Currently, a big social and political tempest is brewing in the Ossining area. There is a catch and release policy for fishermen, but there is a grassroots movement afoot for a catch and keep policy. This group is rumored to have ties to the Michigan militia, which has been gaining strength. Local news editor Phipps has asked Fitzgerald to check into the whereabouts of a stringer, Allison Thoene, who is writing a story about the catch and keep group and claims to have stumbled onto some information connected with the militia that will blow the story out of the water. Fitzgerald agrees to take the trek to the backwoods mobile home the reporter has given as an address, if only to avoid having to face a blank computer monitor.

Arriving at her home, Fitzgerald finds the young reporter face down on her keyboard, the back of her head shot off. While waiting for the emergency vehicles to arrive, Fitzgerald is unable to control himself and looks at what Allison had been working on. He realizes it's the catch and keep story, but is unable to find the militia connection. Still, he and the local constabulary figure that must have been the reason for her death, until they connect her with locally known bootlegger Ray Thoene, who is found dead in a similar fashion several miles away. Suddenly, the focus of the investigation changes, and Fitzgerald and the police, with Mercy tagging along, are chasing down many different angles, all leading them into very deep, very dangerous waters.

Catch and Keep is very strong on atmosphere, but much weaker on characterization. Michigan is described in great detail, as is the constant struggle that occurs between long-time residents and newcomers to the area, as each group is looking for a different life out of the area. While Fitzgerald is a reasonably well-drawn character, the reader is given very little insight into the people that surround him. Very little is learned about Allison and without this information, her murder and that of her husband are very hard to solve.

The mystery is an intriguing, complex one, though there are very few clues to allow an armchair detective the chance to solve the case on their own. Readers with a strong interest in environmental issues, however, should find enough to hold their interest.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry