Review from Murder and Mayhem Book Club
To say that PI Jane Lanier is not having a good week is an understatement. First she is almost killed in her own office, where she also finds the body of the notorious Federico DeOrca, who was to be a new client. Then her car is blown up. It seems someone does not want Jane to find out what secrets DeOrca might have been ready to divulge. The method of killing DeOrca, a bullet to the throat, had been used in another high profile murder linked to DeOrca in the past.
Jane's past journalism experience is an asset as she tries to find her way through a web of deceit and shady characters. The further she delves into the investigation, the more she sees there are many possible suspects. She just needs to get to the real killer before he gets to her.
What elevates any mystery from mediocre to memorable is an engaging protagonist. With brash, gutsy Jane Lanier, author Katy King has definitely created one. Jane is everything you want in a PI: daring, quirky and with a smart-aleck sense of humor. Jane follows in the grand tradition of other gumshoes such as Elvis Cole and Toby Peters.
This is a debut novel, but the author's long hard work to get it published shines through in a plot that is polished and suspenseful. Excellent character development and snappy dialogue make this a book that will please all PI fans. The vibrant descriptions of Portland , Oregon and Reno, Nevada bring a fabulous sense of place to the book. This is to be the first in a series and I will eagerly look forward to spending more time in Portland with Jane Lanier.
Roberta Austin
