Hart Hanson

This book depicts completely unnecessary voyeuristic acts of torture against racial minorities/women/disabled characters. It is sickening to read both on an intellectual level (given the nature of white male perpetrators of sexually violent crimes on disabled people, racial minorities, and women) and in a gut emotional level. Although this “torture porn” occurred in only one scene (that I got to cause cards on the table I stopped reading at this scene), it soured the entire book for me.

This one was a very fun and enjoyable read. From entire story flow, images and the way characters communicate it is obvious author is coming from the movie business.

Our protagonist, Mike Skellig, war veteran with a very hush-hush service record is owner of a private limousine company where he employs war veterans with very serious skills but also problems of physical and psychological nature that would deem them unemployable anywhere else. Through this company Skellig manages to help former show more servicemen to live normal life. Entire story is narrated by Skellig and we follow him and his ragtag team as they try to solve the case and save their lives.

Skellig also has some issues from the combat campaigns he participated. But being cynic and quick witted (I dont think he could keep quiet if his life depended on it :)) and surrounded with people he trusts (and trust him back) he manages to cope with it and look forward to tomorrow.

This is one of those crime novels that have all the ingredients of seriousness but make you feel good at the end. There is that message that not all is gloom and doom and world is not a bleak place. If one is true to oneself and does good and surrounds with people that trust and love him everything can be achieved.

While reading this book it was like I was watching episode of Magnum PI. There is humor here but also dark images of cruel underworld and in the middle of it our daring team fighting the evil.

I wont go into details of the story itself because that would be very hard to do because of spoilers and to spoil this book would be the shame.

Recommended. show less

This one goes in my top 10 for the year. It's just plain fun. What other book has a California Senator's son with several masters degrees and the owner of a limo service as the main protagonist. His supporting cast is made up of a crew of vets with various ailments. The gist of the story centers around a skate rat celebrity who misappropriates some barrel full of a money from a decidedly not nice fella. What ensues will have you chuckling on the edge of your seat.

verbal-humor, situational-humor, suspense, action, mystery, mysteries, hit-man, friendship, friends, relationships, murder, investigations, kinky, private-investigators, hilarious*****

This story is so laugh your sox off funny that giggles and guffaws can't come close to my reactions reading this book! Xavier "Priest" Priestly was a seminarian now works as a free-lance Legal Investigator for both sides of the bench as well as private clients. His friend Dusty needs him to find an escort, show more Nikki Celeste and investigating her disappearance leads to Priest being attacked and drugged. He only remembers a woman in a blue wig. Then there's this young boy who turns up claiming that Priest is his father. The characters most certainly are, and the plot twists and spirals like a double helix! Crazy fun!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley. Thanks!
Pub Date May 21 2024 show less