#BookReview: Unbalanced by D.P. Lyle

Laid-Back Gulf Coast Mystery-Comedy. This latest entry in the Jake Longly series almost seemed more comedic than mysterious, though certainly the comedy was regarding the mystery – or, more precisely, how Jake continuously gets pulled into the mysteries his dad and best friend – the *actual* Private Investigators – are working. Long time fans will be pleased with this latest entry, as everything we know and love about this series is still 100% there. For those new to the series or Lyle who don’t mind spoilers about relationships and perhaps a case or two of prior tales, this is actually a great mostly standalone ish tale that will show you what the entire series is like – and I can tell you from personal experience that one of these is more than enough to get you hooked. For the clean/ sweet crowd… eh, nothing is necessarily shown “on camera”, but there are certainly clear enough descriptions of what either is about to happen “off screen” or just has that at least some in that crowd may want to pass here. Overall another fun outing with the crew, great for those *hot* and *wet* and *hard* to handle Dawg Days of the Gulf Coast summer. Very much recommended.

This review of Unbalanced by D.P. Lyle was originally written on January 17, 2024.

#BookReview: Deep Six by D. P. Lyle

Hot Chicks. Cool Gulf Breeze. Fast Cars. Compelling Mystery. What’s Not To Like? Another reviewer 2*’d this book citing the line herein about men never progressing beyond the maturity of a 14yo – and noting that the book was entirely written for said 14yo and that this was a *bad* thing.

Um, no. This book is written for *adults*, with quite a bit of four letter words (and not “four” or “word”) and sex… well, anywhere Jake and Nicole can find a few minutes alone. Even on a stakeout. There is also a decently high body count, including a few particularly grisly murders and at least a tease of a rape threat (that, to be clear, never *really* develops – a bit of a spoiler, perhaps, but a needed one, for some).

So this is written for adults, but adults who enjoy a more laid back approach. Not every mystery tale has to be Big City Something or some frenetic John Wick / Jeremy Robinson / Matthew Reilly balls to the wall action with guns blazing and other weapons flying all over the place all the time.

This tale is written for those who enjoy the more laid back vibes of the Gulf shores of the US or the general Caribbean region, who want their murders with their margaritas as they sit by the pool on a cruise ship (exactly what I was doing while reading part of this book, fwiw). And as the first book in what I now know to be a decently long running series (I’ve now worked books 5 and 6 – or is it 4 and 5? – as Advance Reader Copies over the last couple of years before now coming back to the books I missed), this one sets up everything I already knew I loved from the series. Indeed, Jake and Nicole’s meeting is both abrupt and quite hilarious, and I love how both prove themselves capable in their own ways in this very first outing.

Truly a great, fun, relaxed book perfect for those pool side drinking days – or any other place you may find yourself reading it. Very much recommended.

This review of Deep Six by D. P. Lyle was originally written on January 31, 2023.

#BookReview: Cultured by D.P. Lyle

Laid-Back Mystery With Bite. Here in this sixth entry of D.P. Lyle’s Gulf Coast based mysteries, we see so much of what makes this series so great. There is quite a bit of humor, a great sense of laid back Gulf Coast small town life, and a mystery that could prove to be either nothing at all or quite sinister indeed. Human/ Sex Trafficking is mentioned early as a possibility of what is happening, though to reveal if it actually is would be a massive spoiler. Just be prepared for the possibility, if that is a major no-go for your own reading tastes. Overall this is truly a great book full of heart and humor all wrapped up in a satisfyingly complex and dangerous-enough mystery. Very much recommended.

This review of Cultured by D.P. Lyle was originally written on December 2, 2022.