Customer Reviews

The February Trouble (Dave Garrett Series)

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"The February Trouble" makes use of the great action of the previous book without feeling so flat. In this helping of the Dave Garrett series, our ex lawyer turned P.I is hired to help protect a restaurant francisee from an unknown saboteur. Soon, the francisee's wife has been kidnapped, and Garrett is suspictious about why he was hired, and if the woman was really kidnapped. He then unearths some deeply hidden secrets within the family of his employer, but not before a few people die because of the entanglements weaved. At points it channels the best of noir. Great mystery that keeps you guessing until the end, and makes great use of the Lancaster county scenery.

Disbarred attorney turned P.I. David Garret is back on duty in the Amish country surrounding Lancaster PA, this time helping a fast-foods (Uncle Chan's Chinese) magnate's family resolve the kidnapping of Mom/wife Anne Chadwick. Of course he finds a well-qualified, intelligent woman, Kate, to assist and bring insight to his quest, which includes several red herrings. Anne's daughter Amy vanished years ago; is this a key to the puzzle? There are mysterious backers of Uncle Chan's Chinese who may be directly involved, with co-workers and family friends who may know more than they are telling. Threaded through it all is curiosity for David's and Kate's relationship may (or may not) develop.

This is an entertaining mystery, with a quite plausible plot development and an interesting climax, making it easy to turn off the telly, the telephone, and forgo all unnecessary outings just to concentrate on David's progress with his current assignment. When his chilled feet slip and slide in the frozen slush, one tends to feel ones toes are icy cold, as well. The prose is well-constructed to involve all the senses as one silently urges the private detective onward to discovery, page by page.

If you haven't read this book's predecessor, "The January Corpse," it is okay, as this is a stand-alone story in a series that covers the first six months of the year. But you've missed another good read if you pass up either of these books (or those covering the successive months).

Neil Albert is back with Dave Garrett, the disbarred attorney now a private eye. Neil Albert paints a vivid picture of the Lancaster County, PA farm country and the nuances of the Amish in this interesting mystery. It will definitely leave you yearning for more Dave Garrett.