Review - Murder at the Oasis by David S. Pederson

Mason's friend Walter talks him into taking a brief vacation to Palm Springs, in part with the promise of a cheap room at a posh resort frequented by Hollywood stars thanks to a friend of Walter's who works there. However, it turns out the friend lost his job and now owns a small motel. What's more, the rest of the guests at the Oasis Inn turn out to be people Mason and Walter would rather avoid, but when one of them, and then another, turns up dead, Mason forgets he's supposed to be on vacation.

This third outing for Mason Adler is a bit different. It's told in flashback fashion, and Mason has much more interaction with the victims and suspects before the event. As in the other books of the series, most of the story is told in dialog rather than narration.

We get to know Mason a little better in this installment of the series. One of the larger mysteries of the entire series is the reserved, even closeted, Mason's ongoing friendship with the flamboyant Walter. Mason opens up about why he is so discreet about his sexuality, while Walter makes it clear why he won't “tone it down” to avoid confrontations.

It's another great mystery this time. As is often the case, all the clues to solve it are there in the story, but, like Mason, you may not pick up on them right away. All of the stories of the series have been well-grounded in the post-World War II era in which they're set, a time when homosexuals were subject to arrest and imprisonment.

“Murder at the Oasis” is available from Amazon (commissionable link).