A great set of characters, dialogue that sings, a passionate sense of location. Knopf never fails to deliver. ( )

Fans of Chris Knopf’s Sam Acquillo mysteries will great this latest entry with delight. But strangers to the series will enjoy the novel just as well—a mystery set among fascinating and never confusing characters, with a wonderful sense of history, culture and place. Even with no knowledge of the Hamptons, a reader will soon greet this book’s locations and neighbors with happy familiarity. Narrator Sam Acquillo tells the tale, with spade’s-a-spade cynicism, strong loyalties, and dogged determination. Together with dog, friends, neighbors, and an estranged daughter who ends up much closer to her father than expected, Sam tackles the mysteries of a veteran’s death, police force rumors of corruption, and family tragedy, with equal aplomb. He seeks clues in city and country, interviews sources, and meanwhile balances his unique individuality with the companionship of an intriguing neighbor.

Author Chris Knopf brings readers up to speed on his characters with spare and natural details from the past. Wonderful dialog brings everyone to life, filling the page with good humor, bad grace, and everything in between. And powerfully evocative descriptions will leave readers eager to leave the city, desperate for a chance to watch the waves, and eager to sail on the bay. Meanwhile there’s a mystery or two to be solved, and Sam’s retreat from emotions into analysis is wholly convincing, even as the adrenalin rush of danger draws too close.

Red herrings, well caught clues, a touch of local politics, rich fund-raisers and small-town diners, they’re all here, in a character driven mystery with deep emotional roots, a wise sense of the recent past, genuine social concern, and a plot that rushes, twists and turns like a boat driven by the tide. Cop Job is a great read, whether or not you’ve followed the series, and it’s a wholly satisfying addition to the annals of Sam Acquillo.

Disclosure: I was given a free preview edition by the publisher and I offer my honest review. ( )