The Surest Poison: A Sid Chance Mystery

by: Chester D. Campbell

Published by: Night Shadows Press (April release)

Reviewed by Stephanie Boyd

PI Sid Chance is angry about the unfounded accusations of bribery that lead to the end of his career as the police chief in a small town. If it wasn’t for the coaxing of Jaz LeMieux, another ex-cop and his friend, he would have never returned to chasing criminals and become a PI.

His current case involves an old chemical dump that has leached into the water supply of a small town and caused havoc. Sid, also a former National Parks ranger, loves to stop people who harm nature, so this case seems a good fit. But when people that are related to the case begin to be murdered, someone blows up the guest house behind Jaz’s home, and Sid finds links to the people he believes set him up before, Sid knows this may be the case of a lifetime! Will Sid finally be able to bring down the people who damaged his reputation while finding justice for the people harmed by the chemical dump?

The Surest Poison is a very good involved mystery! I like the characters of Sid and Jaz and loved their determination to right the wrongs in the world even when it involves personal sacrifice. Sid is hardened and disillusioned after the loss of his reputation through malicious false charges–and it takes determination to move on and return to doing what he does best–stop criminals. Sid’s poker buddies, all former crime buster of one kind or another, including Jaz, provide much-needed aide and support when his back is against the wall. The bad guys are determined to stop Sid and Jaz by any means necessary and the threats and attempts on their lives continue to ratchet up with each run in with the criminals.

The action and suspense grab you from the first page and holds on to the end! If you like tough-guy crime-buster stories, then you will enjoy the new Sid Chance Mystery series beginning with The Surest Poison. I am looking forward to a second adventure with Sid, his sidekick Jaz, and their poker buddies as they rein in the bad guys.

Armchair Interviews says: Exciting and well-done first in a new series.

Author’s Website: http://www.ChesterDCampbell.com