Eight stars
A fan of Dharma Kelleher and her novels, I reached for this latest piece with great eagerness. Kelleher has a knack for writing and addressing issues that are poignant in today's society, particular as they relate to the LGBTQ+ community. While I am no expert, I have come to feel a better understanding of the community and the plights they face at the hands of the ignorant. In a story that spans a number of topics and storylines, Kelleher adds a formidable mystery and some great character development. A great piece that reads with ease for those who love a good mystery.
After two street racers die in a freak car crash, it appears as though they were under the influence of fentanyl. Avery Byrne, a young and talented tattoo artist who was friends with one of the victims, is sure that the deaths were murder, not a joyride lauded by a relapse into narcotics. Avery seeks to find answers whenever and however she can, ending up neck-deep in Phoenix's racing community.
Working alongside Roz, the owner of a local spy shop, they try to get to the bottom of the deaths, even when Phoenix PD refuses to acknowledge that itcould have been homicide. As the body count rises, neither Avery nor Roz are ready to stand down.
Their working together soon lead the two amateur sleuths to explore their personal connection. While Avery has just move out of the severe mourning stage for her dead girlfriend, she is ready to offer herself to Roz. However, as they try to push for truths in the racing community, Avery has a secret about herself that she wants to tell Roz, but is unsure how to broach it. Will what she needs to share be the end of what has been a nice reprieve for Avery during a tumultuous time? Seeking truth and honesty amongst the members of the racing community, Avery tries to find the weak link that might tell her whose killed her friend. Kelleher does well with this piece and keeps the reader on their toes throughout the experience.
The work of Dharma Kelleher is always something to which I look forward as I enter a realm in which I know little. Kelleher seeks to entertain and educate in equal measure, wrapping her stories up in great mystery and peppering them with a better understanding of the LGBTQ+ community and their struggles. The narrative is full of great development and explanations of things that Avery Byrne faces on a daily basis, which is supposed to mirror the issues faced by the transgender community and those who do not understand it.
Character development is key in this new series, which has but one previous novel to its credit. Avery Byrne has many similarities to other Kelleher protagonists, though she differs greatly as well. The mix of personal and professional struggles emerge throughout the story, as well as the emotional disconnect that Avery has in the early stages of the story. She must find herself and open up to others, many of whom serve as great bridges in subplots found through the book. Kelleher knows how to craft her characters to deliver strong messaging and the reader can be sure to find something they enjoy.
A mystery needs plot twists to keep itself alluring. Kelleher does that with ease, adding depth to an already great story. I can only hope that the fires will keep moving forward with strong novels and a great spin on how things are going for Avery in Phoenix. The series might be new, but there is a lot going on and many threads left untied, leaving Kelleher numerous tasks in the upcoming novels, something that pleases me greatly.
Kudos, Madam Kelleher, for another great novel.
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