The Distance Beacons

The Last P.I. #2

by Richard Bowker

Walter Sands, the private eye of Dover Beach, returns in this memorable sequel.
The president of the United States has arrived in Boston. Her convince New England to become part of the new government formed in the aftermath of nuclear war.
Walter's protect America's President from The Second American Revolution, a shadowy group intent on foiling her plan.
Then the president is kidnapped and Walter moves from private eye to prime suspect. But Water refuses to give up hope. With the help of his friends, he must save her to save himself.
And, perhaps, he can save America, too.
THE LAST P.I., in series order
Dover Beach
The Distance Beacons
OTHER TITLES by Richard Bowker
Senator
Summit
Replica
Pontiff

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 26, 2012

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second "Last P. I." novel, Walter Sands reluctantly works for the federal government, protecting the President when she makes a trip to New England. While the mystery isn't as complex as the one in Dover Beach, Bowker takes the chance to fill in details about his post-apocalypse America.

I like Walter: he's believably young and not especially good at his job, which becomes amusingly clear at one point in the novel. And given his mental abilities, of course he would occupy himself during a stake-out by reciting Shakespeare's Richard II. The other characters are equally well-drawn, including the President, who is both charismatic and manipulative; there's a wonderful scene between her and Walter early in the book.

While I figured out the solution to the mystery well before Walter did, I really enjoyed the journey. I started the third book 30 seconds after finishing this one; I look forward to learning more about Walter and his world.

[Eliza Lagonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second instalment of the Last P.I series and it doesn't suffer from middle book syndrome.

This was a reread for me, but it's been at least 5 years since I read it so I'd forgotten a lot of the story. I kept remembering the ending, but dismissing it.

I like that Walter really wants to do it all himself, but I feel his first assumption that his first case he didn't solve on his own.
Spoiler for the first book:

Bobby did work for the British back in the day, and he had the information, it just wasn't on paper. Very few people or governments actually keep records of what nefarious acts they perform.

So he did solve the first case on his own, even if the evidence made years after the event.

[Brian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed the first two novels in this series. I hope Richard Bowker keeps it going. I am drawn to this hero living in a world where everything is dismal and yet the power of friendship continues to bring hope. Bowker creates a compelling cast of characters that make you believe in a positive future despite the current circumstances. Well done.