in the charm, pace, and painful realities of a bygone era, Dead Beckoning by Mike Cobb is a stunning peek into late 19th century America, and the lives embroiled in a tragic mystery.

Baker Bass is a Georgia country boy with the heart of a gentleman, who finds himself in small-town high society thanks to the love of his life, Ella. His ambitions take their family to Atlanta, where they shift to being small fish in an ever-growing pond. Running a successful sundry shop in a Southern city is no easy feat, but when he is falsely fingered in a high-profile tobacco heist, his life is turned upside-down for months – and then a .38 caliber bullet finds him in the street just blocks from his home, and he dies within hours.

The investigation is shaky from the start, with disappearing witnesses, unreliable investigators, contradictory coroner reports, and a widening tangle of possible motives. Baker’s eldest son, John, is haunted by grief, and the uncertainty of his own future, even as he tries to piece together the scraps and clues of his father’s shocking death. Why would his father’s gun be missing, why would there be no records of the tobacco purchase, and who had any reason to want Baker out of the picture?

Cobb’s narrative doesn’t stay focused on the victim or his family, presenting a panoramic portrait of this entire drama, crafting elaborate backstories for the detectives in the case, the journalists in town, and every other relevant player in the prose. This intensive attention to detail completes the pulsing canvas of this character-driven thriller, allowing readers to immerse themselves fully in every facet of the story. The spiraling mystery is paced remarkably well, and Cobb doles out red herrings and misleading hints throughout, continuously putting readers on their guard with the possibility of another twist.

Blending societal struggles of the past with timeless themes – corrupt authorities, racial assumptions, and inherent vice – this novel hits hard from every angle. More notably, Cobb draws readers in from the very first paragraph with his truly masterful use of language, constructing three-dimensional characters that are distinct, memorable, and decidedly human. That same passion for linguistics can also be found in the dialogue. Familial interactions are tender and believable, as are the everyday moments between townspeople, transporting readers to another century, and keeping them there.

Some of the italicized self-reflections do feel a bit too convenient, allowing some characters to cut storytelling corners and vaguely tell readers what and how they should think, and the author’s manicured pen can occasionally rob a conversation of its authenticity. However, these small weaknesses in the prose are very minor in the face of such otherwise brilliant writing, boasting a richness of place and character that many far more experienced authors struggle to achieve.

Dead Beckoning is the type of novel that should be savored, consumed slowly, and appreciated for its eloquent and intricate prose, which sets the bar for historical thrillers.