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If you read and enjoyed James Scott Bell’s Try Dying, be sure to pick up the second book in the series, Try Darkness.
For the second book in the series, Bell brings back Ty Buchanan, who’s still recovering from the death of his fiancée. Though he’s no longer employed by a grand L.A. law firm, Buchanan remains willing to fight for the little guy. Now living on the grounds of a monastery (after his house burned down in the first book), Buchanan takes on the case of a single mother who’s being evicted from a welfare hotel. At first, it doesn’t seem like a very tough case—but then the woman is found dead. Buchanan sets out to find the killer with the help of his sidekick, Sister Mary Veritas, a smart, feisty young nun, and wise Father Bob, a disgraced, albeit falsely accused, priest.
While I thoroughly enjoyed Try Dying, I found that Try Darkness is even more satisfying—in part because the characters are developed better. Bell has honed Buchanan into a character that readers can really care about. He and Sister Mary also work well together, both literally and figuratively.
The plot isn’t as complex as it was in Try Dying, which also contributes to a better appreciation of the characters. The story builds to an unpredictable ending, which will keep you reading long into the night and leave you wanting more—since, even after Buchanan solves the case, not all of the loose ends are tied up.
Readers who are fond of the legal thriller genre—in particular, Michael Connelly fans—will enjoy Bell’s new series. I know that Mr. Bell has found a follower in me, and I look forward to the next book.
