A young American, seeking escape from a haunting tragic event, takes a job with an international conservation organization in the foreign port of Retiro de Santos. He becomes romantically involved with a local artist, and platonically involved with a girl he learns is being forced into a hard life at a young age. His environmental group is sabotaged by a clandestine consortium attempting to turn a non-profit wildlife refuge into a for-profit resort. Then his coworker dies mysteriously, and his young friend is shanghaied.
Price range: $17.99 through $27.99
Finding himself on the wrong side of unjust laws, he must decide whether to act or abdicate responsibility. As he teeters precariously on the edge of a decision that affects not only him but also those he cares for, he’s swept into a caldron of hidden agendas and violent retribution. Then a raging storm barrels ashore to threaten everyone and everything in its path.
Rating
In this one James Leipfold and Maile O’Hara are trying to catch a serial killer. The local authorities actually request their help. Because they’re having some difficulty with the case. This book actually kept me guessing. Which is a big plus when reading a mystery novel. 4.2 stars! Cheers everyone!
I’m so excited to review this book. It’s been a long time coming. When I say long time, what I mean to say is… it’s been a little over a year that I had to wait for this sequel. Dane Cobain a fellow booktuber sent me his first book in the Leipfold series back in 2018 and I was super excited to read it. Mystery set in a loosely based London? I’m always down for that type of read. So I dove into Driven with no expectations. I loved it. I loved the dynamic duo that is James Leipfold a Private Investigator and his spunky side kick assistant Maile O’Hara. I loved the bantar between Leipfold and his sometimes old cop friend Jack Cholmondeley. I loved that James was a recovering alcoholic that had a heart of gold and lemonade with a shot of whiskey just to smell it. I loved the murder mystery. I loved Camilla, Jame’s motorcycle and I loved the fact that the book reminded me of the 80’s movie Clue with a host of characters that may have been the murderer, but who did it?? In the sequel, The Tower Hill Terror….(nice ring to it don’t you think?) Jack and James are at it again. There has been another murder. A murder that starts off with a character that happened to be in the first book. Leipfold’s business is booming…well booming for James and Maile is a bonafide employee. Yes…. James is now paying her AND she gets time and a half for over time. I loved Maile in ‘Driven’ and I loved her even more in ‘The Tower…’ there were several laugh out loud moments and chuckles that burst out of me, especially when it was at Maile’s expense. When she is embarrassed it’s just so cute. Leipfold thought that helping in the last murder investigation would help his business and he was right. He has a handful of cases when a grisley murder takes place and Cholmondeley is calling his private second cell phone for Down Low emergencies. Of course Leipfold takes the case. Investigating in his own way, with style, and a bit of law breaking. Maile is her amazing self doing all the techie stuff and continuing to support her boss. What I love most about these two mysteries are the people. They are just fun to read about. Yes the murder’s are savage, but it’s the characters that I’m most interested in. I love that Leipfold is like a father figure to Maile. I love that Maile tries to play it off because of course she’s an adult and can take care of herself, but secretly I think she likes having someone else care about her. I love the way they work together on a crossword puzzles every morning while drinking coffee before they get down to business. I love that Cholmondeley relies on Leipfold and respects him even though he thinks the way he does things is a bit illegal. These books do not have to read in order in my opinion, but I do like reading things in publication order. If you like murder mysteries with great characters and serial killers I’d definitely pick up this book. Start with Driven first because it’s fun and you’ll want to spend as much time with these characters as possible. Dane didn’t send me ‘The Tower…’ this time around, I purchased it myself so I don’t have to kiss his ass, but I wouldn’t have to because these books are worth the read. Check them out.
