Original Sin by Brandt Dodson

(274 pages)



Colton Parker was just fired from the FBI, has a teenage daughter who blames him for her mother’s death, and now that he’s hung out his shingle as a P.I., his first paying client—Angie Howe—has enough money for only one day’s worth of investigating. But Angie looks like she could use a friend, so Colton has his first case.
When the mystery is finally resolved, Colton is resigned to improve his parenting skills with his daughter—and while the pair still struggle with each other, hope finally gets a chance to grow.
First in the Colton Parker, P.I. series, from Brandt Dodson—a compelling new author with a family history in law enforcement spanning several generations.

Colton Parker used to have everything; a wife, daughter and job with the FBI. Now things are different. His wife has died, is daughter is living with her grandparents, and he has been fired from the FBI. In an attempt at a fresh start, he has set up a private detective agency, and his first case poses lots of questions. His client is the girlfriend of a man being charged with the murder of a well respected high school guidance counsellor, who also happens to be the victim’s nephew. But a paperclip and a missing computer are pointing at some kind of a link to an internet pornography ring.

This is a classic detective story, with a religious twist. You see Colton’s wife had found Christ not long before her death, but Colton is a non-believer. Instead of the typical Christian detective who uses the idea of the greater good as an excuse for bad and/or illegal behaviour, Colton simply crosses the line, with no holds barred. It is after this that the consequences become clear, and the Christian perspective can come into play. Colton feels no love for God, and is instead angry and depressed by the fact that he feels deserted by having his wife taken from him and being unable to connect with his daughter. A Pastor tries to show him the ‘light’ so to speak, but unfortunately the great possibility of an exploration of faith is lost amidst the somewhat clichéd “death is a part of life” speech.
Overall the story was very enjoyable, with a lifelike and likeable lead character with a great dry sense of humour, but in my opinion the portrayal of the Pastor came across as too preachy and clichéd, but as a mystery and detective story it was excellent with an intriguing trail of crumbs to follow.