Part of Mario Balzic Detective Mystery, book 5
First published 2002
Mario Balzic runs the police in Rocksburg, a fading coal town in western Pennsylvania. He knows every resident and watches everything that happens in his community. At Muscotti's Bar, his regular hangout, Balzic notices Jimmy Romanelli selling baskets of ripe tomatoes to Vinnie the bartender. The fruit seems odd for the season. What starts as a curious observation about unseasonable produce turns into a murder investigation when Romanelli turns up dead. Over several weeks, Balzic tracks down the killer while three people die. He solves the case but finds no satisfaction in the solution. The investigation reveals Romanelli's obsessive need to grow tomatoes, a compulsion that led directly to his death. Balzic commands respect without throwing his weight around. He swears like a sailor but treats people with fundamental decency. His detective skills shine through his unpretentious manner and genuine care for his town.
Genres: mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, small-town
Setting: Rocksburg, Pennsylvania
Period: 20th-century
192 pages · Paperback · David R. Godine Publisher