Ashton Ford #01 - Ashes to Ashes

There's no doubt that Don Pendleton took readers into some unusual places after writing a decade of The Executioner. Towards the end of Pendleton's involvement with Mack Bolan, he had already dabbled in science-fiction, political intrigue, and romance. His first real effort at hard-hitting crime-fiction were six books starring Joe Copp, a private investigator in the Mike Hammer style. But, it was the Ashton Ford series that really had people talking – good, bad, and indifferent. 

Ashton Ford, the psychic detective series, was published between 1986 to 1988. This six-book series stars Ford as a former naval intelligence officer that boasts in the opening chapter of Eye to Eye, the series debut, that he possesses all the talents of a spy. He has also had the good fortune of having a psychic ability. Apparitions and future visions are unveiled in a way he can't control. It is spontaneous, which is of little help in his profession as a private investigator.

Ford's newest client is Karen Highland, a wealthy woman on the verge of inheriting the billion-dollar trust left to her by her deceased grandfather. She comes to Ford because she wants to get laid. Seriously. Ford hangs around a New Age clinic and has discovered a way to create intercourse with women through telepathy. It's the ultimate high in a horizontal position. But, as Ford is explaining his qualms with dishing out the goods to a complete stranger, Karen's bodyguard is discovered dead.

Apparently, the dead bodyguard gets Ashford involved with the police and of course he needs to be better than they are in solving this murder. But, as he is introduced to Karen's suspicious doctor and trustees, there's another body – this one floating face down in the family's lavish pool. What's going on?

Ashes to Ashes is terrible. Don Pendleton can write a bad book and he proves it with this mediocre recycled private-eye plot. My issue isn't the recycling – God knows I read enough carbon copy gothic-romance novels – but it is the ridiculous pages and pages of New Age nonsense complete with detailed explanations of pseudoscience and the eternal struggle between God and the Devil. The character Ford is your typical West Coast private-eye. He drives a sports car, has a boatload of money, and women wanna screw him. Par for the course. The psychic thing comes into play twice, both of which are central to the resolution.

I can't recommend this book to anyone, but I'm sure it has a fair share of fans that are pleased with Pendleton's stark contrast between Bolan and Ford. I love horror novels, action-adventure, and crime-fiction, but the trio of sub-genres combined into this weird occult detective thing just didn't work for me. If you want to try it, get it HERE.