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Saint's Rest

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In 1931, everyone seems to be desperately searching for work. Luckily for Welsh architect Merlin Richards, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, he is firmly ensconced in the Chicago offices of Westlake and Davison. He finds the Second City is nothing as he expected as murders do not occur on every street corner.

However, Merlin's stretch without seeing a corpse ends when he lands the commission to build a garish Hollywood-style mansion in Oak Park section of Chicago for the wealthy Hobart St. Johns, king of the stockyards. Merlin gives Claire, an attractive member of the St. John's entourage, a tour of the wine cellar, only to find the a body hanging from a meat hook. Merlin figures on murder, but the police label it a suicide. Though someone warns Merlin to keep his mouth shut, he risks his life trying to bring a killer to justice.

Keith Miles writes a very good historical mystery that allows the reader to feel the panic and sheer desperation confronting people during the Great Depression. Besides the ambiance of the era, SAINT'S REST stars a unique character. Chicago awes and repulses Merlin based on the observations he makes. Merlin's naiveté adds interesting relationships to an entertaining novel that will bring much acclaim to Mr. Miles.

Harriet Klausner

This is a murder mystery written by Keith Miles. Don't read this book.
Mr. Miles sets his book and protagonist Merlyn Richards in Chicago during the American depression. The hero is an architect (an intriguing profession), the women are described as smart and sassy or svelte and alluring, there are capitalists who are above the law (or at least own more than their share of the police force), and there is sex outside of marriage. In spite of all this promise, the plot is mechanistic, the hero is righteous to the point of adolescent outrage, and the dialogue is lumpish and unbelievable.