Dead Air (Book)

Dead Air by Cliff Protzman (2018) – The owner of a Pittsburgh security company investigates the death of his boyhood friend.  The answer will wind through the radio industry, city politics, and sex as he pursues justice for his friend.

This book is like a beautiful stranger you see on the other side of the room.  Everything you see is your ideal of perfection.  Then they open their mouth.

Sigh.

“Dead Air” is a murder mystery.  I love those.

It’s set in the radio industry where I spent twenty years of my professional life.  It shat in my hat many times over those years, but I still love it.

The action takes place in and around Pittsburgh.  My hometown.  There’s even a scene in the bar where my Bachelor party was held.

It was love at first sight.

Unfortunately, the writing doesn’t live up to my hopes.  Protzman tends to overwrite.  You’ll know every detail of the clothing worn by every character.  You’ll know every item of every meal they eat.  My love for the Steel City is second to none, but I have to wonder if he is on the payroll of the city’s Board of Tourism.

Oh, and I really hope he’s getting sponsorship dollars from IC Light.

Seriously.

IC Light.

It feels like there is a good story here.  Weaving the city into the story is a great idea.  It’s great and underappreciated.  But it begins to feel like this is an entry in a “How many places around Pittsburgh can you include?” contest.  You know you’ve gone over the edge when I decide I’ve had quite enough Pittsburgh, thank you very much.

There are other shortcomings as well.  The characters are thin.  Our protagonist has the sex drive of a hormone-crazed fifteen-year-old.  If an attractive woman walks by him, he can’t focus anymore.  And most of the characters around him seem to be in the same place.

Clearly intended to be the first book in a series, the writing will need to take some serious strides if I’m going to read the next installment.

But I’m letting my heart lead my head this time.

“Dead Air” hits the shelves this fall.

This review was based on an Advance Reader Copy provided by the publisher and is consistent with our Review Policy.

Why You Will Like It – Some good action and interesting concepts.  Old home week for Yinzers.

Rating – *** Worth A Look