by Lorie Lewis Ham
Details at the end of this review on how to enter for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card and a link to purchase the book.
A Body on the Hill is the second book featuring reluctant PI Mitch O’Reilly. Mitch also runs a spy store called Eye Spy Supply in a mostly abandoned strip mall in Los Angeles and wishes he could just do that. But that isn’t going well and practically the only time he seems to make a sale is when his sister Josie fills in for him when he’s off on a case.
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However, things seem to be picking up financially when Mitch gets what seems like an easy job, following the son of the big time Hollywood director T.J. Mooney. Mooney doesn’t provide many instructions other than just to follow him and report back. His son Austin is starting an acting career and has purposely changed his last name so he can make it on his own instead of on the coattails of his father. Mooney also doesn’t like that his son lives in an apartment in a sketchy neighborhood with roommates instead of in the family mansion.
Mitch’s easy job goes south when Austin’s body is found on the hill below the Hollywood sign, and he was killed on Mitch’s watch. Mooney wants nothing more to do with Mitch as he blames him for his son’s death, but so does Mitch. Mitch is happy when Austin’s mother (Mooney’s ex) hires him to find the killer because he had no intention of letting it go. The suspects begin to pile up and include Austin’s on again off again drug-addicted boyfriend, and his roommate. There are also Austin’s strange half siblings who are hard to pin down as to how they really felt about Austin, and some shady business going on at Austin’s day job at a local club.
Former soldier Mitch also has his share of PTSD from serving in Afghanistan, and since joining a support group it has been getting worse instead of better. Things also aren’t going well with his relationship with his boyfriend Trent, and it is pretty much his fault—he is reluctant to let Trent get close. I really like their chemistry so my hope is things will work out between them in the end.
It has been fun reading this series from the get go, as a reviewer I don’t always get to do that. The only bad part is the wait between books. I like that the characters in this series feel real—real people with real problems and struggles. Mitch is funny and interesting, and broken. His sister Josie is a lot of fun and I like how close they are. Trent is adorable and his aunt is a delight. The mystery is well plotted with plenty of twists and turns. I really enjoy this series and hope there will be many more books to come.
To enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "hill,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen September 26, 2020. U.S. residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. You can read our privacy statement here if you like. We delete all emails after the contest is over.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode goes up next week!
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Lorie Lewis Ham is our Editor-in-Chief and an enthusiastic contributor to various sections, coupling her journalism experience with her connection to the literary and entertainment worlds. Explore Lorie's mystery writing at Mysteryrat's Closet.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Sounds interesting! Count me in for the gift card!
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ReplyDeleteNew author to me. Would enjoy reading.
ReplyDeletediannekc8@gmail(dot)com
Great looking new series! Thanks for the chance to win this generous prize. crs(at)codedivasites(dot)com
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed A Body in the Bathhouse and book two sounds really good too!
ReplyDeletekimheniadis at gmail dot com
We have a winner!
ReplyDelete