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perednia's review against another edition
5.0
Private eye Louis Kincaid has found himself rudderless, and, without really agreeing to it, is now in the middle of a sordid Grand Society murder case in Palm Beach.
His partner, Mel, talks him into talking to a potential client. Reggie Kent is a walker, that old-school escort of Grand Society Dames who never, ever, ever gets notions beyond his role. Reggie was mentoring a young man who he genuinely cared for, but who brushed him off. Mark Durand is found without his head in a Florida cattle pen. Reggie is an easy suspect to a homophobic detective.
The foreman of the ranch where the body is found doesn't want anyone intruding. Society in Palm Beach certainly doesn't want anyone intruding. The Palm Beach police not only don't want anyone intruding, Kincaid is ticketed for having an ugly car. And the sheriff's detective who actually is investigating the murder doesn't care if anyone tries to intrude, because he thinks he's got his man.
So, of course, Kincaid finds himself intruding.
During the course of this perfectly paced investigation, Kincaid also finds himself looking into relationships and redemption. His lover, Joe, is busy as a sheriff herself and wants him to want something for himself. So he goes along with the first woman who crooks her finger at him. Mel, who is losing his eyesight, still knows a good thing when he sees it in a tony restaurant bartender. The ranch foreman shows a quiet dignity and strength that has lasted decades. A puppy dog policeman with a too-perfect father and a secret of his own has a superb story arc. And one of Palm Beach's oldest matrons, who calls champagne "shampoo", turns out to be more of a treasure than all her bank accounts combined.
Sisters Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols, who are P.J. Parrish, have a smooth writing style that propels the story along, keeping the investigation and new revelations at the fore. At the same time, the story is filled with ideas that make Kincaid himself an extremely interesting person who is on his own journey of discovery.
Even though resolution involves some characters going completely over the top, THE LITTLE DEATH ends on a high note with many avenues possible. The next novel in the series cannot come soon enough. And I've already glommed onto the entire backlist.
His partner, Mel, talks him into talking to a potential client. Reggie Kent is a walker, that old-school escort of Grand Society Dames who never, ever, ever gets notions beyond his role. Reggie was mentoring a young man who he genuinely cared for, but who brushed him off. Mark Durand is found without his head in a Florida cattle pen. Reggie is an easy suspect to a homophobic detective.
The foreman of the ranch where the body is found doesn't want anyone intruding. Society in Palm Beach certainly doesn't want anyone intruding. The Palm Beach police not only don't want anyone intruding, Kincaid is ticketed for having an ugly car. And the sheriff's detective who actually is investigating the murder doesn't care if anyone tries to intrude, because he thinks he's got his man.
So, of course, Kincaid finds himself intruding.
During the course of this perfectly paced investigation, Kincaid also finds himself looking into relationships and redemption. His lover, Joe, is busy as a sheriff herself and wants him to want something for himself. So he goes along with the first woman who crooks her finger at him. Mel, who is losing his eyesight, still knows a good thing when he sees it in a tony restaurant bartender. The ranch foreman shows a quiet dignity and strength that has lasted decades. A puppy dog policeman with a too-perfect father and a secret of his own has a superb story arc. And one of Palm Beach's oldest matrons, who calls champagne "shampoo", turns out to be more of a treasure than all her bank accounts combined.
Sisters Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols, who are P.J. Parrish, have a smooth writing style that propels the story along, keeping the investigation and new revelations at the fore. At the same time, the story is filled with ideas that make Kincaid himself an extremely interesting person who is on his own journey of discovery.
Even though resolution involves some characters going completely over the top, THE LITTLE DEATH ends on a high note with many avenues possible. The next novel in the series cannot come soon enough. And I've already glommed onto the entire backlist.
drey72's review against another edition
4.0
Oh my. Last week I read P.J. Parrish’s South of Hell and told you it gave me the heebie-jeebies. So when I picked up The Little Death, I expected a similar reaction. And I’ll have to say up front that while this one has a serial killer on the loose, it’s definitely not as creepy as South of Hell.
Louis and Mel are called to Palm Beach to help out an acquaintance of Mel’s. Well, maybe “acquaintance” isn’t quite the right word to use, but “guy Mel helped out once-upon-a-time” is kinda wordy, don’t you think? Anyway. So they head on over to Palm Beach, get dazzled by all the glittery scenery, and find themselves outside a murder investigation. Outside, because the cops don’t want them there.
Too bad for the cops, because Louis and Mel aren’t the kind to be told to get lost. Instead, they do a little digging around, and what they find isn’t pretty. And while nothing exonerates Reggie, everything points to something bigger than just a plain ol’ murder.
The Little Death weaves multiple characters, times, and storylines into one cohesive plot that will have you flipping pages until you’re done. And when you are done, you’re a little bit amazed by how deftly it’s done, how neatly it’s all wrapped up, and how you never saw it coming.
Now I really can’t wait to pick up Heart of Ice, and I’m eyeing my calendar to figure out when I can go back and read the first eight books in this series!
drey’s rating: Excellent!
Louis and Mel are called to Palm Beach to help out an acquaintance of Mel’s. Well, maybe “acquaintance” isn’t quite the right word to use, but “guy Mel helped out once-upon-a-time” is kinda wordy, don’t you think? Anyway. So they head on over to Palm Beach, get dazzled by all the glittery scenery, and find themselves outside a murder investigation. Outside, because the cops don’t want them there.
Too bad for the cops, because Louis and Mel aren’t the kind to be told to get lost. Instead, they do a little digging around, and what they find isn’t pretty. And while nothing exonerates Reggie, everything points to something bigger than just a plain ol’ murder.
The Little Death weaves multiple characters, times, and storylines into one cohesive plot that will have you flipping pages until you’re done. And when you are done, you’re a little bit amazed by how deftly it’s done, how neatly it’s all wrapped up, and how you never saw it coming.
Now I really can’t wait to pick up Heart of Ice, and I’m eyeing my calendar to figure out when I can go back and read the first eight books in this series!
drey’s rating: Excellent!
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