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THE REDEMPTION that every flawed person tries to find in life enhances the complex plot that percolates in former journalist Steve Ulfelder's exciting mystery fiction debut.
And "Purgatory Chasm" is certainly loaded with myriad flawed characters and their avenues to redemption, starting with Conway Sax.
Conway's life was saved by the Barnburners, an unusual Alcoholics Anonymous group that doesn't just get its members clean and sober but also acts as a kind of avenging angel for the vulnerable and powerless.
But sobriety comes at a cost. While he is constantly pushing away the bottle, Conway also pushes away the people who care about him most, including his girlfriend, her children and his own son.
But Conway doesn't shirk his duties to the Barnburners, even when the member he dislikes the most asks for a favor.
But the simple request results in Conway being beaten up and his truck vandalized. When Tander is murdered, Conway is the prime suspect. To clear his name, Conway begins his own investigation into Tander to learn why this once wealthy man has fallen on hard times.
Ulfelder brings a gritty, uncompromising view to his hard-boiled debut. At the same time, the author makes Conway both tough and vulnerable, a man who has made too many mistakes in his life and, unfortunately, will make even more.
"Purgatory Chasm" is a superb beginning for an author who shows much promise.
