Minneapolis private investigator Nils "Shap" Shapiro returns in his third outing by being called to a murder scene at 3:27 a.m. Lawyer Todd Rabinowitz has been killed, his body left in the shallows of a lake with a fishing stringer through his mouth and the other end tied to the dock. It's a clear message to someone, but no one knows what.
Todd's wife, Robin, hires Shap to find the killer, knowing the police would focus only on her, especially since the couple was on the outs and she was having an affair. But she's not the only person who wants to hire Shap to solve Todd's murder. So do the Greater Lake Minnetonka Police Department, the FBI, the partners at Todd's law firm, Robin's boyfriend and a controversial congressional candidate. As the list of potential clients grows, the number of dead bodies almost keeps pace.
In The Shallows, Matt Goldman (Gone to Dust) manages to cover timely issues in a tone both light and mature, without naming names or being didactic. Shap points out people are born with a neurological makeup that dictates what they believe in and arguing won't change anyone's mind. It helps to know the complex history between Shap and his ex-wife, Micaela, but The Shallows can stand on its own. He experiences life-changing revelations here, but seemingly nothing can dampen Shap's wit. Being summoned to a meeting with a partner at Todd's firm, Shap makes sure to leave his shirt untucked "to convey a dash of apathy." Fans of layered mysteries and well-defined characters will convey only delight. --Elyse Dinh-McCrillis, blogger at Pop Culture Nerd