Many people have an image that comes to mind when they think of murder mystery novels. People tend to think of the archetypical detective from noir films — wearing snazzy top hats, wielding a perfect memory and sarcastic wit. However, the snarky Dr. Nick Polchak, the lead in Tim Downs’ 2003 murder-mystery novel, Shoo Fly Pie, is not the classic noir detective. He is a tenured professor of entomology — at N.C. State.
As an expert in forensic entomology, the fictional Dr. Polchak is a consultant for the Raleigh Police Department and uses bugs to solve crimes. Kathryn Guildford, a local banker, contacts Polchak to help solve a murder while on a research trip to the rural, fictional Holcum County, funded by the N.C. State entomology department.
Roped into helping to solve an apparent suicide of an army veteran and childhood friend of Guilford, Polchak does not realize the soap opera of lies, history, love and family he has gotten into. His sarcastic demeanor and confusion over Southern culture quickly earns him enemies in the small Southern town.
While not a North Carolina native, Downs’ writing shows his strong grasp of Southern culture, strong family ties, food and the military feature prominent in his novel.
Downs uses the forensic entomology angle and N.C. State connection to turn a decent murder mystery novel into a decent afternoon read. Capitalizing on the popularity of shows such as CSI, Downs features numerous scenes of decomposing bodies described in gristly detail through his character, Dr. Polchak.
The mystery story develops in a non-traditional manner, and most of the story is driven through the character development and not the murder mystery. The relationships Guildford formed throughout her childhood and her business relationship with Polchak are the primary concern of the book. Unfortunately, the characters are fairly flat and seem more fitting for a soap opera than a murder mystery.
Through his writing, readers also gain an insight into Down’s thoughts, opinions and philosophies. As a founding member of Campus Crusade for Christ and author of multiple books on Christian relationships, his Christian philosophy on death and relationships come through in a manner that is far from subtle, even though only one of Down’s characters claims a religious affiliation.
While mediocre as a mystery novel due to Downs’s writing and characters, the twist with the forensic entomology makes the book worth reading. While the N.C. State entomology department was unable to comment on the novel due to a lack of knowledge about its existence, the science offers an interesting angle. Downs appears to have researched forensic entomology and the decomposing process that bodies undergo after death.
While an entertaining read for its realistic view on Southern culture and an interesting inclusion of forensic entomology and the Wolfpack, readers of Shoo Fly Pie will be disappointed if expecting any more than a decent afternoon read.
