Book tip

Gone to Dust

Matt Goldman

It's a mistake to assume that, at some point, the standard private eye novel will ever lose popularity. More importantly, it seems like there's always someone new bringing fun and clever new stuff to the form. Goldman — who's had considerable success as an Emmy-winning television writer on shows like "Seinfeld" and "Ellen" — presents Minneapolis gumshoe Nils Shapiro, whose subtly hilarious observations coexist beautifully with smart, contemporary and surprisingly dark scenarios. "Gone to Dust" details the murder of a wealthy divorcee, whose quiet existence in a wealthy suburb hides a wild variety of increasingly compelling and unexpected backstories. Highly recommended.

— Rick Koster