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David Lloyd Investigations
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family
2012 Rainbow Award Nominee
2011 Independent Literary Awards Nominee
When a brutal homophobic attack ended David Lloyd's career as a police officer, his life was changed forever. Five years later David is running his own private detective agency, where a missing person's case comes to his attention. Digging into the circumstances of her disappearance forces David to realize he has not dealt with what happened to him, and that he can no loner deal with his long-time partner's fear of being honest about their relationship.
Solving the case might not only bring peace to a shattered family, but could finally put David's own demons to rest.
2011 Independent Literary Awards Nominee
When a brutal homophobic attack ended David Lloyd's career as a police officer, his life was changed forever. Five years later David is running his own private detective agency, where a missing person's case comes to his attention. Digging into the circumstances of her disappearance forces David to realize he has not dealt with what happened to him, and that he can no loner deal with his long-time partner's fear of being honest about their relationship.
Solving the case might not only bring peace to a shattered family, but could finally put David's own demons to rest.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2011
3 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 5, 2012
David Lloyd was a Toronto police detective until a brutal homophobic assault ended his career and changed his life. It's been five years and he now owns a private detective agency. Marjory Barrowman enlists his help to find her troubled daughter, Stella, who has been missing and not heard from for over two months.
On the surface, discovering what has happened to Stella shouldn't be that difficult given her circumstances. She has a serious drug habit and had a pretty small circle of acquaintances, including her drug buddies. However, David soon finds out that not everyone wants her found and has to struggle through lies, deception and cover ups from just about everyone connected. Meanwhile, he's also in a relationship with Jamie Brennen, a successful prosecuting attorney who hasn't yet come out about his sexuality and that's creating tension.
This is very much an investigation procedural but unencumbered by process and police protocol. David is pretty skilled and takes a lot of risks. The case was interesting and had me shifting emotionally throughout as what began as a belief of the truth kept being dismantled as David continued to explore the case. The search uncovered some real nasty characters and circumstances and unexpected turns of events. Some I saw coming and others took me by surprise. I also liked how his relationship with Jamie was woven throughout the story and not as a disconnected, separate storyline. Both are really well designed characters and I loved their relationship. Their romance was sensitively portrayed and you couldn't help but root for them as they faced obstacles from family and other relationships.
There were occasions where there seemed to be extraneous dialogue that could be implied to have occured by the reader. It didn't bog down the story or my reading enjoyment but was something I noticed.
I enjoyed the mystery and the journey to solve this case but even more, I loved David and Jamie's developing relationship. This is the first book in the series and I plan to continue it as soon as the author writes the next one.
(I was provided an ARC from the author)
On the surface, discovering what has happened to Stella shouldn't be that difficult given her circumstances. She has a serious drug habit and had a pretty small circle of acquaintances, including her drug buddies. However, David soon finds out that not everyone wants her found and has to struggle through lies, deception and cover ups from just about everyone connected. Meanwhile, he's also in a relationship with Jamie Brennen, a successful prosecuting attorney who hasn't yet come out about his sexuality and that's creating tension.
This is very much an investigation procedural but unencumbered by process and police protocol. David is pretty skilled and takes a lot of risks. The case was interesting and had me shifting emotionally throughout as what began as a belief of the truth kept being dismantled as David continued to explore the case. The search uncovered some real nasty characters and circumstances and unexpected turns of events. Some I saw coming and others took me by surprise. I also liked how his relationship with Jamie was woven throughout the story and not as a disconnected, separate storyline. Both are really well designed characters and I loved their relationship. Their romance was sensitively portrayed and you couldn't help but root for them as they faced obstacles from family and other relationships.
There were occasions where there seemed to be extraneous dialogue that could be implied to have occured by the reader. It didn't bog down the story or my reading enjoyment but was something I noticed.
I enjoyed the mystery and the journey to solve this case but even more, I loved David and Jamie's developing relationship. This is the first book in the series and I plan to continue it as soon as the author writes the next one.
(I was provided an ARC from the author)
May 29, 2018
3.8 Stars
A well-written and precisely detailed mystery...very detailed, almost to the point where I wanted to skim all of the casework involved but didn't - mainly because I really had no idea who was responsible for what in this missing persons case that expanded and got really convoluted as the story progressed.
The romance was only present in that David is gay and some specifics about the case made him think back to what happened when he was attacked (an "unsolved" gay-bashing that got him a settlement & retirement from the police force), making him re-examine his life and decide he didn't want to be Jamie's (his boyfriend) secret anymore. That he wanted to be respected as a partner and wanted to move forward with their already 5-year long relationship.
I really liked both MCs and the host of side characters that crop up in this book; there was only one fade-to-grey sex scene but because the MCs were already a couple it didn't seem like the story suffered for it. In some ways it was very reminiscent (to me) of the Infected series (without the SPN aspect) in that there is intimacy and closeness between the leading couples, but the cases & mysteries are the focus of the books. I'll definitely give any that follow a chance when I'm in the mood for a tightly plotted procedural.
A well-written and precisely detailed mystery...very detailed, almost to the point where I wanted to skim all of the casework involved but didn't - mainly because I really had no idea who was responsible for what in this missing persons case that expanded and got really convoluted as the story progressed.
The romance was only present in that David is gay and some specifics about the case made him think back to what happened when he was attacked (an "unsolved" gay-bashing that got him a settlement & retirement from the police force), making him re-examine his life and decide he didn't want to be Jamie's (his boyfriend) secret anymore. That he wanted to be respected as a partner and wanted to move forward with their already 5-year long relationship.
I really liked both MCs and the host of side characters that crop up in this book; there was only one fade-to-grey sex scene but because the MCs were already a couple it didn't seem like the story suffered for it. In some ways it was very reminiscent (to me) of the Infected series (without the SPN aspect) in that there is intimacy and closeness between the leading couples, but the cases & mysteries are the focus of the books. I'll definitely give any that follow a chance when I'm in the mood for a tightly plotted procedural.
September 26, 2011
3.75 stars
First, let me be clear: this is not a romance and going into it expecting romance will only lead to disappointment. While the protagonist is in an established, long-term relationship which requires some work along the way, this is primarily a mystery and one competently-written at that. The book is not without problems though. They are mainly connected to the protagonist, his background and private life, rather than the mystery itself, which is why I divided the review in two parts.
David Lloyd is hired by her mother to find a missing girl. In spite of her good background (well-off family, good education), the young woman has a history of both mental illness and drug abuse, which is why the police aren't exactly running to solve the case and even some of her family members don't believe that she is in any actual danger — except from herself. The case seems pretty straightforward and, in the beginning, quite frustrating for David because it seems that he can't move the investigation forward. However, the case quickly strays in a much, much darker territory and David's investigation provokes reaction from the unknown parties — initially in the form of anonymous phone calls, only to escalate to violence and, eventually, murder.
This part of the book worked really well for me. David isn't one of those detectives who tents his fingers and knows all the answers. In fact, David works very, very hard to find them: he talks to girl's family, friends, colleagues, doctors (sometimes more than once), talks to the police and his other sources, checks various data, etc. He isn't beyond bending a few rules if it gives him results or if it will protect someone. He has good intuition and he'll throw himself into the action if necessary. The author provided us with enough suspects, motivations and red herrings to make the mystery interesting and solution not too easy. Towards the end, the story slips several times into thriller, also giving the mystery an exciting finale.
This part of the story introduced many interesting and complex characters: the Barrowman family (including Stella, the missing girl), Stella's friend Elaine, her boyfriend Sasha, local criminals Lee and Ritchie, young prostitute Jennie, his former colleague Jimmy, etc. It also introduced one of the major themes of the novel — that of the family, both birth family and the one we choose and build by ourselves. If I have any complaints about this part of the story, it's repetitiveness of certain scenes in the first half of the book: David makes an appointment, goes to the meeting, usually in someone's office and gets the same information, which was slightly frustrating. It was realistic, yet this is fiction and perhaps some scenes could have been tweaked or omitted completely to make the story move faster.
While the mystery worked well, the part of the book regarding David's private life reads as the sequel of the book we missed, which made David, the man, seem somewhat "unfinished". We don't even know how old he is. The one clue we have is this: "He could still easily pass for being in his thirties." We have to conclude that he is at least forty years old, although David's interactions with his family (younger brother Sean, grandmother Rhea) as well as other characters made him seem much younger. We are told many things, but we are shown very little. We are told about David's past marriage, coming out, problems with his family and colleagues, homophobic attack, his retirement and recovery, but, because we don't get to see him experiencing these things we don't know how these events affected him, changed him, defined him. Therefore, we have to take many things for granted: that David and Jamie Brennan love each other, David's motivation for not trying to change their relationship (Jamie is in the closet to both his family and colleagues for five years they were together) and his sudden change of heart, his past, etc. David and Jamie sometimes have conversations that make you wonder what they were doing for five years and why are they together in the first place. I was able to somewhat change my opinion about them as a couple in the second half of the book, when they started working together and the author showed us some moments of closeness, gentleness and teasing born from long-term intimacy, but for the most part their entire situation (relationship, conflict, super quick solution) seemed artificial to me.
I also wasn't satisfied with the way the attack on David was handled. The identity of the man who organized and led the attack is known, yet never really seriously considered by the police. It was explained that his friends gave him the alibi, but it made me wonder how many officers would provide even one of their own with the alibi for the attempted murder (because the attack was just that brutal). Police homophobia and blue line aside, it seemed unrealistic that something so serious would simply be shoved under the rug this way. It is clear that this will be addressed in the future book(s), but it was another element of David's past we had to take for granted. The attack happened in 1995 (the majority of the book is set in the year 2000), so maybe that is the reason, but it was hard for me to believe something like this was tolerated even 15 years ago.
There were several grammar/typing errors that I caught and once a character was misnamed (Arthur instead of George). The title is rather clumsy as well as misleading (the reason would be a spoiler so you'll have to take my word for it :P ). While generally the writing was good, occasionally I was pulled out of the story by rather stilted language, especially when it comes to some of David's contemplations. The City of Toronto, in which the story takes place, could not be distinguished from any other larger city in North America.
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family is a solid, realistically handled mystery, though I feel the protagonist needs more depth, especially if he has to carry the entire series. This is the first book I've read by this author and my overall impressions were positive, in spite of my complaints. I will definitely pick up the next book in the David Lloyd Investigations series to read.
Written for Reviews by Jessewave.
First, let me be clear: this is not a romance and going into it expecting romance will only lead to disappointment. While the protagonist is in an established, long-term relationship which requires some work along the way, this is primarily a mystery and one competently-written at that. The book is not without problems though. They are mainly connected to the protagonist, his background and private life, rather than the mystery itself, which is why I divided the review in two parts.
David Lloyd is hired by her mother to find a missing girl. In spite of her good background (well-off family, good education), the young woman has a history of both mental illness and drug abuse, which is why the police aren't exactly running to solve the case and even some of her family members don't believe that she is in any actual danger — except from herself. The case seems pretty straightforward and, in the beginning, quite frustrating for David because it seems that he can't move the investigation forward. However, the case quickly strays in a much, much darker territory and David's investigation provokes reaction from the unknown parties — initially in the form of anonymous phone calls, only to escalate to violence and, eventually, murder.
This part of the book worked really well for me. David isn't one of those detectives who tents his fingers and knows all the answers. In fact, David works very, very hard to find them: he talks to girl's family, friends, colleagues, doctors (sometimes more than once), talks to the police and his other sources, checks various data, etc. He isn't beyond bending a few rules if it gives him results or if it will protect someone. He has good intuition and he'll throw himself into the action if necessary. The author provided us with enough suspects, motivations and red herrings to make the mystery interesting and solution not too easy. Towards the end, the story slips several times into thriller, also giving the mystery an exciting finale.
This part of the story introduced many interesting and complex characters: the Barrowman family (including Stella, the missing girl), Stella's friend Elaine, her boyfriend Sasha, local criminals Lee and Ritchie, young prostitute Jennie, his former colleague Jimmy, etc. It also introduced one of the major themes of the novel — that of the family, both birth family and the one we choose and build by ourselves. If I have any complaints about this part of the story, it's repetitiveness of certain scenes in the first half of the book: David makes an appointment, goes to the meeting, usually in someone's office and gets the same information, which was slightly frustrating. It was realistic, yet this is fiction and perhaps some scenes could have been tweaked or omitted completely to make the story move faster.
While the mystery worked well, the part of the book regarding David's private life reads as the sequel of the book we missed, which made David, the man, seem somewhat "unfinished". We don't even know how old he is. The one clue we have is this: "He could still easily pass for being in his thirties." We have to conclude that he is at least forty years old, although David's interactions with his family (younger brother Sean, grandmother Rhea) as well as other characters made him seem much younger. We are told many things, but we are shown very little. We are told about David's past marriage, coming out, problems with his family and colleagues, homophobic attack, his retirement and recovery, but, because we don't get to see him experiencing these things we don't know how these events affected him, changed him, defined him. Therefore, we have to take many things for granted: that David and Jamie Brennan love each other, David's motivation for not trying to change their relationship (Jamie is in the closet to both his family and colleagues for five years they were together) and his sudden change of heart, his past, etc. David and Jamie sometimes have conversations that make you wonder what they were doing for five years and why are they together in the first place. I was able to somewhat change my opinion about them as a couple in the second half of the book, when they started working together and the author showed us some moments of closeness, gentleness and teasing born from long-term intimacy, but for the most part their entire situation (relationship, conflict, super quick solution) seemed artificial to me.
I also wasn't satisfied with the way the attack on David was handled. The identity of the man who organized and led the attack is known, yet never really seriously considered by the police. It was explained that his friends gave him the alibi, but it made me wonder how many officers would provide even one of their own with the alibi for the attempted murder (because the attack was just that brutal). Police homophobia and blue line aside, it seemed unrealistic that something so serious would simply be shoved under the rug this way. It is clear that this will be addressed in the future book(s), but it was another element of David's past we had to take for granted. The attack happened in 1995 (the majority of the book is set in the year 2000), so maybe that is the reason, but it was hard for me to believe something like this was tolerated even 15 years ago.
There were several grammar/typing errors that I caught and once a character was misnamed (Arthur instead of George). The title is rather clumsy as well as misleading (the reason would be a spoiler so you'll have to take my word for it :P ). While generally the writing was good, occasionally I was pulled out of the story by rather stilted language, especially when it comes to some of David's contemplations. The City of Toronto, in which the story takes place, could not be distinguished from any other larger city in North America.
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family is a solid, realistically handled mystery, though I feel the protagonist needs more depth, especially if he has to carry the entire series. This is the first book I've read by this author and my overall impressions were positive, in spite of my complaints. I will definitely pick up the next book in the David Lloyd Investigations series to read.
Written for Reviews by Jessewave.
November 15, 2016
I have not found a lot of great MM-mystery novels these last few days, but this one turned out to be a nice surprise.
I am vacillating between giving it 3 and 4 stars, and will leave my rating at 3 for now, since I have read better books, that I have given 4 stars.
One of the things, that makes me unsure of my rating is that I have not made ONE highlight in the 230 pages, and normally when I love a book I will cover that shit in colors, like I was the next Bob Ross!
And it's not that the writing was bad, 'cause it wasn't.
It's not that the characters were annoying, they weren't.
It's not that the pace was too slow or fast, 'cause it wasn't.
BUT we have a MM-'mystery' with FTB smex scenes (GODDAMMIT), and -IMO- it was not a mystery as much as a story of finding the evidence to put the bad guy(s) away.
So David used to be on the Toronto Police Force, but after a brutal gay-bashing, he has had to find another way to make a living (his knee and his hearing on one ear is fucked).
Now he's a PI, working in his own office; he has a great family and great friends and he has been in a relationship with Jamie for 5 years.
When Marjory turns up at his office, asking him to look for her daughter Stella, David sees this as a nice pay day with an 'easy' case, since Marjory and her husband are rich.
But what was supposed to be a case of a runaway drug addict, soon turns out to be a lot more complicated.
It is clear that nothing is quite what it seems on the surface.
At the same time David's struggling with his relationship with Jamie. They are exclusive, but Jamie is still so far in the closet with his family and colleagues, that he can find a wintercoat, from when he was a child.
It is also written into the story that David's attackers were (most likely) some of his police colleagues, and while he's trying to figure out where Stella is and what happened to her, he has to deal with Jeremy, one of his (supposed) attackers. He ends up having some flash-backs and is struggling with his history and his attack.
This part of the story felt somewhat fabricated. I get that it would heighten the drama and make David relate to Stella on a deeper level, but after the attack David had professional help, all of his family, friends and Jamie stood by him, and even though a lot of his colleagues were never heard from again, some of his colleagues also stood by him.
To me this part (David's anxiety and flash-backs) just felt like extra drama for drama's sake, and since there was a lot of drama with people dropping dead left and right, and hookers, and drugs, and bad guys it was unnecessary for me.
Also David already had drama with Jamie and his closet-issues, so there was plenty of things happening, without adding to it.
All in all I was okay entertained, the interview procedures back-and-forth with 'witnesses' were a wee bit boring once in a while, and I thoght the FTB smex scenes were annoying, but it was a nice MM-mystery, with drama. Lots and lots of action and personal drama.
I am vacillating between giving it 3 and 4 stars, and will leave my rating at 3 for now, since I have read better books, that I have given 4 stars.
One of the things, that makes me unsure of my rating is that I have not made ONE highlight in the 230 pages, and normally when I love a book I will cover that shit in colors, like I was the next Bob Ross!
And it's not that the writing was bad, 'cause it wasn't.
It's not that the characters were annoying, they weren't.
It's not that the pace was too slow or fast, 'cause it wasn't.
BUT we have a MM-'mystery' with FTB smex scenes (GODDAMMIT), and -IMO- it was not a mystery as much as a story of finding the evidence to put the bad guy(s) away.
So David used to be on the Toronto Police Force, but after a brutal gay-bashing, he has had to find another way to make a living (his knee and his hearing on one ear is fucked).
Now he's a PI, working in his own office; he has a great family and great friends and he has been in a relationship with Jamie for 5 years.
When Marjory turns up at his office, asking him to look for her daughter Stella, David sees this as a nice pay day with an 'easy' case, since Marjory and her husband are rich.
But what was supposed to be a case of a runaway drug addict, soon turns out to be a lot more complicated.
It is clear that nothing is quite what it seems on the surface.
At the same time David's struggling with his relationship with Jamie. They are exclusive, but Jamie is still so far in the closet with his family and colleagues, that he can find a wintercoat, from when he was a child.
It is also written into the story that David's attackers were (most likely) some of his police colleagues, and while he's trying to figure out where Stella is and what happened to her, he has to deal with Jeremy, one of his (supposed) attackers. He ends up having some flash-backs and is struggling with his history and his attack.
This part of the story felt somewhat fabricated. I get that it would heighten the drama and make David relate to Stella on a deeper level, but after the attack David had professional help, all of his family, friends and Jamie stood by him, and even though a lot of his colleagues were never heard from again, some of his colleagues also stood by him.
To me this part (David's anxiety and flash-backs) just felt like extra drama for drama's sake, and since there was a lot of drama with people dropping dead left and right, and hookers, and drugs, and bad guys it was unnecessary for me.
Also David already had drama with Jamie and his closet-issues, so there was plenty of things happening, without adding to it.
All in all I was okay entertained, the interview procedures back-and-forth with 'witnesses' were a wee bit boring once in a while, and I thoght the FTB smex scenes were annoying, but it was a nice MM-mystery, with drama. Lots and lots of action and personal drama.
September 4, 2011
Mystery, will and always will be one of my favorite genres; so anything combined with it (romance, urban fantasy) I'm up for it. I never read anything by Liz Strange before. However, the title said "David Lloyd Investigation", which means mystery, with a gay lead, so my first thought was, "GOODY!" :).
For those looking for a dash of romance in this, I will say upfront that the romance is pretty much non-existent. Sure, there is a couple of kisses, and David tells his long-time partner, "I love you", but sex is done behind closed door, so the romance is more subtle. The focus of this book is the mystery of the missing daughter, and how David's investigation takes him to serious twists and threats, which results in life-threatening situations. I find the mystery enganging; it's heartbreaking when all the secrets surrounding the missing girl are out. Shows how perfect family not always so perfect.
I like David -- and his partner, Jamie. What is interesting about the two of them is that, they have been together for 5-years. But Jamie is a closeted lawyer, he even never comes out to his family. In this book, David finally gives Jamie an ultimatum. David is out, and he always brings Jamie to his family ... so he wants the same thing from Jamie. Either tells his family and people at work, or they are finished. This secondary plot is also likeable (as much as the mystery). I don't find many couples in books I read in secret relationship -- Josh Lanyon, James Buchanan, and Kaje Harper books come to mind -- who stay that way for more than a year.
I hope this is a first book of a series. I definitely like to read established couple in M/M mystery ...
For those looking for a dash of romance in this, I will say upfront that the romance is pretty much non-existent. Sure, there is a couple of kisses, and David tells his long-time partner, "I love you", but sex is done behind closed door, so the romance is more subtle. The focus of this book is the mystery of the missing daughter, and how David's investigation takes him to serious twists and threats, which results in life-threatening situations. I find the mystery enganging; it's heartbreaking when all the secrets surrounding the missing girl are out. Shows how perfect family not always so perfect.
I like David -- and his partner, Jamie. What is interesting about the two of them is that, they have been together for 5-years. But Jamie is a closeted lawyer, he even never comes out to his family. In this book, David finally gives Jamie an ultimatum. David is out, and he always brings Jamie to his family ... so he wants the same thing from Jamie. Either tells his family and people at work, or they are finished. This secondary plot is also likeable (as much as the mystery). I don't find many couples in books I read in secret relationship -- Josh Lanyon, James Buchanan, and Kaje Harper books come to mind -- who stay that way for more than a year.
I hope this is a first book of a series. I definitely like to read established couple in M/M mystery ...
August 4, 2012
Good, solid mystery novel where the protagonist just happens to be gay.
When I was (much) younger, I often wished for "normal" books like mysteries or trashy romance novels where the main characters just were gay and nothing was thought about it. All the "gay themed" books were all serious or tragic or stuff for academic readings.
Now there is a plethora to choose from. Often there is the Pr0n (which is good don't get me wrong. see my reading list) and the gay romance with a mystery stuck in, or the sci-fi/fantasy m/m etc. All great.
But, to my delight of my heart, there also exists now this kind of novel. Just a regular book. Where the character just happens to be gay. No big deal.
Oh and the plot was good too. A fairly serious read. I could pick out the bad guys fairly easily but the how and why? That's what's to figure out.
When I was (much) younger, I often wished for "normal" books like mysteries or trashy romance novels where the main characters just were gay and nothing was thought about it. All the "gay themed" books were all serious or tragic or stuff for academic readings.
Now there is a plethora to choose from. Often there is the Pr0n (which is good don't get me wrong. see my reading list) and the gay romance with a mystery stuck in, or the sci-fi/fantasy m/m etc. All great.
But, to my delight of my heart, there also exists now this kind of novel. Just a regular book. Where the character just happens to be gay. No big deal.
Oh and the plot was good too. A fairly serious read. I could pick out the bad guys fairly easily but the how and why? That's what's to figure out.
November 6, 2011
Very good m/m mystery (with a bit of romance) about a cop-turned-PI who's hired to find a troubled young woman. The case becomes increasingly complex, and he finds himself dealing with unresolved issues from his own past. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series!
July 28, 2014
I was going to rate this a 5 star but something was missing. Maybe the smut…;) It was close though.
December 24, 2011
When I first started to read this novel, I got the feeling of a routine "Mike Hammer" PI investigation. But I was wrong--not because David Lloyd did not have the looks and "smart-ass" personality of Mike as he followed the same investigative procedures, which, for David, had been first learned in his police career. No, it was all of the involved characters and what was revealed through that investigation. I'll just say that potential readers might think Law and Order, Special Victims to get a better feel for what Lloyd found himself involved with!
I enjoyed meeting main character David Lloyd. He was already established as a PI when the book opens, but readers will see much about what he had gone through while he was a cop--especially that he was seriously hurt as a result of a "deliberate and vicious" beating that David and many others who knew what had happened, felt had been done by a group of fellow police officers...supposedly because he was gay. But when you later meet the officer in question, you just know that he was a bully when he was young and remained a bully now! Let's face it, somebody who likes to control others will use any reason to force victims to submit to their power...
David was not only left with physical limitations that had prevented his continued police career, he had been permanently changed by what had happened... And that's what made him the perfect PI to handle this investigation, although readers will have to realize that along the way...LOL
Marjory Barrowman became his client, coming to him to seek assistance in trying to find her daughter, Stella, 23, who had been missing for about two months. They had filed a police report, but Stella had been in and out of trouble quite often and had left town before without letting them know. But Marjory felt this time was different--she had never been away this long and, frankly, they had normally been called in the past to get her out of jail or some other type of trouble. Marjory just had to find out if she was alive, or have her brought back home if she wasn't.
Neither her husband nor son really supported her hiring a private investigator. This had been happening so often and they knew she was an addict and sometime prostitute in order to feed her addiction. This time was really no different...
Stella was a dancer, was very good, and had been in a small company where she had made some friends... She had been in rehab before, had been seen by a counselor and had become close to an art therapist.
From a professional standpoint, David realized that this could be a lengthy and profitable case. There were a number of options--tracking down potential individuals she had met on the streets, or from her drug connections, but also through her dance activities and rehab experience.
For David personally, however, he soon became almost obsessive in trying to find this beautiful young girl. Because what he was finding was that nearly all of the people he talked to, including her father and brother, seemed to be lying. Soon, he wasn't even sure about her mother... What he was discovering also brought back his own loss of career because of violence and made him really begin to look hard at his 5-year relationship that was being kept secret...
He was tired of lies and secrets!
And he wasn't going to stop until he resolved his personal life and this case!
But he was getting too close and attempts were made on his life. Then, a street friend of Stella's started sharing, only to be beaten so badly over her entire body that it was amazing she lived--and surely had been left because it was assumed she would not!
The chase is hot and heavy and becomes more and more dangerous as each contact begins to shed more and more light on what happened to Stella. Was she suffering from mental health issues as the doctors stated and which was supported by her family, or was there something that happened to her that caused her personality change. David intended to find out, for he knew what happened to individuals who had been abused--they were changed for life, going in one way or the other! Was Stella still alive?!
The suspense is sustained throughout, now knowing just who and how many were involved! At the same time, the personal lives of each character draws readers to either love or hate them! David's romance is a supporting sub-plot that brings a breath of tenderness amidst much abuse. I believe the more we spotlight the sexual abuse, including harassment, any of us can and have faced, the more people will become aware of how badly this corruption can damage involved individuals. Liz Strange has done an excellent job in delving into the reality of today's world! I loved this one and hope David Lloyd investigations comes back to us soon!
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From Author
GABixlerReviews
I enjoyed meeting main character David Lloyd. He was already established as a PI when the book opens, but readers will see much about what he had gone through while he was a cop--especially that he was seriously hurt as a result of a "deliberate and vicious" beating that David and many others who knew what had happened, felt had been done by a group of fellow police officers...supposedly because he was gay. But when you later meet the officer in question, you just know that he was a bully when he was young and remained a bully now! Let's face it, somebody who likes to control others will use any reason to force victims to submit to their power...
David was not only left with physical limitations that had prevented his continued police career, he had been permanently changed by what had happened... And that's what made him the perfect PI to handle this investigation, although readers will have to realize that along the way...LOL
Marjory Barrowman became his client, coming to him to seek assistance in trying to find her daughter, Stella, 23, who had been missing for about two months. They had filed a police report, but Stella had been in and out of trouble quite often and had left town before without letting them know. But Marjory felt this time was different--she had never been away this long and, frankly, they had normally been called in the past to get her out of jail or some other type of trouble. Marjory just had to find out if she was alive, or have her brought back home if she wasn't.
Neither her husband nor son really supported her hiring a private investigator. This had been happening so often and they knew she was an addict and sometime prostitute in order to feed her addiction. This time was really no different...
Stella was a dancer, was very good, and had been in a small company where she had made some friends... She had been in rehab before, had been seen by a counselor and had become close to an art therapist.
From a professional standpoint, David realized that this could be a lengthy and profitable case. There were a number of options--tracking down potential individuals she had met on the streets, or from her drug connections, but also through her dance activities and rehab experience.
For David personally, however, he soon became almost obsessive in trying to find this beautiful young girl. Because what he was finding was that nearly all of the people he talked to, including her father and brother, seemed to be lying. Soon, he wasn't even sure about her mother... What he was discovering also brought back his own loss of career because of violence and made him really begin to look hard at his 5-year relationship that was being kept secret...
He was tired of lies and secrets!
And he wasn't going to stop until he resolved his personal life and this case!
But he was getting too close and attempts were made on his life. Then, a street friend of Stella's started sharing, only to be beaten so badly over her entire body that it was amazing she lived--and surely had been left because it was assumed she would not!
The chase is hot and heavy and becomes more and more dangerous as each contact begins to shed more and more light on what happened to Stella. Was she suffering from mental health issues as the doctors stated and which was supported by her family, or was there something that happened to her that caused her personality change. David intended to find out, for he knew what happened to individuals who had been abused--they were changed for life, going in one way or the other! Was Stella still alive?!
The suspense is sustained throughout, now knowing just who and how many were involved! At the same time, the personal lives of each character draws readers to either love or hate them! David's romance is a supporting sub-plot that brings a breath of tenderness amidst much abuse. I believe the more we spotlight the sexual abuse, including harassment, any of us can and have faced, the more people will become aware of how badly this corruption can damage involved individuals. Liz Strange has done an excellent job in delving into the reality of today's world! I loved this one and hope David Lloyd investigations comes back to us soon!
Book Received
From Author
GABixlerReviews
June 15, 2019
4.5
Book source ~ ARC. My review is voluntary and honest.
Toronto native David Lloyd’s assault by fellow officers because he is gay was brutal, but he couldn’t prove in a court of law that it was them since he never saw their faces. The far reaching effects of his injuries resulted in his being unable to keep his job. The department gave him a settlement and a pension and turned a blind eye to criminals in their midst. So David opened a private investigation agency and moved on with his life. Mostly. When a woman hires him to find her daughter, the more he digs into the case, he realizes he’s not really put that incident behind him. Everything about this case bugs David and now his personal life is coming to a head, too. The question isn’t just will he find the woman, but will he and his longtime partner also survive the fallout.
This book made a solid grab for me at the beginning and kept hold until the end. The case involving missing Stella Barrowman is far from straightforward. Oh, no, it’s so much more than a troubled drug addicted woman taking off yet again. David’s investigation of her life is the center of the book, as it should be, but there is a sub-story about David and his partner Jamie that will pull your heartstrings. A great story, a twisty investigation, and wonderful characters. What more could a reader ask for?
Book source ~ ARC. My review is voluntary and honest.
Toronto native David Lloyd’s assault by fellow officers because he is gay was brutal, but he couldn’t prove in a court of law that it was them since he never saw their faces. The far reaching effects of his injuries resulted in his being unable to keep his job. The department gave him a settlement and a pension and turned a blind eye to criminals in their midst. So David opened a private investigation agency and moved on with his life. Mostly. When a woman hires him to find her daughter, the more he digs into the case, he realizes he’s not really put that incident behind him. Everything about this case bugs David and now his personal life is coming to a head, too. The question isn’t just will he find the woman, but will he and his longtime partner also survive the fallout.
This book made a solid grab for me at the beginning and kept hold until the end. The case involving missing Stella Barrowman is far from straightforward. Oh, no, it’s so much more than a troubled drug addicted woman taking off yet again. David’s investigation of her life is the center of the book, as it should be, but there is a sub-story about David and his partner Jamie that will pull your heartstrings. A great story, a twisty investigation, and wonderful characters. What more could a reader ask for?
July 30, 2014
I'm not sure why I didn't come across this series earlier, but I'm glad I did at least. Anyway here we have a great mysterious case, which circles around a missing girl on a surface but hides much more than that. The main protagonist here is David with his own PI. I really liked David, he was sincere, really patient with his "closeted" long lasting boyfriend Jamie, and a real detective. His case was well build and written. I'm positively impressed by this author mature writing style.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOK!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOK!
October 2, 2012
I usually don't read mysteries too often but I started this one and it was very good. There are a lot of different characters so you really have to kind of pay good attention or you could forget who was who but overall it was very easy to follow. David and his partner Jamie are very likeable and its very easy to want to read more about them. Definately a page turner and I will be looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
June 27, 2023
Very good but definitely not for the faint of hearted
(Re-read, still a creepy motherfucker)
(Re-read, still a creepy motherfucker)
April 7, 2022
A brutal attacked ended David Lloyd's career as a police officer, Five years later he is running his own private
detective agency where missing persons case comes too his attention. Digging into the the circumstances of this missing person forces him to realize he has not dealt with what happened to him and he feel he cannot handle his partner anymore. Solving this case might not solve his problems but it might be able to solve David's own demons. Can David fight off his own demons .
Great book. If you like horror and sc-fi this is the book for you.
Thanks too Crossroads Press, Gordian Know, netgalley and the author in exchange for review.
Published: Feb 27th 2022.
detective agency where missing persons case comes too his attention. Digging into the the circumstances of this missing person forces him to realize he has not dealt with what happened to him and he feel he cannot handle his partner anymore. Solving this case might not solve his problems but it might be able to solve David's own demons. Can David fight off his own demons .
Great book. If you like horror and sc-fi this is the book for you.
Thanks too Crossroads Press, Gordian Know, netgalley and the author in exchange for review.
Published: Feb 27th 2022.
December 15, 2014
I went from the high octane action novel The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes into the more laid back classic P.I. novel, Missing Daughter, Shattered Family. David Lloyd is a former police officer turned private investigator who is hired to find the missing daughter of a prominent Toronto family. The young woman has not contacted her family in months, something highly unusual for her. Her history of drug abuse and mental illness make it all too easy to assume she either took off or possibly overdosed. As the case unfolds, David finds that not all the facts are lining up--nor are all the people he is interviewing being completely honest with him. The closer he gets to the truth, the more feathers he ruffles, and the more someone turns to violence to warn him away.
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family was refreshing in its old school detective approach. David does a lot of leg work, interviewing friends and family of the missing woman. The novel starts out slow admittedly, but it didn't take long for me to be hooked in, wondering what the author had in store for me--and her characters.
David is a likeable guy. He has all the makings of a good detective. He is ethical and diligent. He isn't easily intimidated and he is ever persistent. He looks beyond the words spoken to him and seems to be a good judge of character. He knows how to turn on the charm and use it to his advantage.
David's past comes back to haunt him as he works on the case and he comes face to face with the police officer who got him kicked off the force. Beaten severely, resulting in a knee injury and hearing loss, as a result of being gay, David had no choice but to step down from his position on the police force. He knows the men who beat him were fellow police officers, but unfortunately he has no proof. Memories from that incident come flooding back and David struggles to deal with his past as well as search for the missing girl. The author could have taken this in several different directions, but I like how it was kept in the background. It clearly was a significant and horrific event in the protagonist's life, shaping who David had become, but it never overshadowed the main story line.
On the home front, David is dealing with personal issues as well. His long time partner, Jamie, has still not come out to his family and coworkers. This has created some tension between the two men, which finally comes to a head. I really got a feel for how both men must have felt and my heart went out to Jamie.
The personal story line played nicely into the main plot--giving it a nice balance. As with any mystery, such a side story makes the characters more real in the reader's mind. It helps paint a fuller picture of the character as a human being. And it did for me in this case.
As an aside, kudos for the author for throwing in the paperwork! How often do you see the protagonist in a mystery actually complete any of the required paperwork? It was realistic touches like this that made me especially appreciate the novel.
The mystery was at times predictable and formulaic, but I enjoyed getting to know David and following him along on his investigation. Overall, I enjoyed Missing Daughter, Shattered Family. I wouldn't have heard of this novel had it not been for its being short-listed for an Independent Literary Award, and so am grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family was refreshing in its old school detective approach. David does a lot of leg work, interviewing friends and family of the missing woman. The novel starts out slow admittedly, but it didn't take long for me to be hooked in, wondering what the author had in store for me--and her characters.
David is a likeable guy. He has all the makings of a good detective. He is ethical and diligent. He isn't easily intimidated and he is ever persistent. He looks beyond the words spoken to him and seems to be a good judge of character. He knows how to turn on the charm and use it to his advantage.
David's past comes back to haunt him as he works on the case and he comes face to face with the police officer who got him kicked off the force. Beaten severely, resulting in a knee injury and hearing loss, as a result of being gay, David had no choice but to step down from his position on the police force. He knows the men who beat him were fellow police officers, but unfortunately he has no proof. Memories from that incident come flooding back and David struggles to deal with his past as well as search for the missing girl. The author could have taken this in several different directions, but I like how it was kept in the background. It clearly was a significant and horrific event in the protagonist's life, shaping who David had become, but it never overshadowed the main story line.
On the home front, David is dealing with personal issues as well. His long time partner, Jamie, has still not come out to his family and coworkers. This has created some tension between the two men, which finally comes to a head. I really got a feel for how both men must have felt and my heart went out to Jamie.
The personal story line played nicely into the main plot--giving it a nice balance. As with any mystery, such a side story makes the characters more real in the reader's mind. It helps paint a fuller picture of the character as a human being. And it did for me in this case.
As an aside, kudos for the author for throwing in the paperwork! How often do you see the protagonist in a mystery actually complete any of the required paperwork? It was realistic touches like this that made me especially appreciate the novel.
The mystery was at times predictable and formulaic, but I enjoyed getting to know David and following him along on his investigation. Overall, I enjoyed Missing Daughter, Shattered Family. I wouldn't have heard of this novel had it not been for its being short-listed for an Independent Literary Award, and so am grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.
February 25, 2013
Writing the first novel of a series can be an especially difficult proposition. The author must not only tell a completely self-contained and interesting story but also introduce the protagonist(s) and supporting cast in such a way that the reader will want to join them again later for another adventure.
In Missing Daughter, Shattered Family, author Liz Strange (@LizStrangeVamp) has done both superbly, giving mystery fans a twisty, intricate plot as well as an interesting and complex protagonist in Toronto private investigator David Lloyd. There is definitely more of David’s story to be told after he wraps up the main storyline, which involves a missing persons case.
David is an ex-cop, having left the force years earlier after a brutal assault in an alley behind a bar left him unable to meet the police department’s physical requirements. That assault — more accurately a hate crime, as David is gay and the men who beat him are homophobic “peers” from the police — is the turning point in David’s life, and he exhibits all the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of it. The perpetrators of the beating, including David’s rival, go unpunished after a hurried investigation by the police, making the incident an open wound that David has mostly suppressed.
When David is hired by Marjory Barrowman to find her twenty-three year old daughter, Stella, he discovers how dangerous it can be to ignore those life-changing moments. Gone two months, Stella is a chronic drug user and sometime prostitute diagnosed with mental problems who has gone missing in the past. With her disreputable history, the police have not put much effort into finding Stella despite Marjory’s assertion that her daughter has never before stayed out of communication for such a lengthy period.
David takes the case, and what follows is a roller-coaster ride of clues, red herrings and plot twists leading up to some flat-out action scenes. There is honestly no way to go into more detail without spoilers; suffice to say David has his work cut out for him as he doggedly digs into a case which takes him from the seedy underside of Toronto to fashionable offices in the financial district.
While he’s searching for Stella, David has some issues on his own homefront to deal with, including a longtime partner who is still closeted at work and with his family. David came out years before, and had a difficult time with parts of his family as well as the assault from his fellow cops, so he has struggled in the past with how hard to push Jaime, his boyfriend. Their interplay, even under fire, is at times quite humorous and I also enjoyed the way David deftly employs his own good looks to shamelessly flirt with female contacts, most unaware of his status.
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family has everything a mystery fan could want: plot to spare and a winning lead character. I look forward to returning to Toronto for David’s next adventure, A Fresh Set of Eyes.
For more on Liz Strange, visit her website, www.lizstrange.com
In Missing Daughter, Shattered Family, author Liz Strange (@LizStrangeVamp) has done both superbly, giving mystery fans a twisty, intricate plot as well as an interesting and complex protagonist in Toronto private investigator David Lloyd. There is definitely more of David’s story to be told after he wraps up the main storyline, which involves a missing persons case.
David is an ex-cop, having left the force years earlier after a brutal assault in an alley behind a bar left him unable to meet the police department’s physical requirements. That assault — more accurately a hate crime, as David is gay and the men who beat him are homophobic “peers” from the police — is the turning point in David’s life, and he exhibits all the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of it. The perpetrators of the beating, including David’s rival, go unpunished after a hurried investigation by the police, making the incident an open wound that David has mostly suppressed.
When David is hired by Marjory Barrowman to find her twenty-three year old daughter, Stella, he discovers how dangerous it can be to ignore those life-changing moments. Gone two months, Stella is a chronic drug user and sometime prostitute diagnosed with mental problems who has gone missing in the past. With her disreputable history, the police have not put much effort into finding Stella despite Marjory’s assertion that her daughter has never before stayed out of communication for such a lengthy period.
David takes the case, and what follows is a roller-coaster ride of clues, red herrings and plot twists leading up to some flat-out action scenes. There is honestly no way to go into more detail without spoilers; suffice to say David has his work cut out for him as he doggedly digs into a case which takes him from the seedy underside of Toronto to fashionable offices in the financial district.
While he’s searching for Stella, David has some issues on his own homefront to deal with, including a longtime partner who is still closeted at work and with his family. David came out years before, and had a difficult time with parts of his family as well as the assault from his fellow cops, so he has struggled in the past with how hard to push Jaime, his boyfriend. Their interplay, even under fire, is at times quite humorous and I also enjoyed the way David deftly employs his own good looks to shamelessly flirt with female contacts, most unaware of his status.
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family has everything a mystery fan could want: plot to spare and a winning lead character. I look forward to returning to Toronto for David’s next adventure, A Fresh Set of Eyes.
For more on Liz Strange, visit her website, www.lizstrange.com
September 30, 2013
A Review of Liz Strange’s Missing Daughter, Shattered Family (MLR Press, 2011)
Detective novels tend to be fairly heteronormative with a male protagonist who is protecting a female love interest. Liz Strange sees the incredible opportunity for a gay male protagonist as a figure of mystery. Mystery novels are about discoveries of the truth, uncovering what is hidden and suppressed, and a gay male protagonist, trapped in our society’s homophobic context, provides a great opportunity for examining the contexts of suppression and secrets.
David Lloyd was a police officer until he came out to his fellow officers and was the victim of a homophobic hate crime. Beaten outside of a bar until he lost hearing in one ear and the use of his knee, David was certain that he was beaten by fellow police officers. When David brought up complaints against the police officer who he suspected beat him (someone who had been harassing him for some time) he is ostracised from his police force. Police are known for their fraternity and protecting their own, and David quickly learned that he wasn’t part of that fraternity. He learned that the police only protect their own when he is a straight officer, not a gay one. It was made clear to David that he was not one of them while his assailant, Jeremy, was. David learned that he wasn’t welcome with the police and left the force to become a private detective.
As a detective, David’s life was steeped in secrets and the need to get to the bottom of mysteries around him. Yet, his partner, a lawyer, keeps their relationship secret from his colleagues and family. David’s life is about uncovering truths, but his relationship is surrounded by dishonesty. Jamie’s closeted life is yet another place of family secrets.
When David is called upon by Marjory Barrowman to find her daughter Stella, David finds himself in a murky pool of further family secrets and lies. David connected with Stella as a victim – like his own family life, Stella’s was steeped in family lies and mysteries, and like him, she was cast as an outsider, a victim who was pushed to the fringes. David could connect with his case, with Stella through his shared understanding, built in the common experience of trauma and pain, and a sense of helplessness without resolution.
Solving Stella’s case became a place for David to understand the mysteries and pains of his own life.
Detectives often occupy the fringes, and Liz Strange sees the opportunity for a gay detective to occupy the space of fringe life, cast outside and to the fringes of society where he can observe the world and uncover its mysteries.
You can discover more about Liz Strange’s work at http://www.lizstrange.com/ .
Detective novels tend to be fairly heteronormative with a male protagonist who is protecting a female love interest. Liz Strange sees the incredible opportunity for a gay male protagonist as a figure of mystery. Mystery novels are about discoveries of the truth, uncovering what is hidden and suppressed, and a gay male protagonist, trapped in our society’s homophobic context, provides a great opportunity for examining the contexts of suppression and secrets.
David Lloyd was a police officer until he came out to his fellow officers and was the victim of a homophobic hate crime. Beaten outside of a bar until he lost hearing in one ear and the use of his knee, David was certain that he was beaten by fellow police officers. When David brought up complaints against the police officer who he suspected beat him (someone who had been harassing him for some time) he is ostracised from his police force. Police are known for their fraternity and protecting their own, and David quickly learned that he wasn’t part of that fraternity. He learned that the police only protect their own when he is a straight officer, not a gay one. It was made clear to David that he was not one of them while his assailant, Jeremy, was. David learned that he wasn’t welcome with the police and left the force to become a private detective.
As a detective, David’s life was steeped in secrets and the need to get to the bottom of mysteries around him. Yet, his partner, a lawyer, keeps their relationship secret from his colleagues and family. David’s life is about uncovering truths, but his relationship is surrounded by dishonesty. Jamie’s closeted life is yet another place of family secrets.
When David is called upon by Marjory Barrowman to find her daughter Stella, David finds himself in a murky pool of further family secrets and lies. David connected with Stella as a victim – like his own family life, Stella’s was steeped in family lies and mysteries, and like him, she was cast as an outsider, a victim who was pushed to the fringes. David could connect with his case, with Stella through his shared understanding, built in the common experience of trauma and pain, and a sense of helplessness without resolution.
Solving Stella’s case became a place for David to understand the mysteries and pains of his own life.
Detectives often occupy the fringes, and Liz Strange sees the opportunity for a gay detective to occupy the space of fringe life, cast outside and to the fringes of society where he can observe the world and uncover its mysteries.
You can discover more about Liz Strange’s work at http://www.lizstrange.com/ .
February 25, 2012
Our Review [by Michelle L. Olson – LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha]:
I’m a big fan of Liz’s work and was excited to read this as it’s not her ‘usual’, or what I’ve come to equate with her usual anyway.
I was pleasantly surprised and am definitely looking forward to the next installment of this series – the lady can write a killer mystery! :)
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family is not a super fast paced, majorly action packed read, but it’s steady and gripping, & holds your interest the entire way through. It’s perfectly layered and fabulously enjoyable.
You build an affinity for the characters from the get-go, and their real-life struggles lead to the story and pull you in even more.
The plot is deep and intriguing and keeps you guessing up until the very last where the true ‘bad guys’ are thoroughly revealed.
While this is definitely a mystery, there is some sweet and true to life romance between the hero and his partner. It is a m/m romance, but that should not dissuade anyone from reading it. Even if you think you wouldn’t enjoy a m/m romance, as I said, the book is all about the mystery and the romance that is introduced just leads to the believability of the lead characters and their role in the solving of said mystery.
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Missing Daughter, Shattered Family 4 Skulls and would recommend it to all Mystery aficionados. I’m really looking forward to book #2 of the series and can’t wait to see what’s in store for David & Jamie and the new friends they make along the way. If I were to sum up this book, it’s a wonderfully written mystery with a ton of heart.
I’m a big fan of Liz’s work and was excited to read this as it’s not her ‘usual’, or what I’ve come to equate with her usual anyway.
I was pleasantly surprised and am definitely looking forward to the next installment of this series – the lady can write a killer mystery! :)
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family is not a super fast paced, majorly action packed read, but it’s steady and gripping, & holds your interest the entire way through. It’s perfectly layered and fabulously enjoyable.
You build an affinity for the characters from the get-go, and their real-life struggles lead to the story and pull you in even more.
The plot is deep and intriguing and keeps you guessing up until the very last where the true ‘bad guys’ are thoroughly revealed.
While this is definitely a mystery, there is some sweet and true to life romance between the hero and his partner. It is a m/m romance, but that should not dissuade anyone from reading it. Even if you think you wouldn’t enjoy a m/m romance, as I said, the book is all about the mystery and the romance that is introduced just leads to the believability of the lead characters and their role in the solving of said mystery.
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Missing Daughter, Shattered Family 4 Skulls and would recommend it to all Mystery aficionados. I’m really looking forward to book #2 of the series and can’t wait to see what’s in store for David & Jamie and the new friends they make along the way. If I were to sum up this book, it’s a wonderfully written mystery with a ton of heart.
December 24, 2017
This story started out very well, with ex-cop turned PI David Lloyd hired to track down a missing young woman. At the same time, David is getting very restless about his partner of 5 years still insisting on keeping separate homes and a tight closet at his workplace and family. David's sick of being Jamie's dirty secret, but he loves Jamie deeply and they are very good together.
As the case heats up and becomes complex, with prostitution, addiction, hints of abuse and exploitation of a vulnerable young woman, David begins to flash back to his own homophobic beating that caused permanent injuries and took him off the police force. He turns to Jamie for support, but wants more than just hugs in private, and distance in public.
I was a bit disappointed by the action in the last quarter and some aspects of how David, an ex-cop, keeps going off on his own without backup arranged, or waits to bring in the cops even when a 911 call seems appropriate. I also wondered why he didn't seem to be constantly taking photos and documenting suspicious meetings between the various principals in the case - surely a PI staple. But I am willing to allow some slack (including his extreme slowness to reach obvious first suspicions) to the way he emotionally conflated what happened to the missing girl with his own assault.
The personal side of this story was well done - empathic with some emotion but not too angsty, and plausible. I'm tempted to pick up the next one, to follow a dangling personal thread, even though professionals behaving in unprofessional ways on the job is a bit of a pet peeve for me.
As the case heats up and becomes complex, with prostitution, addiction, hints of abuse and exploitation of a vulnerable young woman, David begins to flash back to his own homophobic beating that caused permanent injuries and took him off the police force. He turns to Jamie for support, but wants more than just hugs in private, and distance in public.
I was a bit disappointed by the action in the last quarter and some aspects of how David, an ex-cop, keeps going off on his own without backup arranged, or waits to bring in the cops even when a 911 call seems appropriate. I also wondered why he didn't seem to be constantly taking photos and documenting suspicious meetings between the various principals in the case - surely a PI staple. But I am willing to allow some slack (including his extreme slowness to reach obvious first suspicions) to the way he emotionally conflated what happened to the missing girl with his own assault.
The personal side of this story was well done - empathic with some emotion but not too angsty, and plausible. I'm tempted to pick up the next one, to follow a dangling personal thread, even though professionals behaving in unprofessional ways on the job is a bit of a pet peeve for me.
March 2, 2015
I have never heard of Liz Strange, and after reading several 4 -5 star reviews of this first novel in a brand new mystery series, I decided to take a chance...I'm truly glad I did.David Lloyd, is a former police officer who is forced to take early retirement after the brutal attack on him possibly by fellow cops because he is gay.David still hares the physical and mental scars of this attack.Somehow, with the support of a loving family, a loving but deeply closeted lawyer boyfriend, he has managed to move on with his life, and we find David 5 years later..In 5 years he has managed to use his skills as a cop to open a successful detective agency.Things couldn't be better, and then enters a worried mother who hires David to find her missing daughter..The daughter, is very beautiful, and very troubled, with a history of drug abuse and prostitution.Stella (the young woman's name) seems to have had it all at a young age intelligence and the talent to make it as a ballet dancer.What made Stella turn into a prostitute/junkie and why is she ruunning.As David begins interviewing more people from Stella's past, a more sinister picture appears.David also realizes that he hasn't actually dealt with issues from his attack and also with his personal relationship with Jamie (his boyfriend) .This book is filled with intrigue thrills, and definitely chills.You want the bad guys to caught and definitely brought to justice.This is a series that I definitely follow and recommend to others...
January 4, 2012
I was pleasantly surprised! This was my first novel by Liz Strange, and I read it in one go. It was not fast paced action or heavy suspence that actually kept me turning pages, more the authors captivating writing and the always new twist and turns of the story. Strange manages to build a very stong set of characters in this book, without making it too complex. David, the PI and main character, is a very convincing ex policeman working on a missing daughter case - and there is, of course, much more to the story than we are led to believe at the beginning. The writing is easy going, without ever being slow, boring or superfluous. I just found myself reading on and on, eager to see if my own conclusions through the novel matched the end.
A nice touch to the story is the parallel development of David's relationship to a prosecutor and how the existing investigation affects his personal life. This adds depth to the novel instead of taking the focus away from the original plot. It's difficult to review a crime novel and avoid spoilers, so I just have to say - Give it a try, because this is a very good read! :-)
A nice touch to the story is the parallel development of David's relationship to a prosecutor and how the existing investigation affects his personal life. This adds depth to the novel instead of taking the focus away from the original plot. It's difficult to review a crime novel and avoid spoilers, so I just have to say - Give it a try, because this is a very good read! :-)
August 1, 2012
I went into this book not entirely sure what to expect. I don't usually read m/m books but I must admit that although there was very little romance in this book, I do believe their relationship enhanced the plot. I felt quite sick with the way David was treated because of his sexuality, it's scary to think that people are still ostracized and beaten for it in this day and age. I loved the development of their relationship, five years in and they still find each other worth fighting for.
I really enjoyed the mystery portion of the plot, I was drawn in very early and I loved all the twists and misdirections thrown in to confuse and put you off the trail. It was nice seeing a PI willing to get his hands dirty and doing the more old fashioned form of investigation work. Lately I've been seeing a lot of computer based sleuthing in books but I prefer the face to face interrogations, even if you do go in circles as more secrets are unravelled.
Over all this was an enjoyable book and I will be continuing with the series, I would recommend it to anyone who loves a decent mystery.
I really enjoyed the mystery portion of the plot, I was drawn in very early and I loved all the twists and misdirections thrown in to confuse and put you off the trail. It was nice seeing a PI willing to get his hands dirty and doing the more old fashioned form of investigation work. Lately I've been seeing a lot of computer based sleuthing in books but I prefer the face to face interrogations, even if you do go in circles as more secrets are unravelled.
Over all this was an enjoyable book and I will be continuing with the series, I would recommend it to anyone who loves a decent mystery.
July 13, 2021
Oh, there was quite a bit I liked about this book, some elements which are difficult to talk about because they would give away the plot. Perhaps, my favourite quality to the book is how it twists and turns in the most unlikely ways. Generally I find in most crime stories, the absence of the victim makes it difficult to connect to that character, but Liz did an amazing job at making me truly feel for the victim as we learn more about her as the story goes along.
I also like the detail with which Liz handled the private investigation. Having been a private investigative researcher myself, I can tell she has done her research. She captured the often plodding, pushing and repetitive nature of the profession in the many interviews David conducts.
And I'm a big fan of David Lloyd, not because he's gay, but because he's a character that can't be kept down by anyone, including a policeman who brutally beat him up in his past. Very enjoyable read, and I definitely want to read the second one now.
I also like the detail with which Liz handled the private investigation. Having been a private investigative researcher myself, I can tell she has done her research. She captured the often plodding, pushing and repetitive nature of the profession in the many interviews David conducts.
And I'm a big fan of David Lloyd, not because he's gay, but because he's a character that can't be kept down by anyone, including a policeman who brutally beat him up in his past. Very enjoyable read, and I definitely want to read the second one now.
February 27, 2015
This book was a gut wrenching to read. As the mystery unfolded you was pulled into a deeply dark secret of a family. How one member’s actions could destroy the ties that bind a family together. Not only did the mystery hold your attention but David Lloyd our investigator opened our eyes to the problems of a gay man being beaten because of who he is and his partner Jamie Brennen a closeted prosecutor. This book was great on so many different layers. You think you have discovered what the book is about and then a layer is revealed and you realize that it is about so much more.
December 15, 2017
*3,5 STARS
This was a pleasant surprise. The case David had to investigate was very interesting, and I found myself engaged with the story.
I also felt the relationship between him and Jamie was very real. I appreciate the fact that they dealt with their issues by talking about them, instead of behaving like a couple of hormonal teenagers. Thank you, dear author, for making grown men act like grown men. Also, they sounded like a very cute couple and hope to read more about them in the coming installments, which I will pick up soon.
This was a pleasant surprise. The case David had to investigate was very interesting, and I found myself engaged with the story.
I also felt the relationship between him and Jamie was very real. I appreciate the fact that they dealt with their issues by talking about them, instead of behaving like a couple of hormonal teenagers. Thank you, dear author, for making grown men act like grown men. Also, they sounded like a very cute couple and hope to read more about them in the coming installments, which I will pick up soon.
November 18, 2018
A very good book. I liked the characters, particularly the way the MCs dealt with their issues both, personal and as a couple. I really liked the mystery, too; not a flashy one, au contraire, a very mean, dark, real one.
The writing is not perfect, the dialogues are a bit awkward for moments but the plot and the characters were enough to keep me hooked until the end.
I'll keep reading this series, that's for sure.
The writing is not perfect, the dialogues are a bit awkward for moments but the plot and the characters were enough to keep me hooked until the end.
I'll keep reading this series, that's for sure.
September 15, 2012
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family was an interesting mystery novel. David was a likable guy and a good detective. I liked that he really cared about people. Though I often wished he had more backup whenever his investigation led him into dangerous situations...
I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
July 7, 2012
Very compelling story, the suspense was gripping and I look forward to reading more about David and Jamie. How nice that the next book in the series was just released.
July 5, 2012
Looking forward to the sequel(s).
Want to read
June 9, 2012Currently free at MLR
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