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Darryl Billups #3
Don't Believe Your Lying Eyes: A Darryl Billups Mystery
Riding high on the success of his critically acclaimed mystery debut, Up Jumped the Devil , and his dazzling second novel, Hidden in Plain View , Blair S. Walker continues the adventures of sleuthing Baltimore newspaperman Darryl Billups. In Don’t Believe Your Lying Eyes , appearances can be deceiving . . . and just as deadly.
Every two months for the last seventeen years, the payments for unit number nine at a storage facility in West Baltimore have arrived without fail. After the money orders mysteriously stop, a grisly surprise is found inside the abandoned the mummified remains of black socialite Adrienne Hudson. The victim’s husband was none other than Charles Hudson, one of Baltimore’s greatest business leaders, who has since remarried a much younger woman. Adrienne’s disappearance during an apparent robbery in 1984 shocked and saddened the people of Baltimore. Now her murder has reopened old wounds, and cast a shadow of suspicion on a pillar of the community.
Into this lurid state of affairs steps Baltimore Herald reporter Darryl Billups, who is set to marry his long-time, live-in girlfriend, Yolanda, and become an instant father to her wonderful four-year old son. Nervous about the upcoming wedding after thirty-three years of bachelorhood, he welcomes any distraction and eagerly throws himself into the sordid case.
Yet after receiving sensitive inside information from a contact in the police department, Darryl discovers there’s much more to the story than meets the eye. Maneuvering through a world of lies and deception, privilege and power, Darryl uncovers secrets and bombshells which will lead him to an unlikely suspect–one who will shake the foundations of a proud city . . . and one that just may cost Darryl his life.
Seamlessly blending action, romance, comedy, and relentless suspense, Blair S. Walker has written a stunning mystery full of unexpected twists–and featuring a hero fans will delightfully welcome back and new readers will adore.
Every two months for the last seventeen years, the payments for unit number nine at a storage facility in West Baltimore have arrived without fail. After the money orders mysteriously stop, a grisly surprise is found inside the abandoned the mummified remains of black socialite Adrienne Hudson. The victim’s husband was none other than Charles Hudson, one of Baltimore’s greatest business leaders, who has since remarried a much younger woman. Adrienne’s disappearance during an apparent robbery in 1984 shocked and saddened the people of Baltimore. Now her murder has reopened old wounds, and cast a shadow of suspicion on a pillar of the community.
Into this lurid state of affairs steps Baltimore Herald reporter Darryl Billups, who is set to marry his long-time, live-in girlfriend, Yolanda, and become an instant father to her wonderful four-year old son. Nervous about the upcoming wedding after thirty-three years of bachelorhood, he welcomes any distraction and eagerly throws himself into the sordid case.
Yet after receiving sensitive inside information from a contact in the police department, Darryl discovers there’s much more to the story than meets the eye. Maneuvering through a world of lies and deception, privilege and power, Darryl uncovers secrets and bombshells which will lead him to an unlikely suspect–one who will shake the foundations of a proud city . . . and one that just may cost Darryl his life.
Seamlessly blending action, romance, comedy, and relentless suspense, Blair S. Walker has written a stunning mystery full of unexpected twists–and featuring a hero fans will delightfully welcome back and new readers will adore.
- GenresMystery
240 pages, Hardcover
First published May 28, 2002
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51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 15, 2024
Plus another half star
A good, but not a memorable read. The mystery is nothing. Walker tells you whodunnit early on, and the investigator finds out pretty quickly the main outlines. That leaves you with the characters, most of whom are stock figures. The best part is an extended scene where the good guys are tied up in a locked room about to be killed. Walker really hooks you here. How they get themselves out is believable, and there's a lovely twist afterwards.
Another interesting thread is the hero's relationship with his ex-girlfriend. That was the most compelling and complex interaction in the book. But apparently that woman is gone.
Over all, better than average.
A good, but not a memorable read. The mystery is nothing. Walker tells you whodunnit early on, and the investigator finds out pretty quickly the main outlines. That leaves you with the characters, most of whom are stock figures. The best part is an extended scene where the good guys are tied up in a locked room about to be killed. Walker really hooks you here. How they get themselves out is believable, and there's a lovely twist afterwards.
Another interesting thread is the hero's relationship with his ex-girlfriend. That was the most compelling and complex interaction in the book. But apparently that woman is gone.
Over all, better than average.
September 15, 2013
This is a good series. Not award winning novels but just good stories. Very humorous at times. Great characters. I would recommend them. I really hope this author does more. in this series would be good.
June 14, 2009
black Baltimore reporter. Interesting but draggy.
September 19, 2012
2012 09 19 Better than the first Darryl Billups book. Still a bit clunky. Very interesting insight into black male culture.
November 30, 2013
Wanted a change of pace so picked up this mystery. Quick and easy read, even though I would probably have had a better understanding of the main character if I read the previous books.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews