When a mysterious box alarms hotel staff, there's only one detective they trust...
Harry Boukadakis just wanted a donut. But the aging private eye has a job to do at the vaunted Sunrise Hotel in Eureka Springs. And the gig turns deadly when a cryptic box left behind in a room reveals bloody contents.
Using all his skills, Harry launches an investigation into the curious container. But all is not as it seems as he learns he can't trust anyone, including his only witness. Will Harry solve the mystery before he ends up locked permanently in a receptacle of his own?
Dangerous Things and Dangerous People is a hard-boiled noir novella in the Harry Boukadakis series. This release also features an exclusive short story starring Serena Rojas.
Jim Heskett is a writer of short and long fiction, currently slaving away at a laptop in an undisclosed location in Broomfield, Colorado. Details about previous and future publications can be found at www.jimheskett.com
Private detective acquires contents of mysterious box - 3 stars
Harry Boukadakis is an out-of-shape, recently-minted private detective who was called into a grand hotel in a small town in Arkansas. His mission is to check out a package that has blinking lights that was left behind by a guest who is presumed to have left the package behind.
You can't blame Harry for having a sweet tooth or for being out of shape. After all, Harry was a tech guy before he retired from supporting a small team of spies. He avoided strenuous physical activity while the rest of his team took on active tasks.
You can feel his discomfort when he climbs a couple of flights of stairs or chases after a teenage girl. Nevertheless, Harry has the presence of mind to cause a disruption and stay calm amid a crowd of people. The brief novella "Dangerous Things and Dangerous People" raises more questions than most mysteries.
Jim Heskett has done it again with another entry in the world of Harry B and Serena Rojas. These are two of my favorite characters Mr. Heskett has created; I think because Harry is such an unlikely hero who doesn't believe in himself many times and Serena because, while she's a top-notch agent, she has taken it upon herself to look out for Harry. Theirs is an unlikely, but touching friendship. The stories kicked off quickly and easily held my interest. The only mild criticism I could possibly come up with is that they weren't long enough. About the time I settled down to enjoy spending time with Harry, the story was ending. I'm looking forward to a longer visit to Harry's world very soon. I highly recommend these stories. I received a review copy from the author at my request and this is my honest opinion.
Harry thinks he's in for a quite job as Hotel security. But, very soon things change. First the Manager is a different person, hotel staff that are usually around the main reception area are not there. A strange looking device is in one of the bedrooms, Harry is sent to investigate. This open a whole can of worms as you'd expect....that is all I'm going to say! Apart from ....the usual wonderful novella that we all enjoy from the awesome Jim Heskett. With a bonus chapter from the awe inspiring Serena.
Dangerous Things and Dangerous People - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
A brief but satisfying Harry Boukadakis PI novelette by Jon Cronshaw, Dangerous Things and Dangerous People has our favourite sleuth being unknowingly insinuated into a situation without prior knowledge of what his purpose for being there really is. Subsequent events see him duped by a villain, but ultimately triumphant. Even more satisfying is the bonus short story in the same copy, Thigh High. Grab a copy today to enjoy 2-4-1 thrills!
I love Harry Boukadakis. I have ever since I met him in the Layne Parrish series. He's a great guy, a bit passive, a bit overweight, unassuming, but never sell him short. He's a mental powerhouse and has been in more dangerous situations than the one he's in with this book. The one now is pretty much just an annoyance, but the story still grabbed me.
Harry now works as a private investigator, but picks up security details when asked and is working at a hotel and is on the case of a mysterious box with a flashing light that was left in one of the rooms. That in itself was creepy and the rest of it was on-target for suspense and some, "oh hell no" moments.
This is a really short novella, but it packs a punch. The addition of a Serena Rojas short story at the end of the book was a nice touch, too. Harry and Serena often worked together in other books. He's the brains, she's the brawn. I hope we get another novel of them working together again. I also wouldn't mind seeing a bit of Layne Parrish and Micah Reed in with them.
This has nothing to do with the review, but I love the cover for this book. It's eerie, mysterious, and makes me want to hide in the bushes to watch what happens next.
*I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review
Dangerous Things and Dangerous People (Harry & Serena), my forty-seventh read from author Jim Heskett. I love Heskett's writing. This book caught my attention in the opening pages & I never put it down until completed. I look forward to reading more from this author. I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Two short stories featuring Harry and Serina. Waylayeyed on his way to a D&D game, Harry gets pulled into the investigation of a mysterious box abandoned in a hotel room leads him to become part of a criminal case. As always, Harry's adventure are exciting and make great use of his skills, both the ones that make him a great detective and that made him a secret agent extrordinaire.
The story begins with Harry being called to a hotel where he is working part-time as a hotel detective. He is asked to check out a suspicions package that is located in the room. It is a box with a flashing light. Harry goes to the room and spots it.
To learn what the box is all about, why it is important and how the story ends, then you need to read this book.
You can never go wrong with anything written by Jim Heskett. This book, like all his others, provides the reader a great mystery with twists and turns which makes this book really easy to breeze through and enjoy. If you've read any other of Jim's books, you'll recognize a couple of the characters. So, bottom line, want a quick read AND a good mystery? This is the book for you.
This is a fun, quick read featuring Harry Boukadakis, one of my favorite characters - not only from this author, but of all time. He's a relatable Everyman. This fun story can be read as a standalone, but I would encourage you to enjoy the others, too.
I received a copy of this book at no charge, but this is an honest and voluntary review.
n apparently straightforward job for Harry turns into something entirely more complicated and it is difficult for him to know who is telling him the truth and who to trust. A twisty and intriguing story.
A mysterious box has been left and it seems he is the man to deal with it. All he had wanted was a donut and now he is in the middle of a case which could end up with in his own box. Who left the box? Why? Can he find out all the answers he needs? See how he gets on
What’s poor Harry to do when he’s asked to figure out what the surprise box that arrived is all about. Who committed this crime and why. Full of suspense and secrets to keep you intrigued.
The only disappointment note is that these are truly short stories. It was great to have Harry Boukadakis back in the picture. His unique manner of dealing with the problem is a joy to read about. It might be a short story, but Jim Heskett managed to give a good feel for Harry and his way of thinking. Cannot wait for the next full story to read about his escapades. Serena is her normal badass. Here we have an action short story where she is operating by herself. I love it when the story combines these two characters so if you enjoyed this short read, I encourage you to read one of the full-length stories where these two are a team.