Book Review: A Bad Bout of the Yips (From the Case Files of Steve Rockfish, #3) by Ken Harris

A Bad Bout of the Yips by Ken Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A riveting crime fiction tale that I was unable to put the book down until I reached the last page.

A Bad Bout of the Yips is the third book in author Ken Harris's crime fiction series featuring PI Steve Rockfish. From the start (of this book or any in the series), readers old enough to know will immediately feel his kinship with the old-school investigators and the nod to and nostalgia of the classic PI television shows from the 1970s, such as The Rockford Files. If you loved those shows, this is the series for you! If you don't know what I'm talking about, this is still a series you'll want to give a look-see.

Steve Rockfish is a cool customer, a tough guy, and he needs to be in his line of work, especially as he's going up against the mob in this real estate development-themed crime fiction tale. His young partner, Jawnie McGee, is still reeling after the previous book's events. This normally steadfast and stand-up gal shows some vulnerability in her fragile state, but although she struggles early on to regain her footing, she comes on strong later in the story.

This third book has multiple storylines, some involving old nemeses that harken back to previous books. However, the third time's the charm as storylines converge and are wrapped up. The Baltimore and other Maryland and New Jersey settings were comfortable yet fresh (I'm just done to death sometimes with Chicago and NYC). I loved the cultural nods and the guessing game to identify the source of the references with Lynn.

The case that lands Rockfish and McGee in dutch involves a lesbian couple who have purchased a rundown miniature golf business out from under the nose of a large real estate development corporation with mob ties. Immediately after taking possession, threatening messages appear, and an escalating series of vandalism plagues the property, including anti-gay slogans spray painted across the buildings and inflammatory fliers pepper the neighborhood to stir up trouble with the locals. What follows on the way to resolution are twists and turns, tense action and danger, told with a riveting vim and vigor that I found myself smiling as I read, completely engaged and unable to put the book down until the last page was turned.

I recommend A BAD BOUT OF THE YIPS to readers who enjoy crime fiction, old-school PI heroes, a Baltimore setting, and fans of the previous novels in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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