Since selling their interior design company, Kevin and Jenne O’Malley have settled into a cozy retirement on Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest. It’s an idyllic lifestyle, with Kevin spending much of his time out on the golf course whilst Jenne busies herself exercising in the gym, hiking, or volunteering at the local Home Owners Association. It may be bucolic, but it’s never dull—as readers of the previous volumes in Ted Mulcahey’s ongoing series will be well aware. The O’Malleys are sometimes amateur investigators, and something always seems to crop up around them. This time there has been an outbreak of E. Coli in a nearby community, and investigators are having trouble finding the cause. When more virulent and deadly poisonings start happening in other communities, there is a suspicion that they are deliberate terrorist acts. But who could be targeting their island, and why? The O’Malleys link up with Deputy Roger Wilkie and microbiologist Dr. Andie Saunders as they attempt to find and stop the terrorist before the death toll climbs higher.

TANKS: Evil Lurks on Whidbey Island is the sixth book in The O’Malley Adventures series, and author Mulcahey has once again managed to reinvigorate his affable detective duo as they embark on another investigation. Though the coziness and quick-and-easy banter of the earlier books remain in place, here there is quite a nasty edge to the proceedings. The malignant Harry, a vengeful psychopath with roots entwined in the island, is an extremely well-drawn villain. He’s a real “wings-off-flies” kind of guy, and the author pulls no punches in detailing his bizarre upbringing. As an example, a violent act detailed from his high school years sees him decapitating a fellow student’s pet cat and pinning the head in her locker. Indeed, as the narrative is split between various characters’ points of view, the very fact that Harry’s story is so grimly compelling rather puts the book out of balance. The O’Malleys and their cohorts are well-constructed with warm and witty dialogue, but the pages that zing are those featuring the villain.

Amongst the thrills, Mulcahey is very good at throwing in some moments of dark humor. This includes an aside about an unlinked terrorist group called the Exterminators, who have been targeting Disneyland by setting giant-sized mouse traps baited with Mickey Mouse toys that are ready to mangle the eager hands of young children. Unfortunately, in terms of mystery plotting, the pacing is a little baggy. Harry’s campaign is rather slow to build, and some of his terrorist acts seem needlessly repetitive. Most importantly, due to the way the author allows Harry to drive the story throughout the novel, the reader is often way ahead of the detectives in terms of what is happening and why. Those looking for surprise twists may be disappointed. That said, there is a propulsive satisfaction in following the investigation through to the end.

TANKS: Evil Lurks on Whidbey Island is an entertaining thriller, and author Ted Mulcahey shows he can conjure up an evil protagonist as skillfully as he can continue the story of his much-loved crime-busting duo.

~Kent Lane for IndieReader