Vultures in the Sky

Todd Downing, James Sallis

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English

Penzler
06 January 2021

Fiction & Literature; Crime & Mystery

Series: An American Mystery Classic

The journey of the Mexico City-bound Pullman seems ill-fated from the outset ? what with the engine troubles and the threat of an impending railway strike ? but no one aboard expects the terror that will descend upon the luxury train between Laredo and its destination. First a man dies as the vehicle passes through a dark tunnel and then, just as United States Customs Agent Hugh Rennert begins to investigate, the train comes to a screeching halt in the middle of the desert.

More deaths follow as night falls, and when it becomes clear that a murderer is on the loose, the stationary cars transform into an isolated hall of horrors. The varied and intriguing cast of passengers begins to panic, but Rennert remains calm and collected, untangling the web of motives in a desperate search for the culprit. Will he be able to unmask the killer before the voyage ends?

A suspenseful whodunnit that charts a path through the Mexican wilderness, Vultures in the Sky highlights the best aspects of the Golden Age mystery, mixing classical detective work with a tense, closed-circle setting. The third novel in Todd Downing's Hugh Rennert series (which can be enjoyed in any order), it shows an undeservedly forgotten author working at the top of his craft.

By: Todd Downing
Introduction by: James Sallis
Imprint: Penzler
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 206mm, Width: 135mm, Spine: 23mm
Weight: 336g
ISBN: 9781613161807
ISBN 10: 1613161808
Series: An American Mystery Classic
Publication Date: 06 January 2021
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Todd Downing (1902-1974) was an author, reviewer, and teacher of mystery fiction, as well as an expert on the Choctaw language. Born in Atoka, Indian Territory, he spent most of his life in and around Oklahoma, except for a brief period studying Spanish, French, and anthropology at the National University of Mexico. He wrote six titles in the Hugh Rennert series, then turned to nonfiction, at which point he produced books on Mexican history and Choctaw grammar. James Sallis is the award-winning author of eighteen novels, including the Lew Griffin series, the Driver series (inspiration for the 2011 film, Drive), and the John Turner series. He has also published numerous short story collections, poetry collections, literary biographies, and criticism.