The arrival of ROB THY NEIGHBOR is bittersweet in some ways, given the passing of Aimee Thurlo, who, with husband and writing partner David Thurlo, wrote dozens of genre novels covering a wide range of interests. This is book three in the Charlie Henry series, which began as a bit of a departure for the Thurlos. This installment, credited to David alone, further develops and explores Charlie’s personality while providing plenty of action along the way.

ROB THY NEIGHBOR begins quietly enough with Charlie and Gordon Sweeney, his friend and business partner, in attendance at a barbeque. The site of the get-together is the home of their friends Gina Sinclair, an Albuquerque attorney, and Nancy Medina, an APD sergeant. The party comes to an abrupt end when the residence next door to Gina and Nancy’s is the subject of a home invasion. The bullets start flying almost immediately as Sam Randal, the homeowner, is nearly abducted. Charlie and Gordon intervene and save the day. The fireworks attract the attention of their frenemy, APD’s own Detective DuPree, who is investigating a string of similar home invasions and abductions in the Albuquerque area. The Randal incident seems to be the latest in this series, but Charlie and Gordon aren’t so sure.

"ROB THY NEIGHBOR, though featuring a complex plot, is very character-driven.... Thurlo’s choice of Albuquerque as a setting for the series is terrific as well, showing readers yet another side of a city that has been well-documented in at least two iconic television series."

Meanwhile, Randal, having heard of the duo’s prowess from his next-door neighbors and having witnessed it firsthand, wants to retain Charlie and Gordon to conduct their own private investigation into what occurred and to apprehend (though he doesn’t use that term) the men responsible. The two are somewhat reluctant to get involved, given that they have a pawnshop business to run, but ultimately are persuaded, even as they are warned off the investigation by DuPree, who does not want them interfering in police business. This is somewhat like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Charlie and Gordon soon find themselves targets as well, as their investigative efforts bear fruit and they discover that there is far more to the Randal home invasion than an attempted kidnapping of a highly successful but very low-key businessman.

As might be expected, not everything is as it seems. Before long, Charlie and Gordon are finding surprises under every rock they turn over, including some they were never meant to uncover. By the time the book concludes, very little of that which was certain at the beginning of the story remains so.

ROB THY NEIGHBOR, though featuring a complex plot, is very character-driven. Charlie in particular is an extremely interesting character, whose strong familial roots in the southwest Navajo Nation are counterbalanced by Gordon’s own rough upbringing on the lawless streets of Detroit. Thurlo’s choice of Albuquerque as a setting for the series is terrific as well, showing readers yet another side of a city that has been well-documented in at least two iconic television series. These books started off strong and, with this latest volume, should exponentially increase Thurlo’s audience in the straight mystery genre.