Customer Reviews

A Country of Old Men: The Last Dave Brandstetter Mystery

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Nearly all his friends dead or put to pasture, lured out of retirement for one last case, gay PI Dave Brandstetter decides to investigate the unlikely tale of a little boy who claims he witnessed a murder and was then kidnapped and beaten by a mysterious woman named 'Rachel.' Sure enough, there does turn out to be a dead man: Cricket Shales, a first-rate guitarist but less than efficient drug dealer. Pursuing this case against the wishes of his lover Cecil, an ailing Dave is dragged into the underbelly of the music industry, and the grim world of street drugs. As one would expect from Hansen, this is a sharply written, effective and clever detective story. I do think good old Dave deserves a more imaginative fate--in fact, I'd have liked to see Hansen start the book with the last few pages of story, and flash us back to Dave's first ever case in post-Chandler Los Angeles. Then we could start the adventures of Dave all over again! Okay, I admit this is the long goodbye I'd have been happy to postpone permanently.

A Country of Old Men, the Final Dave Brandstetter mystery finds the successful death claims investigator, while in retirement, seemingly busier than ever. In addition to being drawn into the investigation of the murder of a young drug dealing musician, there are one or two very minor subplots involving Dave's friends. The murder investigation throws up several likely suspects, but not the young girl the police have held on the charge. The investigation throws up some child abuse along with the potential involvement of some influential characters. The investigation not only puts Dave's life in danger yet again from some of the suspects, but also his increasing years are taking their toll. Yet despite his age he is even propositioned by a handsome young guy with a body like a Greek marble, he clearly has lost none of his charm or looks.

As is fitting for this, the last of the Brandstetter stories, there is more involving Dave's private life then usual, and it is all the more interesting for it. He and Cecil, his handsome young black lover, are as devoted to each other as ever, and Cecil is increasingly worried about Dave's health. Making an appearance too are a number of Dave's old friends and acquaintances. Yet again a very different story full of fine detail, but this time a particularly moving story too.

Nobody likes to see the last book in a series of books as great a Hansen's "Brandstetter"-series. It's sad. Especially because of the fact that Dave really is a well constructed character that one grows to like over the years.
But everything has to end someday and I think Hansen did a pretty good job. It's not the ending one would suspect. It's logical and convincing. And it's part of a very good detective-novel. The story is one of the best in the series and Hansen even takes the time to wrap up some loose ends that have been around for ages through the books.
And if you like, you can read the ending as kind of an open end...

'A Country of Old Men' is the final installment of David Brandstetter, insurance investigator, solving crime among the loonies in Los Angeles circa 1990. Brandstetter is old and tired, as is this book. They mystery concerns a murder partially witnessed by a young boy. Brandstetter makes the police look like chumps, and the guy is even cool enough to have a hot television reporter boyfriend. The mystery doesn't amount to much, the dialogue is bland, and the surprise ending disappoints. Hansen has done much better than this.

Bottom line: not recommended, even if your are a fan of the author.

A Country of Old Men, the Final Dave Brandstetter mystery finds the successful death claims investigator, while in retirement, seemingly busier than ever. In addition to being drawn into the investigation of the murder of a young drug dealing musician, there are one or two very minor subplots involving Dave's friends. The murder investigation throws up several likely suspects, but not the young girl the police have held on the charge. The investigation throws up some child abuse along with the potential involvement of some influential characters. The investigation not only puts Dave's life in danger yet again from some of the suspects, but also his increasing years are taking their toll. Yet despite his age he is even propositioned by a handsome young guy with a body like a Greek marble, he clearly has lost none of his charm or looks.

As is fitting for this, the last of the Brandstetter stories, there is more involving Dave's private life then usual, and it is all the more interesting for it. He and Cecil, his handsome young black lover, are as devoted to each other as ever, and Cecil is increasingly worried about Dave's health. Making an appearance too are a number of Dave's old friends and acquaintances. Yet again a very different story full of fine detail, but this time a particularly moving story too.