FOREWORD DEATH by ASSOCIATION, by Anthony Ellis, is an excellent detective novel in two parts: Vol. 1 Retaliation and Vol. 2 Deception. In writing DEATH by ASSOCIATION, Anthony Ellis has followed the first rule for authors, which is: choose a subject of which the writer has broad background and knowledge. Ellis has written a crime novel set in contemporary Memphis, Tennessee in a dozen gritty locales within the city, such as the famous Beale Street tourist scene, police headquarters, the city morgue, crack houses, rough nightclubs, homeless hangouts, and, memorably, a prison farm near the city. Nothing occurs at Graceland, but there is action along Elvis Presley Blvd. Ellis describes the local culture including the cuisine, the weather, the music, and the famous Peabody Hotel - with detail and love. Homicide Detective Jack Webster of the Memphis PD is an admirable character in almost all respects. He cares deeply for his family, friends, and co-workers. He is an excellent cop: honest, ethical, respected by his peers, and motivated to find and bring vicious criminals to justice. As a former local football star, he is well known and well liked in the community. He has deep, genuine love for his daughter and he also finds new love. Jack is an African American as are the majority of the characters in the book, however, race is not a significant issue. This is a murder mystery, a carefully crafted whodunit, replete with red herrings and straw men. Ellis displays vast knowledge of prison subculture, notably, descriptions of how contraband flows into the cell blocks. He has equally deep knowledge of the drug culture, displayed in descriptions of several of the characters’ daily lives. The writing is taut and well-plotted. There are at least a dozen major characters and each is deftly introduced. Few words are wasted. In my opinion, Anthony Ellis has created a believable cast of characters operating in a real and unique American city. There is potential here for a sequel. I would love to see Jack find a decaying body in Elvis’s bedroom at Graceland! Maybe it’s the King himself. In this case, I’m along for the ride! By John Spicer Spike Wilds, Retired Attorney Mr. Wilds worked for the federal government, having served for 35 years in a variety of law enforcement assignments within the U. S. Customs Service.