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Michel Doucette & Sassy Jones Mystery #3
Second Chance
As former New Orleans homicide detectives Michel Doucette and Alexandra "Sassy" Jones try to get their fledgling private investigation agency off the ground, someone from their past reappears, seeking their help to untangle a business venture with two members of an organized crime family. When the head of the family hires Michel and Sassy to find his missing son, they soon find themselves caught up in an apparent turf war between aging kingpins and an emerging power.
Second Chance is the third novel featuring Michel Doucette and Sassy Jones. The second, Echoes, won the 2010 Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Mystery.
Second Chance is the third novel featuring Michel Doucette and Sassy Jones. The second, Echoes, won the 2010 Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Mystery.
299 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 2011
14 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
David Lennon
18 books22 followersBoston-area native David Lennon is the author of nine books, including the seven-book (and counting) series featuring New Orleans-based detectives Michel Doucette and Alexandra "Sassy" Jones. His books have been nominated for five Lambda Literary awards, and he was the recipient of the 2010 Lammy for Best Gay Mystery for his second book, ECHOES.
He now lives in Kennebunk, Maine, with his husband and their dog.
He now lives in Kennebunk, Maine, with his husband and their dog.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 23, 2016
'The fact is I am a very good detective. The problem was I'm not very good at following orders' - Michel Doucette
I think this is my favourite in this series so far but I have 3 more books to go so that may change. I really enjoyed the friendship and working relationship between Michel and Sassy. The kind of mutual respect and love that they have for each other has always been there, even when they both worked for NOPD, but their working together shows how they have become a dynamic and hard edged detecting duo.
They way in which the two of them investigate the issues before them is just gripping. Both characters flourish in this story and this gives the story a rich edge. I felt this because once I started reading I was drawn into the story and able to follow the complexity of their investigation as the clues unfolded.
And it is so brilliantly done!
And as for Michel and Joel we get to see them in their on/off relationship but this isn't the focus of the story. It is great to have their relationship as an aspect of the story but this is a mystery and the mystery begins when the son of a crime boss goes missing.
It is more than just a 'who dunnit', the big question is why?
What is happening in the crime underworld, especially now the crime families are running legitimate businesses?
But are these businesses legitimate?
And how does this relate to the business loss that Chance complains about?
Yes Chance from book 1 makes a come back in this story as a reformed community - minded business man, but his business ideas have resulted in losses for him and these losses may be an indication of something much darker brewing away in the crime family underworld.
I just enjoyed the characters in this story, especially having seen the way they have changed as people over the first two books. This book continues that trend and provides a gripping and gritty mystery with a noirish feel.
I appreciate the way in which the author addresses racial and ethnic diversity in his writing, not by the use of stereotypes but by reflecting different characters in their weaknesses and their strengths. Sassy is a hard edged investigator and African-American. The previous book showed her navigating the issues of race in the work place and this story sees her using her contacts and knowledge to get to grips with this investigation.
Michel is a white (cajun) gay man and he does the same as Sassy, using his skills, talents and experiences within the gay community to get to grips and gather information. Michel is shocked to discover racial prejudice within his own community and this is so beautifully portrayed by the author.
Really well written.
And so this story with all its different facets, grabbed me at the beginning and held my attention all the way through to a very satisfying conclusion.
Let's hope the next three books are just as good!
I think this is my favourite in this series so far but I have 3 more books to go so that may change. I really enjoyed the friendship and working relationship between Michel and Sassy. The kind of mutual respect and love that they have for each other has always been there, even when they both worked for NOPD, but their working together shows how they have become a dynamic and hard edged detecting duo.
They way in which the two of them investigate the issues before them is just gripping. Both characters flourish in this story and this gives the story a rich edge. I felt this because once I started reading I was drawn into the story and able to follow the complexity of their investigation as the clues unfolded.
And it is so brilliantly done!
And as for Michel and Joel we get to see them in their on/off relationship but this isn't the focus of the story. It is great to have their relationship as an aspect of the story but this is a mystery and the mystery begins when the son of a crime boss goes missing.
It is more than just a 'who dunnit', the big question is why?
What is happening in the crime underworld, especially now the crime families are running legitimate businesses?
But are these businesses legitimate?
And how does this relate to the business loss that Chance complains about?
Yes Chance from book 1 makes a come back in this story as a reformed community - minded business man, but his business ideas have resulted in losses for him and these losses may be an indication of something much darker brewing away in the crime family underworld.
I just enjoyed the characters in this story, especially having seen the way they have changed as people over the first two books. This book continues that trend and provides a gripping and gritty mystery with a noirish feel.
I appreciate the way in which the author addresses racial and ethnic diversity in his writing, not by the use of stereotypes but by reflecting different characters in their weaknesses and their strengths. Sassy is a hard edged investigator and African-American. The previous book showed her navigating the issues of race in the work place and this story sees her using her contacts and knowledge to get to grips with this investigation.
Michel is a white (cajun) gay man and he does the same as Sassy, using his skills, talents and experiences within the gay community to get to grips and gather information. Michel is shocked to discover racial prejudice within his own community and this is so beautifully portrayed by the author.
Really well written.
And so this story with all its different facets, grabbed me at the beginning and held my attention all the way through to a very satisfying conclusion.
Let's hope the next three books are just as good!
Want to read
January 22, 2021Another hit in the series of novels by David Lennon...I devoured Second Chance in several days and absolutlely loved this mystery. I love the character of Sassy Jones, here's a woman who is strong, funny, and also can be a bit naive in her thinking, but can admit her flaws. I love her new partership with Michel, who looks up to her and the things he does in this novel makes me want to shake him..Michel has an on again off again relationship with Joel,who might be 9 years younger, but definitely knows what he wants in a relationship.Also back on the scene is Chance (Joel's best friend, former prostitute drag queen) who seems to have gotten his act together, but needs help from Saay & Michel.This story is another nail biter that had me up in the wee hours and also happy that I had the 4th mystery to look forward to but sadden that I have to wait till April to read the 5th!!
July 1, 2016
A Solid, Well-Crafted Gay PI Novel...
The third novel featuring former NOPD homicide detectives Michel Doucette and Alexandra “Sassy” Jones kicks off with the two police alumni starting out their private investigations agency and for the most part assuming the same roles they had before, albeit with more leeway where the law and evidence gathering is concerned. One of their first cases is for Chance, Doucette’s boyfriend’s best friend, who has hired the team to look into a business venture he had with two members of an organized crime family where he lost of a quarter million dollar investment. In an ironic twist, the pair is hired by the head of the same crime family in order to locate the mob boss’s missing son, and they soon finding themselves caught up in an apparent turf war between aging kingpins and an outsider moving in on the action with far more leverage than anyone sees coming.
Once again the character of Sassy Jones shins through to steal just about every scene she’s in; the woman is tough, bright and very capable, with even a hint toward a relationship with a shady fellow that raises a few eyebrows. Meanwhile Michel stumbles onto evidence that indicates the case of Chance’s bad investment may not be as cut and dried as first presented, driving the early portion of the novel before the two cases merge and more emphasis – and complexity – is put on the missing mobster’s son and resulting evidence suggesting a growing turf war.
While all is going on, Michel seems to be struggling to find solid footing in his relationship with Joel, nine years his junior, who presses for more of a commitment from the former cop – which Michel seems reluctant to give as he seems unable at times to get beyond their age gap. Add to this a dumb move on Michel part that throws a ratchet into their love affair. Stating more would reveal far too much and spoil the fun, but suffice to say readers will likely be yelling at their e-readers like I was following Michel’s stupid actions.
Second Chance is a solid, well-constructed PI novel, never allowing the reader a dull moment. The pace is quick and smooth, the suspense nail-biting. Lennon has come into his own with this third featuring Doucette-Jones novel exhibiting a solid voice and style that makes for an enjoyable read as we learn just a little more of what makes these two flawed former detectives tick and of what consequences can mean for their actions.
The third novel featuring former NOPD homicide detectives Michel Doucette and Alexandra “Sassy” Jones kicks off with the two police alumni starting out their private investigations agency and for the most part assuming the same roles they had before, albeit with more leeway where the law and evidence gathering is concerned. One of their first cases is for Chance, Doucette’s boyfriend’s best friend, who has hired the team to look into a business venture he had with two members of an organized crime family where he lost of a quarter million dollar investment. In an ironic twist, the pair is hired by the head of the same crime family in order to locate the mob boss’s missing son, and they soon finding themselves caught up in an apparent turf war between aging kingpins and an outsider moving in on the action with far more leverage than anyone sees coming.
Once again the character of Sassy Jones shins through to steal just about every scene she’s in; the woman is tough, bright and very capable, with even a hint toward a relationship with a shady fellow that raises a few eyebrows. Meanwhile Michel stumbles onto evidence that indicates the case of Chance’s bad investment may not be as cut and dried as first presented, driving the early portion of the novel before the two cases merge and more emphasis – and complexity – is put on the missing mobster’s son and resulting evidence suggesting a growing turf war.
While all is going on, Michel seems to be struggling to find solid footing in his relationship with Joel, nine years his junior, who presses for more of a commitment from the former cop – which Michel seems reluctant to give as he seems unable at times to get beyond their age gap. Add to this a dumb move on Michel part that throws a ratchet into their love affair. Stating more would reveal far too much and spoil the fun, but suffice to say readers will likely be yelling at their e-readers like I was following Michel’s stupid actions.
Second Chance is a solid, well-constructed PI novel, never allowing the reader a dull moment. The pace is quick and smooth, the suspense nail-biting. Lennon has come into his own with this third featuring Doucette-Jones novel exhibiting a solid voice and style that makes for an enjoyable read as we learn just a little more of what makes these two flawed former detectives tick and of what consequences can mean for their actions.
April 22, 2015
Michael and Sassy work as private investigators together and get a case to dig into the organized crime scene of New Orleans. A whole set of deception and betrayal is set up to mislead the two and everybody else. So keep focused when you read this thrilling third instalment of the Doucetten & Jones series.
August 23, 2015
Very well worked out plot with well thought out twists and turns
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews