Fangs Out -- David Freed

In spite of the title, this is not a vampire book.  Cordell Logan is a retired government assassin who's now a flying instructor.  When he saves Hub Walker and his wife from what would have been a fatal plane crash, war-hero Walker hires him to find out the truth about the comments of a prisoner just before his execution.  The prisoner, about to die for the murder of Walker's daughter, claims that the real killer is Walker's long-time friend, who's also a defense contractor.  Walker claims he just wants to clear his friend's name, and Logan thinks the assignment will be easy and profitable.

You don't have to have read too many crime novels to know that things aren't going to be so easy.  Almost as soon as Logan starts poking around, things get rough and complicated.  The complications include Logan's personal life, as he's trying to get back together with his ex-wife.  And they include Logan himself, as he appears to be his own worst enemy, unable to resist being a smartass with everyone involved in the case.  And his ex-wife, too.  This isn't something that anyone finds to be an endearing quality.  Logan is trying to the teachings of the Buddha, but it seems to be a losing battle.

Freed has a smooth and readable style, and he handles the flying and action scenes well.  There's a cat, too.  Check it out.