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Wink of an Eye
On the run from a double-cross, Las Vegas private investigator Gypsy Moran shows up unexpectedly at his sister Rhonda's house in Wink, Texas. She introduces Gypsy to one of her former students, 12-year-old Tatum McCallen, who is in need of Gypsy's services. Tatum wants to hire Gypsy to investigate his father Ryce's alleged suicide. His dad was a deputy with the Sheriff's department and was found hanged in their backyard. Tatum believes his father was murdered after he went inquiring after the disappearance of several teenage girls, all undocumented immigrants. Against his better judgment, Gypsy agrees to snoop around to see what he can find. Between dealing with his now married high school sweetheart, a sexy reporter, and hostile police officers, Gypsy has his work cut out for him.
Lynn Chandler Willis' Wink of an Eye is a strong addition to a long list of The Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) Competition winners that includes Steve Hamilton and Michael Koryta.
Lynn Chandler Willis' Wink of an Eye is a strong addition to a long list of The Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) Competition winners that includes Steve Hamilton and Michael Koryta.
- GenresMystery
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 18, 2014
26 people are currently reading
913 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Chandler Willis
11 books166 followersBorn and raised in North Carolina, I feel most at home in a rural setting where the smell of fresh cut hay lingers. I have an adult son and daughter and nine grandchildren (yes, there is a set of twins in there!), and a brown border collie named Finn who happily sports her own fanbase. I confess to having enjoyed the writing prompts given in junior high English class and I'm a sucker for old photographs.
I'm honored to have won the 2013 GRACE Award for Excellence in Faith-based Fiction for my debut novel, THE RISING. I am also humbled to say I'm the first woman in 10 years to win the St. Martin's Press/Private Eye Writers of America Best 1st PI Novel Competition with WINK OF AN EYE (Minotaur Books, 2014). The book went on to be named a 2014 Shamus Award finalist for Best 1st P.I. Novel.
I'm honored to have won the 2013 GRACE Award for Excellence in Faith-based Fiction for my debut novel, THE RISING. I am also humbled to say I'm the first woman in 10 years to win the St. Martin's Press/Private Eye Writers of America Best 1st PI Novel Competition with WINK OF AN EYE (Minotaur Books, 2014). The book went on to be named a 2014 Shamus Award finalist for Best 1st P.I. Novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
February 20, 2017
A dramatic thriller that will hold attention until you finished. There is some sex and violence. Gypsy Morgan needs to leave Las Vegas as his business has taken a bad turn. He loads up his office and ships to his family home. His sister and her family live there. He becomes involved with the alleged suicide of a sheriff's deputy. He meets 12-year-old Tatum McCullen who insists that his "Father Did Not Kill Himself". He learns that there are ten missing teenagers for which no one is searching. All are girls and illegal and the sheriff department lists them as run-a-ways. Against his better judgment, he becomes involved. Will Gypsy succeed before he looses his on life? This book won an award for the best book about a private investigator. I highly recommend this book.
March 16, 2015
A Texas book, a first novel, Wink of an Eye was an enjoyable book. It won Best First Private Eye Novel. Awards are getting specific, but nevertheless, Willis's book was worthy of being singled out. I enjoyed the West Texas setting. "It finally cooled down to a comfortable ninety degrees." I know all too well how that feels. The main character's name is Gypsy. His actual name is Michael, but he became Gypsy along the way. He came home to Wink to escape retaliation of a mobster in Las Vegas whom he had helped along the way. The outcome did not please the mobster, so Gypsy had to get out of town. He came to his sister's house, the family home in Wink. Their grandmother lived with Rhonda and her husband Rodney, shades of Evanovich, but only a little. Gypsy finds himself immediately embedded in a case of shady doings in the sheriff's office, and a twelve-year-old will not let him turn the case down. The boy's father had been murdered, and he wanted justice. Rekindling of a passionate love affair, meeting a sexy Odessa news reporter, and dealing with the go-home-again syndrome adds flavor to this somewhat predictable but well-fleshed-out book. The plot goes in several directions, yet all are tied together. I couldn't figure out how Willis was going to go with a moral dilemma until the end, and I liked that. This was a fun Texas mystery that kept me flipping pages. A good escape.
December 5, 2014
Wink, Texas has a problem, but Gypsy Moran has no intention of getting caught up in any of it. That is until Tatum McCallen, son of a recently deceased Wink detective, gives him a case he can't turn his back on. Tatum's father, Ryce, had been conducting an investigation prior to his alleged suicide that could have blown the town of Wink wide open, but this town and its potentially-corrupt sheriff don't like to give up their secrets.
Lynn Chandler Willis has a way of writing that makes the reader feel as though they are experiencing events; like they are standing beside Gypsy as he muddles his way through a case he'd never wanted in the first place. After all, he's got his own problems to deal with. Her way with dialogue is such that the reader doesn't feel like they are reading it from the page, but rather overhearing conversations from a nearby booth or a neighboring room. Written with realistic flare and eloquence, Willis draws her readers in and refuses to let them go until the very end.
Wink of an Eye can be devoured quickly, but you won't soon forget Gypsy or the tiny town of Wink, Texas
Lynn Chandler Willis has a way of writing that makes the reader feel as though they are experiencing events; like they are standing beside Gypsy as he muddles his way through a case he'd never wanted in the first place. After all, he's got his own problems to deal with. Her way with dialogue is such that the reader doesn't feel like they are reading it from the page, but rather overhearing conversations from a nearby booth or a neighboring room. Written with realistic flare and eloquence, Willis draws her readers in and refuses to let them go until the very end.
Wink of an Eye can be devoured quickly, but you won't soon forget Gypsy or the tiny town of Wink, Texas
August 7, 2014
Wink, TX is the last place PI Gypsy Moran thought he would end up. But that is where he ran to when his last case in Las Vegas had him running for his life. Gypsy had hated his home town so much that he chose leaving over his first and only real true love when she refused to leave her beloved ranch and follow him.
Gypsy hasn’t been home for a day when he ends up promising a 12 year old boy that he will help him prove his deputy father didn’t commit suicide. Little did Gypsy know that this would stir up painful memories from his past and end up being about human trafficking and police corruption.
Wink of an Eye is an exciting page-turner with a PI who is tough, determined, funny, and caring. I can’t wait to read more about Gypsy Moran, his family and the town of Wink.
Gypsy hasn’t been home for a day when he ends up promising a 12 year old boy that he will help him prove his deputy father didn’t commit suicide. Little did Gypsy know that this would stir up painful memories from his past and end up being about human trafficking and police corruption.
Wink of an Eye is an exciting page-turner with a PI who is tough, determined, funny, and caring. I can’t wait to read more about Gypsy Moran, his family and the town of Wink.
November 30, 2015
This book is a good beginning for a new PI series set in hot hot, Southwest Texas. I anticipate that I will read each new entry as it hits the market.
The story features an interesting conflicted guy who willingly undermines his own interest to make a dangerous commitment to assist a powerless oppressed family solve a series of terrible crimes in which the local police seemingly have not interest to solve.
As the protagonist pursues the truth he is burdened by his current feelings concerning his youthful emotional relationship. Notwithstanding this historical baggage he has a strong emotional compass and pursues justice for the oppressed in a logical, determined and skillful manner.
The story features an interesting conflicted guy who willingly undermines his own interest to make a dangerous commitment to assist a powerless oppressed family solve a series of terrible crimes in which the local police seemingly have not interest to solve.
As the protagonist pursues the truth he is burdened by his current feelings concerning his youthful emotional relationship. Notwithstanding this historical baggage he has a strong emotional compass and pursues justice for the oppressed in a logical, determined and skillful manner.
January 3, 2015
Surprisingly good first detective novel ... I hope this is the start of a series.
September 29, 2015
much too graphic and too much language for my taste. fairly predictable
February 11, 2016
1.5 rounded down for one simple reason: You. Do. Not. Use. The. Acknowledgements. To. Add. Information. About. Your. Character. That. You. Don’t. Actually. Say. In. The. Actual. Novel. Especially. If. It. Is. Their. First. Name. And. They. Use. It.
Our hero is named MICHAEL “Gypsy” Moran. This exact tidbit of information isn’t even in the book jacket, let alone the novel, where it should be. No, instead it’s in the Acknowledgements of all places. Page 26 had a perfect place to say, “Michael Moran, is that you!” with a former teacher and his reply being, “I go by Gypsy now.” He is introduced as Gypsy and I think this is a nickname worth explanation, but it’s not in here. He doesn’t even introduce his name as Michael until page 32 and that is to Sophia Ortiz. This is through dialogue, which could have meant he was using an alias. Remember he is on the run for his life. An internal “yeah, normal name I know” could have avoided this—instead it gets more confusing yet again. (There shouldn’t be a place for his name needing to be unraveled, but it’s not explicit to what his actual name is—and, yes, there have been plenty of odd names in the last few years of books such as a Character named America and Eureka, that Gypsy doesn’t seem that farfetched). On page 75 he introduces himself as Michael Clark, which further shows that “Michael” is an alias. Then on page 90 he calls Sophia and says, “It’s Gypsy Moran” when he’d never given her his nickname. She should have paused. She should have said something, especially if you’re going to use that name. She’s a journalist; she examines what people say and do. Somewhere else in here it talks about him using aliases in his job so he can protect himself, further making us question whether or not Michael has any significance. Finally, to end the saga, when he is being held for questioning on page 238 he says to look at his private investigator’s ID insisting himself to be Michael Moran. 3 pages later he’s reintroduced to Redface, who was already in the room to know him to be Michael Moran, as Gypsy Moran. Why does he not question this either? This makes Gypsy’s name seem arbitrary rather than important.
Moving on from the name issues. I found this story to be predictable to a “T”. The bad guys were the bad guys. There wasn’t any if, ands, or buts. The author tried to set up this whole odd mystery with Claire, but it fell short because I never really liked her or disliked her, so her downfall held no meaning. I felt their flashbacks were an excuse for the author to put in another two sex scenes as there was no real purpose for them. The author used sex to build tension and sex doesn’t make tension—the lead up to it does and there wasn’t enough of it to make Claire matter. To me, Claire was just there even though she was supposed to be part of the significant love triangle. And this triangle bothered me. You have Claire who is Married and Sophia who is “partnered” (I’ll expand in a moment) and then you have Gypsy a misogynistic annoyance, who both of these women cannot get enough of. I think the author overcompensated for her lack of maleness and put as much over the top stereotypical Male into this guy as she could manage. He’s basically with two women at once, disregards their partnered status, and blames them for their infidelity rather than his equal part in their rendezvous. This book paints people as unable to ignore their sexual desires even when they’re doing a sting operation on a man that Gypsy suspects is a Pedophile. So while they’re “feeling” each other up, the guy in the other car is raping a kid. Instead of stopping it or calling the police, they take pictures and leave to then try and have sex on the hood of her car. You’d imagine the sickening of the rape would get them to cool off for a while. But, no, it’s turned into a joke (the author more intent on putting Gypsy in an embarrassing situation which his family finds him with his pants literally down and around his ankles as he tries to complete his act with Sophia). Grandma (Gran)—flattest character whose sole purpose is to say inappropriate things whenever the heck she wants—looks at the pictures of the kid getting raped and goes “…You’re not the only one who got some action last night.” How is that okay? You don’t joke about rape, especially if it’s a child. I just don’t find Gypsy or his family likable or funny. Then you have Rodney actively flirting when his wife is right there. Not okay.
Then there are the actions that don’t match the mood. When Gypsy walks in and tells Sophia that he has something to talk to her about the shooting from a while back she immediately knows what he’s talking about. Then an air of foreboding appears as they walk to the park to get some privacy. Three minutes out and she’s grinning when they’re about to have a dark conversation…what? Another case is when Tatum’s grandfather asks him to show Gypsy where his (Tatum’s) father had been hung—for some reason the kid acts excited by this prospect. Excited—not grim. The instant they’re outside suddenly he’s grim. It makes no sense. The air of death shouldn’t only appear when they’re right next to the tree.
The ending for this novel wasn’t that bad. By ending I mean the climax fight—I at least liked Tatum even if the rest of the characters around him weren’t worth the time.
I won’t bore you with the issues with the police family—let’s just say if a shooting was “the tip of the iceberg” why was he trying to steer Gypsy clear of it? The logical fallacies in this novel are numerous. Any police officer or detective would be able to work through why these things are important and shouldn’t need to be explained to by a Private Detective. This just paints a bad impression of the police.
And Sophia’s partner—Robbie, Roberta, yes, Sophia’s lesbian or Bi, we don’t know which because when Gypsy asks her she says, “Does it really matter?” and while it may not be important for reality—it is important for the story. Why? Because it speaks to the Author’s intention. Was she being cured of her gayness because she found Gypsy (this is Texas after all)? Or was she just looking for something new? There has to be an explanation here otherwise it can come out wrong especially right now (2015). This needed more to it.
This is currently a reader’s choice book at my library—it’s highly rated—it’s only highly rated because it has sex and uses sex as tension—it’s Fifty Shades Syndrome. The sentences are not bad and the arc of the story in a whole is not really terrible—it’s the placement of the content that causes it to fail or the lack of information—or the poor judgement in decisions and the actions or facial expressions that do not match what action is occurring.
Also, there were about seven winks of an eye.
Our hero is named MICHAEL “Gypsy” Moran. This exact tidbit of information isn’t even in the book jacket, let alone the novel, where it should be. No, instead it’s in the Acknowledgements of all places. Page 26 had a perfect place to say, “Michael Moran, is that you!” with a former teacher and his reply being, “I go by Gypsy now.” He is introduced as Gypsy and I think this is a nickname worth explanation, but it’s not in here. He doesn’t even introduce his name as Michael until page 32 and that is to Sophia Ortiz. This is through dialogue, which could have meant he was using an alias. Remember he is on the run for his life. An internal “yeah, normal name I know” could have avoided this—instead it gets more confusing yet again. (There shouldn’t be a place for his name needing to be unraveled, but it’s not explicit to what his actual name is—and, yes, there have been plenty of odd names in the last few years of books such as a Character named America and Eureka, that Gypsy doesn’t seem that farfetched). On page 75 he introduces himself as Michael Clark, which further shows that “Michael” is an alias. Then on page 90 he calls Sophia and says, “It’s Gypsy Moran” when he’d never given her his nickname. She should have paused. She should have said something, especially if you’re going to use that name. She’s a journalist; she examines what people say and do. Somewhere else in here it talks about him using aliases in his job so he can protect himself, further making us question whether or not Michael has any significance. Finally, to end the saga, when he is being held for questioning on page 238 he says to look at his private investigator’s ID insisting himself to be Michael Moran. 3 pages later he’s reintroduced to Redface, who was already in the room to know him to be Michael Moran, as Gypsy Moran. Why does he not question this either? This makes Gypsy’s name seem arbitrary rather than important.
Moving on from the name issues. I found this story to be predictable to a “T”. The bad guys were the bad guys. There wasn’t any if, ands, or buts. The author tried to set up this whole odd mystery with Claire, but it fell short because I never really liked her or disliked her, so her downfall held no meaning. I felt their flashbacks were an excuse for the author to put in another two sex scenes as there was no real purpose for them. The author used sex to build tension and sex doesn’t make tension—the lead up to it does and there wasn’t enough of it to make Claire matter. To me, Claire was just there even though she was supposed to be part of the significant love triangle. And this triangle bothered me. You have Claire who is Married and Sophia who is “partnered” (I’ll expand in a moment) and then you have Gypsy a misogynistic annoyance, who both of these women cannot get enough of. I think the author overcompensated for her lack of maleness and put as much over the top stereotypical Male into this guy as she could manage. He’s basically with two women at once, disregards their partnered status, and blames them for their infidelity rather than his equal part in their rendezvous. This book paints people as unable to ignore their sexual desires even when they’re doing a sting operation on a man that Gypsy suspects is a Pedophile. So while they’re “feeling” each other up, the guy in the other car is raping a kid. Instead of stopping it or calling the police, they take pictures and leave to then try and have sex on the hood of her car. You’d imagine the sickening of the rape would get them to cool off for a while. But, no, it’s turned into a joke (the author more intent on putting Gypsy in an embarrassing situation which his family finds him with his pants literally down and around his ankles as he tries to complete his act with Sophia). Grandma (Gran)—flattest character whose sole purpose is to say inappropriate things whenever the heck she wants—looks at the pictures of the kid getting raped and goes “…You’re not the only one who got some action last night.” How is that okay? You don’t joke about rape, especially if it’s a child. I just don’t find Gypsy or his family likable or funny. Then you have Rodney actively flirting when his wife is right there. Not okay.
Then there are the actions that don’t match the mood. When Gypsy walks in and tells Sophia that he has something to talk to her about the shooting from a while back she immediately knows what he’s talking about. Then an air of foreboding appears as they walk to the park to get some privacy. Three minutes out and she’s grinning when they’re about to have a dark conversation…what? Another case is when Tatum’s grandfather asks him to show Gypsy where his (Tatum’s) father had been hung—for some reason the kid acts excited by this prospect. Excited—not grim. The instant they’re outside suddenly he’s grim. It makes no sense. The air of death shouldn’t only appear when they’re right next to the tree.
The ending for this novel wasn’t that bad. By ending I mean the climax fight—I at least liked Tatum even if the rest of the characters around him weren’t worth the time.
I won’t bore you with the issues with the police family—let’s just say if a shooting was “the tip of the iceberg” why was he trying to steer Gypsy clear of it? The logical fallacies in this novel are numerous. Any police officer or detective would be able to work through why these things are important and shouldn’t need to be explained to by a Private Detective. This just paints a bad impression of the police.
And Sophia’s partner—Robbie, Roberta, yes, Sophia’s lesbian or Bi, we don’t know which because when Gypsy asks her she says, “Does it really matter?” and while it may not be important for reality—it is important for the story. Why? Because it speaks to the Author’s intention. Was she being cured of her gayness because she found Gypsy (this is Texas after all)? Or was she just looking for something new? There has to be an explanation here otherwise it can come out wrong especially right now (2015). This needed more to it.
This is currently a reader’s choice book at my library—it’s highly rated—it’s only highly rated because it has sex and uses sex as tension—it’s Fifty Shades Syndrome. The sentences are not bad and the arc of the story in a whole is not really terrible—it’s the placement of the content that causes it to fail or the lack of information—or the poor judgement in decisions and the actions or facial expressions that do not match what action is occurring.
Also, there were about seven winks of an eye.
February 7, 2015
Growing up Michael “Gypsy” Moran could not wait to leave the isolated town of Wink in far west Texas. He would not be back now if not for a problem in Vegas that required him to make a very hasty departure. A problem that very well might have gotten him killed if he had stuck around. A problem that came about because of his work as a private investigator.
The last thing he needs now after driving 18 hours straight in his van with his few possessions is a case. But Rhonda, Gypsy’s sister, is a force not to be denied. Rhonda, with the help of twelve year old Tatum, wants Gypsy to dig into the alleged suicide of Ryce McCallen. The deputy, who worked for the Winkler County Sheriff’s Office before his death, was quietly investigating the disappearance of eight local girls. All were illegals which meant that other than the families involved---and sometimes not even them--- nobody besides Ryce McCallen cared enough to do something. The former deputy didn’t involve his old department as he didn’t trust them. He maintained an investigative file at home and said file is now in the possession of his twelve year old son, Tatum.
It has been twenty years since Gypsy left Wink, Texas and swore never to return. It has been a little over two hours since he got back and Rhonda and his grandmother, “Gram” act like he never left and is still 18. Nothing has really changed back home except he is a bit older and more aware sometimes when things don’t feel right. The fact that the Sheriff’s department made sure that the autopsy requested by the family was not done and handled all the funeral arrangements under the guise of helping the grief stricken family does not sit right with Gypsy. That fact and a few other things make Gypsy’s taking of the case inevitable.
Through in an old romance, long buried secrets, and the desolate landscape of west Texas in summer and the result is a complex mystery with multiple storylines and agendas. Authors such as Bill Crider and Terry Shames, among others, have done very well by writing about life in small Texas towns and the depravity that lurks behind closed doors before occasionally erupting into the open for all to see. Small town secrets and engaging characters drive their novels and the same is true here. You can easily add author Lynn Chandler Willis to the mix with a debut novel of what hopefully will grow into a steady series.
Winner of the 2013 PWA Best First Private Eye Novel Competition, Wink Of An Eye: A Mystery, brings to life an intriguing cast of core characters, a complex mystery, and the desolate beauty of west Texas that can fry your brain in a heartbeat if the rattlesnakes don’t kill you first. It does not matter how big your TBR pile is --- move this one on up there.
Wink Of An Eye: A Mystery
Lynn Chandler Willis
http://www.lynnchandlerwillis.com
A Thomas Dunne Book (Minotaur Books)
http://www.minotaurbooks.com
2014
ISBN# 978-1-250-05319-0
Hardback (e-book available)
304 Pages
$24.99
Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2015
http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
The last thing he needs now after driving 18 hours straight in his van with his few possessions is a case. But Rhonda, Gypsy’s sister, is a force not to be denied. Rhonda, with the help of twelve year old Tatum, wants Gypsy to dig into the alleged suicide of Ryce McCallen. The deputy, who worked for the Winkler County Sheriff’s Office before his death, was quietly investigating the disappearance of eight local girls. All were illegals which meant that other than the families involved---and sometimes not even them--- nobody besides Ryce McCallen cared enough to do something. The former deputy didn’t involve his old department as he didn’t trust them. He maintained an investigative file at home and said file is now in the possession of his twelve year old son, Tatum.
It has been twenty years since Gypsy left Wink, Texas and swore never to return. It has been a little over two hours since he got back and Rhonda and his grandmother, “Gram” act like he never left and is still 18. Nothing has really changed back home except he is a bit older and more aware sometimes when things don’t feel right. The fact that the Sheriff’s department made sure that the autopsy requested by the family was not done and handled all the funeral arrangements under the guise of helping the grief stricken family does not sit right with Gypsy. That fact and a few other things make Gypsy’s taking of the case inevitable.
Through in an old romance, long buried secrets, and the desolate landscape of west Texas in summer and the result is a complex mystery with multiple storylines and agendas. Authors such as Bill Crider and Terry Shames, among others, have done very well by writing about life in small Texas towns and the depravity that lurks behind closed doors before occasionally erupting into the open for all to see. Small town secrets and engaging characters drive their novels and the same is true here. You can easily add author Lynn Chandler Willis to the mix with a debut novel of what hopefully will grow into a steady series.
Winner of the 2013 PWA Best First Private Eye Novel Competition, Wink Of An Eye: A Mystery, brings to life an intriguing cast of core characters, a complex mystery, and the desolate beauty of west Texas that can fry your brain in a heartbeat if the rattlesnakes don’t kill you first. It does not matter how big your TBR pile is --- move this one on up there.
Wink Of An Eye: A Mystery
Lynn Chandler Willis
http://www.lynnchandlerwillis.com
A Thomas Dunne Book (Minotaur Books)
http://www.minotaurbooks.com
2014
ISBN# 978-1-250-05319-0
Hardback (e-book available)
304 Pages
$24.99
Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2015
http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
December 30, 2014
Some books are like a hot cup of chai tea; you sip them slowly, savoring the spices on your tongue.
Other books are like a glass of cold water you desperately need to slake your thirst after a hot day, and you gulp it down as rapidly as you can, each sip better than the last.
Lynn Willis' "Wink of an Eye" is that satisfying, desperately-needed water. I couldn't get enough of Gypsy Moran (An aside: Selfishly, I love that his last name is also my mother's maiden name!), her sexy Texan detective, long and lean and rough in the all the right places.
Gypsy stumbles into the pages after driving eighteen hours from somewhere. Details slowly seep in from his ruddy-haired sister Rhonda (I LOVE that every single character in Lynn's book is multidimensional; no flat, made-up-for-convenience people in this story! They're all lively!) and a twelve-year-old boy, Tatum (how could you not love that name?). Tatum begs Gypsy to take on the case of his father's suicide, a tragedy which haunts the town but has been shushed for mysterious reasons. Rhonda's husband Rodney, a cop who had worked with Tatum's father before he died, is just as insistent for Rhonda and Gypsy to stay out of the mess.
One way or another, Gypsy reluctantly agrees to take the case. This decision unfurls additional layers of secrets, from missing girls to cutthroat town politics to the savvy and beautiful reporter Sophia Ortez to his long-lost high school sweetheart, the tempestuous Claire. And to lots of trouble.
What you've got to see for yourself is the terrific Southern dialogue and descriptions that make this story a dream to read aloud especially. I had the opportunity to attend Lynn Willis' book reading at a local Barnes & Noble, and the lines jump off the page in a way that is as real and genuine as a smart-mouthed Texan sitting on your couch sharing gossip and secrets.
The best news of all? Lynn is working on a SECOND book about Gypsy!
Other books are like a glass of cold water you desperately need to slake your thirst after a hot day, and you gulp it down as rapidly as you can, each sip better than the last.
Lynn Willis' "Wink of an Eye" is that satisfying, desperately-needed water. I couldn't get enough of Gypsy Moran (An aside: Selfishly, I love that his last name is also my mother's maiden name!), her sexy Texan detective, long and lean and rough in the all the right places.
Gypsy stumbles into the pages after driving eighteen hours from somewhere. Details slowly seep in from his ruddy-haired sister Rhonda (I LOVE that every single character in Lynn's book is multidimensional; no flat, made-up-for-convenience people in this story! They're all lively!) and a twelve-year-old boy, Tatum (how could you not love that name?). Tatum begs Gypsy to take on the case of his father's suicide, a tragedy which haunts the town but has been shushed for mysterious reasons. Rhonda's husband Rodney, a cop who had worked with Tatum's father before he died, is just as insistent for Rhonda and Gypsy to stay out of the mess.
One way or another, Gypsy reluctantly agrees to take the case. This decision unfurls additional layers of secrets, from missing girls to cutthroat town politics to the savvy and beautiful reporter Sophia Ortez to his long-lost high school sweetheart, the tempestuous Claire. And to lots of trouble.
What you've got to see for yourself is the terrific Southern dialogue and descriptions that make this story a dream to read aloud especially. I had the opportunity to attend Lynn Willis' book reading at a local Barnes & Noble, and the lines jump off the page in a way that is as real and genuine as a smart-mouthed Texan sitting on your couch sharing gossip and secrets.
The best news of all? Lynn is working on a SECOND book about Gypsy!
January 10, 2015
Wink is a small town in Southwest Texas with extremely hot weather and, in Wink of an Eye by Lynn Chandler Willis, a problem with corruption.
Gypsy Moran grew up in Wink, but has been away for twenty years, working as a private investigator in Las Vegas. He has run into trouble in the big city and has decided to escape by heading home where he expects to find peace and quiet. But Gypsy’s sister, Rhonda, introduces him to Tatum, a twelve year old boy who is convinced his father’s death was not a suicide and who needs the help of a PI to prove he’s right. Gypsy soon discovers that trouble exists in little towns as well as big cities.
Wink of an Eye is a wonderful detective novel with interesting characters on both sides of the law -- along with a few who skirt the boundaries. The setting is described with careful, sensual detail and is as much a part of this story as the people living on the pages. There are fight scenes, a great sex scene that is both hysterical and exciting, and a sense of family love that runs throughout the book. Lynn Chandler Willis' writing style has an attitude that grabs the reader's attention and holds it throughout the book.
Here’s a selection from early in the novel when Gypsy is thinking about his sister:
“Gypsy?” Rhonda’s voice reminded me I wasn’t alone in the kitchen. At thirty-six, she was two years younger than me and as far as kid sisters go, she was a keeper. She avoided trouble like the plague, volunteered at the adult enrichment center, and taught math to hardheaded know-it-all sixth graders like Tatum at Wink Elementary as a career choice, And some called me stupid for going into the private investigation field.
Wink of an Eye is a page turner I would recommend to anyone who enjoys detective stories.
Steve Lindahl – author of Motherless Soul and White Horse Regressions
Gypsy Moran grew up in Wink, but has been away for twenty years, working as a private investigator in Las Vegas. He has run into trouble in the big city and has decided to escape by heading home where he expects to find peace and quiet. But Gypsy’s sister, Rhonda, introduces him to Tatum, a twelve year old boy who is convinced his father’s death was not a suicide and who needs the help of a PI to prove he’s right. Gypsy soon discovers that trouble exists in little towns as well as big cities.
Wink of an Eye is a wonderful detective novel with interesting characters on both sides of the law -- along with a few who skirt the boundaries. The setting is described with careful, sensual detail and is as much a part of this story as the people living on the pages. There are fight scenes, a great sex scene that is both hysterical and exciting, and a sense of family love that runs throughout the book. Lynn Chandler Willis' writing style has an attitude that grabs the reader's attention and holds it throughout the book.
Here’s a selection from early in the novel when Gypsy is thinking about his sister:
“Gypsy?” Rhonda’s voice reminded me I wasn’t alone in the kitchen. At thirty-six, she was two years younger than me and as far as kid sisters go, she was a keeper. She avoided trouble like the plague, volunteered at the adult enrichment center, and taught math to hardheaded know-it-all sixth graders like Tatum at Wink Elementary as a career choice, And some called me stupid for going into the private investigation field.
Wink of an Eye is a page turner I would recommend to anyone who enjoys detective stories.
Steve Lindahl – author of Motherless Soul and White Horse Regressions
July 7, 2015
WINK OF AN EYE is a fast moving mystery in Wink, Texas. Willis introduces her protagonist, Michael “Gypsy” Moran a private investigator. The author shares Gypsy’s backstory and why he returns to Wink. She introduces her support characters and their backgrounds as each character enters the storyline. Gypsy isn’t happy that his sister Rhonda is asking him to take on a case looking into the death of Sheriff's deputy, Ryce McCallen.
Readers learn the story behind McCallen’s death labeled as a suicide, when his son Tatum convinces Gypsy to look for his father’s murderer. Willis places readers next as Gypsy uncovers files Ryce McCallen left with his son. The files had the names of eight families missing their daughters. All eight families were illegal and the author shares Gypsy’s investigation uncovering details showing no one at the sheriff’s department has any missing person reports of the missing eight illegal girls.
The author shares details leading to Gypsy’s decision to investigate the suspicious death. Wills shares Gypsy’s investigation as he uncovers a connection of an old married girlfriend and attracts the attention of hostile sheriff’s deputies. The author introduces an aggressive reporter who has agreed to help Gypsy with his investigation. Willis keeps her readers up to date with the background of the characters as she increase the pace of her storyline. She helps her readers understand actions of support characters helping Gypsy uncover clues leading to the death of Tatum’s father and also implicating someone close to Gypsy. WINK OF AN EYE storyline grabs readers’ attention as Gypsy continues his investigation. Willis creates interesting details increasing intrigue and suspense to her complex mystery story. Uncovering answers endangering Gypsy’s life also bring unusual situations to the surface that add to Willis dramatic ending. WINK OF AN EYE is a must read that won’t disappoint readers earning a 5-star ranking.
March 3, 2015
Las Vegas private eye Gypsy Moran double-crossed a mob boss and he’s on the run
back to his childhood home of Wink, Texas—a place he closed the door on twenty years earlier, vowing that he would never set foot there again. At least he could enjoy a visit with his sister, Rhonda, whom he hasn’t seen for years.
A vacation, however, isn’t in the cards for Gypsy. One of Rhonda’s former students, twelve-year old Tatum McCallen, has enlisted her help in proving that his father’s recent death was not the suicide that the sheriff’s department claimed it was. The boy found his father hanging from a backyard tree. Tatum believes that his dad, deputy sheriff Ryce McCallen, was killed for launching an investigation into the disappearances of several undocumented teenage immigrant girls.
"Wink" has something for everyone—a boy and his dog, murder, romantic entanglements, police corruption, high tech surveillance, and suspense galore.
Willis is a natural storyteller and, hopefully, Gypsy will be back in a sequel.
back to his childhood home of Wink, Texas—a place he closed the door on twenty years earlier, vowing that he would never set foot there again. At least he could enjoy a visit with his sister, Rhonda, whom he hasn’t seen for years.
A vacation, however, isn’t in the cards for Gypsy. One of Rhonda’s former students, twelve-year old Tatum McCallen, has enlisted her help in proving that his father’s recent death was not the suicide that the sheriff’s department claimed it was. The boy found his father hanging from a backyard tree. Tatum believes that his dad, deputy sheriff Ryce McCallen, was killed for launching an investigation into the disappearances of several undocumented teenage immigrant girls.
"Wink" has something for everyone—a boy and his dog, murder, romantic entanglements, police corruption, high tech surveillance, and suspense galore.
Willis is a natural storyteller and, hopefully, Gypsy will be back in a sequel.
May 21, 2015
Twenty years have passed since Gypsy Moran escaped from the small Texas town of his youth, and now, he is on the run from the bad guys who want to do him in. By page two, Willis has our attention in a big way. Twelve-year-old Tatum needs Gypsy to prove his father did not commit suicide. Gypsy’s sister, Rhonda, is positive he can do just that. Gypsy is exhausted after an eighteen-hour drive from Vegas, but when Tatum reveals the smoking gun—eight young women are dead, Gypsy is in. Gypsy’s sense of humor makes for prime material and I laughed aloud at times - a good read in my estimation. Tough guy on the outside, butter cream on the inside when it comes to a twelve-year-old boy who takes care of his grandfather and trusts his father’s integrity, Gypsy also likes beautiful, quip-popping women. He reminds me of Janet Evanovich’s character, Ranger, in her Stephanie Plum series. Willis is on to something good with her protagonist and ability to weave an exciting debut book.
July 9, 2015
The Wink in the story is the town in Texas where P.I. Michael Moran aka Gypsy returns. Actually he’s escaping from a mobster and is trying to lay low for a few days, maybe even a few weeks, living with his sister Rhonda and her cop husband. What could be safer?
Rhonda insists he take the case of Tatum McCallen, 12, who says Ryce, his father, a deputy, did not hang himself. Gypsy is wary, but curious, as no autopsy or investigation was done. Seems sloppy, but it is a small town. Ryce was investigating the disappearance of eight Mexican girls, daughters of local workers. Again, no investigation was even done of these girls. Gypsy enlists the help of Sophia, a local reporter. Gypsy has some hot love scenes with her, and with his old high school girlfriend, Claire.
Beautifully written. It was the winner of the St. Martin’s / Private Eye Writers of America best first private eye manuscript novel competition—and well deserved. Minotaur / A Thomas Dunne Book 2014
Rhonda insists he take the case of Tatum McCallen, 12, who says Ryce, his father, a deputy, did not hang himself. Gypsy is wary, but curious, as no autopsy or investigation was done. Seems sloppy, but it is a small town. Ryce was investigating the disappearance of eight Mexican girls, daughters of local workers. Again, no investigation was even done of these girls. Gypsy enlists the help of Sophia, a local reporter. Gypsy has some hot love scenes with her, and with his old high school girlfriend, Claire.
Beautifully written. It was the winner of the St. Martin’s / Private Eye Writers of America best first private eye manuscript novel competition—and well deserved. Minotaur / A Thomas Dunne Book 2014
January 17, 2016
Wink of an Eye was one of the best books I’ve read in a while. Start with a very human hero, Gypsy Moran, a guy with a clear understanding of who he is; an engaging ten year old; add a complex plot with roots that go back in time; an interesting fully developed cast of characters―some slimy, some wonderfully real―some hot almost-sex (you have to read it to understand it); humor; atmospheric setting that puts you on the scene; and top it all off with great writing, and you have a riveting read that kept me up into the wee hours of the night so I could finish. Then, when I shut off the light, I couldn’t stop thinking about how damn good the book was. Brava, Lynn Chandler Willis, for a page-turning experience. Notice I gave away nothing in this review. Read it. You won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended.
November 23, 2014
This is a nice debut mystery that I hope will turn into a series. The characters feel like people you would like to know and the small town, west Texas setting feels familiar. Gypsy Moran is a PI who had some trouble in Las Vegas and returns to his hometown of Wink, TX. He stays with his sister and her husband who live with their 80 year old grandmother (who is very funny at times, or possibly suffering from dementia). The book was a quick read with good writing, quite a bit of humor and nice character development but never so much that it slowed down the story. I would certainly read more books by this author.
November 26, 2014
Gypsy Moran has another fan. I'm looking forward to his next adventure. Told from his point of view, I loved getting in his head, but there were times I wanted to shake him and tell him to man up and dump Clair and get on with his life. After meeting the women in his family, his sister, his mother and especially his grandmother, I understand why he had issues with women. Though he tried to be hard boiled, his relationship with 12 year old Tatum showed that he had a heart as big as Texas. Ms. Willis is a champion at planting clues and sorting them out in the end. Anyone who likes mystery novels won't be disappointed with Wink of an Eye.
January 10, 2024
Wink of an Eye is a well-written novel I completely enjoyed. Lynn Chandler Willis has a great command of words. She knows how to chop through the fluff of writing to get down to the meat of the matter, which is quite evident in the superb structure, pace, and characterization of this novel. The author’s handling of the main character, Gypsy Moran, as he unravels the death of Tatum McCallen’s father and uproots all the other sordid situations happening in Wink Texas is very well done. This story is weaved together seamlessly and hooks you before you even know you’ve been hooked.
February 21, 2015
Private Investigator, Gyspy Moran flees Las Vegas to Wink, Texas, to the home of his sister, Rhonda. There he meets up with a young kid who desperately wants Gypsy to look into his father's "suicide". Against his better judgement due to a bottle of booze, he is helping the kid, pro bono, no less! What did he get into?
Crooked cops, old lovers, new lovers, a crazy mother make this a pretty good storyline. I didn't think I would like it, but it finally connected.
Crooked cops, old lovers, new lovers, a crazy mother make this a pretty good storyline. I didn't think I would like it, but it finally connected.
November 23, 2014
Lynn Chandler-Willis's "Wink of an Eye" is a thought-provoking, gritty and sexy mystery. The main character, Gypsy is one you really want to get to know. The plot is complex and full of twist sand turns that keep you wanting more. I really enjoyed this book, and I am definitely a fan of Gypsy and the town of Wink, Texas.
March 21, 2015
Great new mystery. Hoping it will be a series.
Gypsy Moran, on the run from the mob in Vega, takes on a case for a young boy, tatum. Tatum wants Gypsy to prove his father didn't commit suicide. The investigation of one crime leads to the discovery of others in the small texas town of Wink. Snappy dialog, good characters, complex plot. Great read.
Gypsy Moran, on the run from the mob in Vega, takes on a case for a young boy, tatum. Tatum wants Gypsy to prove his father didn't commit suicide. The investigation of one crime leads to the discovery of others in the small texas town of Wink. Snappy dialog, good characters, complex plot. Great read.
December 12, 2014
Great PI story, a little cozy, a little hard core with a large dose of Texas. Gypsy Moran is a scrappy investigator, who gets himself into a lot of trouble, especially around women. If you're looking for an enjoyable read that's just a little different, give this one a try. Recommended!
November 25, 2014
Reviewed for RT Book Reviews November 2014 issue: http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/wink-eye
February 9, 2015
Great PI story! Fun characters and lots of twists and turns. I think we have the making of a long running series straight out of Wink, Texas!
April 24, 2016
I really liked this book. I love mysteries and really like to read North Carolina authors as I live in North Carolina.
March 13, 2015
This is a really good read. I'd never read one of her books before and certainly hope she writes another one.
March 16, 2015
Great story!! I really enjoyed it. I trust we will be seeing more books from this author.
March 22, 2015
Quick read. Good private eye story.
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