Checked Out

Book excerpt: Harris (Blood Feud, 2012) spins a rousing whodunit set in the lucrative supermarket business in this second series installment. Russell Riley, former president of the New England–-based Galetti Supermarkets, is back to sort out more familial unrest involving the greed and deceit running rampant throughout the “food brokerage business.” Unceremoniously fired after a three-decade tenure with Galetti Supermarkets for not keeping the business profitable throughout a “two-billion-dollar family food fight,” Riley receives a life-changing call from college-baseball buddy Bob Santone. Santone’s multistore Rhode Island supermarket family business, Food Basket, had been recently thrown into turmoil after his uncle Alex, the company’s extravagantly bankrolled CEO, was murdered in his living room. Santone dangles a lucrative one-year position in front of Riley in a desperate attempt to rescue the business from financial ruin. After conferring with business partner Bill Hartman; lifelong friend Arnold; doting wife Holly; and even Trip, CEO of Galetti Supermarkets, he accepts the challenge. Police Capt. Alan Cummings, who’s investigating the case, is ably assisted by hard-nosed Assistant District Attorney (and passionate love interest) Donna Mitchner, who is trailing suspected killer Bruno Jethroe, as well as other suspects, including Alex’s widow. The action builds as shady life-insurance policies, fiery courtroom antics, money laundering, and double-indemnity plots abound. Meanwhile, Harris keeps even his peripheral characters multidimensional and the dialogue sprightly. Without question, Riley is the star throughout and, together with the detectives, soon fleshes out the intricate details of the twisty murder plot. Harris, who draws great inspiration from over 30 years in the food business himself, once again writes an energetic, high-stakes yarn of greed and betrayal navigated by the charmingly quirky Russell Riley and leaves room for more possible antics to follow. A satisfying blend of intrigue and corporate mayhem helmed by a playful, foodie do-gooder.