The Black Tortoise

by Ronald Tierney

Peter Strand is half Chinese and half Cherokee and was adopted by an elderly white couple from Phoenix. Now he's a forensic accountant in San Francisco, where he's struggling with his identity.

When his employer asks him to investigate a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization, Strand meets a cast of quirky characters who all seem to be hiding a secret. Peter soon finds evidence of a probable fraud, but when fraud leads to murder, he's drawn deeper into a murky mystery.

The Black Tortoise is the second book in the Peter Strand Mystery series.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Adult

144 pages, Paperback

Published March 21, 2017

About the author

Ronald Tierney has been a bus boy, hod carrier, assembly line foreman, retail clerk, Army sergeant, actor, house painter, ditch digger, shipping clerk, salesman, advertising copywriter, frame shop owner, communications director, bank officer, and newspaper editor. He was editor of a San Francisco monthly and founding editor of an alternative weekly. Born in Indianapolis, Tierney attended Indiana University in Bloomington. He lives in San Francisco where he is working on several fiction projects.

Reviews

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book in the “Learner Reading Mystery” section of my library (???) Never even knew there was such a thing.
It is a compact uncomplicated mystery with a very likable protagonist forensic accountant Peter Strand. Peter is on the job for his biggest client looking into the books of a non-profit organization when a murder takes place.
At 131 pages it was an enjoyable couple of hours. Good writing sprinkled with wit.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who killed David the "IT guy"?
I love a mystery with humor and Ronald Tierney has certainly given us that. The story is almost mystical at times with the occasional appearance of a black tortoise at the wharf. Not something one would expect in a story featuring a forensic accountant and a suspected fraudulently run organization. Or is it?

Almost ready to wrap up his investigation of a nonprofit organization, things rapidly change with the death of David, the "IT guy." How did he end up in the ocean, and why didn't he try to climb out onto one of the piers? Was he killed? Murdered? This changes everything. Once again, Peter Strand has a possible case of fraud, if he can find it.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting, lots of possible suspects, and humorous. Definitely quirky characters, an entertaining quick read.
Reviewed from Advance Reading Copy

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of the "Rapid Reads" series which is aimed at adult literacy or ESL. I'm quite fond of this series as it manages to bring entertaining stories to adults while remaining at an elementary reading level. This particular book is one of the highest levels I've read in the series at a Grade 4 reading vocabulary. A good detailed mystery involving a forensic accountant working for a private organization. His look into a non-profit's books leads him to a murder investigation. A solid story and well-written within the confines of the limited allowable vocabulary.I'd certainly read more by this author.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter is a forensic accountant, which means that he investigates the financial transactions of a company. He is called in by a man on the board of directors of a nonprofit organization to investigate something that isn't quite right. Along the way, he meets the diverse employees of the company, and doesn't find much out of the ordinary. Then he discovers a body, and everything changes. This is a quick read that keeps you guessing when it comes to who the bad guy is.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the Rapid Reads branding and therefore more geared to "New Adult". There is one scene involving the bedroom, handcuffs and a knife.
Not suitable for middle school. Will not be adding it to my library.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a really fast read, but it had enough details to get the story across, and it ended well, in my opinion.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

And easy, light mystery book.