From a High Place [Mass Market Paperback]

Edward Mathis (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While visiting his small hometown in Texas, private eye Dan Roman is asked to investigate the recent death of the mild-mannered assistant librarian. His findings connect that death to the also-recent suicide of one of the town's richest citizens, the man who had married Roman's high-school sweetheart. Enduring assorted threats to his life while he suffers the souring of some of his innocent youthful fantasies, Roman does some killing of his own. In the end he solves the mysteries and managesafter five murders and a disappearanceto leave town with the general citizenry unaware of any wrongdoing. This first novel (and the first in a series to feature P.I. Roman) offers a strong sense of place but is marred by over-writing; the action seems soap-opera arbitrary and the characters video-screen flat. November 30
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (June 12, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345333705
• ISBN-13: 978-0345333704
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,759,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It was his first novel after all, September 19, 2005

By 

"Jerry" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From a High Place (Mass Market Paperback)

The book introduces Dan Roman, a former cop turned P.I. who works a case in the small town of Burning Wells in East Texas, his old hometown in which he grew up as a local football hero. Roman is an alcoholic, the mood is dark, and we are in film noir land here, effectively done. Roman is tough and smart, leaves a pretty high body count behind, and this is a very good first effort within this genre. I like the character of Roman and a few of the minor players as well, especially his client. The plot is tight, the resolution OK if somewhat predictable and a bit corny. Mathis still had a lot to learn about writing dialogue and making his characters more three-dimensional, but he does this better as the series progresses. The series reminds one of several of the P.I.s of the 70s and 80s, who reflect the cynicism of the post-Viet Nam era in the USA. For those who like a good book by a writer still learning his craft, this one is recommended highly. Good sense of place (rural Texas), good P.I. character, pretty good plot, and a good read.