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The Houseboat Detective
A good detective has an analytic mind, loves to solve puzzles, is driven to know the answers - oh, and he might play piano.
Twenty-something Jake Sommers lives in a houseboat moored at Fisherman’s Wharf, a picturesque set of docks bordering the Inner Harbour of Victoria, BC. Jake inherited his craft, the Honeysuckle Rose, from his late Great-aunt Dierdre, once a successful artist and sixties flower child. Jake’s a bit of a lost soul, who plays piano in a bar, loves the jazz music of the 1920s and '30s, and has a tendency to drink too much.
When a beautiful woman shows up at his floating home mistakenly believing Jake is a qualified and experienced private investigator, and begging to hire him for a case, the little voice in Jake's head tells him he should turn down the offer.
Too bad he never listens to his little voice.
He expects his ‘investigation’ to be a straightforward search for a young woman on the Internet. But both his client and her case turn out to be far more than he bargained for, and he’s unwittingly plunged into a convoluted world of DNA ancestry, danger, intrigue, and murder.
What Readers Say About The Houseboat
★★★★★ 'Enjoyable from start to finish. There was never a dull moment and lots of humor.'
★★★★★ 'One of the best mysteries I've read in months. The writing is so descriptive and the story line just keeps leading you deeper.'
★★★★★ 'Just enough romance, intrigue and danger to keep me fully engrossed all the way to the end.'
★★★★★ 'An interesting and unique plot to go with an imaginative group of characters, making this hard to put down.'
★★★★★ 'Love this book. Kept me reading & wondering where it was all going.'
Twenty-something Jake Sommers lives in a houseboat moored at Fisherman’s Wharf, a picturesque set of docks bordering the Inner Harbour of Victoria, BC. Jake inherited his craft, the Honeysuckle Rose, from his late Great-aunt Dierdre, once a successful artist and sixties flower child. Jake’s a bit of a lost soul, who plays piano in a bar, loves the jazz music of the 1920s and '30s, and has a tendency to drink too much.
When a beautiful woman shows up at his floating home mistakenly believing Jake is a qualified and experienced private investigator, and begging to hire him for a case, the little voice in Jake's head tells him he should turn down the offer.
Too bad he never listens to his little voice.
He expects his ‘investigation’ to be a straightforward search for a young woman on the Internet. But both his client and her case turn out to be far more than he bargained for, and he’s unwittingly plunged into a convoluted world of DNA ancestry, danger, intrigue, and murder.
What Readers Say About The Houseboat
★★★★★ 'Enjoyable from start to finish. There was never a dull moment and lots of humor.'
★★★★★ 'One of the best mysteries I've read in months. The writing is so descriptive and the story line just keeps leading you deeper.'
★★★★★ 'Just enough romance, intrigue and danger to keep me fully engrossed all the way to the end.'
★★★★★ 'An interesting and unique plot to go with an imaginative group of characters, making this hard to put down.'
★★★★★ 'Love this book. Kept me reading & wondering where it was all going.'
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2024
About the author
Jay Allan Storey
13 books113 followersJay Allan Storey has traveled the world, passing through many places in the news today, including Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and the Swat valley in Pakistan. He has worked at an amazing variety of jobs, from cab driver to land surveyor to accordion salesman to software developer.
Jay is the author of eight novels, two novellas, a number of short stories, and several screenplays. A new novel is set to be released in 2025. His stories always skirt close to the edge of believability (but hopefully never cross over). He is attracted to characters who are able to break out of their stereotypes and transform themselves.
He loves both reading and writing, both listening to and playing music, and working with animals. He's crazy for any activity relating to the water, including swimming, surfing, wind-surfing, sailing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Jay is married and lives in Vancouver, BC.
Jay is the author of eight novels, two novellas, a number of short stories, and several screenplays. A new novel is set to be released in 2025. His stories always skirt close to the edge of believability (but hopefully never cross over). He is attracted to characters who are able to break out of their stereotypes and transform themselves.
He loves both reading and writing, both listening to and playing music, and working with animals. He's crazy for any activity relating to the water, including swimming, surfing, wind-surfing, sailing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Jay is married and lives in Vancouver, BC.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 5, 2025
I had such a great time reading The Houseboat Detective! Jake Sommers isn’t your typical detective—he’s a jazz-loving, whiskey-drinking guy who just happens to get tangled up in a case that’s way bigger than he expected. What starts as a simple missing person search quickly turns into a twisty mystery involving DNA secrets, danger, and murder. The setting on Victoria’s Fisherman’s Wharf adds so much atmosphere, and Jake’s character is both flawed and likable, making him super fun to follow. If you love mysteries with a modern twist, a bit of noir, and a totally unique detective, I highly recommend this one
May 26, 2026
I am obviously in the minority here, but this book just did not live up to my expectations, although I really can't tell you what those expectations were.
Houseboats, now called floating homes, have always fascinated me, but I wouldn't want to live on one permanently - maybe just a week-long vacation? - so this book caught my eye. Jake, the MC, took a while to warm up to, and I kept shaking my head over his pretending to be a PI when he really wasn't, despite the online ad purporting otherwise. I loved that he was an avid musician, but could have done without his far too frequent drinking binges and his tendency to believe people that should not have been trusted. Gordon, the sea lion, provided some comic relief that stole the show more than once :)
The story itself started slowly, and if I didn't need it for a challenge spot, I was tempted to abandon it. The story got more and more twisted as it progressed, and it was hard to decide what to believe about which characters. I gave up trying to figure it out and just went along for the ride as Jake tried to get to the bottom of the whole mess. The reveal was almost too complex, but by then, I wasn't surprised by much of anything anyone said or did.
This author has written several other books, but it's unlikely that I will bother looking for any of them. There are too many other books on my to-read shelf to take a chance on another of his books.
Houseboats, now called floating homes, have always fascinated me, but I wouldn't want to live on one permanently - maybe just a week-long vacation? - so this book caught my eye. Jake, the MC, took a while to warm up to, and I kept shaking my head over his pretending to be a PI when he really wasn't, despite the online ad purporting otherwise. I loved that he was an avid musician, but could have done without his far too frequent drinking binges and his tendency to believe people that should not have been trusted. Gordon, the sea lion, provided some comic relief that stole the show more than once :)
The story itself started slowly, and if I didn't need it for a challenge spot, I was tempted to abandon it. The story got more and more twisted as it progressed, and it was hard to decide what to believe about which characters. I gave up trying to figure it out and just went along for the ride as Jake tried to get to the bottom of the whole mess. The reveal was almost too complex, but by then, I wasn't surprised by much of anything anyone said or did.
This author has written several other books, but it's unlikely that I will bother looking for any of them. There are too many other books on my to-read shelf to take a chance on another of his books.
December 30, 2025
took an involuntary break from audiobooks to read #jayallenstorey #thehouseboatdetective #ajakesommersmystery
A quaint read about a bit of a nobody who accidentally becomes a private investigator with a heck of a first case on his hands.
Gordon the sealion obviously steals the show, but both Jake and Evangeline are well described and emotive. The twists and uncovered lies are intriguing, and although Evangeline's desire to avoid the police is understood, once things start very clearly getting out of hand and Jake is already being investigated himself I'm not entirely sure why he goes all Rambo solo hero on us to save the day.
Regardless it's a good romp and worth a short read.
#readmorebooks #onemorechapter
A quaint read about a bit of a nobody who accidentally becomes a private investigator with a heck of a first case on his hands.
Gordon the sealion obviously steals the show, but both Jake and Evangeline are well described and emotive. The twists and uncovered lies are intriguing, and although Evangeline's desire to avoid the police is understood, once things start very clearly getting out of hand and Jake is already being investigated himself I'm not entirely sure why he goes all Rambo solo hero on us to save the day.
Regardless it's a good romp and worth a short read.
#readmorebooks #onemorechapter
May 27, 2025
Good old-fashioned whodunit. The main character is living a life with little direction until his houseboat neighbor puts an ad out saying he is a detective. He meets a beautiful damsel in distress, whom he decides to help against his better judgment. After plenty of twists and turns, Jake Somers discovers the answer to the question, "Where is Evangeline's sister?" but also has to know who Evangeline is, who her father is, and how he got involved in such a mess.
September 26, 2025
Well imagined novel centered in Victoria, BC. The protagonist's character is developed to the point of caring greatly for the success of his investigation and the possible reform of his flawed life style. Some early interactions with minor characters provide mild humour that aids in fleshing out his personality.
This is a mystery driven story for most of the novel that evolves into an action oriented conclusion.
I would definitely read more from this author.
This is a mystery driven story for most of the novel that evolves into an action oriented conclusion.
I would definitely read more from this author.
May 5, 2026
I enjoyed this story, a fun read. I've read few books set in Canada and find the background information enjoyable. It's a shame a chunk of one early chapter read rather like a tourist guide, but the rest of the scene-setting information was woven in well.
If I come across any more by this author I'll be looking forward to some more good reading.
If I come across any more by this author I'll be looking forward to some more good reading.
September 8, 2025
a tangle of a broken family is part of the investigation.
The new detective is an alcoholic piano player at a popular bar. He is conned into helping a deranged lady in her search for her missing. Sister and father. Plenty of action during searching and the violent ending.
The new detective is an alcoholic piano player at a popular bar. He is conned into helping a deranged lady in her search for her missing. Sister and father. Plenty of action during searching and the violent ending.
September 9, 2025
This starts a bit slow and strange, but develops very well. What seems to be very improbable behavior of the main character becomes very believable as the characters and plot develop. There are far more twists and turns than I expected, leading to a very complex and generally satisfying conclusion.
September 19, 2025
Fun read
Jake was a likable character and I found this to be a quick and fun read. Living on houseboat in Victoria and playing jazz piano captured my attention for choosing this book.
Jake was a likable character and I found this to be a quick and fun read. Living on houseboat in Victoria and playing jazz piano captured my attention for choosing this book.
December 24, 2025
interesting setting, but slow moving story.
The conversations were just clumsy. I enjoyed parts of the book, but much didn’t seem to have been thought out. I wanted to finish the book, but only skimmed the last 10%.
The conversations were just clumsy. I enjoyed parts of the book, but much didn’t seem to have been thought out. I wanted to finish the book, but only skimmed the last 10%.
April 3, 2026
Lively Plot and Engaging Characters
The Houseboat Detective strikes a great balance between action, humor and human interest. It provides plot twists we without getting too convoluted, and is an all around plearasurable read that's not too light and not too heavy.
The Houseboat Detective strikes a great balance between action, humor and human interest. It provides plot twists we without getting too convoluted, and is an all around plearasurable read that's not too light and not too heavy.
April 13, 2026
A Great Story
I love reading a book that's written by an author who knows how to use words in such a way that you don't realize your reading. This was one of those! A great story, real characters and some humor and mystery.
I love reading a book that's written by an author who knows how to use words in such a way that you don't realize your reading. This was one of those! A great story, real characters and some humor and mystery.
January 10, 2025
Great book that keeps you guessing. Loved it.
February 7, 2025
Imaginative
Good plot and generally well written, but things like 20,000 miles between Vancouver and Japan or getting dressed then taking a shower...
Good plot and generally well written, but things like 20,000 miles between Vancouver and Japan or getting dressed then taking a shower...
February 15, 2025
An exciting read
The author has created an interesting and unique plot to go with an imaginative group of characters making this hard to put down
The author has created an interesting and unique plot to go with an imaginative group of characters making this hard to put down
July 8, 2025
great light reading
Had a great story of believable characters and I am partial to stories set on the water and sailboats Living on a house boat is always a deam
Had a great story of believable characters and I am partial to stories set on the water and sailboats Living on a house boat is always a deam
September 4, 2025
This was a great read, one of the best books ive read for some time. A great story, good characters, and very amusing.
September 6, 2025
Interesting read
It was an interesting story and it was very hard to put down.There were many plot twists that kept me interested
It was an interesting story and it was very hard to put down.There were many plot twists that kept me interested
September 9, 2025
Fun Read
Mr. Storey did a nice job of keeping my interest with several unexpected twists.
This is a good book for a casual read.
Mr. Storey did a nice job of keeping my interest with several unexpected twists.
This is a good book for a casual read.
October 1, 2025
Good read
This was an interesting book, it had lots to keep the reader engaged. I'll look into reading more from this author.
This was an interesting book, it had lots to keep the reader engaged. I'll look into reading more from this author.
May 14, 2026
Great book!
The way it started off, I thought it would be a funny book but it got pretty intense. Hard to put down.
The way it started off, I thought it would be a funny book but it got pretty intense. Hard to put down.
October 22, 2025
Enjoyable with an unusual setting.
November 7, 2025
Maiku:
Mistaken for a
detective, reluctantly
agrees to a case.
Mistaken for a
detective, reluctantly
agrees to a case.
May 21, 2026
Did not finish, the whole beginning with drunks and throwing up just didn’t appeal . I drink alcohol, but I am getting a bit tired of alcoholics whose lives revolve around drinking and hangovers.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews