“CODA” by Paul Eberz

CODA

Paul Eberz
Independently Published (2026)
ISBN: 979-8993746821
Reviewed by Sandra Cruz for Reader Views (07/2026)

In an abandoned and filthy second-floor room, a man is bound to a chair, his head fully covered by duct tape. Jankiel Arbor,an artist, taunts his victim, threatening him with violence until the man panics with visible terror in his eyes. A stylish young woman, the artist’s accomplice, snaps pictures, capturing the exact moment of his breaking. Once satisfied he has enough material for his next “masterpiece,” Jankiel pays the victim for his time, and the two walk away.

Henry “Smoke” Smokehouse has a reputation in his neighborhood for helping those in need, regardless of their ability to pay. Smoke is asleep in his office when a young girl named Rosa comes looking for help because her mother is in danger. He follows her to her family’s convenience store, where two teenage thugs are extorting her mother and threatening Rosa. After neutralizing the thugs, Smoke visits Sal at his deli. Sal is a retired mob boss, but he guarantees the family’s long-term safety.

Just as one fire is put out, a much larger one begins to burn. Smoke’s childhood friend, retired Lieutenant Detective Robert “Bobby” Aimer, pays him a visit. Bobby is there to hear Smoke’s version of the convenience store incident. He’s also there because Smoke’s son Hank and their long-time friend Felix have been trying to contact him for days.

It turns out that Felix is in deep trouble. His involvement with the “artist” has placed him in the crosshairs of a group of wealthy, ruthless art collectors plotting a tax evasion scheme. When the first body is found, Smoke, Bobby, and Felix must team up to find the killer before anyone else pays the ultimate price.

CODA is the fourth installment in Paul Eberz’s SMOKE series with a chilling opening scene that sets the stage for a story where greed and art collide with deadly consequences. It revolves around greedy elites and a sociopathic villain who takes advantage of their contract murder to help him achieve his own criminal master plan. At the heart of the story is Smoke and his lifelong friends who bring crucial backup to his investigation and reinforce the novel’s central themes of friendship, family, loyalty, and sacrifice.

I was drawn to this novel because of the concept of a villain with ulterior motives in the middle of a murder mystery. To the scheming group, made up of Benjamin Booth, Jim Harvey, Tammy, Jim’s girlfriend, Jeff and Margo Hansen, and Rita and Bill Fonash,legal loopholes are just the beginning, and they aren’t afraid to turn to murder to protect their investments. While some of them come from generational wealth, some are struggling but refuse to let go of their lavish lifestyle. I was hooked by the second chapter when Smoke agrees to help Rosa’s mother. His personal life is in shambles, and he’s getting sicker by the day, but that doesn’t stop him from doing what he knows is right.

Eberz combines mystery with heartfelt character moments to create a thriller that’s emotionally satisfying and suspenseful. The bond between the core cast is the novel’s greatest strength. Smoke and Bobby have a lifelong friendship built on mutual respect. Smoke and Felix are former military brothers-in-arms (Smoke once saved Felix and his entire platoon during a mission). It’s also a study in grief as we see Felix struggling as a hermit, grieving the passing of his beloved partner David Anderson.

The exploration of the duality in the main characters is hard to miss. The sociopathic villain and the cold-hearted group are the complete opposite of Smoke, whose vulnerability makes him a compelling protagonist. He’s the ultimate selfless hero, risking his life to protect others. Eberz’ writing is incredibly sensory and reminiscent of classic detective noir, containing unexpected twists and a clever misdirection. He brings the gritty setting to life with sharp, memorable descriptions, such as: “It was the scent of a building actively decomposing.”

CODA by Paul Eberz is a poignant, action-packed mystery and celebration of friendship and loyalty. It contrasts the cold, transactional nature of the wealthy against the unyielding strength of human connection with an unforgettable final twist. Whether you’ve followed the SMOKE series from the beginning or are discovering Paul Eberz for the first time, it’sa rewarding thriller that mystery and suspense fans won’t want to miss.

“The people gathered in this room possessed no such talent, no such taste, and absolutely no morals. What they lacked in standards, however, they more than made up for in raw, unadulterated ambition— the singular drive to accumulate wealth.”