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Jake Longly #3
Sunshine State
Serial killer’s message to PI Jake Longly: Two of those seven murders I confessed to are not mine—but I won’t tell you which two.
Jake Longly and Nicole Jamison are confronted with the most bizarre case yet. Serial killer Billy Wayne Baker now denies that two of his seven murders were actually his work. An anonymous benefactor, who believes Billy Wayne’s denials, has hired Longly Investigations to prove Billy Wayne right. Billy Wayne had confessed to all seven. Not only did the confessed serial killer have the motive, means, and opportunity for murder, but his DNA was found at each crime scene. Bizarre doesn’t quite cover it.
Jake and Nicole travel to the small Gulf Coast town of Pine Key, Florida, where three of the murders occurred. The local police, FBI, state prosecutor, and crime lab each did their jobs, uncovered overwhelming evidence of Billy Wayne’s guilt—and even extracted a full confession. Is Billy Wayne simply trying to tweak the system to garner another fifteen minutes of fame? It’s likely all a game to him, but, if he’s being truthful— someone out there is getting away with multiple murders. How? Why? And most importantly, who?
Dark clouds loom in the Sunshine State.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2019
75 people are currently reading
544 people want to read
About the author
D.P. Lyle
34 books154 followersDP Lyle, MD is the Macavity and Benjamin Franklin Silver Award winning and Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, Scribe, Silver Falchion, and USA Best Book Award nominated author of many non-fiction books as well as numerous works of fiction.
He has worked with many novelists and with the writers of popular television shows such as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Diagnosis Murder, Monk, House, Medium, and Pretty Little Liars and others
For the past 35 years, he has practiced Cardiology in Orange County, California. He is the co-host, along with Jan Burke, of Crime and Science Radio, a twice-monthly program on Suspense Radio.
He has worked with many novelists and with the writers of popular television shows such as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Diagnosis Murder, Monk, House, Medium, and Pretty Little Liars and others
For the past 35 years, he has practiced Cardiology in Orange County, California. He is the co-host, along with Jan Burke, of Crime and Science Radio, a twice-monthly program on Suspense Radio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 21, 2019
4.5 stars
PI Jake Longly and Nicole Jamison are faced with a unique, unheard of investigation. Well known serial killer, Billy Wayne Baker, confessed to seven murders in order not to go to trial. Residing in prison now, his lawyer contacts Longly and team. Baker now says that 2 of those murders were not done by him.. but he won't tell them which victims. He says he knows who did them but he won't tell them that. either.
So where to start? Baker's victims were really spread out. According to him, he would sneak in, commit the murder and promptly leave town before he was caught. But there was one place that was hit multiple times, leaving three dead women.....that's where they think they will be.
Will they be able to find the real killer of two of these victims .. or is Baker playing a game?
An ex-big league ballplayer, now a beach bar owner, and working for his dad as a reluctant private investigator, Jake Longly brings his smarts, his good looks, and his sense of humor to the table. Nicole is a smart woman, loves her work helping out the PIs, and she has a playfulness that can't be denied. Pancake is a lifelong friend of Jake's .. a mountain of a man who eats 24 hours a day. He also works for Ray Longly, who owns the PI family business.
All the characters are finely drawn... quirky in a multitude of ways .... and the small town where all the action takes place is charming. This is not an action packed thriller with guns blasting and road races with police cars. There is mystery, there is some suspense ... but it's more like a fine wine that slowly warms your insides.
Although third in the 3-book trilogy, this can easily be read as a stand alone. I've read a different series by this author, but I'm looking forward to reading the first two books in this one.
Many thanks to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Edelweiss for the digital copy of this humorous crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
PI Jake Longly and Nicole Jamison are faced with a unique, unheard of investigation. Well known serial killer, Billy Wayne Baker, confessed to seven murders in order not to go to trial. Residing in prison now, his lawyer contacts Longly and team. Baker now says that 2 of those murders were not done by him.. but he won't tell them which victims. He says he knows who did them but he won't tell them that. either.
So where to start? Baker's victims were really spread out. According to him, he would sneak in, commit the murder and promptly leave town before he was caught. But there was one place that was hit multiple times, leaving three dead women.....that's where they think they will be.
Will they be able to find the real killer of two of these victims .. or is Baker playing a game?
An ex-big league ballplayer, now a beach bar owner, and working for his dad as a reluctant private investigator, Jake Longly brings his smarts, his good looks, and his sense of humor to the table. Nicole is a smart woman, loves her work helping out the PIs, and she has a playfulness that can't be denied. Pancake is a lifelong friend of Jake's .. a mountain of a man who eats 24 hours a day. He also works for Ray Longly, who owns the PI family business.
All the characters are finely drawn... quirky in a multitude of ways .... and the small town where all the action takes place is charming. This is not an action packed thriller with guns blasting and road races with police cars. There is mystery, there is some suspense ... but it's more like a fine wine that slowly warms your insides.
Although third in the 3-book trilogy, this can easily be read as a stand alone. I've read a different series by this author, but I'm looking forward to reading the first two books in this one.
Many thanks to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Edelweiss for the digital copy of this humorous crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 6, 2019
One of those fun mysteries where it's all about the recurring, fun characters and their quirks. Jake, an ex-baseball star and his best friend Pancake (think giant leprechaun), Jake's steamy and fun relationship with Nicole who is smart and fierce, and Jake's Dad, Ray, who is a P.I. I loved all of these characters and all of the relationships between them. The author does an equally good job with the book-specific characters. The writing was great, excellent dialogue, pacing and atmosphere. Even the mystery itself was very intriguing in this book. But--the culprit was very easy to spot and that took away from another wise perfect read for me. The lead characters are all savvy and seasoned and yet they miss a really obvious conclusion until the (admittedly) exciting end. I am not one who tries to solve mysteries; I'm happy enough to let a book unfold. But when the answer is really obvious and the smart characters are not getting it, it's a tiny bit jarring. That aside, I really, really did enjoy this book. I will absolutely go and read all the rest in the series.
May 28, 2020
3.5 stars
This was a fun easy book to read and I particularly enjoyed the banter that occurred between all the characters.
The premise of a serial killer announcing to Jake Longly and his gorgeous sidekick, girlfriend and all around keeps him on his toes, Nicole Jamison, that although he was definitely a serial killer, the seven deaths he was convicted of were not all his. Do you believe him since he confessed and is serving life sentences for his dastardly deeds? But what if he is telling the truth? Wouldn't that mean that a killer is running about free thinking he was able to get away with murder?
Time for a master plan so when, financed by an anonymous rich man, the team of Jake and his various compatriots including the ever eating and filling his tummy, Pancake, embark on a scheme to see if they can track down this possible second killer.
Under the guise of being an influential film company, and filming a series on the aftermath of the families and people left behind, supported by Nicole's wealthy producer uncle, they infiltrate the town where three of the murders have occurred.
It's a bit of a cat and mouse game for all and as the pieces come together, there is a certainty something sinister has occurred in this small town.
I enjoyed this fast paced story and would definitely come back for another installment of this series.
Thank you to Edelweiss for an advanced copy of this book which has already been published.
This was a fun easy book to read and I particularly enjoyed the banter that occurred between all the characters.
The premise of a serial killer announcing to Jake Longly and his gorgeous sidekick, girlfriend and all around keeps him on his toes, Nicole Jamison, that although he was definitely a serial killer, the seven deaths he was convicted of were not all his. Do you believe him since he confessed and is serving life sentences for his dastardly deeds? But what if he is telling the truth? Wouldn't that mean that a killer is running about free thinking he was able to get away with murder?
Time for a master plan so when, financed by an anonymous rich man, the team of Jake and his various compatriots including the ever eating and filling his tummy, Pancake, embark on a scheme to see if they can track down this possible second killer.
Under the guise of being an influential film company, and filming a series on the aftermath of the families and people left behind, supported by Nicole's wealthy producer uncle, they infiltrate the town where three of the murders have occurred.
It's a bit of a cat and mouse game for all and as the pieces come together, there is a certainty something sinister has occurred in this small town.
I enjoyed this fast paced story and would definitely come back for another installment of this series.
Thank you to Edelweiss for an advanced copy of this book which has already been published.
May 27, 2019
“Sunshine State” by D. P. Lyle is book three in the “Jake Longly” series, but it has enough suspense and hilarious antics that new readers will have no trouble following Jake and friends along the Gulf Shore. “Sunshine State” is largely Jake Longly’s first person narrative, and he obligingly introduces himself and the various players. He talks to himself; he talks to others, and he talks to readers. He shares, strategizes, plans, and sometimes even thinks. The plot is conversation driven, so readers know what he says to people and what they say to him. He comments on everything, including what he thinks about people, the case, and the food.
Jake begrudgingly works for his father at Longly Investigations but prefers working at his bar on the sand on the Gulf Shore. Longly Investigations now has a very unusual case, one filled with mystery and intrigue, one that makes absolutely no sense. A serial killer in a Florida prison wants to prove that he only killed five people instead of seven. Since someone is footing the bill for the investigation, Jake and his familiar crew head off to check out the multiple murders, multiple players, and multiple conspiracies. Readers follow along as the case unfolds with the clues and the miscues, the revelations and the theories.
There is plenty of humor starting with the players, “This is Tommy Jeffers. Folks call him Pancake.” and their feelings about the situation, “More like an exchange program. We can ship them a couple of liquored-up good old boys complete with pick-up trucks, and they could send us a serial killer.”
Lyle immerses readers in the geography of the area with relaxed and flowing descriptions, “The air held a salty must, and a gentle breeze came off the water. The sky was blue and pock-marked with wads of fluffy clouds”
“Sunshine State” is an entertaining book, with a proposition so outrageous and improbable that readers are compelled to turn the pages to see just how this absurdity plays out. I received a review copy of “Deep Six” from D. P. Lyle, and Oceanview Publishing. It is not a headache-inducing thriller; it is an entertaining book to read, considering it is about a serial killer, of course. Jake and his cohorts are not intense investigators, dedicated sleuths, or even excessively thoughtful; they are just fun.
Jake begrudgingly works for his father at Longly Investigations but prefers working at his bar on the sand on the Gulf Shore. Longly Investigations now has a very unusual case, one filled with mystery and intrigue, one that makes absolutely no sense. A serial killer in a Florida prison wants to prove that he only killed five people instead of seven. Since someone is footing the bill for the investigation, Jake and his familiar crew head off to check out the multiple murders, multiple players, and multiple conspiracies. Readers follow along as the case unfolds with the clues and the miscues, the revelations and the theories.
There is plenty of humor starting with the players, “This is Tommy Jeffers. Folks call him Pancake.” and their feelings about the situation, “More like an exchange program. We can ship them a couple of liquored-up good old boys complete with pick-up trucks, and they could send us a serial killer.”
Lyle immerses readers in the geography of the area with relaxed and flowing descriptions, “The air held a salty must, and a gentle breeze came off the water. The sky was blue and pock-marked with wads of fluffy clouds”
“Sunshine State” is an entertaining book, with a proposition so outrageous and improbable that readers are compelled to turn the pages to see just how this absurdity plays out. I received a review copy of “Deep Six” from D. P. Lyle, and Oceanview Publishing. It is not a headache-inducing thriller; it is an entertaining book to read, considering it is about a serial killer, of course. Jake and his cohorts are not intense investigators, dedicated sleuths, or even excessively thoughtful; they are just fun.
May 21, 2019
can't wait to read another Jake Longly mystery!
April 21, 2019
Outstanding description and characters. Slow built suspense that kept me guessing until the very end! Highly recommend!!
November 30, 2019
Great characters, repetitive plot
Jake Longley - former pitcher turned reluctant PI - is a great character. The whole team is fun. The plot hook - serial killer claims two murders he confessed to aren't his - is compelling.
Unfortunately, there is just too much filler. The cover story about making a documentary gets repeated a hundred times. Too many suspect interviews go over the same details without adding much new information.
Looking forward to more installments, but I hope for some tighter editing.
Jake Longley - former pitcher turned reluctant PI - is a great character. The whole team is fun. The plot hook - serial killer claims two murders he confessed to aren't his - is compelling.
Unfortunately, there is just too much filler. The cover story about making a documentary gets repeated a hundred times. Too many suspect interviews go over the same details without adding much new information.
Looking forward to more installments, but I hope for some tighter editing.
May 29, 2019
Retired baseball player Jake Longly and his beautiful girlfriend Nicole take an assignment for his father Ray's private investigation firm when a serial killer, safely locked up, wants to recant on his confession to two of the seven crimes of which he was convicted. But he won't say which of the crimes weren't his. Jake and Nicole, plus his father and his old friend Pancake, find themselves in a tiny town where three murders were committed. The culprit seems fairly obvious to them all, but then that wouldn't be much of a thriller, would it? This does make me remember why I prefer cozies.
June 2, 2019
Just might be the best Jake Longly yet. Just might be the best book I have read all year. There is a serial killer sitting in jail with 7 counts of life without parole. His DNA was found at all of the sites and he confessed to all 7 murder/rapes. Now he is claiming he is only guilty of 5 and has a benefactor who is willing to pay Jakes PI father, Ray, to prove it. But he isn't willing to say which two. All of the murders took place in different towns except 3 of them so they focus on that little town. They can't just go in and start asking questions, so they develop a cover of doing a documentary of the effect on the victims. It is up to the reader to figure out if they are on the right track. All the action and humor you expect from a Jack Longly novel.
June 20, 2022
Jake Longly, Nicole, Ray and Pancake are back at it in this third book in the series. This time a serial killer serving life in prison hires the gang (through a benefactor) to prove that he did not do two of the seven killings he was convicted of. He admits to the other five.
It's a bit far fetched, but it's a great vehicle to bring back this fascinating cast of characters and deposit them in small-town Florida, where we meet even more quirky and sometimes likeable characters.
This isn't heavy lifting. It's an entertaining light read, well paced and full of wonderful characters that will stay with you long after you forget the plot. It would make a GREAT summer beach read or a fun read by the fire in the middle of winter.
It's a bit far fetched, but it's a great vehicle to bring back this fascinating cast of characters and deposit them in small-town Florida, where we meet even more quirky and sometimes likeable characters.
This isn't heavy lifting. It's an entertaining light read, well paced and full of wonderful characters that will stay with you long after you forget the plot. It would make a GREAT summer beach read or a fun read by the fire in the middle of winter.
May 13, 2019
Billy Wayne is a confessed serial killer but now he's claiming he didn't kill ALL the people he confessed to killing. Not a surprising thing for a bad guy (not that it really will make a difference in his life). Someone (who?) hires Jake and Nicole to sort things out so they head to Pine Key, Florida to untangle things. There's good reason- like DNA evidence to start- to question Billy Wayne's assertion but, no spoilers, Jake begins to believe him. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. It's a good read with twists and some chuckles.
May 11, 2019
A good book, well written and entertaining.
I liked the plot, the well written cast of characters and the setting.
The mystery was good and it kept me hooked till the last page.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I liked the plot, the well written cast of characters and the setting.
The mystery was good and it kept me hooked till the last page.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
June 7, 2019
I received Sunshine State (Jake Longly #3) through a Goodreads Giveaway. I hadn't read or even heard of the Jake Longly series prior to receiving Sunshine State, but now I know I've been missing something great.
I don't often read crime books, and I have never read a crime book that mixes such a diverse cast of characters. I mean, the main character is an ex-professional baseball player who takes out criminals with his fastball throwing techniques. That's pretty freaking neat.
The story was great, and I loved the premise of a serial killer recanting two of his confessions for the sake of fair play. It was fascinating and helped to draw me into the story. I found it nearly impossible to put down the book at any given point while reading.
The suspense of the investigation and the undercover operations was intense. I couldn't wait to find out who had actually committed the murders, whether it was Baker, a copycat, or someone taking advantage of an unfortunate situation to rid themselves of a problem. Throughout Sunshine State, I felt like I was part of the investigation team trying to discover who the real killer was.
Sunshine State is definitely a great read and may have turned me into a lifelong Jake Longly fan. I can't wait to pick up the previous two books in order to catch up on what I've been missing.
I don't often read crime books, and I have never read a crime book that mixes such a diverse cast of characters. I mean, the main character is an ex-professional baseball player who takes out criminals with his fastball throwing techniques. That's pretty freaking neat.
The story was great, and I loved the premise of a serial killer recanting two of his confessions for the sake of fair play. It was fascinating and helped to draw me into the story. I found it nearly impossible to put down the book at any given point while reading.
The suspense of the investigation and the undercover operations was intense. I couldn't wait to find out who had actually committed the murders, whether it was Baker, a copycat, or someone taking advantage of an unfortunate situation to rid themselves of a problem. Throughout Sunshine State, I felt like I was part of the investigation team trying to discover who the real killer was.
Sunshine State is definitely a great read and may have turned me into a lifelong Jake Longly fan. I can't wait to pick up the previous two books in order to catch up on what I've been missing.
March 4, 2022
Sunshine State by D.P. Lyle is a fun – at least as fun a book about a serial killer can be – and fairly quick read. It kept pulling me back to find out the end. Lyle steps to the edge of the evil inside a serial killing, without jumping off into the abys of gratuitous gore.
Even though fiction, Lyle brings an air of believability for the most part to his story of how things could happen in real life in regard to police and autopsy procedures in a small town.
The characters, Jake & Nicole, have a sizzling relationship in addition to strong friendship and family tensions within their team as a whole. Favorite character, Pancake.
Although part of a series, this is the first Jake Longly Thriller of D.P. Lyle’s that I have read. I did not feel lost, so it could easily be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed this read and would recommend it to others.*
* For my Christian reader followers: this book is firmly in the secular fiction column due to strong vulgarity and much sexual innuendo.
Even though fiction, Lyle brings an air of believability for the most part to his story of how things could happen in real life in regard to police and autopsy procedures in a small town.
The characters, Jake & Nicole, have a sizzling relationship in addition to strong friendship and family tensions within their team as a whole. Favorite character, Pancake.
Although part of a series, this is the first Jake Longly Thriller of D.P. Lyle’s that I have read. I did not feel lost, so it could easily be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed this read and would recommend it to others.*
* For my Christian reader followers: this book is firmly in the secular fiction column due to strong vulgarity and much sexual innuendo.
May 13, 2020
Longly Investigations is called into action again in D. P. Lyle’s third installment of his Jake Longly Thriller series.SUNSHINE STATE is not a fast-paced thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat or takes you for a wild ride. The plot is mostly conversation driven, yet it is a suspense-filled mystery that prods you along, wanting to help these four quirky investigators find the connection they need to prove a serial killer innocent of two of the murders he is doing time for. Pine Key is a charming setting for this small-town investigation, with some peculiar supporting characters to add to this enthralling story. Jake and Nicole always have some very interesting banter between them that brings a little humor into the narrative. I have been a fan of D.P. Lyle since I read his first book in this series. SUNSHINE STATE can be read as a stand-along, but why miss out on such a fun series. You will not be disappointed.
July 12, 2019
This is an easy to read mystery that has a rather unique plot. There is a confessed serial killer that claims two of the murders attributed to him were committed by someone else. The story is the search to determine whether that is true and, if so, who is responsible for those two killings. I really liked the characters in this book (Jake, Nicole, Ray, Pancake and all the inhabitants of Pine Key). They added an interesting flavor to a story that wasn't particularly full of suspense. (I seldom can anticipate where the story is going but I did have this one figured out.) All-in-all, this was a pleasant afternoon's read and I will be anticipating the next book in this series to see what my characters are up to next.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
April 23, 2020
Loved this book. Although I figured out the identity of a killer after having completed 1/3 of the book, I was off on the motive; and the plot still had a surprise regarding the killer. Particularly enjoyed the banter between Jake and Nicole with sexual connotations. The plot revolved around a serial killer who confessed to 7 rapes and murders in order to avoid a trial and the death penalty, but Jake and his father's PI business, Longly Investigations were tasked with proving that he only really raped and murdered 5 women although it would not make any difference in his life sentencing, but in Billy Wayne Baker's mind if was a matter of "fair play." Great setting, too, in the little town where everyone knows everyone, and Pancake, one of the Longly team is such an interesting character. Couldn't put it down. Enjoyed it immensely.
June 9, 2019
Goodreads Kindle Copy Win
A serial killer confesses to seven murders so he would not go on trial. Sitting in jail for the murders, he has his lawyer contact the P.I. saying that he did not commit two of the murders but will not divulge which ones. The killer has an unknown benefactor who believes him despite that his DNA was found in all the crime scenes.
It will be up to Jake and Nicole to go through the information where the murders take place. Will they find that he is lying and did commit all seven murders or will they figure that someone else is involve and is roaming free? Can they catch the true killer?
It will keep you guessing as you work through the clues.
A serial killer confesses to seven murders so he would not go on trial. Sitting in jail for the murders, he has his lawyer contact the P.I. saying that he did not commit two of the murders but will not divulge which ones. The killer has an unknown benefactor who believes him despite that his DNA was found in all the crime scenes.
It will be up to Jake and Nicole to go through the information where the murders take place. Will they find that he is lying and did commit all seven murders or will they figure that someone else is involve and is roaming free? Can they catch the true killer?
It will keep you guessing as you work through the clues.
March 22, 2020
Series about a former MLB player whose dad runs a PI firm. He owns a bar and refuses to be a full partner in his dad's business. However, his girlfriend works for, Ray, his dad. So conveniently he ends up " consulting " quite a bit since someone else runs his bar. They get a case of a serial killer that claims he only killed 5 of the 7 victims. Now they head to Pine Key to uncover a double-murder conspiracy. Who killed the 2 women and why? Betrayal is always a theme when you have secrets. The characters were ok. Easy to predict, quick reading once you get into the story. Most of the action happens at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2023
I bought this book in audio version because of the high ratings. However, I see that there aren't many ratings so that may have skewed the score. Frankly, the story might be good but I made the mistake of buying the audio version where the author reads (yes reads, not performs) the book in a plodding, brutal manner. There was no change in tone of voice for different characters, no inflection as most experienced performers do on the audio books. I stopped at the end of chapter 3 and just can't finish. I highly recommend authors hire experienced, professional performers to deliver their book's content.
May 21, 2024
Billy Wayne Baker, admitted serial killer, has contacted Jake and Nicole. Sure, he's killed some people; but he's offended. He's only admitted to five but has been convicted of killing seven. He wants them to figure out which two are the ones he didn't kill. But he's not going to tell them which ones.
So, with the help of Pancake and Ray, they are going to head to Pine Key. They are going in under the guise of seeing whether the story of the murders there would make a good movie. Luckily, Nicole's Uncle Charles is a major producer and is willing to go in on the plan.
At first, the solution seems obvious, but as they dig, some town secrets will be uncovered. It's a good thing both Jake and Nicole have been taking Krav Maga.
So, with the help of Pancake and Ray, they are going to head to Pine Key. They are going in under the guise of seeing whether the story of the murders there would make a good movie. Luckily, Nicole's Uncle Charles is a major producer and is willing to go in on the plan.
At first, the solution seems obvious, but as they dig, some town secrets will be uncovered. It's a good thing both Jake and Nicole have been taking Krav Maga.
August 5, 2019
Serial killer Billy Wayne Baker denies that two of his seven murder convictions were actually his work. An anonymous benefactor who believes Billy Wayne has hired Longly Investigations to find the proof.
Acting as film crew scouting locations for a documentary on the murders, Jake Longly and Nicole head to the small Gulf Coast town of Pine Key, Florida where three of the murders occurred. They manage to interview the local police, crime lab and family members of the three victims. Despite the identical modus operandi and DNA evidence linking Billy Wayne to each crime scene, the Longly Investigations team soon find some oddities that support the serial killer's claim of innocence. Now it's up to them to find enough "proof" to trick the real killers into revealing themselves.
I received an eARC via Edelweiss and Oceanview Publishing with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
Acting as film crew scouting locations for a documentary on the murders, Jake Longly and Nicole head to the small Gulf Coast town of Pine Key, Florida where three of the murders occurred. They manage to interview the local police, crime lab and family members of the three victims. Despite the identical modus operandi and DNA evidence linking Billy Wayne to each crime scene, the Longly Investigations team soon find some oddities that support the serial killer's claim of innocence. Now it's up to them to find enough "proof" to trick the real killers into revealing themselves.
I received an eARC via Edelweiss and Oceanview Publishing with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
September 10, 2020
I would give this one 3.5. While it proved to be a really witty and convincing mystery, with a complex plot, the simple writing style left it lacking in prose.
This book was not a thoroughly easy read, it has actually potential for a serious and unique thriller. The characters though are somewhat cliches and this is what bothered me, because they were really smart people, yet they way they talked to each other proved them less.
Otherwise this coud be a gem, an unputdownable thriller.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this arc.
This book was not a thoroughly easy read, it has actually potential for a serious and unique thriller. The characters though are somewhat cliches and this is what bothered me, because they were really smart people, yet they way they talked to each other proved them less.
Otherwise this coud be a gem, an unputdownable thriller.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this arc.
June 18, 2019
I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway. It was an excellent read. I was immediately hooked and there were no lulls for me. Jake, Nicole, Ray, and Pancake are engaging characters. I'm originally from the Gulf Coast of Alabama area and the descriptions of the beach-side community of Pine Key made me homesick. I enjoyed this book so much, I will probably go back to read the first two in the series, then proceed with the others which follow this one.
November 30, 2019
Had a great time with Jake, Nicole, Pancake, and the rest of the team.
I will be checking out the rest of this series, and more by D.P. Lyle.
The premise and rise in tension throughout the book to that final defining moment felt organic, plausible, and most all, fun.
A great pleasure read that is both funny and serious in the right measures to bring about a fantastic story of murder and its lasting effects on a small town.
I will be checking out the rest of this series, and more by D.P. Lyle.
The premise and rise in tension throughout the book to that final defining moment felt organic, plausible, and most all, fun.
A great pleasure read that is both funny and serious in the right measures to bring about a fantastic story of murder and its lasting effects on a small town.
June 17, 2019
This was a Goodreads Kindle Giveaway winner, and I'm glad I won. I will be reading other D. P. Lyle books and hope they are as entertaining as this was. Sometimes you need a break from heavy mysteries, you need a protagonist who is charming and has some wit about him. If you are looking for such a book, then I recommend this one and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
April 11, 2020
Interesting characters, good story teller. Uses "shrugged" way way too much. And we get it, Jake and Nicole have a lot of sex. A whole lot of sex. Lots and lots of sex.
Keep most of it in whatever room they're in and out of the pages and this series could be really good. Instead, it is good with a good number of eye rolls.
Keep most of it in whatever room they're in and out of the pages and this series could be really good. Instead, it is good with a good number of eye rolls.
December 29, 2020
I'm always a fan of the Jake Longly books, and this one just added another level of fear. Working with a serial killer is a terrifying idea. Jake and Nicole always seem to end up in these predicaments, but this is the toughest one yet. I really enjoyed this book. I listened to it on audio narrated by Lyle and that added a whole new element to the book!
June 25, 2019
Hit the spot
For fans of sun-drenched Florida based private investigators out on the panhandle. Interesting plot, great twists, characters with interesting warts, and a satisfying conclusion. Wasn't too but wrenching, went down like a nice Summer Ale.
For fans of sun-drenched Florida based private investigators out on the panhandle. Interesting plot, great twists, characters with interesting warts, and a satisfying conclusion. Wasn't too but wrenching, went down like a nice Summer Ale.
December 15, 2020
This made think of author Carl Hiassen. There was actually a pretty good murder mystery going on right in the middle of these quirky characters. Laughs, sex, intrigue, and memorable character abound in this fun book.
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