Shot to death in his home, Morgan Tutwiler leaves behind a multimillion-dollar business and a daughter who hasn’t spoken to him in years. And she isn’t alone in wanting him dead. Plenty of people wanted the most hated man in Denver dead in P. H. Turner’s latest novel in the Claire Callahan series. Reminiscent of the finest gumshoe storytelling, Secrets and Lies, would not be complete without … without Turner’s signature quirky characters and inventive plot.
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Dollycas’s Thoughts
Private Investigator Claire Callahan works for the Denver law firm of Marsh and Whitley. Her current case is the death of Morgan Tutwiler, one of the firm’s largest clients. He was killed in his home and the list of suspects is long, the man had more than his share of enemies. He has been estranged from his daughter, Amanda for years and she is high on that suspect list. Claire has been assigned to stick with Amanda to help her through the death, clear her as a suspect and to basically keep her happy now that she will inherit her father’s estate. The law firm needs to hold on to the big account.
Secrets and Lies is an excellent title for this story because it is full of secrets and lies. Amanda has a new boyfriend she failed to mention. Tutwiler also ripped a family apart with the father taking his own life leaving behind a bitter son and his wife. As a ruthless man, Morgan Tutwiler was out for himself no matter the cost. Claire really has her hands full tracking down all the possible killers.
Readers know who the killer is from the start. The mystery is why and if they connect to any of the major players. Claire is working the case with Detective Rafe Brewster. They both have the same goal – to see that justice is done. They work well together and realized early that even with an emotional pull between them a romantic relationship is a bad idea. They are workmates and friends and don’t want to mess that up. I enjoyed that this was clear from the start of the story.
The author sets a great pace and throws in plenty of twists to keep everyone guessing. Claire is truly like a dog with a bone. She knows there is something under the surface just beyond her reach that she is missing and she doesn’t give up. She twists things around herself trying to see things from different angles until finally, all the clues fall into place. I was right there with her. I love it when I am kept on my toes right up until the end.
Fans of PI or traditional mysteries will enjoy this book. Not having read the first book in this series I was afraid I would be missing some vital details but Ms. Turner has perfectly crafted the story to be read on its own. That being said I want to go back and read Unspeakable Grudges for another dose of Claire Callahan. Secrets and Lies was an entertaining mystery. I hope there will be many more books in this series.
Secrets and Lies by P.H. Turner is a fast-paced thrill ride throughout with murder, dirty deals, and deceit.
Will Claire find Tutwiler’s killer before Amanda is accused of killing her father?
Claire Callahan
Claire is our no-nonsense private investigator. She works for the Marsh & Whitley law firm. Claire has some family issues but she also has a solid group of friends and co-workers that have her back. Claire is cunning and smart, she has a way of figuring out what is happening and why. Well, not with the dad but with her cases.
I like Claire. She works hard but she also seems to enjoy her job. Although, Claire should ask for a raise so she can repair “Bug” her car.
The Mystery
The murder of her law firm’s number one client isn’t something to take lightly. They need to find the killer otherwise their “new” client, Tutwiler’s daughter will be accused as she has the most to gain from her father’s death. Claire is busy holding Amanda Tutwiler’s hand and investigating Morgan’s death. It seems that the murder isn’t one of the people on the long list that hates Tutwiler. So, Claire has to broaden her list of suspects or go with her gut. There are some old fashioned investigating skills used along with some new technology skills. I like the combination.
Four stars for Secrets and Lies by P.H. Turner
I enjoyed the story, the characters and the setting works well with the mystery. Therefore, I am giving Secrets and Lies by P.H. Turner four stars and recommending it to all you mystery readers out there.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Secrets and Lies by P.H. Turner.
Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness
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