Review: ‘Ruler Of The Night’

David Morrell's 'Ruler of the Night” is the last in his Thomas DeQuincey murder-mystery trilogy.

That's a shame because the DeQuincey series has been among the best works Morrell has produced since bursting onto the literary scene with his debut novel, 'First Blood,” in 1972.

Like 'Murder as a Fine Art” and 'Inspector of the Dead” - the first two books in the series - 'Ruler of the Night” follows DeQuincey - a Sherlock Holmes-like character. Along with him are his daughter, Emily, and detectives Ryan and Becker as they solve another real-life murder or, in this case, a series of murders.

Like the first two books, 'Ruler of the Night” is based on real events - this time the first murder on an English train - and transports readers to mid-19th century London. The book is released Tuesday.

Morrell, a former literature professor at the University of Iowa, has been called the 'master of the thriller” for many years, but what he really has mastered is well-paced storytelling, weaving in real events with breathtaking and imaginative fiction.

The research he did for this series - and all of his other novels, for that matter - is mind-boggling.

When passengers are locked into their carriages or travel on roads thick with fog, you feel the fear and the tension they must be experiencing. And you get a bit of a history lesson while taking this roller-coaster of a ride.

DeQuincey was an English essayist who died in 1859. He is best know for his 'Confessions of an English Opium-Eater,” published in 1821, he also wrote 'On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts.” That was the basis for Morrell's first novel in this series.

With a bottle of opium never far out of reach, DeQuincey - in Morrell's books - takes a unique look at troubling situations, coming up with solutions while pacing late at night.

Emily, always at his side, is somewhat of a rebel who takes on the role of caregiver and levelheaded adviser. Becker and Ryan - while pining for Emily's attention - lead the legal charge while DeQuincey wanders through the clues most miss.

'Ruler of the Night” gets off to a slow start, but gathers steam midway through and slams into the station with a fascinating climax and a reward for those who have read the first two novels. Do yourself a favor and read these in order.

Morrell has done it again, taking readers to an era most have only witnessed on the TV or movie screen and daring us to keep turning the page.

The worst thing I can say about 'Ruler of the Night” is that it's the last time I'll take a wild ride with Thomas DeQuincey.