Behr discovers the reason for the police is much graver. Aurelio Santos has been murdered. Behr is at once stunned, grief stricken, and then very angry. Who could do this to such a honorable man? It takes Behr only a moment to resolve to find Aurelio’s murderer. He realizes that the task will not be easy as the authorities will likely not welcome his assistance in the case, but he also realizes he know the victim much better than the investigating officers.

As luck would have it before Behr can even get started on his case he is called in to speak to the legal counsel for the Caro Group, a security investigation firm employed by the rich and famous in high profile cases. Two of their employees who were working on a sensitive case are missing. Caro wants Behr to find these men. Behr wonders why he was chosen apart from his name being at the beginning of the alphabetical list online and in the phone book. They are reluctant to give him much information about the men they want to find, citing all kinds of jargon highly laced with confidentiality, not involving other employees, and keeping the investigation under wraps. Behr agrees to undertake an investigation mainly because the money he receives from them will finance his private investigation of Aurelio’s death. 

Just to make things even more interesting, Behr's former boss, Captain Pomeroy wants Behr’s help in conducting an unofficial investigation involving “pea shake houses,” or lottery style betting operations so called because the numbers to be chosen are written  on peas instead of lottery balls. Pomeroy intimates that a successful outcome to this investigation should put Behr in everyone’s good graces in the police department. Behr counters with a demand of his own… that he be allowed some inside information on the progress of Aurelio’s murder investigation. The deal is set.

Because the case involves a victim who is well versed in a specific flavor of martial arts there is ample explanation and description of said art by the main protagonist both from his observation of others practicing the finer details and Behr himself as he applies these techniques on people who resent his intrusion into the case. In addition Behr is a marksman. A detailed account of his efforts at the shooting range adds a bit of realism to the story, as does the description of the meticulous care which Behr employs as he cleans and oils his gun.

There is a great deal of emphasis on the details of fights between Behr and his adversaries as well. Realism is all well and good but unless you are taken with every choke hold and body slam you might want to skim quickly over such passages. The amount of detail is excruciating.

Behr’s personal life is not much more uplifting than his professional one. His current female interest, Susan puts a great deal of emotional strain on him and it is entirely reciprocal. While they both recognize the importance their relationship has for each of them they don’t make much progress in reconciling their differences.

Where the Dead Lay certainly makes the grade for excitement and confrontation in an action adventure thriller. The body count is high and the author does not avoid vivid descriptions of what amounts to hand to hand combat. If this is what you crave, you will be a happy reader. If you prefer a more cerebral read with less blood and guts you might give this one a pass.

--Andy Plonka