Drowning Barbie: An Ike Schwartz Mystery

By Frederick Ramsay

Ethyl Smut, everyone agreed, deserved to die. Drugs, child abuse, a life wasted. But murder is murder and killers must be brought to justice. But when a second body is unearthed in Ethyl’s shallow grave and the nightmarish George LeBrun also finds his way to Ike’s desk, things get messy fast. Then there is Ethyl’s missing daughter, Darla, who could testify against some important people if she were found. And as if Ike hadn’t enough on his plate, former CIA coworkers Karl Hedrick and Sam arrive to investigate the source of the second body. It’s like old home week in Picketsville. Finally, there is the ongoing saga of Ike and Ruth’s engagement that friend and foe alike insist be settled one way or another. Can Ike solve these cases before his altar date?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
• Release date: Feb 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781615954704

Frederick Ramsay

Frederick Ramsay was raised on the east coast and attended graduate school in Chicago. He was a writer of mysteries set in Virginia, (the Ike Schwartz Mysteries) Botswana Mystery series, Jerusalem Mystery series and stand-alones (Impulse, Judas: The Gospel of Betrayal). He was a retired Episcopal Priest, Academic, and author.

Reviews for Drowning Barbie

[cathyskye · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was simple serendipity that led me to read books in two different series which used the exact same devise: letting a different character be the narrator instead of the main character of the series. In one case, it was very successfully done. In the case of Secrets, the results are less favorable.Sheriff Ike Schwartz is the heart and soul of this series, and I fell in love with him when I read the very first book, Artscape. I wanted more Ike when I picked up Secrets, and I have to admit that I spent most of the book looking forward to the few times he appeared. It's not that Blake Fisher is a weak character; he most definitely is not, and seeing things through his eyes as he becomes immersed in a murder investigation is interesting. It's also fascinating to see how he reacts to his banishment, and how his attitudes towards the church, the church hierarchy, the parishioners, and his own desires gradually begin to change. His metamorphosis is well and thoughtfully done.The mystery is also a strong one that took me a while to piece together, but I was never able to overcome the paucity of scenes in which Ike Schwartz appeared. As I turned the last page, I was left with the thought that shaking up the point of view was a good idea that should've been done a book or two further along in the series. Never fear though-- I'll be heading back for another visit with Ike. He's too good to ignore!