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İsmail's avatar

Loving the atmosphere here. Placing Mercer's investigation right alongside that Hiroshima headline instantly cranks up the tension and makes 1945 DC feel lived-in and gritty.

The "tired cash" clue and the Schmidt/Shaw/Hoffman puzzle were handled beautifully; that's exactly the kind of procedural detail that makes this work. And the shift from spy-thriller territory into con-artist territory caught me completely off guard, in the best way. Really eager to see where Mercer heads next!

Martin Maenza's avatar

C.J., I am always down for a good noir detective story, and this one has started out to deliver just that. I'm along for the ride, wherever this investigation takes Mercer.

Li Mitchell's avatar

Such a great opening. I love how the mystery is introduced and escalated at the same time Mercer is introduced and developed.

C. J. Charles's avatar

Thank’s I appreciate the encouragement! It’s an interesting challenge because I have to show enough of King in the Dark’s events to make the bridge work, and stays with Mercer’s POV, it helps it’s close third-person limited.

Li Mitchell's avatar

You’re welcome! Thanks for writing. I imagine walking that line is a challenge. Really cool how you’re writing from another character’s perspective like that.

C. J. Charles's avatar

It happened by accident. I wanted to resolve a thread I left in King in the Dark, but I wanted to open the new novel in strong way. This idea threaded the needle.

Li Mitchell's avatar

That’s great!