Moroni Traveler, Jr.
Created by Robert R. Irvine (1936 --)

Although he's renounced the Mormon church, Salt Lake City private eye MORONI TRAVELER, Jr. (named after both his father and an angel, no less) often finds himself working, quite literally, in its shadow. His office is just a Bible's toss across the street from the Temple. Lapsed or not, he somehow always seems to be mixed up in some sort of shady shenanigans involving the church -- to the point where some critics labelled Irvine's books as anti-Mormon.

I guess that depends on which pew you sit in , but from here the books are pretty good reads; thoughtful, solid thrillers with an uncommon but intriguing background.

A former Army sharp shooter, Moroni collects vintage WWII rifles, and he has, on occasion, proved to be none too shy about using them. Moroni's also half of one of the few genuine father/son detective teams and one of the best to emerge out of the eighties gumshoe renaissance.

By the way, was this a trend? Around the same time that Moroni popped up, Salt Lake City sprouted several other P.I.s, including Jason Coulter and Gabe Utley.

The author also wrote a one-off P.I. novel featuring Harry Lake, under the pseudonym of Peter H. Fine.

NOVELS

• Baptism for the Dead (1988) ...Buy this book
• The Angel's Share (1989) ...Buy this book
• Gone to Glory (1990)...Buy this book
• Called Home (1991)...Buy this book
• The Spoken Word (1992) ... Buy this book
• The Great Reminder (1993)...Buy this book
• The Hosanna Shout (1994)...Buy this book
• Pillar of Fire (1995)...Buy this book

SHORT STORIES

• "Fathers" (December 1992, EQMM; by Angie Irvine, concluded in...)
• "...and Sons" (December 1992, EQMM)

Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.