Searching for Dali

Jake Travis #10

by Robert Lane

“Jake Travis is one of the best leading men to take the thriller fiction stage in years.” --Florida Weekly

Veronica Stafford has seven days before the date on her calendar in which she’s entered a single word. Die.

Veronica persuades Jake Travis to use those seven days to recover a stolen Salvador Dali painting. If Jake is successful, she will gift ten million dollars to Harbor House, a refugee center operated by Jake and his friend Morgan. Eager to make his wife, Kathleen, and two young daughters proud of him, Jake accepts the deal.

But Jake is not the only one searching for the Dali. Demos, a flamboyant and shady art dealer, is also in pursuit of the painting. Jakes learns that Demos won’t hesitate to use violence to achieve his goals.

Jake forges ahead when a man with ties to the Dali is murdered. He doesn’t retreat when threats are made against Kathleen. With time running out, his actions become more desperate and the consequences more dire.
In searching for the stolen Dali, is Jake just losing himself?

“An author who crackles with energy and suspense.”—Kirkus Reviews

Each Jake Travis book is a stand-alone. It is not necessary to read the preceding novels first.

Genres: Fiction

358 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2024

About the author

Robert Lane is the author of the critically acclaimed Jake Travis novels. His debut novel, "The Second Letter" was the Independent Book Publishers Association 2015 Gold Medal Winner for Best New Voice: Fiction.


Florida Weekly states: “Jake Travis is one of the best leading men to take the thriller-fiction stage in recent years. Lane has created a winning hero who is super-skilled, super-fit, oddly bookish, and funny as a stiletto. Lane mixes confidence and doubt, steadiness and recklessness, and toughness and sensitivity in engaging proportions.”

Foreword Clarion Reviews adds: "Lane’s writing is sharp, evocative, and gripping. Travis distinguishes himself from other dynamic PI’s in the genre via his pure zest for life which is often presented with a sensual edge.”

“Razor-sharp wit.” Midwest Book Review

“The prose is confident and clever, the pacing smooth and compelling…consistently entertaining crime thrillers.” Kirkus Reviews

“Entertaining and enjoyable.” SceneSarasota

“Witty dialogue, and page-turning drama.” BlueInk Reviews

Lane resides on the west coast of Florida.

Reviews

[Susan Phend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Searching for Dali is yet another winning adventure with favorite lead character, Jake Travis.

There is a significant contrast between Jake’s life with his calm and gentle family and the cases he works. He and his wife, Kathleen, are the adoptive parents of two very young daughters. Their home and family life are just like most of ours, somewhat mundane and predictable. Jake is a contemplative man and finds living with some of the things from his past burdensome. Harbor House, a refuge for immigrant families badly needing help, is one way Jake makes atonement. He and his friend and neighbor, Morgan, run Harbor House, a place always in need of expensive repairs and more room.

In Searching for Dali, Jake has seven days to find a Dali painting that’s been missing from the rightful owner for over fifty years. He does get a lead on who possibly has the painting, but there are so many emerging possibilities that the path to getting the promised payment of $10,000,000 becomes very convoluted. Of course, Jake isn’t the only one after the painting. At least one other person, Demos, wants it and Demos is truly not a very nice person. Demos will, in fact, kill anyone to get what he wants.

The Jake Travis books are set in Florida. The ocean, the dock on Jake’s and Kathleen’s property, the sounds of the water, Hadley III (a cat), the boats, yachts and the businesses in the area all pull me in. I really live these books as I read them.

There is a depth to Mr. Lane’s books and characters that I appreciate and look forward to. The action is always riveting and I like to think that there really are people with these skills out there doing these things in an effort to right wrongs and to make the world a better place.

[Anonymouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Lane is perhaps my favorite living mystery author. Jake Travis is squarely in line behind Travis McGee as Florida's #2 private investigator.

Jake's life is evolving. He now has two children, hostages to fortune. His relationship with Kathleen is changing. His relationship with his friends, especially Morgan is changing. We are carried along.

I'm not as enthusiastic about this book as I am about some earlier ones. It's a bit pale. In particular, Jake's friends and even his family appear too briefly and with little impact. One of the more interesting characters, who might have been used in a later book, is not developed. A lot of what happens takes place within Jake's head. I think the blandness results from the two timeline structure. We follow Jake's investigation today but with short chapters set in the early 70s are interspersed. Anyone who reads my reviews knows I don't care for split narratives.

Don't start your Jake Travis adventures with this one. Read it later.

I received a review copy of this book directly from the author.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome characters, a mysterious search and plenty of twists and turns.
I love how this story has so much depth to it. The need for balance in life. There is a strong connect with a family thread and then there is the mysterious Dali that Jake is in search of. He has no idea of the secrets that get dug up as well as the violence that seems to stir to life with anyone connected to the mysterious Dali painting.
Jake is a great and unique character, he has a stoic yet dry, witty and humorous personality, which sometimes has like a bull in a china shop effect. Lots of sarcastic quips and quotes. He gets things done and is careful to balance all other things that he has to navigate as he goes along.
The observations and descriptions are just perfect, not too much but enough to get a good feel of the surroundings, whether it is just in a kitchen setting or watching the sunset. I really enjoyed this very engaging read and did not want to put it down. I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Lane has created another awesome read in his Jake Travis series. There is plenty of action to keep the action & adventure fans satisfied, while the mystery fans are never left wanting. Mr. Lane's characters are realistic, multi-faceted, and down to earth. One of the traits of Mr. Lane's writing that took me a little while to get used to, is his descriptive and heartfelt prose. At first, it was a bit much for this reader to handle. It felt like he was using 10 words when 3 would work just as well. But luckily, I didn't give up and continued to read his books. I'm very glad I did. I now look forward to a new book by Mr. Lane because I know that not only will I have a great adventure with Jake as he solves his current case, but along the way my emotions will be stirred and the characters he has created will take up a permanent place in my heart. I highly recommend all of his writing.
I received a review copy from the author at my request and this is my honest opinion.

[Shari Jahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veronica is in a hurry. She needs to find a painting quickly. She only has 7 days left to live.

Veronica hires Jake Travis and tells him he has 7 days to locate the missing painting by Dali in order for The Walter McDonald Harbor house to be gifted 10M. How can he not do something that will help so many? If only he knew the many twists and turns this new assignment was going to put him through would he still have accepted this job?

This book was so good. I flew through the pages wanting to know what’s going to happen next? I loved the characters and the descriptions of the locations. This book was beautifully written and left me thinking about life. I shed some tears and laughed out loud. I would call this book a success!

[Kellie Whittam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read from this author. I really enjoyed the writing style, it's entertaining, sarcastic and clever. It's more descriptive than many books I read but not too much.
The storyline was interesting with great characters. I felt so sad for Veronica. I think there were a lot of characters and I did get a little confused at times when trying to remember where they all fitted in.
I look forward to reading more from the author and learning more about Jake.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[Diane E. Navratil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Disclosure: Goodreads Winner of this Book on my Kindle

Searching for Dali was a Goodreads winner in many ways. The story of Jake Travis hired to find a stolen Dali painting within a weeks time kept me on the edge of my seat and left me with a good feeling - the type you get when you read a good book. Without giving away any spoilers I will say the 358 pages made the book a little long for me, but kept me going with its many twists and turns. Enjoyed the humorous comments throughout the book and would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a Robert Lane fan.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake Travis PI is asked to fine a missing painting Dali by Veronica Stafford whose husband took the precious work of art. Jake initially refuses until her attorney tells him if he finds the painting in seven days the Harbor House will receive 10 million dollars. The race to find the Dali brings danger since someone else wants it very badly.

[Gail Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my. Is it possible that our friend Jake Travis is experiencing a little of that mid-life shift? Things are definitely changing: the girls are at a fun age; the nanny knows more about them than he does; Kathleen finds her teaching career less rewarding than motherhood; Morgan is involved with keeping Harbor House running.
Jake is approached with a challenge, a timeline, and a bonus upon completion. Find a Dali painting that was stolen years ago and find it in seven days. The bonus will be a sizeable contribution to Harbor House. As Jake delves into this new assignment, he is faced with a client who is suffering from dementia, other investigators trying to find the same Dali, and a crazed art dealer named Demos (or Denise, depending on the time of day), who will stop at nothing to find the Dali.
As always, the new characters are well developed, the story involves many twists, and Jake is full of pithy asides. All the usual characters come into play but are less involved than in other Travis escapades.
A fun read.
My thanks to Robert Lane for an advanced copy of “Searching for Dali”. My opinions are my own.

[Sjl330 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another twisting and turning wonderful mystery by Mr Lane. His writing is superb and sometimes humorous. Sometimes I have to stop and reread a passage to really be able to digest it. It’s not a read in a day book for me; it’s too delicious! Read it, you won’t regret it.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable once again, full of danger and suspense. Jake has to find the Dali in a short time, can he accomplish this. Unfortunately there are others searching as well. Who will find it in time. Fast paced, not to be missed. Loved it.

[Courtney Thompson-George · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Won this book for my Kindle from Goodreads*

This is a page turner for those mystery book lovers out there! No one likes a boring mystery and this story keeps you on your toes for what will happen in the next chapter. This was definitely a great read.

[Divyesh Sheth · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good mystery

Very interesting novel about the quest of finding a missing painting and how Jake Travis goes about solving it. In the course of his search , he tries to unravel the mystery that is Veronica Stanford.

[Eleanor Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I didn't know who the villain was until the very end. An edge of the seat page turner.

[Vicki Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I will be checking out other books in this series.

[Charles Stephen Shirah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story but verrry slow-moving.

[Laura Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m biased for sure in loving this book. I like the genre, but mostly I enjoyed the locales that I am very familiar with: Winter Park, Rollins College, downtown St. Petersburg, USF. A fun read.

[Deb E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Lane does it again. This book in the Jake Travis series leaves you guessing. I love the wit, relationships and storyline of all Jake Travis books and look forward to reading the next!

[Sr Ewing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo

They just keep getting better. Can’t wait for the next 10!…
It normally takes 2-3 weeks to read a good, this one took 3 nights