As the Crow Dies
As the Crow Dies by Kenneth Butcher, published by Pace Press in 2020, is a 366-page work of fiction that intertwines elements of mystery and crime. The story follows police lieutenant Ira Segal, who, after returning to semi-active duty following an injury, investigates a murder in Asheville, North Carolina. Partnered with roller derby star Sgt. Dinah “Dinosaur” Rudisill, Segal navigates a quirky case involving superintelligent animals, a missing start-up founder, and a military conspiracy.
Readers will find a blend of humor and intrigue as Segal and Rudisill delve into the eccentric world of Creatures 2.0, a company that trains animals with remarkable abilities. The investigation introduces them to a cast of unusual characters, including a raccoon and a crow that play pivotal roles in uncovering clues. As the detectives confront a shadowy military contractor and face escalating dangers, the narrative maintains a fast-paced and engaging tone, offering a unique take on the police procedural genre.
Official synopsis Publisher
A bookish police detective and his roller derby star partner investigate a quirky mystery involving superintelligent animals, military conspiracy … and murder.
When a body is found in the River Arts District of Asheville, North Carolina, the man on the case is police lieutenant Ira Segal, recently returned to semi-active status after being shot in the line of duty. Segal, who carries Elmore Leonard paperbacks as security blankets, isn’t sure he’s up to investigating a murder, and neither is his partner, military veteran and local roller derby star Sgt. Dinah “Dinosaur” Rudisill.
Segal discovers that the victim worked for the mysterious start-up company Creatures 2.0, which trains animals to acquire uncanny capabilities. Creature 2.0’s eccentric founder, Francis Elah, has gone missing, and no one can find him, not even Elah’s top client, the Office of Naval Intelligence.
As Segal and Rudisill investigate the murder and Elah’s disappearance, they meet the bizarre animals Elah trained, including a raccoon who rolls cigarettes, pigeons who follow a priest to church, and a superintelligent crow who keeps bringing evidence to the detectives’ attention. When the trail leads to a shadowy military contractor, more murders, and a threat to national security, Segal and Rudisill face a dangerous confrontation, and the only thing they can trust is each other.
Witty, engaging and fast-paced, As the Crow Dies is a mystery that veers from the norm in unexpectedly delightful ways.
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