My 5-Star review in entirety published at Amazon for Judith White’s ‘Opened Wounds’ (The Case Files of Sam Flanagan):

Setting the stage in the Detroit area during the 1940s with a reach to the Purple Gang’s influence during Prohibition, Judith White’s PI, Sam Flanagan, delves into a cold case during a hot July.

The author is at the top of her game in crafting a novel in the genre of Crime Fiction and Private Investigator Mysteries as Sam’s leads pan out either cloudy or offer clarity. His ties to this case are personal and it shows—especially when he suffers a bruised cheek and black eye for his efforts.

Even more than the realistic plotting, I appreciate the author conveying the era with historical accuracy. Part and parcel of the story: stats on a Detroit Tigers ballgame; radio shows; Sam’s fedora hat; lighting up Lucky Strikes; the lingo; the cost of daily living—the price of a newspaper or piece of fruit at Hooch’s Newsstand.

The characters are sharply defined through brief physical descriptions and behavioral nuances. I, too, grew fond of Kate Nelson. By the end of the story, I had to hand it to Sam’s eighty-two-year-old grandmother, Ruby Flanagan—ditzy, but packing a lot of wisdom.

I highly recommend this solid read for its low-key mystery amidst an enriched setting.