Picking up shortly after the events of Bell Ringer, the first book in the series, Adam Perdue is back working the streets of Orman. When a landscaper goes missing, Adam finds himself caught in a strange web of White supremacists, drug dealers, and AI-assisted medical devices. The Patriots for a White America have infiltrated Orman' police department and are intent on eliminating a deputy chief, Adam's friend Squire. They kidnap Claire, a local psychic and Adam's therapist, and kill Ms. Terry, the woman who set him on his path as a private investigator. John Roark, creator of the Last White Man Standing podcast, turns the hate dial to 11 while plotting world domination. In the middle of it all is a Medicaid pilot program for PAMS Ports, AI-assisted personal medical devices that monitor patients and dispense medications. Adam's associates, Julia and Hook are back helping him get out of his way long enough to save Claire and avenge the murder of Ms. Terry. Maria, Alex, and the Wheelies also make appearances, along with an expanded cast of quirky characters living in Orman's fringes. Perdue is a detective for our times: cynical, self-deprecating, with a twisted sense of humor and a moral compass that points toward justice for society's cast-offs. Smudges is the second in a series set primarily in the fictional American city of Orman. The Adam Perdue mysteries are informed by the author's decades of experience in homelessness and housing, emergency relief, and community advocacy. The books are intricately plotted and populated by unforgettable characters inhabiting the fringes of contemporary urban America. They are highly recommended for readers who enjoy dark humor, suspense, and engaging stories that reflect the times we live in.
