An intriguing, quirky serial killer mystery

NONE OF YOU ARE SAFE

“KILLER”: Jack Queen has been exonerated and freed from prison thanks to retired LAPD officer Cato Hightower. But when guilt gnaws at Jack, he admits: “I actually did it.” To which Hightower responds: “Yeah, no kidding.” You see, the ex-cop has a special job in mind for the ex-con…

THE GIRL DETECTIVE: Fifteen-year-old Matilda Finnerty has been handed a potential death sentence in the form of a leukemia diagnosis. But that’s not going to stop her from tackling the most important mystery of her life: Is her father guilty of murder?

GENE JEANIE: Jeanie Hightower mends family trees for a living, but the genealogist is unable to repair her own marriage. And her soon-to-be ex may have entangled her in a scheme that has drawn the bloody wrath of…

THE BEAR: A prolific serial killer who disappeared forty years ago, who is only now emerging from hibernation when the conditions are just right. And this time, the California Bear is not content to hunt in the shadows…

I’ve been a fan of Swierczynski’s work for some time — I’m more familiar with his comics work than his prose, but I was nevertheless very much looking forward to reading California Bear. The publisher was kind enough to send me an early DRC of the novel, and it was my final read of 2023. It’s an intriguing serial killer mystery with a difference, and I very much enjoyed it.

California Bear takes clear aim at the true crime industry, Hollywood, and the American justice system — critiquing each of these to paint a pretty bleak picture of human nature. That being said, though, the unusual cast of protagonists end up being a beacon of light in this otherwise askew world — each in their own way, they are heroes who battle against great odds to tease out just a bit of justice.

Jack “Killer” Queen has just been released from prison, sprung due to a technicality. He’s now tied to Cato Hightower, a retired LAPD detective who has decided to dedicate his life to seeking justice for those who somehow dodged it. While Jack, a former jazz pianist, is pretty levelheaded and sensible (aside from a little bit of a rage issue), Cato has quite a few screws loose, while simultaneously nurturing his alcoholism with gusto. Matilda “Girl Detective” Queen, Jack’s daughter, has just been diagnosed with leukaemia, and spends the whole novel at LA’s Children’s Hospital. Despite this, though, the precocious teenage (almost 15, as she’s keen to remind many) is integral to the story and plot as it develops. As it turns out, Matilda is quite the sleuth, and has been looking into her father’s case, convinced he did not do what he was incarcerated for. Matilda is also the best character in the novel, with some of the best lines (especially when she’s talking to Cato). Along the way, Jack and Cato pick up a couple of other allies, each of which adds nicely to the story. It’s clear quite quickly that Swierczynski has a gift for writing characters, and each of them feels well-rounded and realistic, while not devolving into clichés (Hightower could have been a disaster, but there’s some nuance and sympathy for him, too).

While the protagonists are trying to navigate their various trials and challenges, Swierczynski also gives readers a pretty sinister antagonist: the titular “California Bear”. But who is he? Why did he stop his predations decades ago? Is he a solo killer, or does he work with someone else? And why is there a sudden resurgence in interest in the case?

Like many crime/mystery novels today, California Bear has plenty to say about the contemporary popularity of true crime, and the strange relationship many people/fans have developed with it — especially the ghoulish fascination in the predators, and the centring of the killers as opposed to the victims. The author does a good job of not allowing this to distract from the story, and instead sprinkles some amusing asides and observations into the story at choice moments. Connected is the commentary on Hollywood and the way it exploits others for financial gain (often behind the fake smiles of producers who claim to have your interests at heart).

It took just a little while for me to get into the rhythm of the novel — there are many, very short chapters, which can certainly accelerate the pacing, but also meant it felt like it took longer than expected to get to know the characters. Nevertheless, this issue wasn’t long-lasting, and I found myself rooting for Jack, Cato and especially Matilda quite quickly. As the story progresses, there are a few interesting twists and red herrings, some good reveals, and the author keeps the mystery going quite nicely.

The ending suggests the possibility of a sequel, and I for one am keen to spend more time with these characters. If you’re a fan of serial killer fiction, and crime/mystery fiction in general, then I think you’ll find plenty to like in this quirky take on the genre.

Recommended.

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Duane Swierczynski’s California Bear is due to be published by Mulholland Books in North America and in the UK, on January 9th, 2024.

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Review copy received from publisher