Book ~ "Dead Air" (2017) David A. Poulsen

From Goodreads ~ Ex-cop turned private detective Mike Cobb is hired as the personal bodyguard of right-wing radio celebrity Buckley-Rand Larmer, who has been receiving a string of vicious, graphic threats. Once again, Cobb recruits crime journalist Adam Cullen, this time to dig into Larmer’s past and find out who might have a grudge against him.

Soon it becomes evident that Cullen and Cobb have more to contend with than the not-so-veiled threats. When Larmer’s associate turns up dead, the broadcaster is charged with the killing but Cullen believes the murder might be related to a series of suspicious deaths of right-wing media figures going back years. 

As layers of secrets and lies peel back, Cullen and Cobb have more than Larmer’s guilt or innocence to worry about. A vicious killer is out there somewhere, poised to strike again.

Adam Cullen is a freelance writer/former newspaper journalist and Mike Cobb is an ex-cop, now a private detective.  Mike has been hired to protect Larmer, a right wing radio celebrity, who has been getting death threats.  Mike enlists Adam to help to research the Larmer's background to figure out who is making the death threats and why.  In the meantime, Larmer's associate is murdered and and Larmer gets arrested.  Mike's job changes from bodyguard to investigator and Adam continues to do research.  Neither Mike nor Adam like Larmer but they have to put aside their feelings to do the job.

I liked the writing style and enjoyed this book.  The editing could have been tighter, though.  For example, there is mention to Adam's late wife, Donna, but she is called "Diana" in the beginning of the book and correctly as "Donna" through the rest of the book.  Also, it was lacking punctuation in some places.  It is written in first person perspective in Adam's voice.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

I like that this story is set in Calgary and the author doesn't try to hide the fact that the story is happening in Canada.  There are numerous references to Calgary and many many references to Canadian musicians, even obscure ones I've never heard of (Adam is a big music fan with eclectic tastes).

I liked the characters and their interactions ... Adam and Mike, Adam and Jill (Adam's girlfriend) and Adam and Kyla (Jill's young daughter).  Adam and Jill have been dating for about six months and had discussed taking the next step (with Kyla's approval) but are taking it slowly.

This is the second in the Cobb and Cullen series ... I'd read the first one earlier this week.  I look forward to reading others in the series.