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What Happened to Flynn
Shane Notfarg, an experienced, Afro-American, female detective in the San Diego County sheriff’s office is assigned the case of missing man Arthur Flynn in late 2008. She dislikes cases involving missing persons because they turn up alive later ninety percent of the time, a loss of investigative resources. Flynn disappeared from a fishing camp at the Russian River in northern California. Shane puzzles initially over whether Flynn took off to avoid paying alimony to his gorgeous ex-wife, now living with a wealthy man? Then Shane discovers Flynn had taken ten thousand dollars to the fishing camp. She wonders why he was carrying such a large amount of money to the camp. Did somebody murder him for that cash? The issue becomes more serious when Flynn’s car is found stripped in Compton and forensics determines it had contained a dead body with Flynn’s DNA. Shane suspects a pair of fellow campers who live near Compton, but cannot figure out how they accomplished the murder since they drove from the camp the day after Flynn’s car left. Shane’s attention turns to another pair of campers who tried to disguise their identity. It takes Shane seven years to find out what happened to Flynn. Her investigation uncovers a huge money laundering operation about which Flynn had written to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Her investigation uncovers forgery, thieving and murder, while touching on social issues--the seizure of assets without conviction and racial matters in a white male dominated environment. The ultimate culprit of this criminality will surprise you.
255 pages, Paperback
Published November 14, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 22, 2018
One of the more interesting crime mystery novels I’ve read. A San Diego female African American detective is assigned to a missing persons case, which leads to much more than just a missing person.
The detailed crime investigation methods are somewhat over done but are also very informative in learning how much actually goes into a complicated case. With many twists and turns in the case
the ending was the most unexpected surprise of the story.
The detailed crime investigation methods are somewhat over done but are also very informative in learning how much actually goes into a complicated case. With many twists and turns in the case
the ending was the most unexpected surprise of the story.
January 21, 2018
Detective Shane Notfarg reluctantly accepted the case of a missing man named Arthur Flynn. She was reluctant because statistics were favoring him showing back up, and she believed it was just a waste of police resources. But the more she learns about Flynn’s Character, the more she fears that something has indeed happened to him. Especially so, after she discovered that there had been an attempt on his life. Before it’s over with, Detective Notfarg will have had a wild ride uncovering and following all the clues. And what about Flynn? Is he dead or alive? Will we find out for sure?
The only thing I did not like about this story was how long it was. I feel that a lot of the step by step detective work was not needed. It was tedious and made the story drag a bit. Otherwise, I loved following the clues along with Shane. The sophisticated scheme that was uncovered was interesting. I even picked up on a few things that Shane missed in the beginning but discovered later. This was a very good detective story with a ‘is he or is he not dead’ plot that will make you guess all the way through.
The only thing I did not like about this story was how long it was. I feel that a lot of the step by step detective work was not needed. It was tedious and made the story drag a bit. Otherwise, I loved following the clues along with Shane. The sophisticated scheme that was uncovered was interesting. I even picked up on a few things that Shane missed in the beginning but discovered later. This was a very good detective story with a ‘is he or is he not dead’ plot that will make you guess all the way through.
January 29, 2018
I really enjoyed, What Happened to Flynn, an intriguing tale featuring headstrong female homicide detective, Shane Notfarg. Despite her initial dismay at being assigned a missing person's case, Detective Notfarg, realizes the case is much more complex than first anticipated and eventually, the missing person's case turns into a complex murder case. The story immediately pulled me in and kept me captivated and wondering what was going to happen next. It dragged a little in the middle but then picked up full force towards the end, unraveling more criminals and more plot twists. It was an easy read and a great book for a nice relaxing day. Author, Pat Muir, did an excellent job of blending strength and vulnerability in the character of Shane, making her both likable and relatable. You can't help but respect her. However, the book itself lacks a certain depth. It is filled with details of the cases in a way that almost seems like reading a police report. Despite that critique this was a really good detective novel with an array of interesting characters. The plot twists will keep you guessing until the end.
December 27, 2017
This is one of the more deftly-written crime investigation novels I've had the pleasure of reading! The investigation is meticulously detailed, almost to the point of information overload, but one gets the feel of a real investigation and how much work goes into it. You get a detailed portrait of the oridinary man at the center of the case and the very odd and highly dangerous circumstances he was caught up into.
Refreshingly, this is not a slickly handled case: there are misdirections and odd leads that take the case into highly unexpected places. This is no TV police case which gets neatly tied up in a matter of days or weeks, but unfolds over the course of years, allowing the story to take its time and unfold at its own pace. You get a feel for all the work that goes into a real-world investigation, which this novel reflects quite well. When the plot at last unfolds its oddest twist, the payoff is well worth the wait and wondering that have passed before it.
Refreshingly, this is not a slickly handled case: there are misdirections and odd leads that take the case into highly unexpected places. This is no TV police case which gets neatly tied up in a matter of days or weeks, but unfolds over the course of years, allowing the story to take its time and unfold at its own pace. You get a feel for all the work that goes into a real-world investigation, which this novel reflects quite well. When the plot at last unfolds its oddest twist, the payoff is well worth the wait and wondering that have passed before it.
January 25, 2018
This was a great suspense/mystery story about a detective who reluctantly accepts a missing person's case. One of the drawbacks on the story was the unnecessary technical aspects of police/detective/crime scene work. While the details were interesting, it made the story read more like a textbook and pulled me out as a reader. There are ways to do it and break it up that would have been fine. But the current presentation and the length of it was just tedious (rule of thumb...if it doesn't move the story forward, its not needed). I did enjoy the twists and misdirections as well. The one other issue is the character development needed more work. The character development wasn't fully developed and the story was more plot driven then character driven. it became hard to root or care for the characters at time and sometimes I found myself wondering why someone didn't evolve/change (for good or bad). Almost like they were robots with very little upgrades.
June 21, 2019
An intriguing mystery involving murder and drugs
What happened to Flynn was a refreshing fun read that has just the right amount of suspense and mystery to keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. Arthur Flynn was a realtor who became a missing person and then a murder. Detective Notfrag was assigned the case and she takes the case in a strong hand and doggedly pursues the truth no matter the cost. I found the story to be well written with developed characters. The scenes are described in enough detail you can see yourself in the middle of the story with Notfrag trying to solve the mystery of Flynn. This is a good story for anyone who loves murder mystery and suspenseful action. I very much enjoyed this one and recommend this one to all. Check it out then tell me what you think.
What happened to Flynn was a refreshing fun read that has just the right amount of suspense and mystery to keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. Arthur Flynn was a realtor who became a missing person and then a murder. Detective Notfrag was assigned the case and she takes the case in a strong hand and doggedly pursues the truth no matter the cost. I found the story to be well written with developed characters. The scenes are described in enough detail you can see yourself in the middle of the story with Notfrag trying to solve the mystery of Flynn. This is a good story for anyone who loves murder mystery and suspenseful action. I very much enjoyed this one and recommend this one to all. Check it out then tell me what you think.
January 19, 2018
What Happened to Flynn is beautifully unlike other books of its genre - gone are the typical tropes, leads, and clues. In this sense, this novel is a nicely refreshing read, and unpredictable, too. The story is well-written, and its slow development over a matter of years adds a sense of realism and frustration to the plot that reflects the course of many real-world investigations.
The reason that I haven't rated this book higher is primarily because of the brevity with which I felt it handled character development - although much of the narrative was well-developed and examined in great depth, I felt that a lot more could have been done with the characters' own progression over time.
The reason that I haven't rated this book higher is primarily because of the brevity with which I felt it handled character development - although much of the narrative was well-developed and examined in great depth, I felt that a lot more could have been done with the characters' own progression over time.
May 5, 2018
A Fascinating Fictional Peek at a Realistic Police Story
I thought this story had an interesting plot was well developed to the setting of a police case told by the homicide detective . So I was totally unprepared for a bizarre twist in the last third of the book making the story segue to another plot entirely......the "real" plot. Unusual characters, not what I expected at all in crime novel. A very good read, moved along smoothly.
I thought this story had an interesting plot was well developed to the setting of a police case told by the homicide detective . So I was totally unprepared for a bizarre twist in the last third of the book making the story segue to another plot entirely......the "real" plot. Unusual characters, not what I expected at all in crime novel. A very good read, moved along smoothly.
December 31, 2021
a superbly crafted criminal murder mystery, Pat Muir provides in-depth detail on all aspects of homicide investigator Shane Notfarg and her twists and turns towards the truth about what happened to Arthur Flynn.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews