Nick of Time – Tim Downs

© 2011, Thomas Nelson, Nashville

Writer, speaker, and cartoonist, Tim Downs’ Bug Man is back.

This time Nick Polchak is getting married . . . if he doesn’t get cold feet. Nick is getting married . . . if he doesn’t get killed first. Nick is getting married . . . if he doesn’t get his fiancée killed first.

Sick of wedding plans, and with the wedding less than a week away, Nick decides to travel to Philadelphia for a meeting of the Vidocq Society—an elite group of forensic specialists from every field that meets once a month and helps solve cold cases—only cold cases (at least two years without any new clues), and only murder cases (lost your cat? Don’t come to Vidocq).

Upon arrival at the meeting, Nick discovers the friend who lured him there with the promise of a really tough case has been murdered. The evidence points him to the Poconos and an old murder by neglect case. When his fiancée doesn’t hear from him at the promised time—two nights in a row—she heads to the Poconos to find him.

Fans of Bug Man novels will recognize the sarcastic obstinacy of our hero as he does everything to avoid endearing himself to any and all law enforcement officers along the way, including old friends like FBI agent Nathan Donovan (who is pegged to stand with Nick as best man).

The writing, as always, is fast-paced and action-packed—even at the boutique shop of the wedding planner (Weddings ‘n’ Such—where Nick wants more wedding and less such). If you want to meet the bride and attend the wedding, you’ll have to grab a copy of the book and read it. For background, you’ll want to read earlier Bug Man novels, especially Ends of the Earth. In the meantime, I’ll give Downs another five out of five reading glasses for another excellent diversion.

—Benjamin Potter, May 12, 2011

[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”]