Negative Girl

Sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, and murder formulate the matrix of this immersive noir mystery thriller, delving into the far-reaching ramifications of addiction and deceit. It offers an intriguing glimpse into the pathos of our two protagonists, Martin Wade and Valerie Jacks, told through their viewpoints in alternating chapters.

Penned by Shamus and Black Orchid Award-winning writer Libby Cudmore, these characters were initially introduced in short story format through Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

Martin Wade, aka Basil Wise, was the infamous frontman for the briefly popular punk band, The French Letters. They unceremoniously crashed and burned after their fourth album, Bullets For Breakfast, flopped amidst the turmoil of jealousy, addiction, and interpersonal stress. Ron Carlock, guitarist, and Victor Van Owen, drummer, followed their own destructive paths, while pianist Basil Wise snuck out like a fugitive in the night to attempt sobriety in the small upstate New York city of Perrine. He has successfully remained sober for decades, attending frequent meetings and running a small private investigator agency. His clients are usually “small potatoes” and low-profile cases, but nonetheless, he stays busy ferreting out cheating husbands or finding lost jewelry. He is still haunted by the sudden disappearance of his beloved fiancée, Cecelia, who vanished without a trace.

Valerie Jacks is on the run. In the middle of the night, she flees Memphis, afraid she may have seriously hurt or killed her live-in friend and lover, Katy. She also flees to Perrine, which she describes as halfway between annihilation and redemption. This is the city where she and her brother Deacon were raised by Aunt Gina after their parents died. She now resides in a small apartment with a foldout couch, a tiny kitchenette, and a small bathroom—enough space for a girl and her laptop. She tends bar at Aunt Gina’s establishment and writes insightful articles for an online music zine. She does a deep dive interview with Martin and discovers his uniqueness and underlying frailty. Understanding his ongoing recovery process, she chooses to shelve her probing piece and maintain his privacy. Later, she finds herself accepting a position as Martin’s assistant to maintain their contact and possibly foster her own growth and self-actualization. The dynamics are set in motion for their developing partnership, interdependence, and respect.

A new client, Janice Archwood, is buzzed into the agency office. She requests Martin’s help in dealing with a pestering deadbeat dad. Martin swears he knows her from somewhere. This drug-addict dad abandoned her and her mother decades ago. He has reconnected with her and is begging and pressuring her to move back with him. Her mother died from ovarian cancer two years ago. Janice is currently studying violin at Raines College and is the first chair at the local orchestra. She asks Martin to call her father and insist that he back off. (This is the “White Knight” part of his job.) Upon calling the number, Martin soon realizes that her father is none other than Ron Carlock, and she is his daughter, the image of her mother. Fast forward: Janice (“Janie”) turns up dead, awash on the shore of the local river. Initially, it is ruled as drowning by accident. However, multiple extenuating circumstances bring up the consideration of suicide or murder.

Valerie becomes obsessed with the possibility of murder, and her initial attempt at investigating gradually draws Martin into the investigation. Martin struggles to maintain his sobriety as he’s drawn into the web of investigating Ron Carlock. They quickly learn that Janie led a second, hidden life as a lead in a Goth band. Her usual get-up included black leathers, a Mohawk haircut, and black electrical tape covering her nipples. There are multiple possible suspects: a jilted boyfriend, a potential stalker, jealous associates, an angry photographer, and even a “deadbeat dad.”

Libby Cudmore proves to be an amazing storyteller as she weaves together a colorful ensemble cast of flawed characters in a twisty, complex narrative that slowly unravels a wide path of deceit and treachery as the intrigue and tension mount. There is a continuous relevant playlist of songs and artists that set the appropriate mood and tone of the ongoing mystery. The novel explores the destructive and far-reaching effects of addiction, jealousy, and deceit through meaningful and poignant dialogue that propel the mystery to a startling denouement. As the author points out, “Junkies will always break your heart.”

Thanks to NetGalley and Datura Books for supplying an Advance Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review. Hopefully, there will be further glimpses into the partnership between Martin and Valerie.