Rating: 
Summary: Better than I expected
Review: "Code 61" by Donald Harstad will startle your senses and stretch your imagination, an unbelievable tale of the heartland so well told you will believe every word. Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman is summoned to a crime scene, a purported suicide and every aspect of the area surrounding the body screams deception. When a young woman reports that the peeping-tom at her window is very pale and has fangs, perplexed
officers can find no ledge for anyone to perch upon. Then the autopsy proves murder with startling information that involves the small town and surrounding area police officers on a "vampire" hunt.
Harstad's greatest writing talent is his ability to place his readers into the midst of a case and take them step by step through to its final conclusion. Once you have read one of Donald Harstad's novels you too will be a fan.
Beverly J Scott author of "Righteous Revenge" and "Ruth Fever." Reviewer for Intriguing Authors and Their Books at http://www.funeralassociates.com/authors.htm
Rating:
Summary: Good, wholesome Iowa bloodsucking
Review: A step back from the big fireworks of secret government operations and terrorist plots of his last two books, Code Sixty-One still manages to rivet attention. Fans of crime scene investigation and suspect interrogation should love this story, as Senior Deputy Carl Houseman and his colleagues methodically investigate a nest of slacker vampires along the banks of the Mississippi.Perhaps my favorite aspect of these novels is the fact that Houseman's personal life--aside from his diet--mostly remains personal. Harstad, while acknowledging the strain that police work puts on Houseman's marriage, saves the bulk of his words for the investigation of the crime and pursuit of the criminals. Well-written and with enough thrills to keep from becoming a plodding recitation of a police training manual case study, Code Sixty-One is well worth a read.
Rating: 
Summary: Low-key mystery is still fun
Review: Donald Harstad writes books in the first person, with alter ego Carl Houseman narrating the story that he's involved in. The result is a book that sounds like it was written by a veteran of Iowa law enforcement, which is of course what Harstad is. This is an interesting technique: there's no attempt at beautiful prose (James Lee Burke comes to mind) but rather a mundane as-it-happened reportorial style that's authentic feeling. Sort of like a hand-held camera in a movie during a chase scene...you think you're actually there, or hearing about it from someone who was.
In this installment, Houseman is first called to an apartment building where a very strange peeping tom is making trouble, then begins to investigate a strange killing in an even stranger house in Nation County. The killer at least appears to be a vampire, or he thinks he's one anyway, and several other participants believe he is also. This leads to much humor, dark and otherwise, and to several interesting plot twists.
Harstad's weak point, if there is one, is that his plots sort of meander at points, and this one does that halfway through the book. Things get bogged down in his mundane recountings of radio conversations (which he creates using the "ten" codes that they actually use on the radio in Iowa) and various procedural things that go on around a homicide. At times it can get excruciating waiting for something to happen, but the characters are interesting and the dialog's good.
I enjoyed this book in spite of the shortcomings listed above, and would recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Bitingly Funny
Review: Having lived in the most liberal city in Iowa for close to ten years, this would seem like satire if the characters weren't just like people I'd met. If you can imagine Grant Wood meets "The Osbournes" with a healthy dash Joe Friday and Charles Manson, you'll get a good idea of what Carl Houseman's world is like. Some mystery stories are good. Reading a nice Agatha Christie you sort of puzzle your way through and get to the end and feel, "well that was very nicely done." Reading a nice Harstad is more like watching the Munsters move to middle America. It's funny and short enough to read in a day or three. It won't make you rethink your life, but it might make you rethink the idea that small towns are boring little places where nothing ever happens.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, but ...
Review: Here is a book that would have been far better served if the acknowledgments had come at the end, rather than at the beginning. Since I never read flap copy (it's either badly written or gives away the entire plot), the acknowledgments page in Code Sixty-One basically gives the game away. With the subject of vampires clearly stated on that page (making this book sound like a fantasy or horror novel) it was only because I am such an admirer of Harstad's work that I was willing to continue reading. That said and that misplaced (albeit well-intentioned) page notwithstanding, this is another nicely done book in the Houseman series. The various law enforcement people are well-drawn, particularly the deeply annoying Borman. And the young people who live in The Mansion and whose personal sorrows make them susceptible to belief in the unbelievable are written with sympathy, understanding and humor. The villains of the piece are equally well-drawn, leaving one to ponder on the pitfalls of wealth, sexual aberrance and extreme delusion (to the point of madness). As always in Harstad's books, the narrative moves along at a good clip and there are enough quirky characters (good and bad) to populate a small town. There are however a couple of problems I had with this book. The first is that there is no mention of what became of Alicia Meyer, whose 911 call starts this novel. And secondly, although it's interesting enough, there's way too much time spent in the narrative and more information on 10 codes (police radio info) than is necessary. After a time, the radio communications got in the way of the narrative. Given that the author includes a bibliography of these codes in the back of the book, the narrative wouldn't have suffered from some judicious editing of these calls back and forth. As a writer, Harstad is never mean-spirited, and his books reflect that. Code Sixty-One is no exception. It is compellingly readable.
Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Rural Law Enforcement and Big Time Vampires
Review: I admit it, I am hooked on Deputy Carl Houseman and his colleagues in rural Iowa law enforcement. I normally don't read books dealing with the supernatural but couldn't put Code 61 down. The author's attention to detail makes the reader feel like he is part of the investigative team. Deputy Houseman is my favorite fictional lawman. His insight and witty comments at the appropriate times holds the readers interest. Anyone who has not read the entire series is missing some good reading. I am looking forward to Harstad's next publication.
Rating:
Summary: Chills in the heartland
Review: I am a native Iowan and love police mystery books. Harstad truly delivers the goods in this nail biting story. Characters from his previous novels populate this story of gothic misfits and mysterious murders along the Mississippi River. I "gobbled" this book too fast, and now must wait patiently for his next one. Carl Houseman ranks right up there with Kay Scarpetta. The only thing that bothers me about this book, is an unresolved missing person storyline that is never explained. Try Harstad--You will get hooked.
Rating:
Summary: Harstad - The Real Thing
Review: I am a retired police officer, having served for over 33 years in large and small jurisdictions. I was surprised when I began Harstad's book. I thought to myself: " This guy is one of us or sure has a great insight". While the story is fanciful, it was very well written and "gripping" throughout. I paid close attention to the language, the actions, the thought processes, the insertion of humor (sometimes of the 'graveyard-type) and case development. All these things were right on the money. I have and will recommend Harstad's books to other officers - active and retired. I also recommend his books to you if you are interested in both a well written, interesting tale as well as a peek into how "cops" think and act. Both thumbs up!!
Rating:
Summary: Another Harstad Success!!
Review: I have read all 3 of Harstad's previous novels, and enjoyed them all immensely. I have to admit that when I heard that this one was about vampires, I almost decided not to buy it. What a mistake that would have been! Harstad comes through again with a story that is captivating, and filled with twists and turns. He has a unique way of drawing you in, and keeping you guessing. Probably my favorite part of the book, and the way he writes, is that he will occasionally drop just enough of a hint to keep you wondering about something for 40 or 50 pages, and then give you the answer. He does this in Code 61 with information about the house that the story takes place in. What's on the locked 3rd floor? Why should they drive for 4 hours to get a copy of the blueprints of the house? Both are questions you'll be asking as you read the book, and you won't be disappointed when he finally delivers the answers. I highly recommend this, and all of the Harstad novels. He was a cop for 20+ years, and his experience comes out in his writing. You won't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Another mystery from the heartland
Review: I have read all of Mr. Harstad's books and found them all quite enjoyable. True, they are not of exceptionable literary merit, but the stories are intriguing and the characters add a lot to the story. I think they offer insight to life in the midwest, and a lot of detail about police work in that area. "Code 61" is a quick read with a rather unusual bad guy who could have really been expanded more in the story. He is discussed a lot peripherally, but not enough is said about his motive or background. Without revealing anything about the plot, I am a little confused about the title since it doesn't really tie in with the story all that well. I would also like to see the Hester Gorse character expanded. She is the tough, no nonsense state agent who assists Deputy Houseman in most of his cases. In any event, it is a good story and worth a read. I would caution readers that if you are not into "police procedural" novels, then this may not be for you.
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