Merrill Vaughan’s The Happy Paperhanger is a twisty cold-case mystery centered on an elusive con artist who’s been baffling law enforcement across Southern California for years. The story kicks off with the introduction of the CCI team, Cold Case Investigators, led by seasoned veterans Paul Gibbons and John Sommers, who are called in by the Riverside PD to track down a smiling, soft-spoken fraudster who passes bad checks while remaining entirely anonymous. As the investigation unfolds, a complex cat-and-mouse game emerges between the team and the mysterious perpetrator, eventually revealed to be Scott Thayer, a millionaire with a dangerous hobby. Woven throughout the narrative are glimpses into Scott’s opulent life and twisted motivations, giving readers both sides of the chase. Along the way, we get entangled in personal stakes, including a prior kidnapping case and emotional family developments that add warmth and urgency to the investigation.

I have to say, this book hooked me early and kept me flipping pages. I liked how it didn’t rely on explosions or gunfights but rather old-school gumshoe work like tailing suspects, cross-checking bank records, and chasing down threads that seemed to lead nowhere. That felt real. The way Vaughan slowly peeled back the layers on Scott Thayer was clever. He wasn’t your average villain. He had a high life, a loving wife, and even a conscience, sort of. That made him feel oddly relatable and, honestly, more dangerous. The scenes where he mingles with cops and detectives at galas and fundraisers, all while hiding in plain sight, gave me chills. On the other side, the CCI team’s chemistry felt natural, with good back-and-forth banter, personal depth, and even humor. The subplot around Patrick’s family added an emotional undertone that didn’t feel forced. I cared about these people, which made the stakes feel higher.

That said, the writing isn’t flashy, and at times, it can be plainspoken. But that’s the charm. There’s no unnecessary gloss. Vaughan gets to the point, and the plot marches forward with the kind of pacing I appreciate in crime fiction. I also enjoyed the change of scenery. It wasn’t just another big-city thriller. The story roamed through small towns, dusty police stations, diners, and backyard BBQs, which grounded everything in a believable world. One thing that struck me was how the con artist was always just a step ahead. That tension, that not-knowing-what-will-happen-next feeling, stayed strong right up until the last few chapters. And while the mystery wraps up more cleanly than I expected, the road there was full of little surprises.

If you’re into crime stories where the thrill doesn’t come from action scenes but from clever twists, tight investigative work, and rich character dynamics, this book will be right up your alley. Fans of low-boil suspense, police procedurals, or classic mystery novels will feel right at home with this one. I’d recommend The Happy Paperhanger to anyone who loves the chase more than the capture and prefers brain over brawn in their fiction.

Pages: 212 | ASIN : B0FGB9YQX8