Oh Joe

From Booklist Joe Prince drives a truck, loves his girlfriend, Kelly, and their infant son, Little Joe. But that isn’t enough to keep him from straying, and when Kelly catches him in the act, she leaves him. As a form of self-imposed house arrest, he agrees to house-sit shady old pal George Wayne’s permanently anchored houseboat in the middle of a large Indianapolis reservoir. But the loneliness wears on Joe. He jumps ship and swims for shore. A day or so later Joe finds himself under arrest for Wayne’s murder. Steph Steponski, the lead detective assigned to the case, is sure of Joe’s guilt—until she learns that Joe was played for a patsy and may now be at risk himself. Lewin, nominated for three Edgars, may be best known as the creator of quirky Indianapolis private eye Albert Samson. He is as gently humorous and ironic as ever, and readers will find a kindred soul in Joe, as likably flawed as any recent protagonist in mystery fiction. A very enjoyable experience. --Wes Lukowsky