Many of you are familiar with Quintin Jardine who writes the popular series of Skinner mysteries. Quintin has another series about a private investigator Oz Blackburn. The latest of those books is "Wearing Purple." Oz is hired by Everett Davis, championship wrestler and head of a newly founded Global Wrestling Alliance to watch for signs of sabotage at the GWA events. His cover for his activities is his becoming the announcer/master of ceremonies for all of the events. I found the first part of the book hard going because it focused so much on the business of professional wrestling. If you like professional wrestling you will find this book extremely interesting other wise the beginning of the book is slow going.

The narrative picks up when Jan, Oz's pregnant wife, is killed by a freak accident in which she is electrocuted by the washing machine. Quintin Jardine excels at being able to make the reader feel love of family and the pain of this type of loss. The book is strengthened as the reader identifies with Oz's attempts to deal with the tragedy and to bring his life back into some kind of order. Oz's mistress and ex-partner from previous Blackburn mysteries suddenly appears on the scene to help him complete his assignment with the wrestlers.

Near the end of the novel Oz begins to question whether his wife's death is an accident. The author manipulates the plot masterfully to have all the loose ends come together including the true cause of Oz's wife's death with who is sabotaging the wrestling events. My reaction was the ending was just too contrived and hard to believe.

I really struggled with the rating for this book because there are moments it is an extremely good read. Wearing Purple is weakened with a slow beginning and a far-fetched ending so the two-thistle rating.