Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Save the Last Dance for Me: Ed Gorman


Years ago, in 2006, I read the first three books in this series and now I have returned to it with book #4, Save the Last Dance for Me.

My favorite part of these books is the historical setting in the 1950s and 1960s. The first book, The Day the Music Died, is set in 1958, and starts the day before Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash. This book is set in the summer of 1960, when John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon are running for President.

Sam McCain is a young and not very successful lawyer in Black River Falls, Iowa. In need of money, he often works as an investigator for District Judge Esme Anne Whitney, who is rich and influential in their community. As the book begins, McCain is attending a religious service with the local newspaper reporter, Kiley  Burke.


Here is a sample of the narration that sets up the story...
I guess I should do a little scene-setting here.
The date is August 19, 1960. The town is Black River Falls, Iowa, pop. 20,300. The pretty, red-haired young woman I'm with is Kylie Burke, ace reporter for The Black River Falls Clarion. Only reporter, actually. She isn't writing the story—her boss is doing that—but she thought it’d look good on her resume (in case the New York Times calls someday) to say she did background on a group of Ozark folks who moved here after getting kicked out of every state contiguous to ours. Seems these folk incorporate rattlesnakes in their services and that is a violation of the law. And after all the rain we had this past spring, there are plenty of timber rattlers to be had in the woods.
Kylie’s a bit uneasy about visiting these folks, as am I, so we’re here together.
My name is Sam McCain. I’m the youngest and poorest attorney in town. I’m also an investigator for Judge Esme Anne Whitney, the handsome, middle-aged woman who presides over district court. At the age of twenty-four, I earn more from Judge Whitney than I do from my law practice. I’m here tonight because I was summoned by Reverend John Muldaur, the hill-country man who procures the rattlers and oversees the services.
Very shortly there is a death. Judge Whitney is concerned about the crime being solved quickly because Richard Milhous Nixon is going to visit the town and she will be hosting an event in his honor. She doesn't want him thinking that the town is full of "a bunch of rubes."

I love the first person narration by Sam McCain. He has his problems, he is far from perfect, but he has integrity and cares about people. Sam is unlucky in love, and there is a good bit of focus on this. I also like the portrayal of Judge Whitney, who is domineering and determined to get her way in everything. There are many other outstanding characters throughout the book.

Also see:

Matt Paust's review at Crime Time

Tom Nolan's review at January Magazine


 -----------------------------

Publisher:  Worldwide, 2003 (orig. pub. 2002).
Length:    252 pages
Format:    Paperback
Series:     Sam McCain #4
Setting:    Iowa
Genre:     Mystery
Source:   I bought my copy.


16 comments:

Bill Selnes said...

TracyK: This does sound good. Sam McCain sounds like a guy I would like to meet.

col2910 said...

You're tempting me, Tracy. Sounds good and I've checked the series, only 10 books total...

pattinase (abbott) said...

I miss Sam McCain (and Ed Gorman).

Rick Robinson said...

I read the first three years ago, and then quit the series. It just no longer interested me, and this one doesn't tempt me, especially the kooks who like to play with snakes. Ugh.

Margot Kinberg said...

This series does sound interesting, Tracy. I don't normally go for the first person present tense narrative. But McCain does sound like a good character, and I like the setting, too. I ought to explore this series...

Debbie Rodgers said...

I read Wake Up, Little Susie many years ago and remember quite liking it. Thanks for reminding me of this series!

TracyK said...

I agree, Bill, Sam McCain seems like he would be fun to know. Exasperating at times, but interesting.

TracyK said...

You might like this (or one of his other series), Col, and none of Ed Gorman's series have too many books.

TracyK said...

Me, too, Patti. I also liked the Dev Conrad book I read, and want to read more of those. I haven't tried any of his other series.

TracyK said...

Sam McCain does get involved with some weird characters, Rick.

TracyK said...

First person narrative does have its limitations, Margot. There was a time years ago when I would only read books written in first person narrative.

TracyK said...

I hope you find more to read in the series, Debbie. I plan to continue with the series.

Mathew Paust said...

One of my favorite McCains, Tracy. Glad you liked it (thanks for the plug).

TracyK said...

I hope I find some more of the Sam McCain books at the book sale in September, Mathew. Or any books by Gorman for that matter.

Clothes In Books said...

I don't think I know this series, though the name Ed Gorman sounds familiar. I'll have to look it up - this sounds really good.

TracyK said...

I think the series is worth a try, Moira. The look at a small midwestern town during the 1950s and 60s is interesting.