Nothing to Hide by J. Mark Bertrand

Title: Nothing to Hide by J. Mark Bertrand
A Roland Marsh Mystery
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher

Summary:

A grisly homicide. An international threat. The stakes have never been higher for Detective Roland March.

The victim’s head is missing, but what intrigues Detective Roland March is the hand. The pointing finger must be a clue–but to what? According to the FBI, the dead man was an undercover asset tracking the flow of illegal arms to the Mexican cartels. To protect the operation, they want March to play along with the cover story. With a little digging, though, he discovers the Feds are lying. And they’re not the only ones.

In an upside-down world of paranoia and conspiracy, March finds himself dogged by injury and haunted by a tragic failure. Forced to take justice into his own hands, his twisting investigation leads him into the very heart of darkness, leaving March with nothing to lose–and nothing to hide.

The Review:

Past and present collide in Nothing to Hide, J. Mark Bertrand’s third novel starring Detective Roland March. In this compelling mystery, nothing is as it seems as March’s investigation into a gruesome murder in the present appears to be linked to his stint in the Army during the mid eighties.

Roland March is a complex, multi-layered character. He is a tough but compassionate detective. His quest for justice for crime victims is long held and deeply ingrained. A tragic death makes this case personal for March, and the further he delves into the case, he is confronted by the possibility he may have to compromise his integrity and principles to bring this investigation to a close.

The mystery in Nothing to Hide begins simply enough with the discovery of a mutilated, headless corpse. Before long, March discovers much of the information he receives is deliberately misleading, which of course, leads to the all important question of why. Twists and turns take March and the reader deep into an undercover operation, a convoluted conspiracy and a shocking web of corruption.

Nothing to Hide is a fast-paced, action packed thriller. The characters are well-drawn, realistic and gritty. J. Mark Bertrand masterfully pieces together a well-written and intriguing mystery that keeps the pages turning at a blistering pace.

An outstanding crime drama that I highly recommended.