By Benjamin Whiting/reporter

Selecting the ingredients of a good novel is not difficult. A good plot, intriguing characters and well-written dialogue have long been agreed upon as excellent choices. The difficulty lies in blending those elements together, like coffee beans roasting in the tumbler of imagination.

Eric Wilson has brought all of the important components together in A Shred of Truth, and the result is a compelling book that readers may have a hard time putting down.

Truth is the second outing for protagonist Aramis Black, the rough around the edges, tattoo-armed, coffee-pouring barista who was first introduced to readers in Wilson’s previous book, The Best of Evil. Reading the first book in the series is not required, as the two stories stand alone, but doing so does provide backstory for many of the characters.

As the story opens, Aramis finds his older brother, a rising country music star, strapped to a statue in the middle of Nashville with the letters AX carved into his back.

Aramis attempts to find the culprit and exact due vengeance—a practice he gave up two years earlier—all while searching for the ever-evasive truth.

The stakes escalate; an old friend dies, and Aramis finds himself running out of time to solve the mystery.

Wilson has improved his craft steadily with each of his four novels and Truth is no exception. The writing here is perhaps his best yet, though the plot is not quite as captivating as in The Best of Evil.

Aramis Black is an engaging, complex character, tortured by demons from his past even while he strives to do what he believes to be right.

He heads an entire cast of unique characters, most of whom jump off the page as living, breathing people. The interaction between these characters is excellent, captured in quick, witty dialogue.

The plot is tightly woven and full of surprises, but it has a more manufactured feeling than the previous book. The difference is subtle and slight, but at times the hand of the author is a little too noticeable.

The pacing drags just a little, but these moments are infrequent and their effect negligible.

A Shred of Truth is a well-written, character-driven mystery that delivers a lot of suspense and excitement while delving into serious issues.

More information about Wilson can be found at wilsonwriter.com.