Book Review: A Witness Above

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

A Witness Above     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Andy Straka
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator
Series: Frank Pavlicek
Signet, May 2001, $5.99, 260 pp.

His life as a New York cop ended in the mean streets of New Rochelle thirteen years ago when he and his partner Jake Toronto killed an A-student teen they thought carried a weapon. Frank Pavlicek left the city under a cloud to open a private investigative practice in Charlottesville, Virginia with his prime pleasure being falconry accompanied by his bird of prey Armistead.

While hunting together, Armistead locates the murdered body of a teen. The ex-police officer finds the victim's identity stating he is DeWayne Turner of Leonardston, Virginia, home of Frank's ex-wife and their daughter Nicole. He also sees and takes a bill that has written on it Nicole's private number even though Frank knows that he illegally tampered with the evidence. However, in spite of trying to protect his beloved daughter, the police arrest her, increasing the pressure on Frank to solve the murder of a teen known for dealing, but connected with his cherished Nicole

A WITNESS ABOVE is an exciting investigative tale that provides readers with an entertaining story line accompanied by an intriguing look at falconry. The plot never slows down, as Frank needs to prove the innocence of Nicole. Frank is a strong character and the support cast helps readers understand his motives. Flashbacks to New Rochelle and the subsequent trial augment the plot by enabling the audience to actually see what occurred that led to Frank's "disgrace". Andy Straka has introduced a winning new sleuth whose love of falconry adds uniqueness rarely seen in ex-cop turn private investigator novels.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner