Direct, brutal, amoral, sexist. Brilliant. Wiener Hoke Moseley is tasked by his boss with reopening fifty previously closed murder cases: new hope for the dead and thus new problems for the already beleaguered detective. Chronic financial struggles and being overweight, Moseley must deal with the death of a junkie, mind-numbing service regulations, lovesick dogs, and decaying retirees. And suddenly, Hoke's underage daughters show up at his door wanting to live with him. Reading Willeford for the first time is like the first encounter with the music of Miles Davis: we are attacked by the same cold, sardonic brevity, but at the same time, there are bizarre twists and a genuine, loving touch. Janwillem van de Wetering.