A gripping and thoughtful mystery…
A young woman’s suspicious disappearance drives the plot of Hall’s thrilling latest, featuring Private Investigators Joe Parrot and Stefan Nowak. After helping Joe solve his sister’s case, Stefan is eager to become a PI and has just acquired his PI license. When Joe’s family friend Sally’s friend Hannah goes missing after taking a train to Blackpool to see a man she met on a dating site, Stefan becomes intrigued with the case. He begins to look into the case along with Joe after the missing woman’s parents approach the latter for help. The pair soon realize there’s more to Hannah’s disappearance than it looks on the surface. The premise is promising and Joe’s investigating capabilities are undeniable. As lead protagonist, he is easy to root for. Stefan and Sally are equally compelling. The attraction between them grows as the story moves forward, and readers will find themselves rooting for them to get together. Hall does a fantastic job depicting the interpersonal dynamic between her various characters as well as outlining their turbulent emotional responses to individual traumatic events in their lives. New characters and new plot lines are introduced throughout, as are mundane notes about crime and gang life in Blackpool, which adds to the intrigue. Hall’s atmospheric descriptions of the place complement the propulsive plot, which culminates in a satisfying conclusion. Throughout, she delves into themes of friendship, family, love, drive, ambition, hard work, and the devastating impact of drugs and psychological trauma. Captivating, thrilling, and emotionally complex, this is a must-read.
Hero of Blackpool: A Joe Parrott Mystery
Alyssa Hall
FriesenPress
Pub date February 14, 2023
ISBN 978-1039170315
Price $27.99 (USD) Hardcover, $23.99 Paperback, $7.99 Kindle