Customer Reviews

A Witness Above (A Frank Pavlicek Mystery)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Straka's first book in the Frank Pavlicek series offers the reader a variety of adventures. Pavlicek, a former NYC detective, and his former partner(s) resettle with their families in small-town Virginia after being railroaded off the force for their part in a teen's death resulting from a cop shooting. After his marriage fails in the new setting, Pavlicek moves to Charlottesville where he sets up his PI shop, and develops a taste for falconry. Years later when his hunting bird discovers a dead body and Pavlicek spots evidence that apparently connects the deceased black (drug dealing?) teen with his daughter, Pavlicek is thrust back into family life with all the joys of dealing with his alcoholic former wife and rebellious teenage daughter. As evidence mounts against his daughter, Pavlicek's determination increases. Can Pavlicek and his hawk rise to the occasion?

The reader will recognize the genre's familiar one-two punch of a PI and his sidekick (Spenser and Hawk, Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, etc.) with Frank and Jake in this book. The dialogue is not as smart-aleck as some, but the traditional tension and repartee between PIs and state and local police is there. Other slices of life Straka tackle include: a young female black district attorney in a small southern town, turf-battling between the local police department, attorneys, and the state trooper, the intrusion of organized crime and gangs into a small, sleepy southern town, the question of the conversion of a drug dealer to Christianity, much local Central Virginia color, and some of the finer shades of difference between falconry with red-tailed hawks and goshawks. A WITNESS ABOVE raises the intelligence level of a good murder mystery a notch.

I really liked this book. It is interesting and has a surprise ending that ties together all the pieces.

Frank Pavlicek left the NYPD under bad circumstances and set up a PI office in Virginia. He is out falconing one morning when he stumbles, almost literally, on a decomposing body. While looking around before he calls the police, he finds his daughter's phone number in the guy's wallet. But soon, his daughter has been arrested for drug possession, a charge she denies adamantly. With a local sheriff as suspicious of Frank as Frank is of him and a daughter not telling the entire truth, Frank is going to have to work fast to free her and learn the truth.

While I don't normally read PI novels, this one caught my interested because of the falconry aspect. I have no connection to the subject, but I'm always up for learning about something new in books. This story provided some interesting information about the subject without slowing down the story.

And what a great read it was. The characters are all well drawn and easy to care for, and the plot is confusing as well. I had no clue where the story was going until the end.

I will definitely be reading other books in this series. I have to know what happens next to Frank and his friends and family.

I'm a big fan of PI novels, and since I'm always looking for something a little different, I picked this book up primarily because the detective was a falconer. Not that I have a particular interest in falconry; it just made the book stand out from the other paperbacks on the rack. And indeed, Frank Pavlicek's hobby was a great component of the story, and I learned a lot. The main story - Frank stumbles upon a corpse, and it turns out his daughter knew the murdered young man - is nicely plotted and suspenseful. My only gripe is that I wish the writing had been a little snappier. Straka has a way to go until he reaches the level of a Pronzini or Grafton. But will I be keeping an eye out for future Pavlicek adventures? You bet.

I met the author when I bought the book. He seemed to be a nice guy, that's the reason I bought it. I'm glad I did. I read the book in about three days. Looking forward to the next one.

His life as a New York cop ended in the mean streets of New Rochelle thirteen years ago when he and his partner Jake Toronto killed an A-student teen they thought carried a weapon. Frank Pavlicek left the city under a cloud to open a private investigative practice in Charlottesville, Virginia with his prime pleasure being falconry accompanied by his bird of prey Armistead.

While hunting together, Armistead locates the murdered body of a teen. The ex-police officer finds the victim's identity stating he is DeWayne Turner of Leonardston, Virginia, home of Frank's ex-wife and their daughter Nicole. He also sees and takes a bill that has written on it Nicole's private number even though Frank knows that he illegally tampered with the evidence. However, in spite of trying to protect his beloved daughter, the police arrest her, increasing the pressure on Frank to solve the murder of a teen known for dealing, but connected with his cherished Nicole

A WITNESS ABOVE is an exciting investigative tale that provides readers with an entertaining story line accompanied by an intriguing look at falconry. The plot never slows down, as Frank needs to prove the innocence of Nicole. Frank is a strong character and the support cast helps readers understand his motives. Flashbacks to New Rochelle and the subsequent trial augment the plot by enabling the audience to actually see what occurred that led to Frank's "disgrace." Andy Straka has introduced a winning new sleuth whose love of falconry adds uniqueness rarely seen in ex-cop turn private investigator novels.

Harriet Klausner

....and what I hope to be the start of a long running series.

First off I must admit that I'm not very big on the hardboiled subgenre. I do however like mysteries and police procedurals and I also like reading continuing series which feature a regular cast of characters and a returning locale.
A WITNESS ABOVE has a little bit of all the above, although this is only the first in a proposed series and that makes it foremost an introduction, or (as you can maybe call it) a 'pilot', like with a new tvshow.

I'm also glad to say that A WITNESS ABOVE is the first mystery I read in ages which didn't have me figuring out the plot (and the whodunnit) when I was only halfway through. Mister Straka wins tons of bonuspoints with that!

I'm not going to delve into the plot (you'll probably already know about that after reading the contents of this page and the other reviews). I just have to say A WITNESS ABOVE has a great set up, a really good and thought of maincharacter in Frank Pavlicek (it's written in the 'first person' narrative, like all those classic P.I novels before it) and it's an easy read which only cost me a day to get through....fun assured!

I give it fours stars because the series can only get better. I noticed A KILLING SKY, the second Pavlicek mystery, has already been released. Mister Straka can count on it that I'll be buying that one also.

I met Andy at a bookstore in Columbus GA.. Had him sign the book and read it in one sitting. I review for a number of magazines monthly.. This book.. is without a doubt a winner on all accounts. cannot wait till his next in this series.. He is going to be a hit in this genre

Fun to read about a subject that hardly ever makes it into print in such an interesting setting. Straka makes his characters real and likeable as well as keeping his readers hooked. Can't wait for the next one.

After reading the four books in the Frank Pavlicek Mystery series I found that each book was better than the last. At some points I would think I had solved the crime only to discover that I was wrong. The characters are likeable and after reading four books I have began to think of them as friends. I will patiently wait for the next book in this series and will have no problem paying for it. I am glad I decide to spend the money on this series.

As the author of a recently published debut mystery, I celebrate Andy Straka's remarkable debut. A WITNESS ABOVE marks the introduction of Frank Pavlicek. He is a Virginia private eye with a failed marriage who left the NYPD under questionable circumstances. He is attempting to build a new life as a private cop. His passion is falconry, and his hunting bird discovers a dead body. Evidence indicates a connection between the victim and Frank's teenaged daughter. The swiftly paced plot never slows from there, and Mr. Staka as written a terrific book. It is a great debut novel. I welcome him at the dawn of what will become a great career.