giarc 's review for:

Killer Triggers by Joe Kenda
5.0

(Based on ARC). “Once I became the lieutenant in charge of the homicide division, my role was like that of a symphony conductor. I’d walk into the scene of a murder and try to pick up on the melody so that I could orchestrate the investigation.”

Kenda’s opening words describe his style perfectly, from his podcast to his show to his books. Simultaneously lyrical and matter-of-fact, he takes us through some of the crimes he investigated with his signature dry, self-deprecating (and, often, dark) sense of humor, often lacking in the true crime genre (cue the all-too-often dopey humor of podcasts known for murder while drinking various alcoholic beverages; no judgement, just cliche, at this point).

“I am trainable—just ask my wife.”
“I played a very convincing moron.”
“... I wanted the kid to think I was Sherlock Holmesing his ass.”
“They seemed like nice people, so I didn’t shoot them.”
And, of course, you get the classic “Well, well, well” a time or two.

Damn, there’s even a reference to The Fonz, further solidifying a definite 5-star rating.

It’s Kenda. Read the book.