I CAN NEVER SAY GOODBYE TO INSPECTOR SAMUEL TAY. NEITHER SHOULD YOU.

 Jake Needham's latest novel, Goodbye, Mr. Boogie, continues the saga of protagonist Samuel Tay, recently retired from the Singapore homicide squad.  This series won the Barry Award for "Who The Hell Is Harry Black?" (recognition that was long overdue in my humble opinion).

In this latest installment, Samuel Tay is enjoying retirement, but still in demand for his expertise in criminal investigations. So it's no surprise when a friend from the Thailand Police sends an emissary to ask for help. It seems an international assassin is targeting a Global Summit in Bangkok, where several world leaders are meeting. There's just one problem. No one knows who this assassin is targeting, or if he really exists. And Tay's presence may just be a convenient way to use him as a scapegoat if things go sour.

Inspector Tay has a challenge on his hands. Only his loyalty to a friend convinces him to stay on the case. But with nothing to go on, not even a name, the challenge seems insurmountable. With help from a young female police officer, Tay begins to make progress when a suspect appears. He also discovers that his partner may be a romantic interest, and for a long time bachelor, this complicates his task.

Inspector Tay isn't above liberating some potential evidence without the benefit of a warrant. But when you're battling an international assassin, the rules can be flexible. Is that a good word to use when you're breaking the law? I like it. Let's use it...flexible. His quick hands turn out to be useful. But as the case races to it's conclusion, Tay begins to suspect that the obvious solution may not be the right one. Is Tay on the verge of cracking the case? Or is he being setup?

Readers say that books can transport us to another world. That's true. Whenever I finish an Inspector Tay novel, I lean back and close my eyes. In a few moments I am walking down the street where Samuel Tay lives. I ring the bell, and am invited in, offering a bottle of Irish whiskey. Tay produces the ice and the glasses. We retire to his back yard, surrounded by bamboo. We watch the birds, and enjoy the silence. No one speaks. There is no need for conversation. Tay smokes a cigarette. I don't mind. A former smoker understands. And that is all I need.

Join me. You won't regret it.

A NIGHT AT THE SHORE IS THE NIGHTMARE YOU WON'T STOP READING

 I was almost done with this book before it occurred to me that I didn't know the narrator's name. Not his real name anyway. He uses fake names throughout the novel to protect himself. After all, he's a thief...and a good one. He pays for scores. Never carries a gun. And he always cases the job before he goes in.

Except for this one time. Welcome to your nightmare. The sun has gone down, and it's going to be a long night.

We're on the Jersey Shore. The target is a high stakes gambler with 10,000 dollars in the house. Getting in is easy. But in a few minutes, the police have arrived.

 Silent alarm? Not likely. A double cross? Far more likely.

The rest of the novel is a series of narrow escapes and a desperate attempt to get off an island whose only exit is guarded by a police roadblock.

Along the way, your hair will stand up on end with every creak of a door and every step around a dark corner. When the tension builds, the only sound will be your heatbeat filling your ears. But you'll also pick up a few tips about breaking and entering. 

Did I just say that out loud? Never mind.

A Night At The Shore is a great introduction to a great series. Hop Aboard. After all, what else did you have planned for tonight?