THE SPIRE

In Goldsmith’s mystery series starter,a troubled detective takes on the greatest investigation of his life.

The story begins on December 23 in the present day, as Mike Vogel, a lieutenant with the NYPD, is assigned to a big case. An attack’s taken place in The Spire, one of the tallest and most secure buildings in New York City. There, in the wealthy Grubb family’s penthouse, lie the dead bodies of Richard Grubb, a successful land developer; Val Grubb, his wife; Sabine LaCroix, who comes from a family of weapons manufacturers; and theirlawyer, Martin G. Katz. All four are connected to the infamous financier Andrew Levine, the late pedophile who was known for getting the privileged elite what they want. As the cops continue to sweep the penthouse, they locate a panic room, where Vogel finds and questions Derek Fawcett, the private security detail hired by author Olivia Hawthorne, who lives in the apartment below. Hawthorne penned Hero Cop, a book that accused Vogel of murdering his own wife, costing him his reputation and custody of his son. This turn of events triggers a flashback to September 11, 2001, when Vogel’s spouse went missing. The narrative also introduces a group named Talon, made up of ex-members of the Army, Navy, CIA, and FBI. During their own investigation, they aim to find videos that Levine made, complicating Vogel’s efforts. Goldsmith’s book contains some intriguing plot turns and some nice banter, especially in one of the last scenes between Vogel and Hawthorne, whose relationship goes through some significant changes. Throughout the story, the author takes time to focus on what Vogel is thinking and feeling, effectively immersing readers in the character’s mindset: “167 minutes. That’s the number of minutes Mike slept the previous night. Not surprising, all things considered. That said, he never slept much….Part of the job. The one advantage—the privilege of watching the sun rise.” The pacing, while initially stagnant, picks up quickly as the investigation reaches its climax.

A fine whodunit full of satisfying twists, featuring a well-developed protagonist.