In classic private-eye-fiction style, Michael Craven (Body Copy) introduces John Darvelle, a no-nonsense detective determined to right the wrongs he encounters in his Southern California practice. John is hired by mega-star filmmaker Arthur Vonz to find Suzanne Neal, a former flame. It seems at first like an open-and-shut case, and he has no difficulty locating her. But a few details of the investigation strike John as "off," so when Suzanne soon winds up murdered, he vows to uncover the truth.
Working out of a warehouse office, complete with a ping-pong table and visiting cat named Toast, John taps into his network of sources and contacts. Before long, he finds himself in the dark depths of Hollywood's elite, staring down the business end of a gun. What started out as a simple case just became complicated.
With a fun blend of humor and suspense, Craven follows some of the genre's traditions while putting his own twist on others, offering mystery fans a fresh approach to the PI novel. And while John is a fascinating character with endearing quirks, the supporting cast is equally engaging, prompting the hope that they will recur in subsequent novels.
John has a tendency to veer off track in his narration, which may pull some readers out of the story, and detailed explanations of his travels sometimes sound like GPS directions, but the excellent characterization and well-constructed plot make these points inconsequential to the overall reading experience. PI fans can rejoice about this new kid in town. --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts