Serial killer’s message to PI Jake Longly: Two of those seven murders I confessed to are not mine—but I won’t tell you which two.Jake Longly and Nicole Jamison are confronted with the most bizarre case yet. Serial killer Billy Wayne Baker now denies that two of his seven murders were actually his work. An anonymous benefactor, who believes Billy Wayne’s denials, has hired Longly Investigations to … Investigations to prove Billy Wayne right. Billy Wayne had confessed to all seven. Not only did the confessed serial killer have the motive, means, and opportunity for murder, but his DNA was found at each crime scene. Bizarre doesn’t quite cover it.
Jake and Nicole travel to the small Gulf Coast town of Pine Key, Florida, where three of the murders occurred. The local police, FBI, state prosecutor, and crime lab each did their jobs, uncovered overwhelming evidence of Billy Wayne’s guilt—and even extracted a full confession. Is Billy Wayne simply trying to tweak the system to garner another fifteen minutes of fame? It’s likely all a game to him, but, if he’s being truthful—someone out there is getting away with multiple murders. How? Why? And most importantly, who?
Dark clouds loom in the Sunshine State.
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“Sunshine State” by D. P. Lyle is book three in the “Jake Longly” series, but it has enough suspense and hilarious antics that new readers will have no trouble following Jake and friends along the Gulf Shore.
“Sunshine State” is largely Jake Longly’s first person narrative, and he obligingly introduces himself and the various players. He talks to himself; he talks to others, and he talks to readers. He shares, strategizes, plans, and sometimes even thinks. The plot is conversation driven, so readers know what he says to people and what they say to him. He comments on everything, including what he thinks about people, the case, and the food.
Jake begrudgingly works for his father at Longly Investigations but prefers working at his bar on the sand on the Gulf Shore. Longly Investigations now has a very unusual case, one filled with mystery and intrigue, one that makes absolutely no sense. A serial killer in a Florida prison wants to prove that he only killed five people instead of seven. Since someone is footing the bill for the investigation, Jake and his familiar crew head off to check out the multiple murders, multiple players, and multiple conspiracies. Readers follow along as the case unfolds with the clues and the miscues, the revelations and the theories.
There is plenty of humor starting with the players, “This is Tommy Jeffers. Folks call him Pancake.” and their feelings about the situation, “More like an exchange program. We can ship them a couple of liquored-up good old boys complete with pick-up trucks, and they could send us a serial killer.”
Lyle immerses readers in the geography of the area with relaxed and flowing descriptions, “The air held a salty must, and a gentle breeze came off the water. The sky was blue and pock-marked with wads of fluffy clouds”
“Sunshine State” is an entertaining book, with a proposition so outrageous and improbable that readers are compelled to turn the pages to see just how this absurdity plays out. I received a review copy of “Deep Six” from D. P. Lyle, and Oceanview Publishing. It is not a headache-inducing thriller; it is an entertaining book to read, considering it is about a serial killer, of course. Jake and his cohorts are not intense investigators, dedicated sleuths, or even excessively thoughtful; they are just fun.
I’m always a fan of the Jake Longly books, and this one just added another level of fear. Working with a serial killer is a terrifying idea. Jake and Nicole always seem to end up in these predicaments, but this is the toughest one yet. I really enjoyed this book. I listened to it on audio narrated by Lyle and that added a whole new element to the book!
A truly original mystery-which 2 of 7 confessed murders did a convicted killer NOT commit! That’s the assignment for Jake Longly and Nicole Jamison to figure out, taking them to the Gulf Coast of Florida. The wacky Sunshine State.
D.P. Lyle has outdone himself in this brilliant, original, serious-but sometime wacky- always entertaining thriller. This the third of D.P. Lyle’s Jake Longly series and I recommend them all. SUNSHINE STATE, A-LIST, and DEEP SIX.
In preparation for the next Jake Longly book, I’m re-reading this series. This is my favorite to date. Working with an imprisoned serial killer who insists that 2 of the 7 murders he confessed to are now his, Jake and Nicole are quickly deep in the investigation in a small town in FL of decades old cases of the murders of 3 of it’s citizens. And they’ve got the movie angle. And Pancake and Ray are on the case with them. My favorite book with this foursome, so far. Lyle narrates this well-plotted crime fiction and that’s a great turn. A 5-star read/listen.
Quick read to pass the time
4.5 Stars
PI Jake Longly and Nicole Jamison are faced with a unique, unheard of investigation. Well known serial killer, Billy Wayne Baker, confessed to seven murders in order not to go to trial. Residing in prison now, his lawyer contacts Longly and team. Baker now says that 2 of those murders were not done by him.. but he won’t tell them which victims. He says he knows who did them but he won’t tell them that. either.
So where to start? Baker’s victims were really spread out. According to him, he would sneak in, commit the murder and promptly leave town before he was caught. But there was one place that was hit multiple times, leaving three dead women…..that’s where they think they will be.
Will they be able to find the real killer of two of these victims .. or is Baker playing a game?
An ex-big league ballplayer, now a beach bar owner, and working for his dad as a reluctant private investigator, Jake Longly brings his smarts, his good looks, and his sense of humor to the table. Nicole is a smart woman, loves her work helping out the PIs, and she has a playfulness that can’t be denied. Pancake is a lifelong friend of Jake’s .. a mountain of a man who eats 24 hours a day. He also works for Ray Longly, who owns the PI family business.
All the characters are finely drawn… quirky in a multitude of ways …. and the small town where all the action takes place is charming. This is not an action packed thriller with guns blasting and road races with police cars. There is mystery, there is some suspense … but it’s more like a fine wine that slowly warms your insides.
Although third in the 3-book trilogy, this can easily be read as a stand alone. I’ve read a different series by this author, but I’m looking forward to reading the first two books in this one.
Many thanks to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Edelweiss for the digital copy of this humorous crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.