The Zozobra Incident (A BJ Vinson Mystery 1) by Don Travis at DSP Publications
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Military/Former Military / Private Investigator / Age Gap / Mystery/Suspense/Thriller |
Reviewed by | Serena Yates on 10-August-2018 |
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Military/Former Military / Private Investigator / Age Gap / Mystery/Suspense/Thriller |
Reviewed by | Serena Yates on 10-August-2018 |
B. J. Vinson is a former Marine and ex-Albuquerque PD detective turned confidential investigator. Against his better judgment, BJ agrees to find the gay gigolo who was responsible for his breakup with prominent Albuquerque lawyer Del Dahlman and recover some racy photographs from the handsome bastard. The assignment should be fast and simple.
But it quickly becomes clear the hustler isn’t the one making the anonymous demands, and things turn deadly with a high-profile murder at the burning of Zozobra on the first night of the Santa Fe Fiesta. BJ’s search takes him through virtually every stratum of Albuquerque and Santa Fe society, both straight and gay. Before it is over, BJ is uncertain whether Paul Barton, the young man quickly insinuating himself in BJ’s life, is friend or foe. But he knows he’s stepped into something much more serious than a modest blackmail scheme. With Paul and BJ next on the killer’s list, BJ must find a way to put a stop to the death threats once and for all.
First edition published as The Zozobra Incident & The Bisti Business by Martin Brown Publishers, LLC in 2012.
A quirky confidential investigator (PI is too sleazy for him) named Burleigh J. Vinson – and yes, with a name like that I’d go by my initials too, no matter how strange they may sound – is at the center of this original, suspenseful, and highly unpredictable mystery/adventure. BJ is a former Marine and Albuquerque detective, and his cases are as unusual as his ex, a prominent and somewhat arrogant lawyer who brings BJ a case involving the man who broke up their relationship. But that is only the beginning of the strangeness that fills this book, and I loved every second of it. Run-of-the-mill murder mysteries are not my thing – but complicated stories like this with plots that twist and turn and characters who are so “alive” they seem to jump off the page – I’ll take one of those anytime!
The case starts out straightforward enough: retrieving pictures from a would-be blackmailer is part of every PI’s - ahem, Confidential Investigator’s – bread and butter and not rocket science. But things are not as simple as they seem, and it quickly becomes obvious that the hustler blackmailing BJ’s ex is just the tip of the criminal iceberg: gangs, death threats, and a killer included. A healthy dose of sleuthing, brainpower, and following clues leads BJ deeper and deeper into the underbelly of New Mexico society to the point where his own life is in danger and he can no longer be sure about anyone’s loyalties.
What made this novel so exciting for me is not just the well-constructed plot. As mentioned before, the characters are particularly lifelike, but they are also complex. Everyone has their own agenda, and while BJ is clearly over his ex, he finds himself attracted to Paul, a young man who is a student/lifeguard. BJ doesn’t quite know what to think of him, other than admitting there is definite interest. They begin to build trust while the killer is after their lives, and I found myself hoping they’d be able to work things out. BJ deserves someone to share his life with!
If you like clever mysteries, if quirky characters with eccentric habits and unusual ways of thinking are your thing, and if you’re looking for an action-filled, entertaining, suspenseful read that might just keep you guessing about the whodunnit, then you will probably like this novel. Bring on the next one!
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by DSP Publications for the purpose of a review.
Format | ebook and print |
Length | Novel, 290 pages/100984 words |
Heat Level | |
Publication Date | 15-November-2016 |
Price | $6.99 ebook, $16.99 paperback, $16.99 bundle |
Buy Link | https://www.dsppublications.com/books/the-zozobra-incident-by-don-travis-328-b |