Ingram’s friend and sometime accomplice, Seymour Hartley is a seventy-five year old retired pathologist stricken with prostate cancer that has spread to his spine. Hartley feels he has little to live for. He wife died of breast cancer some years ago, and his own medical condition causes him constant pain. He lives with his housekeeper, William, the surviving half of a married couple that he and his wife have employed for many years.

William misses his wife also, but works hard to take care of his employer both mentally and physically. After a night of carousing to try to forget his troubles, Hartley returns home to find his house vandalized and William lying dead on the bathroom floor. He can think of only one reason for such a terrible violation - his association with Ingram in the money laundering scheme.

Enraged by William’s death, Hartley strike out at Ingram, the only viable outlet for his anger. Ingram is consumed with guilt for putting his friend in danger, and refuses to let Hartley remain in his home. He takes Hartley to the riverside cabin he inherited from his father, probably a foolish move since his attackers are well aware of the cabin’s location. Predictably the cabin is torched while Hartley is out by the river. Ingram escapes from the fire, but is unable to find Hartley. Ingram must find his friend, and put an end to the sticky situation in which he has unwittingly become involved.

A few caveats to the prospective reader of Dark Delivery are in order. First, the author assumes the reader’s familiarity with events that transpired and characters' personalities in Southern Latitudes. In addition, the narrative style is somewhat unusual. The chapters alternate first person account of the events with Ingram and Hartley. Finally, the tone of the writing changes periodically from erudite manner to stereotypical, rural southern, good old boy folksy attitude. The country manner of speaking is done tongue in cheek, but fortunately, the author’s erudite voice is the more prevalent. The plot is rather thin. Ingram and Hartley, neither one the physical equal of their adversaries, must rely on their minds to outwit their opponents, though often with less than outstanding results.

Ingram’s fledgling friendship with Clint McConnyhead, a Vietnam veteran is an astute maneuver. Clint’s knowledge of fighting the Viet Cong is clearly what saves Ingram from disaster. The ingredient that makes this novel worthwhile is the characters and their comments and insights. And Ingram’s analysis of Clint’s personality is revealing as well. Clint is withdrawn and sullen since he has returned from the war. It is the excitement and fear of combat that brings him alive. These insights and others make the book memorable.

Given that some of the unlikely duo’s adversaries are still alive and not in prison, and that Ingram still is in possession of the enigmatic notebook and disks, it is likely there will be a third installment of this saga in the future. Hopefully, these characters have not yet taught us all they know.

--Andy Plonka