Pacifica

by H.P. Oliver

Set against a backdrop of the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, Hollywood gumshoe Johnny Spicer's first novel-length caper plunges him into the depths of international intrigue where he becomes entangled in multiple webs of conspiracy and deception. Walk a tightrope of suspense with Spicer as he chases conflicting clues and dodges deadly foreign agents in a case where nothing—and everything—is what it seems to be.

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2013

About the author

H. P. Oliver began his career with a degree in journalism from San Jose State University and spent the next thirty-some years writing award-winning entertainment and educational media. Now he applies his creativity and imagination to writing historical mysteries.

About mystery writing, Oliver says, "To be truly engrossing, a mystery needs a little meat on its bones—something more than just figuring out 'who done the evil deed.' Taking a story back in time or even basing it on actual historical events is a great way to endow a good yarn with color and depth. Historical periods and locations give the writer an opportunity to take readers where they've never been before."

H. P. Oliver lives in California and spends much of his time working on projects throughout the western states. His interests range from vintage film to restoring classic cars, and of course, history.

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, let me say that I'm not a history buff, so for an author to make history interesting to me is quite a feat. H. P. Oliver manages to do that. He seamlessly incorporates the style, language, and local and world events of the time so that you're immersed in the culture of the period. The characters are believable, the dialog is natural, and the plot is well thought out and credible. Oliver obviously appreciates the times in which he stages his stories, and his devotion to accuracy and detail is evident. Having said all that, it's just a good story, well written, and I would certainly recommend this book.

[Julie Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to give 5 stars because I found it difficult to leave the book until I finished. Reading it allowed me to be taken back in time and to be part of life in San Francisco, 1939. I learned some history - painlessly - and became quite fond of the hero: Johnny Spicer. The tale was great and kept me guessing until the end. What more could one ask of a tale?