Book Review: It's Not a Pretty Sight

Reviewed By: Jaynie - Australia

It's Not a Pretty Sight     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Gar Anthony Haywood
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Ethnic   Private Investigator
Series: Aaron Gunner # 4
G P Putnams Sons, 230 Pages/ $22.95

Private Investigator Aaron Gunner is in a funk. He has broken up with his girlfriend and is currently spending his days getting grumpy at his mates. Gunner then receives word that another woman he once loved, Nina Pearson, has been murdered by her abusive husband. Gunner doesnt have a client but he does have an axe to grind as he sets out to find her husband and give him what he deserves. Instead Gunner finds the man is probably innocent and is pulled deeper into the investigation to find the real killer and avenge his old love.

The Police are satisfied that Ninas husband is the killer and are not impressed with Gunner sticking his nose in. Nina suffered abuse from her husband for years and nobody is willing to believe that she may have been killed by someone else, especially Ninas mother and friends. Gunners investigation leads him to a shelter for battered women where Nina lived just weeks before her murder. Here, he encounters several fascination women, all with links to Nina, and with secrets to hide.

Its Not a Pretty Sight is the fourth book in Gar Anthony Haywoods series about Los Angeles Private Investigator Aaron Gunner. The crime is almost secondary in this dark piece of noir. Haywood explores the bad side of the male psyche providing an interesting view on why men abuse their women. He captures the anger and frustration of these women as they seek to claw their way back to being human again. Unfortunately and realistically, not all of them are succeeding. The crime is plausible but not easily solved and represents the futility and waste of the violence in todays world. This series keeps getting better. I highly recommend it.

Jaynie - Australia

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Jaynie - Australia