Blackman's Coffin: A Sam Blackman Mystery (Sam Blackman Series) [Kindle Edition]

Mark de Castrique (Author)

Book Description

Sam Blackman is an angry man. A Chief Warrant Officer in the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the U.S. military, he lost a leg in Iraq. His outspoken criticism of his medical treatment resulted in his transfer to the Veteran’s Hospital in Asheville, NC. Disillusioned with the military, grieving over the recent death of his parents, and at odds with his brother, Sam’s life is in shambles. Then an ex-marine and fellow amputee named Tikima Robertson walks into his hospital room.

Tikima hints she has an opportunity for Sam to use his investigative skills—if he can stop feeling sorry for himself. But before she can return, Tikima is murdered, her body found floating in the French Broad River. Sam was the last person to see her alive.

Tikima’s sister, Nakayla, brings Sam a journal she finds in Tikima’s apartment. A note stuck to the in-side cover reads “For Sam Blackman.” The volume dates to 1919 and contains the entries of a twelve-year-old boy who accompanies his father, a white funeral director, as they help a black man, Elijah Robertson, transport his deceased relative from Asheville to a small family plot in Georgia.

The link to the present? Nearly 90 years ago, Elijah’s body was also found in the French Broad River, a crime foreshadowing the death of his great-great-granddaughter Tikima.

Sam and Nakayla must delve into Asheville’s rich history, the legacy of the Vanderbilts at the Biltmore estate, and of author Tom Wolfe to uncover the murderous truth.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. At the start of this outstanding first in a new series from de Castrique (Final Undertaking), Sam Blackman, a feisty army vet who lost part of a leg in the current Iraq War, is in his last days of rehab at a V.A. hospital in Asheville, N.C., when he meets Tikima Robertson, a black woman and fellow amputee who invites him to apply for a job at her security firm. Soon after, Sam phones the firm and learns Tikima is dead. Sam speaks at Tikima's funeral, during which her apartment is ransacked. Tikima's sister, Nakayla, later finds that the intruders overlooked a diary from 1919 bookmarked with Sam's name and number. The diary vividly brings to life the intrepid journey of a white funeral director and the Robertson sisters' great-great-grandfather, Elijah Robertson, that ends in Elijah's murder. Suspecting a connection between the long-ago murder and Tikima's untimely drowning, Sam decides to investigate, but he must overcome hurdles of body and mind as he pursues the truth. A wealth of historical detail, an exciting treasure hunt and credible characters distinguish this fresh, adventurous read. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

While recuperating in an Asheville, North Carolina, veterans’ hospital after losing a leg in Iraq, Sam Blackman  meets fellow vet Tikima Robertson, who stops by his hospital room with a possible job offer and a promise to visit again. When Tikima doesn’t return, Sam tries to contact her and finds she has been murdered. After Tikima’s sister, Nakayla, shows Sam a journal that Tikima wanted him to see, he becomes involved not only in finding Tikima’s murderer but also in solving the mystery of the 90-year-old journal itself, which refers to another murder, of the Robertsons’ great-great grandfather. Gold, emeralds, the Vanderbilt’s Biltmore estate,  and author Thomas Wolfe play roles in the generations-old case, which Sam and Nakayla unravel in a suspenseful, compelling narrative. A nice mix of past and present and a sympathetic sleuthing duo will keep readers engaged. De Castrique is the author of the Barry Clayton Undertaking series,  also set in North Carolina. --Sue O'Brien

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 516 KB
• Print Length: 265 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1590585178
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (May 25, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003VD2286
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,278 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars You CAN Go Home Again August 25, 2008

By Ted Feit VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

The Churchillian phrase, "A mystery wrapped in an enigma," certainly applies to this novel, which promises to be the first in a new series featuring Sam Blackman. Sam was a career soldier in the army, most recently a Chief Warrant Officer in the Criminal Investigation Detachment in Iraq where he lost a leg. Sent to Walter Reed Hospital in the nation's Capitol, he raised his voice against poor treatment of veterans in the press and before a Congressional Committee, gaining a certain notoriety.

Apparently as a result, or in an attempt to hide him from the public eye, Sam was relocated to a Veteran's Hospital in Asheville, NC, boyhood home of the novelist Thomas Wolfe, who plays a role in the story. Shortly before his discharge, Sam is visited by another amputee, Tikima Robertson, who suggests she could use his services. Before either could follow up, she is murdered. Her sister brings Sam a journal written in 1919 by a 12-year-old boy. The tale leads Sam and the sister into looking into not only Tikima's murder, but several others, including that of a couple that took place almost nine decades before.

Written with style and verve, the novel provides broad and interesting glimpses into North Carolina history, excellent descriptions of the Vanderbilt's legacy at the Biltmore estate and some interesting insights into Tom Wolfe's writings. Recommended.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book from Mark De Castrique September 3, 2008

By L. J. Roberts TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

BLACKMAN'S COFFIN (Unl. Inv.-Sam Blackman-North Carolina/Georgia-1907/Cont) - Ex
De Castrique, Mark - 1st Sam Blackman book
Poisoned Pen Press, 2008, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9781590585177

First Sentence: I felt a hand on my shoulder , shaking me awake.

Sam Blackman was a Chief Warrant Officer in the Criminal Investigation Detachment. He is now in a VA Hospital in Ashville, NC after having lost part of his leg in Iraq. Tikima Robertson, an ex-Marine who lost part of her arm in Iraq, visits his room. She comes with sass and an offer for Sam to put his past experience to use.

After Tikima is murdered, her sister Nakayla asks for his help and presents him with a journal written in 1919 on which Tikima has placed a note saying "for Sam."

I have become such a big fan of De Castrique's writing. He knows how to construct a good mystery with dimensional characters, a great sense of place and a touch of humor. He manages to include ideas and observations that are important and make me think.

The story is informative without, in any way, being boring or slow. This book is particularly timely in that the protagonist is an Iraq veteran and amputee. Some of his supporting characters are residents of a senior-care facility. References to other characters include the Vanderbilts and Thomas Wolfe.

The structure of the story is fascinating; a supposed journal from 1907--a device that could have slowed the story to a crawl but, instead, gave it extra dimension--and the present day. The story's plot was interesting and the manner in which the two time periods were linked and tied together at the end was so well done. I couldn't identify the bad guys and enjoyed the twists that took the story to a suspenseful climax and a touching end.

I was very sorry to see his Barry Clayton series end but am much better now that we have Sam Blackman. Thank you, Mr. De Castrique, for another great book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - Thoroughly Enjoyable - Great Beginning to a new Series July 20, 2008

By Sadie's Mom

Format:Hardcover

Very well-written debut of a new series introducing war-wounded veteren, Sam Blackman. Book has so much fascinating detail and history of the Asheville, NC / Bilmore house that the book would be worth reading it for that alone. The story line, however, is also excellent and readers will not be disappointed.

More About the Author

A native of western North Carolina, Mark sets most of his mysteries in Asheville and the surrounding Appalachian mountains. In addition to his Sam Blackman and Barry Clayton series, Mark has written the political thriller, The 13th TARGET, and two Young Adult mysteries: a thriller, A CONSPIRACY OF GENES, set in a children's hospital and an historical "locked-room" murder mystery, DEATH ON A SOUTHERN BREEZE, set on a train traveling from Charlotte to Charleston in the summer of 1860. Mark also has written the play "A DYING BUSINESS" and two short stories, TWO OF A KIND, available for the Kindle.

His most recent novel is the sci-fi thriller DOUBLE CROSS OF TIME set in 2030 when today's breaking scientific discoveries yield surprising and dangerous consequences. For a sneak preview or for a tour of Sam Blackman's Asheville or a preview of his latest Sam Blackman mystery, THE SANDBURG CONNECTION, or the D.C. political thriller, The 13th TARGET, check out the video section of his author page.