Book Review: Family Business

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Family Business     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Janet LaPierre
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Port Silva # 9
Perseverance Press, 2006, 292 pps.

It is always a lot of fun to be transported from Kansas to the fictional town of Port Silva, California via the pages of author Janet LaPierre.

Patience Mackellar is still working as a private detective in Port Silva. Her daughter Verity is still living with Patience but is in the process of remodeling the home she has purchased near Patience. Sophie, the girl that Verity is hoping to adopt, is growing into a young woman and becoming an independent thinker. Patience and Verity have finally been able to talk to Sophie’s father and make arrangements for Sophie’s future.

Port Silva has come alive with anti-war protesters. This keeps Police Chief Vince Gutierrez in a constant struggle to keep peace. Then a riot breaks out and two men are thrown over a cliff into the sea. One body is discovered but a man believed to be Danny Soto is missing.

Sophie’s music teacher Grace Beaubien lives with Danny Soto and hires Verity and Patience to investigate his background in order that she can notify his family of his disappearance. Danny has worked on Verity’s new home and has gained the respect of the residents of Port Silva so Verity takes on the assignment.

Verity and Patience follow different avenues to uncover the mystery of Danny Soto. The differences of the mother and daughter, the town’s approach to possible war, the interactions of LaPierre’s characters all lead to very interesting reading.

I highly recommend the Port Silva mysteries and now am anxiously awaiting the next one.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM