New Jersey Noir: Barnegat (Jack Colt Murder Mysteries) Light by William Baer-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 2, 2022

After Jack Colt is hired by a pretty FBI agent to solve a horrific murder case in Barnegat Light, he finds himself called upon by the daughter of a distinguished judge to another murder scene. Although Colt remembers that his uncle once warned him that “Only an idiot takes two cases at the same time,” he nonetheless takes up the challenge. Along the way, there is yet another case involving the family of the powerful state governor, which he turns down, and yet cannot resist casually working on in the background. The result is fast-paced, suspenseful action that propels Colt through the Garden State, New York City, and all the way to California and Arizona.

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REVIEW:  BARNEGAT LIGHT is the third instalment in William Baer’s contemporary, adult NEW JERSEY NOIR murder mystery series focusing on thirty-two year old, New Jersey private investigator and descendant of the inventor of the Colt revolver Jack Colt.

Told from third person perspective (Jack Colt) BARNEGAT LIGHT follows several paths as our hero, Jack Colt PI is tasked with investigating two unconnected local murders yet involving himself in a third, the victim our hero knew only too well. The first case involves the murder of a local judge, a case that takes a dark and ominous turn with a secret room and cell hidden in the basement where more bodies are found. The second murder finds our hero investigating the mutilation and murder of a young woman whose identical twin sister works the cybercrimes division of the FBI, and thirdly, the newly elected mayor is killed, the daughter of the state’s governor, a woman whose reputation in all things, is otherwise questionable including her connection to another series of disappearances and murders. As Jack Colt and FBI Special Agent Zoe Hathaway begin amassing the clues, our hero finds himself falling for a young woman who may be the next target of a serial killer.

BARNEGAT LIGHT: New Jersey Noir is a detailed, complex, and multi-layered story line of murder, mystery, obsession and revenge. Once again, with the help of his late uncle’s receptionist, Mrs. Doris Solerno aka Nonna, aka best friend and Detective Luca Solerno’s grandmother, and IT hacker Xander, the interpretive and analytical Jack Colt begins to unravel trails of deceit, madness, delusion and vengeance; dysfunctional family preoccupation, and a mob connected secret that demands to remain hidden behind the scenes. The premise is intricate but often meanders in other directions making it difficult to stay on track-some of the conflict resolution is off-page; the characters are numerous, energetic, and deceptive.

With reference to the intricacy and complexity of the story, I found myself having to take notes in an effort to keep track of the relationships, connections and the who, what, why and hows. There was an overwhelming and inordinate but entertaining amount of detail and information to digest.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
New Jersey Noir
New Jersey Noir: Cape May

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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William Baer, a recent Guggenheim fellow, is the award-winning author of twenty-two books, and his various plays have been produced at over thirty American theaters.  He grew up in the Bronx and Wayne, New Jersey, where his family was actively involved in “little theater.”  A graduate of Rutgers (B.A.) and New York University (M.A.), he completed his dissertation in creative writing at the University of South Carolina under the direction of James Dickey.  After attending the Johns Hopkins’ Writing Seminars (M.A.), he served as a Fulbright at the University of Coimbra in Portugal.  He then attended the University of Southern California’s Graduate School of Cinema (M.A.), where he received the Jack Nicholson Screenwriting Award.  The recipient of a Creative Writing Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, he currently lives in North Jersey.