Product Description

The fourth novel in the crime series featuring Carl Houseman and his team. Carl is investigating the apparent sucide of Edie, the melancholy niece of his boss, Sheriff Ridgeway. But something about the body's vicious neck wounds tells Carl this case isn't going to be that simple.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1241638 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 480 pages

Review
'Harstad's first-hand experience ensures his storytelling always rings true.' Arena 'The Big Thaw, set in the dead of winter in a Fargo-like mid-west, is American procedural writing at its best.' Guardian

When Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman of Nation County, Iowa is called out to investigate a suspected suicide in a lonely mansion house, he quickly realizes that there is far more to the death than is first apparent. The call is a code 61, which means that the operator can't reveal any further details. When Houseman arrives on the scene it quickly becomes obvious that this will be an awkward case: not only is the deceased his boss's niece, but it Houseman strongly suspects that her death is no suicide. His intuition is soon confirmed by a trusted coroner and by FBI Special Agent Hester Gorse. Houseman and Gore set out to discover the truth but are faced with a group of somewhat difficult witnesses, and a rumour of vampirism, adding up to what Houseman describes as one of the weirdest cases he's ever been involved with. The recipe is familiar enough: a small town with more than its fair share of violent crime, one grizzled older cop, a pinch of bright young colleagues, a hint of something extraordinary in what at first seems a routine case. However, Harstad mixes his ingredients well enough to produce a tasty thriller that rattles along at a satisfying pace, while making room for some well-observed characters, procedural insight and a dose of intrigue. An excellent addition to the Nation County series. (Kirkus UK)

Independent on Sunday
‘Harstad’s books are terrific and really capture the atmosphere of small-town America, where the twentieth century almost seems to have slipped by unnoticed.’

Colin Dexter
'The endearingly wry first-person narration is splendidly handled; and the characterisation is very good.'

Customer Reviews

Donald Harstad & Carl Houseman - back in style !!
We first met Carl Houseman in Eleven Days, a magnificient first novel full of Donald Harstad's former occupational insight. The second and third novels were great but lacked a bit of the 'punch' that this, Code Sixty One, definitely doesn't lack. Donald Harstad's work is very easy to read and conjures a vivid picture of the world over which Carl Houseman presides. Carl is a truly 'normal' person and his down to earth nature makes him extremely likable, similar with many of the other recurring characters. The 'vampire' storyline may seemed farfetched but, trust me, it's thoroughly gripping. Donald Harstad writes in a very easy to read style and is ideal for everything from a holiday in the sun to a cold winter's night. This book will leaving you checking on line for the release date of the next instalment.

You'll want to read it in 61 minutes
Starting with Eleven Days I have read all 5 of Harstad's novels and have enjoyed them very much. His style really is in the minutiae of solving the crimes he portrays and this, for the most part, is most intriguing. His main foil, the detective Carl Houseman, and his female Fed sidekick are also very believable too. Well worth reading if you like the genre.

VAMPIRES!
Yes, that's right, this book is about vampires. However, if you are not a supernatural fan, please don't let this put you off. It is an extremely well written, fast paced and above all, believable thriller. Harstad keeps you turning the page and you have to give him 10 out of 10 for originality! Way to go Don.