Synopsis/blurb....
An edgy and intense thriller with a touch of the paranormal.
Private investigator Charlie Miner, freshly revived from his own murder, gets a call from Homicide Detective Dave Putnam. Self-styled "psychic to the stars" Tamara Gale has given crucial information about three murders, and the brass thinks it makes the Department look bad. Dave wants Charlie to help figure out the angle, since he has first-hand experience with the inexplicable. Trouble is, Charlie, just weeks after his full-death experience, once again has severe cognitive problems and may get them both killed.
At once a riveting mystery and a completely unique character study, DOWN TO NO GOOD will both captivate you and work its way into your heart.
"Earl Javorsky's DOWN TO NO GOOD is wildly original, wildly energetic, wildly funny - it's just straight up wild, and I mean that in the best possible way.
- Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of THE LONG AND FARAWAY GONE
"DOWN TO NO GOOD is a deep dive into the weird and wild that had me staying up far later than normal. A whacked-out thrill ride filled with psychics and cops and a drug-loving PI who just can't stay dead. What's not to love?"
- Brett Battles, USA Today bestselling author
"Will tear your head off and make you like it." - Bookreporter
I'm not usually a fan of paranormal elements in my reading, but Earl Javorsky and his main man Charlie Miner have gone some way towards persuading me to reassess my attitudes to books featuring this trope in the future. I read the previous Miner outing - Down Solo - a few years ago and liked it. This one was even better.
Miner was killed in the previous book, got up off the slab in the morgue and gradually repaired his body and in time his mind (mostly). Here he is still coming to terms with his situation, when friend and cop Dave Putnam asks for help with a case. Dave Putnam? WTF! I've read most of ex-cop Putnam's books involving Bruno Johnson.
Putnam is getting heat from his PR sensitive boss, over some psychic involvement in a few cases. Our celebrity psychic provides information on where a missing body has been dumped. She's correct. She anticipates a forthcoming tragic event. Again she's correct. Perhaps Charlie with his recent experiences, could do his friend a favour and offer some insight.
Javorsky's portrayal of Putnam cracked me up and provided some great entertainment. Dave's character has more than a few defects and acts less than professionally on occasions. There are some humorous exchanges between Dave and Charlie which added to my enjoyment of the book.
The case itself is interesting, as is the investigation, with Charlie's ability to leave his physical body and have his spirit-mind-intellect wander short distances and scope out the landscape a useful investigative tool.
Ticks in every box - pace, plot, characters, humour, banter, dialogue, imagination, setting, resolution.
My most enjoyable March read and highly recommended.
5 from 5
Earl Javorsky has his website here.
Down Solo was reviewed here. His non-Miner novel Trust Me sits on the TBR pile, maybe it's time to dust it off.
Read in March, 2018
Published - 2017
Page count - 220
Source - review copy received from author
Format - Kindle
Interesting, Col. Like you, I generally do not go for the paranormal in my reading. At all. But every once in a while, it can work well. And it sounds as though it does here.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely works well in this series, Margot. Javorsky had me believing!
DeleteInteresting that you were able to accept the paranormal elements in this one. It all depends on how well the author writes for me.
ReplyDeleteI really bought into the paranormal elements, which is a testament to Javorsky's skills. You might like this one too.
DeleteI am surprising myself by being very tempted by this. I love the idea of the psychic to the stars annoying the police, and although generally I strongly resist anything as paranormal as this, I can feel myself being drawn in...
ReplyDelete... and, just downloaded it!
DeleteWow! I'm usually the same but Javorsky had me believing. Or at least able to suspend disbelief. I know you like your "psychics" in fiction. I hope you enjoy it!
DeleteCol--I don't know if I mentioned this before, but (the real) Dave Putnam and I did a book signing at Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego with the theme TWO WRITERS: OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LAW. Dave's a good friend, and we'll be doing it again.
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun, Earl. I'll have to catch up when you both tour the UK!
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