Written by 2002 Shamus Award Nominee
Mark Troy, this fast paced and suspenseful novel revolves around Hawaii based
private investigator Val Lyon. An ex cop, ex-con, and former pro basketball
player, Val Lyon doesn’t tolerate idiots and has little patience for those who
don’t do the right thing. Her latest case brings her to the office of Brian
Magruder who used to work in the Honolulu Public Defender’s Office before going
out on his own.
Part of the wealthy and politically
connected Magruder family, Brian is a bit of a black sheep of the family as he
has gone his own way. Among his many clients is Jean Pfeifer whose case has
turned into a media firestorm. Jean claims that her ex-husband, Jason “Jock”
Pfeifer abused their son, Nathan. Jean has stopped the visitations and has
hidden their son in an effort to protect him from further abuse from his
father. She faces contempt charges and jail time unless she brings Nathan back
out of hiding and lets him see his dad. Something she isn’t going to do.
This strikes a chord with the media and
the viewing public causing a media firestorm with Jean and her attorney at the
center of things. Numerous groups get involved making Jean and by extension
Nathan part of their agendas. That also ratchets up further the media scrutiny.
Brian Magruder initially just wants Val to be part of the security team, and to
protect Jean at a public rally the next day. With emotions running high on all
sides, something is sure to go bade and it does. Soon, a simple body guard job
morphs into a case involving death threat, blackmail, extortion and a missing
child as well as the beginnings of a romance between Val and Brian Magruder.
While occasionally reminiscent of the
Stephenie Plum type character because Val is also a woman with a sarcastic wit,
Val is a much better character. Not only does she have a deeper and more complex
background, she also learns from what happens and takes precautions as opposed
to Stephanie who makes the same fundamental mistakes in book after book after
book. Val is an evolving character over the course of the novel and one that
builds quickly on experience.
That fact, coupled with a steady pace, plenty of twists and turns, and characters that come alive for the reader, it is no wonder this book was a Shamus Nominee. Simply put, Pilikia Is My Business is a very good one.
Material provided by the author in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2009, 2013, 2022
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