"Missing" By D. E. Beckler: Review/Giveaway

Review by J. M. Landon

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it. 

In this mystery, the two main characters are Victor, living rough on the street, and his sidekick Oscar, a standard Schnauzer. Of the two, Oscar is my favorite with his keen senses, smart comebacks, and overall adorable personality. Victor takes of bit of getting used to, but he comes around as having the same traits. Victor not only talks to his dog, but in Victor’s head, Oscar replies. They have entire conversations, which can be awkward if there is another human present. But then again, that is part of the fun of this adventure. This may sound like a cozy mystery, but it is absolutely not. There are gangsters, women of the night, kidnappings, mysterious deaths, and police chases.

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Image Source Thomas & Mercer

The reader gets a real sense of living rough on the street as she follows Victor, the narrator, through his days and nights. A big part of his survival is his ability to observe everything going on around him but not attract attention. As he says, street people are invisible. Victor’s chosen spot where he can get the most coins in his cup is near a casino. One day, he notices a man with a large mustachio and camera being kicked out of the “pink door” of the casino. This is also where Victor has seen muscular thugs escorting many young women to and from a black SUV. The man, Kasper, is a private detective. Victor tells Kasper he should hire him because street people are invisible. And so begins a working relationship with KZD Investigations, Kasper’s start-up private eye agency.

Kasper and his sister Zophia hire Victor to surveil the pink door and photograph via phone a particular woman they have been hired to find. But Victor’s cover gets blown when one of the thugs recognizes Oscar as being around too often. After both Victor and Kasper are rumbled, Zophia strikes out on her own to solve the case. When their loved ones are kidnapped, Kasper and Victor call in military reinforcements who also live rough, and they all go on a quest to rescue them.

I love a mystery that I cannot figure out until the reveal. This one ends with a dramatic shoot-out, and a considerable amount of blood. I’m happy to say, no dogs or children are hurt in any way.

Missing is a fast-paced read written by an experienced wordsmith. This is Book 1 of A City Street Mystery series. I can’t wait for the next installment.

To enter to win a copy of Missing, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "missing,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen March 21, 2026. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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!

You can click here to purchase this book.

J.M. Landon is retired and blissfully at work on the ‘great American novel.’ She’s worn many hats through her career including: wife, mother, piano teacher, middle school teacher, university professor, painter, jewelry maker, and dragon tamer. She has eight published short stories.

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.