A story you’ll pick up for the vibrant scenery and keep reading for the gripping drama.
Port Alene is a lovely little seaside town on the gulf side of Texas. The locals are friendly, happy to share their coastal paradise with sun-seeking tourists that flock there in droves to escape northern winters and gray skies. Jamie Rush is no snowbird, but neither is she a local. Her work as a private investigator helps her get to know the community better, but feeling like she belongs is always just out of her reach. With her own family staining her past like a messy ink blot, Jamie has come to rely on her partner, Cookie, as a surrogate brother and trustworthy friend. Though the small jobs don’t always cover the bills, Jamie throws herself into her work. Jamie and Cookie’s latest assignment involves locating a missing sister for a friend who can’t afford to pay them. But Jamie is nothing if not loyal, so they dive into the investigation with only their clear consciences as payment. Things get complicated when Cookie’s old nemesis returns to town, intruding on their territory and potential profits. And Jamie’s relentless family sets another obstacle in her path. But most important is the search for a missing sister who may not want to be found.
A fearless, character-driven mystery, Depths of Deceit is a story you’ll pick up for the vibrant scenery and keep reading for the gripping drama. What starts off as an easygoing, light mystery with swaying palm trees and mild breezes soon gives way to hidden agendas, dark secrets and dangerous criminals who have scores to settle. Jamie is kindhearted to her detriment, a characteristic that seems in conflict with life as a PI and skip tracer, but works really well to endear audiences to such a strong protagonist. A wonderful camaraderie exists between Cookie and Jamie, making readers wish they could belly up to the bar at Hemingway’s Pier and enjoy a beer on tap with the dynamic pair. It’s easy to see that Laura Oles is a gifted writer whose work exhibits an unflappable sense of identity. The scenes and locations, from a popular taco joint to dingy dive bars, are so vividly described that you’ll be keen to take a drive to fictional Port Alene just to enjoy the local atmosphere. The well-laid plot builds with precise, steady momentum, drawing readers further into the story and into the deception with no hope of putting the book down. If you’re looking for your next favorite private investigator series, Depths of Deceit is a great choice, and is a terrific way to spend an afternoon.
