Quarry in the Black -- Max Allan Collins

The latest Quarry novel from Max Allan Collins is set in 1972 at election time. It's McGovern vs. Nixon, and there's some wonderful stuff about the time period in general and that election in particular here, with Collins drawing on his personal memories at some points.  Not that it matters to the story he's telling.

This time the Broker sends Quarry to Missouri to kill a local politician, a black man who's risen to a position of some power, the reverend Raymond Wesley Lloyd, who's campaigning for McGovern.  Quarry doesn't do political assassinations, but the Broker convinces him that Lloyd isn't being killed for political reasons.   He's dirty in other ways.  The pay and the Broker's assurances persuade Quarry to take on the job.

Things go wrong almost from the start, and Quarry becomes more and more certain that there is indeed a political aspect to what he's been sent to do.  Not only that, but someone's hired another hit man to do the same job.  (Trust Collins to make a relevant tie-in to the present day with this.)  Soon Quarry finds himself tangling with the Klan, not to mention redneck tough guys.  And beautiful women.  Things are not, of course, as they seem, but Quarry's tough, resourceful, and smart.  Anybody who tangles with him is in big trouble. 

Like his protagonist, Collins is tough, resourceful, and smart, and he knows how to tell a cracking story with heart and humor even in the midst of the violence and treachery.  And even a killer like Quarry can do something good if he gets the chance.  This one's another winner in this great series.  Check it out.