Thursday, August 01, 2024

Review Tour & Giveaway: Private License (Sam Quinton Mystery, #5) by Kevin R. Doyle


PRIVATE LICENSE
A Sam Quinton Mystery
by

Kevin R. Doyle

Mystery
Publisher: Camel Press
Publication Date: August 14, 2024
Page count: 266 pages

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SYNOPSIS:

All Lorie Jones wants is a little help with her divorce. Some extra information, a bit of ammunition to take into court against her no-good husband. And when she hires the biggest and best investigation firm Kansas City has to offer, that’s exactly what she gets. But after their operative wraps up Lori’s case, he decides he doesn’t want to move on, and Lori soon realizes that she’s got an even bigger problem than she had before, one that threatens her privacy, and maybe even her life.
 
It’s up to Sam Quinton, one-man detective agency, to take on the largest firm in the business, and as Sam digs into the background of Lori’s harasser, he soon finds something bigger, and much more dangerous, than one overzealous guy who just can’t let go.

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ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

Thornton, his time sitting down no doubt adding to his confidence, snorted. “Lots of broads work up there, dude. How am I supposed to know . . . ”
 
I didn’t let him get any farther before I reached out and smacked him open-handed upside the head. I managed to do it in such a way only someone looking close could tell what had happened, meaning it was more a tap than anything. Even so, he reeled back on the bench, about half of his taco staining his blue shirt.
 
“Adam,” I said, keeping my voice low, “don’t give me any shit, okay? I don’t care how many women, not broads, work in your office. I’m only interested in one, and from what I hear you’re kind of interested in her yourself. Explain why I hear wrong.”

 “Okay,” he said. “Now I get it. I heard something about what she’s been going through. You think I’m the one that’s been hassling her?”
 
“Are you?” I asked.
 
Actually, I’d already pretty much decided Adam Boy was a dead end. He was the kind of guy who back in the seventies would have been called a lounge lizard: tough and manly on the outside, a child on the inside.
 
I’d known far too many dudes like him over the years. The muscles, clothes, and general air of confidence were only a blind for a truth he didn’t want to face about himself. Not that such guys couldn’t be dangerous as hell, especially to someone weaker than themselves.


REVIEW:
5 stars!

Sam’s back and on the track of an unknown stalker! 

Private License is the fifth novel in author Kevin R. Doyle’s excellent private eye series* featuring former pro-wrestler turned investigator Sam Quinton. As a favor for a friend, Sam looks into accusations of stalking, harassment, and manipulation by a high-placed Kansas City private investigator. Without a shred of evidence to back up her allegations, Sam’s not 100% certain his new client is even telling him the truth. However, after only a day in Kansas City, he finds himself up against the biggest, most successful private investigations firm in the city, as well as a couple of local cops. As Sam asks questions, all he gets are more questions, and suddenly, everyone around him becomes targets themselves. 

Sam Quinton is back and working on an unusual case, one he’s not initially convinced even happened. He’s pitted against a former cop who’s now the second in command at a prestigious Kansas City PI firm. The different methods of intimidation used were eye-opening in how realistic and devastating they were and how the evidence that anything happened could so easily disappear: clever and frightening. The story unfolds from Sam’s perspective, and the narrative is in his witty and, at times, sarcastic voice. He is a more physical detective than most and gets a lot accomplished by just being his intimidating self, but he’s no slouch figuring things out and putting clues together to come to the correct resolution. I enjoyed him seeking out Jack Phillips, the old friend of his long-gone mentor, Duke Prowder, and how he drew on other connections as the story went on. Sam’s a lone operator but uses the resources available when necessary. 

The story is well-paced and action-filled, with twists and turns in the plot to keep things humming. Sam’s investigation is logical, yielding clues to the next steps he needs to take. The plot is more of a how or why-done-it rather than who, and gathering concrete evidence that his client was being victimized was job one. Set in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, readers get to see a little bit of the town and surroundings, as well as a glimpse of the state’s capital, Jefferson City. 

With its great main character and intriguing plot, I recommend PRIVATE LICENSE to mystery readers who enjoy PI sleuths and midwestern settings.


* See my review of Clean Win, Sam Quinton Mystery, #4, HERE!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A retired high-school teacher and former college instructor, Kevin R. Doyle is the author of four novels in the Sam Quinton mystery series, all published by Camel Press. He’s also written four crime thrillers, including And the Devil Walks Away and The Anchor, and one horror novel, The Litter, along with numerous short horror stories published in small magazines over the years. The first Quinton book, Squatter’s Rights, was nominated for the 2021 Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel, and the fifth in the series, Private License, will be out in August of 2024.


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Kevin R. Doyle will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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9 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for reviewing PRIVATE LICENSE today.

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  2. Karen,
    Good morning. Thank you for your kind words about my latest release. This book was particularly difficult to produce, not because of length or complexity but due to the fact that in the midst of writing it I had to put my mother into hospice care. This obviously led to my mind being split in different directions throughout the composition process. Because of this, and despite the fact that Camel Press did their usual excellent job putting it together, I've been a little skittish about the reception it will receive. Your review this morning went quite a ways to making me feel better and more confident. Thanks very much.

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  3. Thank you for the review.

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  4. Great excerpt and giveaway. :)

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  5. bn1008:58 PM

    intriguing

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  6. Kevin, I understand what you are saying. I was going through hospice with my own relative at that time and the previous several months. It is exhausting and stressful. I wondered if I was making the correct decisions every step of the way. I read quite a few of your books while dealing with this and I can say they were a great escape.

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  7. Karen,
    Glad I could help out in that regard. Yeah, this was a whole new experience for me. The entire process lasted going on two years at the same time I was trying to wrap up teaching career. It's really the kind of thing one can't envision until you've gone through it. I do have to say, though, that I owe a lot of thanks to my administrator, co-workers, and most of all, believe it or not, my students who really gave me the grace and room I needed.

    Regardless, glad I could give you some escape when you needed. It's a nice compliment to think I could do so.

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  8. "Private License" by Kevin R. Doyle! It's a captivating mystery novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Full of twists and turns, it's a must-read for mystery lovers.

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