As a result of the publicity Hardesty receives for his efforts, he is summoned by Bakersfield business tycoon, Luther DeVillbis, who has a lucrative business proposition for him. A country and western singing sensation of twenty years ago, Doc Whitney has recently been released from prison and is said to be in the area. Doc had been convicted of the brutal murder of his wife and two small daughters. DeVillbis believes that Whitney is a threat to him and his son Cole because of some business dealings that Whitney’s father had with the DeVillbis clan.

DeVillbis wants Hardesty to track down Doc Whitney and deliver him to DeVillbis.. At first Hardesty refuses, but, eventually, the money and a curiosity about Doc Whitney, whose music Wil has admired, draws him into accepting the offer. Naturally, as Wil begins to probe, he discovers the situation is much more complex than it first appeared.

Blackheart Highway is the fourth book by Richard Barre featuring P.I. Wil Hardesty . Fans of the series will not be disappointed in Wil’s latest caper. A seemingly simple plot becomes a lot more complicated as the story unfolds. Spanning several generations, the story forces Wil to delve into public records and newspaper accounts of events that occurred twenty years ago. Richard Barre commendably does not provide Wil with witnesses that just happen to have the information he is seeking. In addition, what few people that do have useful knowledge are understandably reluctant to tell all to a stranger making the story much more realistic.

Readers unfamiliar with author Barre may find his style of writing takes some getting used to. His characters make numerous oblique comments that make it a challenge to comprehend their meaning and to fit the various bits of information into a cohesive whole. Initially, I found myself rereading parts before I grasped the salient points. Had it not been a book I was reviewing, I’m not sure I would have had the patience to stick with it, but I’m glad I did. Everything fit together nicely in the end, and it was rewarding to be challenged.

Blackheart Highway contains some wonderful characters. My favorite is, without question, Leora Graybill, a crusty old lady, passionate about environmental causes. She seems like a person that would be a joy to know. Another interesting character is Bob Tate, a policeman retired due to a spinal cord injury received in an altercation related to the case. These two folks are the good guys, but the bad ones are equally intriguing, especially in addressing the motivation for their actions.

For country and western music fans there are some interesting comments about the evolution of this type of music and its importance on the music scene. Blackheart Highway is an entertaining book if one resonates with the author’s style of writing, or is patient enough to read carefully.

--Andy Plonka