Doyle's Law

Arthur Doyle, P.I. #1

by Bob Moats

Doyle is a homicide detective. He’s a good detective, but he has a problem, he’s getting fed up with crime. A hostage situation comes up involving the Mayor of Detroit and a mugger, who Doyle put in the hospital. The hostage exchange goes slightly wrong, but it was enough to make Doyle quit the PD. He goes out on his own to become a private eye and along with another ex-detective, Oscar Drew, they start their business. Their first client is a woman looking for her missing father. But is there more to the story involving bookies, murder, a missing lottery ticket and a hot looking waitress. Doyle and his partner have their hands full trying to sort everything out. Detroit will never be the same when Doyle hits the streets. A new novel by Bob Moats, the author of the Jim Richards Murder Novels.

Genres: Mystery

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2014

About the author

Detroit area resident, Bob Moats, has been writing short stories and plays for as long as he can remember. He has lost most of his original stories, typed or handwritten, in the numerous moves he has made from his hometown of Fraser, Michigan to Northern Michigan, to Las Vegas and back to Fraser, where he now lives. He also wrote the short fantasy novella "Crystal Prison of Kyr" and is a published playwright with his three act comedy "Happily Ever After".

Moats became one of the causalities of unemployment early in 2009, and had time on his hands to finally pursue a life long dream of writing a full blown crime novel. Thus was born the first book, "Classmate Murders".

What followed was a series of 20 books starting with "The Classmate Murders" which introduces the main character, Jim Richards, who has to admit he has become a senior citizen, reluctantly. Richards, one day, receives an email from a childhood sweetheart asking for his help, but by the time he reaches her, she has been murdered. His life turns around and he is pulled into numerous murders of women from his high school who he hasn't seen in forty years. Along with a friend of his, Buck, a big, mustached biker, they go off to track down the killer before he can get to one former classmate, Penny Wickens, a TV talk show host who Jim has just fallen for while protecting her. The killer is also murdering the women right out from under police protection, driving homicide detective Will Trapper crazy, and he slowly depends on Jim to help. There's humor, suspense, wild chases across suburban Detroit with cops, classic cars and motorcycle clubs; murder, mayhem, a good amount of romance and a twist ending.

Bob recently started a new series, the Fatal series. The first book "Fatal Rejection" is about serial killers, an author and the editors that the author wants to murder. The second book "Fatal Departure" follows the first with a new serial killer stalking the principal characters, Sarah and Dave. A third book is now in the works, "Fatal Romance" about a killer using companion ads to find his prey.

Reviews

[megHan]

You may know the name Bob Moats. He is the author of the Jim Richards Murder series. I read Santa Murders last year, have a signed copy of Trick or Treat Murders waiting for me to read it, and even have the first three books of his on my Kindle. This book is the first in a new series he's trying, a cop turned private investigator.

I really like this story. I didn't have a doubt in my mind that I would. I like the way Bob does characters. He makes them interesting, makes you want to learn even more about them. And without characters, you wouldn't have anyone in the story you're telling, which would be quite boring if you think about it.

The story begins with Doyle (love his name and the reason behind it, by the way) in trouble for roughing up a bad guy. Then he gets in trouble again while dealing with a kidnapping. He is one of those tough rough cops who doesn't listen and breaks the rules, but does it attempting to do good. He gets help from Oscar (who's attitude I love) and, when he quits and Oscar retires, he opens up a PI firm and invites Oscar to be a part of it. When a young lady comes in looking for her dad, they have their first case and they do what they have to in order to find the man. As the book progresses, you learn more and more about the characters and reading about their investigation (and the tactics they take) is really entertaining and interesting.

Well done, Bob. I'm looking forward to book #2. :)

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Susan]

I'm rounding up on this review because I listened to it on Audible. The narration often impacts my opinion of the books I listen to.
The first chapter is the main character listing all of the things he hates. He gets called in to work, which he hates, and on the way, he runs into a lot of people that he hates and how fantasizes about hurting them all.
The book is written in short, choppy sentences. My guess is it's supposed to convey the Doyle's brusque-ness, frustration, and the pace at which, he does things. Mostly, it just comes off as not very literate.
The storyline itself isn't bad, but I was in a hurry for this one to end. I don't know if I'll try reading another in this series for myself or not.

[Lute Mullenix]

I always enjoy Bob Moats books and this one did not disappoint.

[Paul]

A fantastic introduction to a new series by Bob Moats, the creator of the Jim Richards series. It is another solid hit that gives us an engaging character who has been at odds with the political power structure. His world gets rearranged, partly through his own actions and yet he makes the most of it. This book has solid twists that keep it moving along. It is well worth the read.

[Neena Christianson Martin]

I have read all of Bob's Jim Richards Murder books, so I wasn't sure about a new PI, til I started reading this book. It is truly a great read. Bob pulls you into the story and the characters, and you feel like you are there with them. WTG, Bob Moat's, you have done it again!

[Pat]

I liked several things about the book, mainly the Michigan setting and the basic plot. The characters didn't come to life, though, and the writing was very uneven, so I never got into the flow of the story.

[Pat Trezza]

I have loved all the books Bob Moats has written...he has done it again with his new series. Doyle's Law was a fast read and enjoyed it very much, can't wait for the next one Bob.

[Marcia-Lee Finocchio]

Another great series by Bob

[Suzanne]

Not a bad story but not very well written.