Double Takedown (A Mike Stoneman Mystery) by Kevin G. Chapman; Double Double Your Murder, Double Double Your Excitement

 

Double Takedown (A Mike Stoneman Mystery) by Kevin G. Chapman; Double Double Your Murder, Double Double Your Excitement 

By Julie Sara Porter 

Bookworm Reviews 

Spoilers: I apologize for the Doublemint ear worm. Believe me, I'm paying for it.

Anyway, things have changed considerably since this blog previously encountered Police Detectives Mike Stoneman and Jason Dickson deuteragonists of Righteous Assassin, the first of Kevin G. Chapman's Mike Stoneman Mystery Series. In that endeavor, the two were partnered to investigate a series of murders that corresponded to the Ten Plagues from the Book of Exodus in the Bible. During their investigation, they faced personal and professional hurdles as single men that acquired love interests during the course of the book. Not to mention they faced their own prejudices and biases as the wily experienced Caucasian veteran Mike clashed with the eager young African-American rookie Jason. They came together, made amends, and solved the murders.

Now in this volume, Double Takedown, things have looked up. The duo are thick as thieves, best friends. Mike is married to Michelle, a forensic pathologist. Jason is married to Rachel, a makeup artist, and is the father of three year old Jason Jr. AKA JJ, who refers to Mike as “Uncle Mike.” Their reputation as criminal investigators has acquired a wide network of friends, allies, informants, and acquaintances who give them the VIP treatment. They also acquire many enemies from the less law abiding crowd who recognize and fear them.

That network puts them right into the path of their latest cases. That's right cases, plural, as in more than one. 

During a night out at a Broadway Cares ballet production, Alex Bishop, Tony nominated star of Godfather: The Musical is murdered in public in the front row. Cause of death: poisoned by a fatal concoction of drugs. Director Nathan Matthews is subsequently investigated, charged, indicted and is now awaiting trial for Bishop’s murder but Mike and Jason think that the case is too easy and they have the wrong person. Their suspicions prove correct when TikTok influencer, Kayleigh Bronson is found murdered at a party after ingesting Montezuma's Delight, a drug concoction of the same drugs that killed Alex Bishop. The duo realize that the deaths might be connected when the same suspects and evidence turn up in both cases.

This is a solid double mystery in which two separate cases are connected by methods, suspects, and motives. It's not quite a serial murder because the circumstances are different but they do have similar patterns. They are also separated by a period of two years (Adam Bishop’s death occurred in 2022, Kayleigh Bronson’s in 2024). Also it's the death of an established nominated top billed theater actor combined with the death of a young flaky party girl social media influencer. That's definitely worlds apart. Many would not associate the murders with each other but Mike and Jason do. 

The investigation takes the detectives through interesting leads through Broadway productions, drag venues, and social media videos to interview a bevy of eccentric entertainers. There's a production of Sharknado: The Musical where they stake out a person of interest. Okay, I can buy The Godfather becoming a musical. It's operatic, Shakespearean, has a lot of raw emotion, and they can take advantage of the Italian folk style to write original songs. But Sharknado: The Musical? That's a line that no one should ever cross.

A drag performer gives Mike and Jason a lead which results in them comparing performances to see if a potential suspect was at a particular show. It's interesting as they compare things like vocal infections, makeup consistency, stance, and posture to see if they are watching the same person or a substitute in a costume, wig, and makeup. It's a test in observation skills for them.

By far the strangest person of interest is The Pharmacist, a mysterious character who peddles holistic remedies on his YouTube and TikTok videos. Many of his suggestions provide a bit more kick, much of it of the opioid and potentially illegal variety. The Pharmacist is an odd composite of Timothy Leary and a street drug dealer from an 80’s PSA. He is both charismatic and menacing, especially since he isn't above using a customer's interest in his endorsed products to his advantage. It's easy to see why he has a large Internet presence especially in a time where many reject traditional medicinal means.

Mike and Jason’s partnership is a highlight. Even though they have pretty happy home lives, their personal lives are still a focus. That family members like their wives, Rachel's brother, and Michelle's niece get involved in different ways show that criminal catching can be a family affair. There is a tense chapter where Michelle's niece, Star, is in the wrong place at the wrong time and finds herself in a potentially dangerous situation. What is fun and exciting for her is a job for Mike and Jason and she sees first hand what it's like to live a life of danger.

There is a constant theme of theater, putting on a performance, and pretending to be someone else. This climaxes in a sting operation where Mike, Jason, and their colleagues put on a performance of their own with acting, costumes, and disguises. Unfortunately, the suspects also know about performing too so the question isn't who's acting. It's who can put on the better performance and make the first move.

Double Takedown is double the excitement, thrills, suspense, and mystery fun.