At first you might think this sounds too contrived. Why would he be suspect just because he offered the lady a sip of Coke? Rusch handles this particular detail marvelously. You see, the lady was a light-skinned black woman. In the glare of the midday sun, the GI didn't notice this. He admits (forty years later) that at the time he was a typical white bigot and would never have offered a "colored" person a drink from his bottle. He doesn't overtly apologize for this; he simply says that's the way things were, and he knows better now. Note how expert this device is. It provides an immediate reason why he is the suspect forty years ago, and at the same time Rusch builds empathy for the character. People who admit their mistakes and try to improve are easy to empathize with.

But the race issue goes far deeper than a clever plot device here, and I'll stop right now lest I give away too much of this marvelously conceived story. What the reader finds is that mystery as a genre has grown up since the days of flatfoots on the beat, amateur detectives, and rascally private investigators saving the pretty dame in the big hat from trouble. We find that mystery can be a genre that explores human relationships, human failings, and sometimes triumphs, and it can do it as well as any mainstream literary story. Meanwhile, we get the added bonus of watching as the main character unravels an ingenious riddle. This ebook is available at Fictionwise for 99 cents. You can find it at http://www.fictionwise.com/servlet/mwserve?a=v&t=book.htm&bookid=240.

Other Rusch mysteries
Here are some quickie reviews of other Rusch mystery stories:

Models
"Models" shows us the world of high fashion through the eyes of a photographer whose friend is murdered during a fashion show. The story was the runner-up for the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Reader's Choice Award. It's full of fascinating details and harsh criticism of the modeling world, without becoming overly polemic. You can find it at http://www.fictionwise.com/servlet/mwserve?a=v&t=book.htm&bookid=242.

Scars
"Scars" is the story of a woman who is disfigured in an auto accident and tries to overcome her fear of showing her body in public by joining a local gym and swimming for exercise. The only problem is the lifeguard is murdered while she's alone in the pool. This is another fine example of exploring the human condition through mystery. You can find this story at http://www.fictionwise.com/servlet/mwserve?a=v&t=book.htm&bookid=246.

Updates
"Updates" takes place in a newsroom on election night. Suddenly, the station starts receiving threatening phone calls. This one has high tension and a good pace, but it doesn't come together quite as well as "Details" or "Models." It's at http://www.fictionwise.com/servlet/mwserve?a=v&t=book.htm&bookid=241.

Steve Niles is Senior Editor for ZATZ Publishing. He is also an independent filmmaker and freelance writer. For more information, visit http://www.sn-films.com.