Detective Ed Runyon must ‘Go Find Daddy’ in latest from Ohio author | Book Talk
When the body of an off-duty policeman is found on the property of a right-wing blogger, it’s clear who the prime suspect is. In the outstanding “Go Find Daddy,” third in the Ed Runyon detective series by Ashland author Steve Goble, Donny Blackmon’s gun, complete with fingerprint, is found near the body and he has disappeared.
Given his accusations against cops, the suspicions are reasonable. When Donny’s wife calls Ed, asking that he find Donny, she says, “I just want you to find him, not bring him back.” Ed’s job will be only to give Donny a message — that his 9-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Ed takes a while to make up his mind. He doesn’t want anything to do with this case, but kids are his “kryptonite,” and when the little girl pleads with Ed to “go find daddy,” he’s a goner.
Ed starts his investigation in the usual way, talking to Donny’s acquaintances and to the police on the case. He’s “no Sherlock Holmes,” as he readily acknowledges, but that doesn’t mean he won’t come up with some ingenious ideas to track his quarry. The attractive reward assembled draws in other detectives, including a rival investigator who’s angling to split the pot with Ed.
In the first book, “City Problems,” Ed Runyon was a detective in the sheriff’s office in a fictional “one-bar town” in Mifflin County in northern Ohio, but by the end of the book, he has set up his private office. In Book Two, “Wayward Son,” his second case is finding a runaway teen.
Though Ed is mostly an old-school detective, he does use some up-to-date methods. As in “Wayward Son,” Ed searches social media for clues; he also receives some threatening texts whose sender he must track down. Ed’s girlfriend Linda and bar-owning buddy Tuck are welcome carryovers from the previous books.
“Go Find Daddy” (256 pages, hardcover) costs $27.95 from Oceanview Publishing. Goble also is the author of the recommended four-book “Spider John” pirate adventure series.
‘Antuan Is Still Hear’
In 2006, Akron resident Irv Korman published “Antuan Was Hear: 30 Years of Kids’ Quotes,” a compilation of malapropisms and verbal blunders he collected while working as a speech pathologist in Akron Public Schools. He’s followed it up with “Antuan Is Still Hear: 30 Years of More Kids’ Quotes,” proving that there’s no limit to the funny things kids say.
The entries are categorized by holiday, family, food and other topics. In “Antuan Was Hear,” a girl declares that “Abraham Lincoln discovered the penny.” Here, he was the “founder of the light bulb.” A student in the first book claims that “George Washington lived at Mount Rushmore.” In this collection, his home was Mount Everest.
Kids spill on their family members, activities and each other.
“Antuan Is Still Hear” (79 pages, softcover) costs $9.95 from online retailers. Korman is a retired speech pathologist and has worked as a theater critic, and also is the author of several holiday-themed children’s books, including “Citytown Christmas Conundrum,” and two books based on his celebrity encounters. Korman will sign his books from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Learned Owl Book Shop, 204 N. Main St., Hudson.
Events
Fireside Book Shop (29 N. Franklin St., Chagrin Falls): Kalynn Applewhite, author of the paranormal “Awakening Anne,” talks about the inaugural installment in her White Crow series, 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Hudson Library & Historical Society: David Lipsky, author of “The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial,” talks about the history of climate science in a virtual appearance at 7 p.m. Monday. At 7 p.m. Thursday, former National Park ranger Andrea Lankford discusses “Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail.” Register at hudsonlibrary.org.
Loganberry Books (13015 Larchmere Blvd.): Shaker Heights native Laura Meckler launches “Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity,” featured Aug. 13 in Book Talk, 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (North Olmsted branch, 27403 Lorain Road): Former Beacon Journal sportswriter David Lee Morgan Jr. talks about “Breaking Through the Lines: The Marion Motley Story,” 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Laura Meckler talks about “Dream Town.” Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Cleveland Public Library: Samantha M. Bailey talks about her psychological thriller “Watch Out for Her” in a Facebook Live and YouTube event at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Register at cpl.org.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Beachwood branch, 25501 Shaker Blvd.): Dan Chaon (“Sleepwalk”) talks to Edan Lepucki about her novel “Time’s Mouth,” 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Ave.): James Willis, author of “Weird Ohio,” presents “Monsters in Ohio,” 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Register at mentorpl.org.
Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library: Cassandra Clare joins the Online Author Talk Series to talk about her young adults series including “The Mortal Instruments” and “The Last Hours,” 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Register at smfpl.org.
Shaker Library (16500 Van Aken Blvd.): Laura Meckler talks about “Dream Town,” 2 p.m. Saturday.
Barberton Public Library (602 W. Park Ave.): Keyanna Christian-Ells signs “Self-Love Workbook & Journal for Women: 5 Ways to Love Yourself Using Poetry and Activities,” 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Mac’s Backs (1820 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights): Worker organizer Ben Gwin talks about “Team Building: A Memoir about Family and the Fight for Workers’ Rights,” 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Email information about books of local interest, and event notices at least two weeks in advance to BeaconBookTalk@gmail.com and bjnews@thebeaconjournal.com. Barbara McIntyre tweets at @BarbaraMcI.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Detective Ed Runyon must ‘Go Find Daddy’ in Steve Goble novel
