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The Briefcase
THE BEST FRIEND I EVER HAD PULLED THE DIRTIEST TRICK OF MY LIFE ON ME, AND HE WAS DEAD WHEN HE DID IT. "...intriguing...suspenseful...very exciting...kept me on the edge of the seat..."-Valory Elliot, author of An Act of Honor and soon to be published An Act of Revenge. "...compelling...great characterization...The very first sentence will capture the reader..."-Colonel Tom C. McKenney, USMC (Ret), award-winning author of "Jack Hinson's One-Man War" FULFILLING HIS BEST FRIEND'S DYING REQUEST TURNS MIKE KIDD'S PLEASANT LIFE INTO A NIGHTMARE. Mike Kidd is not a detective; in fact, he has no vocation. He takes a job from time to time to augment the modest but steady income the single oil well on his inherited farm provides, but has no career. He was just as unfocused in college, taking classes that intrigued him so that he is well educated but has no degree. His pleasant but unaspiring life is upset when his best friend dies and bequeaths a going business to him. Along with the business, he inherits unexpected danger and a mystery concerning just what the business produces. His friend also left him a briefcase with instructions to burn it without opening it. Mike soon finds himself in danger because a shadowy group is convinced Mike knows the briefcase's secret and is willing to kill to get it. Enlisting a most unlikely group of allies, Mike must piece together clues in order to reconstruct the information the briefcase held. The more they learn, the greater the threat becomes. "I loved this story because of the characters, the plot, and the setting."-Mark Vogl, author of Southern Fried Ramblings with Grits and All the Fixins, and his column "America Today" at Nolan Chart in Washington, D.C. "...character-rich, strong Texas flavor...I simply didn't want to [put it down]."-Tom King, author of Going for the Green.
278 pages, Paperback
First published December 19, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 8, 2020
Charles Hayes is one of thousands of Americans with a truly good story to tell, a story most won't read because he is not famous, or promoted on radio and television. A Texan of more than four score years, The Briefcase reveals a Texas not usually portrayed in film, a more common, every day Texas filled with smart folks who don't cotton to big government except in their own work. This is a mystery with a bizarre beginning that only the real life experience of Hayes could conjure. His characters are real, his story one that will leave you hoping he writes another. I strongly recommend it.
November 27, 2016
As a fan of the Robert Parker Spencer series, I was excited to find another author with an impressive detective to follow.
The Briefcase is the first in the Mike Kid detective series. Mike Kid is a mostly self-educated, but intelligent man, who along with his autistic brother, Buddy, and his grandfather gets into and out of mysteries. The book was fun to read, and Charles Hayes describes the characters well.
In this book, Mike Kid’s friend, Vince, the CEO of a company named Datadigm tells Mike that if he, Vince, should die, there is a briefcase in his house which must be destroyed. He makes Mike promise to do this.
The briefcase is destroyed, but the story goes on as industrial crime has been committed. Mike must figure out the puzzles left for him by his friend and make restitution before someone is killed.
I really enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it. I know that I am going to read the sequel, “Ladies Don’t Wrestle” next. I certainly hope it is as good as the first. If it is, I know I will be following this author in the future.
The Briefcase is the first in the Mike Kid detective series. Mike Kid is a mostly self-educated, but intelligent man, who along with his autistic brother, Buddy, and his grandfather gets into and out of mysteries. The book was fun to read, and Charles Hayes describes the characters well.
In this book, Mike Kid’s friend, Vince, the CEO of a company named Datadigm tells Mike that if he, Vince, should die, there is a briefcase in his house which must be destroyed. He makes Mike promise to do this.
The briefcase is destroyed, but the story goes on as industrial crime has been committed. Mike must figure out the puzzles left for him by his friend and make restitution before someone is killed.
I really enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it. I know that I am going to read the sequel, “Ladies Don’t Wrestle” next. I certainly hope it is as good as the first. If it is, I know I will be following this author in the future.
November 15, 2014
There is a saying that your truest, best friend is not the person that comes and bails you out of jail, but is sitting right beside you behind bars exclaiming, "Man, we really messed up, huh?" This is how I envisioned the characters of Mike Kidd and Vince Talbot in Charles Hayes's book, The Briefcase.
While the story begins after Talbot's death, there's just enough about him in the story that made me want to read more about this extraordinarily brilliant character with the love for puzzles, games, and goodhearted 'dirty tricks' on his friends, family, and co-workers. Mike's memory and descriptions of his dead friend really make the reader believe that Talbot is not dead, that even after he's gone, his influence is still felt.
The Briefcase was a very enjoyable read: mixed with mystery, intrigue, and a touch of romance, this story drew me in and allowed me to escape reality for a few hours - something that I always look for in a book.
While the story begins after Talbot's death, there's just enough about him in the story that made me want to read more about this extraordinarily brilliant character with the love for puzzles, games, and goodhearted 'dirty tricks' on his friends, family, and co-workers. Mike's memory and descriptions of his dead friend really make the reader believe that Talbot is not dead, that even after he's gone, his influence is still felt.
The Briefcase was a very enjoyable read: mixed with mystery, intrigue, and a touch of romance, this story drew me in and allowed me to escape reality for a few hours - something that I always look for in a book.
October 28, 2014
Mike Kidd inherits his friend's business in his will. A business worth millions of dollars with revenue coming in from suspicious sources. Soon enough Mike is being attacked by thugs on the street, ran off the road, and threatened in other ways, without having a clue as to what is going on. He has to solve it before he, or the people he cares about, get hurt.
Mr. Hayes has drawn a character you just have to like. Flawed, yes, but kind and loyal to his autistic brother, understanding to his scrappy grandfather, and willing to take down anyone who messes with his girlfriend. Just a few pages into the book I added Mike Kidd to my book heroes. Lovers of a good mystery will enjoy this cleanly written and intriguing mystery.
Mr. Hayes has drawn a character you just have to like. Flawed, yes, but kind and loyal to his autistic brother, understanding to his scrappy grandfather, and willing to take down anyone who messes with his girlfriend. Just a few pages into the book I added Mike Kidd to my book heroes. Lovers of a good mystery will enjoy this cleanly written and intriguing mystery.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews