Hagen’s investigation takes him all over Las Vegas and its surrounding towns, giving Hagen a chance to revisit and the readers to learn about his past. While Chaney gives brief glimpses of glitzy casinos, the bulk of the action takes place in small bars and off-the-strip casinos and the apartments and homes of locals. His Las Vegas has a personality of its own but not so much that it overshadows the action. 

It turns out Ronnie had a valuable relic — a wooden hand — he was trying to sell and there are still several people interested in the hand although not all want to buy it. Bodo turns to people from his past to learn more about Ronnie and at the same time, tries to identify friend from foe. A few different legends surround the hand: but no matter where it came from, people will obviously kill to have it.  

Roy Chaney, winner of the second Tony Hillerman prize for unpublished work in the Southwest, has penned a fast-paced, tightly plotted tale that offers a taste of old-fashioned PIs in a contemporary setting with characters and their descriptions reminiscent of Elmore Leonard. But Chaney’s novel is more than just a detective story; he examines relationships and identities. Bodo and Ronnie’s father, Karl Hagen, served as a consultant to casinos, coming into close contact with cops and criminals but he expected military precision from his boys.

Bodo and Ronnie were estranged, but Bodo tries to understand Ronnie, how he escaped to drugs from his father’s abuse yet still wanted to join the Foreign Legion to beat him at his own game. Chaney also gives us insight into Bodo’s past as an undercover CIA operative in Berlin. As if there aren’t enough potential enemies in Las Vegas already, Bodo thinks perhaps his CIA enemies are behind Ronnie’s death.  

Chaney’s novel will delight mystery fans who appreciate complex plots, a terrific atmosphere, well-developed characters and realistic dialogue. I hope this is the first in a series, and Chaney has definitely laid the groundwork for future stories.

--Jane Davis