The Ephemeral File: Adam Fraley Mystery Series

Adam Fraley Mystery #2

by Henry Hoffman

What begins as a simple lost love case for private investigator Adam Fraley quickly escalates into something of far greater magnitude during the course of his investigation. Not only is it a potential felony he stumbles across but one of the rarest in the catalog of crimes, all due to a critical piece of information having been withheld by his client, a terminally ill World War II vet. The job eventually takes Fraley to remote stretches of Florida’s Withlacoochee River and events that occurred over a half century ago. At the center of the case are teenage twin sisters, Staci and Kati Carew, whose conflicting friendships, loves, and ambitions rise far above normal sibling rivalry, ultimately leading to a grievous injustice and major cover-up.

186 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 3, 2018

About the author

Henry Hoffman is a former public library director and newspaper editor whose fiction and non-fiction works have appeared in a variety of literary and trade publications. He is the author of four previous novels, including Bridge to Oblivion, the first of the Adam Fraley mystery/detective series, which received the Florida Publishers Association's Gold Medal Award for Florida Fiction. He is a resident of Southwest Florida.

Reviews

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Private Investigator Adam Fraley takes on the case of an elderly man who is looking for his lost love. It has been over fifty years since he last saw her. It seems simple enough. But what Adam doesn’t know is that the case will develop into something far bigger than trying to locate an old flame.

Staci Carew was one of a set of identical twins. Her sister Kati was a top gymnast and all set to go to the Olympics as soon as the Olympic Committee approved gymnastics as a sport in the games. She died in an “accidental” fall from a bridge over a river. When Adam speaks to her coach, the detective who investigated Kati’s accident and visits the scene of the crime, he thinks that something is more than a little fishy about the whole story. When the elderly man tells the whole story to Adam, the story becomes far more serious.

This is a well told tale. It is interesting and I like the main characters Adam and Tamra. It is an easy to read story and I enjoyed it. This is my first Henry Hoffman novel, but it won’t be my last. I hope we hear more from PI Adam Fraley.

I want to thank NetGalley and Melange Books for forwarding to me a copy of this fine book for me to read, enjoy and review.

[Abdur Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Private Investigator Adam Fraley takes on the case of a world war II vet who is looking for his lost love Staci Carew. Its been over fifty years since he last saw her. Because of his manager Tamra’s recommendation Adam takes the case into his bucket and starts his usual exploration with just name and the school of Staci Carew. As the story moves, which seemed like a simple case of lost love develops into greater extent. The tale of the world war II veteran and his lost love rolls out to be a personal mission for Adam.

It might look like a simple backstory, but the novel turns ultimately into the investigation about a dead girl Kati Carew, Staci’s twin sister who was a top gymnast of her time. She dies of an fortuitous fall of the bridge over a river. With further excavation with her coach and the officer who investigated the accident, Adam ponders some shady background events around the whole accident. Apart form the story of Kati Carew, the book also depicts the personal life of Adam and his adopted child Noelle well and good.

How good are the characters?
The characters in The Ephemeral File are an wonderful bunch. Both Adam and Noelle come as interesting characters. Though the author does not dwell deep into Noelle’s past, he is still be able to turn her a captivating role. Author tries really hard to get the characters in front of readers eyes in which he is eventually succeeded. The story consists of quite a number of characters, where each and every one played a major role to unbind some mystery around the case.

To read more about my review on The Ephemeral File. Follow the below link
http://www.bskuare.com/the-ephemeral-...

[Gratia · Rating 5 out of 5]

From picking mangoes on Pine Island, enjoying the scent of the Frangipani trees or walking near the Withlacoochee River to an abandoned bridge, the a sense of native Florida is an integral and delightful part of this story. Ephemeral is something used in landscape painting to describe the fleeting light, and Hoffman gives us thoughtful visual descriptions of the tangled groves of mangroves, and the hidden secrets one finds in forest and rivers, both natural and man-made. Intruding into a nudist camp at one point, adds some humor. Adam Fraley, P.I. is an endearing guy, a bit reluctant with woman, and likes several of them respectfully. Woman are portrayed with brains and skills. Fraley enjoys being a bit elusive, but proves he has common sense with his actions. We come to care about him and his work, because he cares about it. Tenaciously persevering a case, one he didn't want to take at the beginning, the reader is drawn into this story that raises a simple question about how to right a wrong; one that anyone might have done.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Private investigator Adam Fraley takes on a seemingly sentimental case only to dig up decades-old strife from the client's teen years. Meanwhile, Fraley's own teenager is facing her own struggles; and his love life is approaching a point of decision.

I really enjoyed this Fraley mystery. The plot refused to follow the standard mystery timeline, which kept it fresh and kept me on my toes. I was also drawn into the personal relationships, despite jumping into the series without reading the first novels. Despite mysteries not being my primary genre, this was a good read and has sparked my interest in the rest of the series.

Transparency Note: I was given the book by the author, who is an acquaintance, in exchange for some post-publication feedback. This review was not requested in return, but offered freely.

[Christine Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of the previous books in this series and have been patiently awaiting this new book! Like all of Henry Hoffman's books this one is equally hard to put down and I am trying not to binge read through it! I have really gotten into the character of Adam Fraley and I especially enjoy the regional settings and the Author's way of describing the supporting characters. The books can be read out of sequence so it's nice to be able to pluck one off the shelf for another visit. I highly recommend this series to all mystery lovers as well as Mr. Hoffman's other books.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was just going to be a simple case of lost love but it quickly changes to something else. It leads to a case which happened over half a century ago. What was it? How will it all.work out? See how he deals with it all

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a detective mystery that draws you in from the start. The author brings the characters alive for you. I found that I felt the characters emotions. The author has the talent to draw you in.
I enjoyed reading this book. It kept my attention which I look for in a book. I highly recommend this book. It is a book that should be on everyone's. bookshelf.

[Urszula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice mystery. Following the clues the investigator finds the case more and more complex. The evidences go far far in the past. What will be discovered? Great plot, story line and good characters.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best “first mystery” I’ve read in a while.

[Debra Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read!

Nothing more enjoyable than reading a well written cold case mystery with a Florida twist for this reader. I look forward to my next Adam Fraley mystery.

[Laura Hundley]

I actually read this book twice. I was hooked from ththe beginning. The writer had a great idea for a story line and I did not expect the outcome at all. The premise is a private investigator is asked to find the long lost love of a man in his 70’s. As Adam, the investigator, starts questioning people he learns that the woma he is looking for had a twin sister who died unexpectedly. Her death was ruled an accident but was it really? Along the way you meet great characters who bring this story to life. It was almost like I could imagine the story really taking place. Th writer has done a great job with the time frame as well as the fluidity of his writing abilities.

Thank you netgalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

5+ out of 5 for this one!

[Pauline Barlow]

What starts out as an elderly terminally ill WWII vet looking for his "lost love" becomes much a much larger story. It seems he really wants to right a wrong. With the help of an investigator he soon locates her and learns about her twin sister and when and how she died. After finding her the investigator thinks the case is closed and it should go into the ephemeral file as it was a short term affair but there is still much to be done
The characters are interesting as is the story.