Journeyman: A Central City Novel (Kulpa and Bayonne Mysteries Book 2)by Indy Perro; Central City Sequel Doubles Down on Cop and Criminal Duality

 

Journeyman (A Central City Novel) by Indy Perro; Central City Sequel Doubles Down on Cop and Criminal Duality

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews 

Spoilers: When we last left Central City in Indy Perro’s book of the same name, Detective Vinnie Bayonne and ex-con, bar owner, and informant Kane Kulpa pool their resources to solve the murder of several prostitute’s clients. The murderer was identified and Tran van Kahn, the leader of a Vietnamese gang that tried to muscle in on Kane’s territory, was murdered. Unfortunately, these came at a great cost to Kane and Bayonne. Adam McKenna, Bayonne’s partner and Kane’s brother, was left institutionalized and Kane and Adam’s developmentally disabled and traumatized mother, Molly Matches died.

 In the followup novel, Journeyman, we see the cop and criminal are struggling to rebuild shaky lives. Bayonne’s commitment to justice is questioned because of his friendship with Kane and he embarks on a relationship with prostitute Cassandra. Meanwhile, Kane is beginning a tentative  leadership amidst rivalries from gangs who are out for blood and revenge. Bayonne is assigned to investigate the possible overdose death of the mayor’s son. Meanwhile gang war is declared after a shootout occurs outside Kane’s bar, the Side Saddle.

This is the type of mystery where the author is less concerned about the mystery itself than they are about the lead characters. Frankly, it’s all the better for it. The O.D. plot and the gang plot are interesting but in some ways predictable. There isn’t much in the way of a whodunnit so much as the enemies are quite visible leaving little to surprises or revelations. It’s stuff that is often found in other works that deal with gangs, drugs, sex work, political corruption, and crimes and quite frequently done better. Nothing new technically arrives or is resolved. But that is not where Journeyman’s real strength lies.

Journeyman’s real strength, in fact the strongest asset to the Central City series as a whole are its two leads: Vinnie Bayonne and Kane Kulpa. While in some works anyone can solve the central mystery, with this one only Bayonne and Kane can solve this one and leave Central City well in somewhat peace. 

We see these two at their most emotionally vulnerable as they try to maintain some semblance of order with their surroundings. They are protective of those that they are close to: Bayonne with Cassandra and Kane with his friends. We also see them facing antagonists challenging their leadership from various gangs to corrupt politicians and authority figures. Despite this, the two men have the strength and compassion to protect those around them.

One of the best chapters that show the duo’s concern for others is when Bayonne and Kane visit Adam in the hospital. As they talk to and care for Adam and confide in each other about his treatment and their concerns about his future, it is clear that both men are in mourning for the seriously ill man in front of him. Adam is not dead but is just as gone as if he had a bullet to his brain. They lost a partner and best friend with a once bright future in front of him and a brother with a broken past which deprived him of a family. We see that these men have many of the same concerns, goals, and motives even if they have different means to obtain them.

Unfortunately it is the means that cause a wedge between Bayonne and Kane. Kane desires to remain as leader and overpower his rivals. He becomes more ruthless and colder in ordering murder and extortion. 

As Kane ascends in the Underworld, Bayonne becomes more regimented in upholding the law. As the world collapses and becomes grayer, Bayonne holds onto the black and white of the legal system. 

Bayonne and Kane’s friendship is forever scarred when the two make decisions putting them in direct conflict. In the end, they face each other equal in power, are having ascended in their careers, but now no longer friends. What's worse is because of their shared history, they are not only enemies but enemies that know each other's backgrounds, secrets, and modus operandi. 

Bayonne and Kane are worthy opponents who will certainly lose their worthiness by the next book. They may lose what once made them great: their friendship.

New Book Alert: Central City by Indy Perro; The Thin Line Between Cop and Criminal Gets Thinner

 

New Book Alert: Central City by Indy Perro; The Thin Line Between Cop and Criminal Gets Thinner

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: There are many authors in the hard boiled mystery genre that explore the thin line between cop and criminal. Sometimes their methods aren't that different. Sometimes they are psychologically damaged and may have more in common than others are aware. Sometimes the police officer displays behavior that could be considered violent or illegal while the criminal is a beloved member of the community and devoted family head.

One author who explores that line is Indy Perro with his novel, Central City. This mystery suspense thriller tells of police officers and a representative from the other side of the law conducting their own separate investigations on the same murders only to learn that their links are much tighter than either would believe or want to admit.

After a tense opening set in 1977 in which two young boys are caught in an abusive situation with their father, we turn to 1992 where a man has been brutally murdered. Detectives Vinnie Bayonne and Adam McKenna are on the case. After they investigate similar murders before and since this one, they learn that the men all had something in common: they were prostitute's johns (clients). So someone is out killing men who solicited prostitute's company but who and why? Is it a jealous ex? A prostitute making the johns pay? Someone with a venereal disease making the whole world pay? A religious person removing sin from the world? 

While Bayonne and McKenna conduct their investigation, someone else is trying to figure it out, someone with less legal means at his disposal. Kane Kulpa, an ex-con and informant to the police is also looking for the murderer. Of course, he gets to bypass all of those pesky laws and requirements that police officers aren't supposed to follow like resorting to violence, intimidation, and psychological mind tricks. Of course that cops do them anyway further cements the close links between characters on the opposite sides of the law showing that they aren't that different except one carries a badge and the other doesn't.

Of the characters in this book the best one is Kane himself. He acts as a go between the law and the lawless not really a part of either one. He has a mutual respect with Bayonne and often offers information for the price of a drink. He is also caught in an approaching war between different gangs as a Vietnamese gang threatens him to leave his old gang behind and work with them or else. 

Just like Bayonne and McKenna, Kane wants to keep the streets safe. He is especially protective of the prostitutes including having one, with the delightful name of Molly Matches, live with and work for him as a housekeeper. His history as a once abused child and former convict gives him empathy for impoverished citizens forced to turn to crime when they have no other means of employment. Kane comes across as a better character than Bayonne and McKenna.

Bayonne and McKenn aren't bad characters per se. They are just not as developed as Kane. Perhaps that's the point, to subvert our understanding and loyalty between cop and crook. Bayonne is the seasoned veteran without much of a character and backstory. He is clearly concerned for people like Kane and the prostitutes, taking a fatherly concern for their welfare. He is the kind of cop that many wish would exist in real life: the type that looks beyond the poor and criminal exterior and sees the suffering hurting person inside.

McKenna is the typical rookie who tries to set himself above the people that he and Bayonne encounter. However, there is a surprise twist that links Kane, Bayonne, and Mckenna and puts them closer together. Even though the surprise is somewhat easy to guess, it's not cheesy and the results bring out the best in all three characters.

Central City is a brilliant detective noir story with modern sensibilities that reveal sometimes law givers and law breakers are often on the same side.