Blackman's coffin

Summary: Sam Blackman is an angry man. A Chief Warrant Officer in the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the U.S. military, he lost a leg in Iraq, and has been outspoken in his criticism of his medical treatment. Then, ex-marine and fellow amputee Tikima Robertson walks into his hospital room and hints that she has an opportunity for Sam to use his investigative skills -- if he can stop feeling sorry for himself. But before she can return, Tikima is murdered, her body found floating in the river. A journal found in Tikima's apartment, dated to 1919 and written by a twelve-year-old boy, reveals a ninety-year-old crime that foreshadows Tikima's death -- the murder of her great-great-grandfather, Elijah, whose body was also found in the French Broad River. Sam must delve into Asheville's rich history to uncover the murderous truth.