What is Roger Johns reading?

Featured at Writers Read: Roger Johns, author of River of Secrets: Wallace Hartman Mysteries (Volume 2).

His entry begins:

I had the good fortune to moderate two panels of excellent writers at two different conferences on two consecutive weekends, in September. To prepare for my duties, I read at least one novel by each of the panelists, so I’ve had an embarrassment of riches in the reading department. Here are just a few of the books I had the pleasure to read:

Sujata Massey’s latest mystery, The Widows of Malabar Hill is set in 1920’s Bombay and tells the story through the eyes of Perveen Mistry, one of the first woman lawyers in India. Sujata’s attention to detail is amazing without being the least bit obtrusive. The sense of being there was strong and consistent. Fans of immersive, atmospheric settings, in the tradition of Alan Furst, will enjoy this book. Fans of stories set against the backdrop of the complexities and chaos of societies verging on major change will love...[read on]

About River of Secrets, from the publisher:

When a controversial politician is murdered in cold blood, Baton Rouge Police Detective Wallace Hartman struggles to find the killer amid conspiracies and corruption in River of Secrets, a gripping new mystery from Roger Johns.

Herbert Marioneaux, a Louisiana politician infamous for changing his mind on hot-button issues, has been murdered and his body posed to send a message. Baton Rouge homicide detective Wallace Hartman has to figure out who’s sending that message. DNA points to Eddie Pitkin, a social justice activist who also happens to be the half-brother of Wallace’s childhood best friend. But even with the combative history between Pitkin and Marioneaux, murder seems out of character for Pitkin, whose usual MO is to confront the wealthy and powerful with their inconvenient past. As Wallace digs deeper, she unearths a possible alibi witness, along with evidence of a deeply troubled relationship that points the finger of suspicion at Marioneaux’s son.

While Eddie’s supporters are convinced of his innocence, his enemies are equally certain of his guilt. Under pressure from all directions, Wallace pursues her investigation into the dark heart of the political establishment as Baton Rouge falls under the shadow of escalating violence. When it appears a police department insider may be sabotaging her efforts by leaking information about the case, and after menacing messages are left for her and her loved ones, Wallace is forced to untangle a trail of old and disturbing secrets unaided by those she most needs to trust.

Visit Roger Johns's website.

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--Marshal Zeringue