Duplicity

Fina Ludlow #4

by Ingrid Thoft

Gutsy Boston P.I. Fina Ludlow returns with a case that puts her faith to the test—in the latest addition to the critically acclaimed series by Ingrid Thoft.

When Ceci Jhavad hires Ludlow and Associates to sue the hip new church that she believes has brainwashed her daughter, Fina Ludlow is assigned to the case. Covenant Rising Church has all the trappings of a less-than-holy organization: a slick young pastor and his comely wife; fancy houses and luxury cars; and devoted congregants who seem eager to part with their money. Fina wonders if Ceci disapproves of Covenant Rising’s theology or the pastor’s ability to solicit generous donations—until a prominent church member dies unexpectedly. Fina’s investigation requires her to delve into the woman's life—both in and out of Covenant Rising—and ask a host of difficult questions. Is the pastor leading his flock astray? Did the church have a hand in the death or were there less savory elements in the woman's life outside the parish?
            The case proves to be a complicated morass of misplaced loyalties and questionable motivations, rivaled only by the current state of the Ludlow family. The return of eldest brother Rand sets in motion an explosive showdown that threatens the very fabric that holds the family together, forcing Fina to confront the true meaning of faith.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook, Detective, Contemporary

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 10, 2017

About the author

INGRID THOFT was born in Boston and is a graduate of Wellesley College. Her interest in the PI life and her desire to create a believable PI character led her to the certificate program in private investigation at the University of Washington. She lives in Seattle with her husband.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Dupliciity” is the fourth book in the Fina Ludlow mystery series sat in Boston, MA. Fina is a private detective working for her family’s law firm, run by her stodgy rich and powerful father (lawyer) and three brothers (all lawyers too). She is the misfit and her character has the same fierce independence and stubborn streak as another famous Boston paced PI, Spenser, written by the great Robert B. Parker and continued by Ace Atkins after his passing away a couple of years ago.

I have read all three of the previous books in this series along with the this new one. I am not going to lie so I understand the bias I am going to come across with. But It’s real. Ingrid Thoft is an excellent writer, but not as well known yet since she only has four books published. But she is definitely making a name for herself in the mystery genre. Her books are fast-paced, edgy, and hard to put down, with complex plots that reveal themselves like the layers of an onion, characters with depth and realism, and several related ongoing plots with the family that continues to develop and grow. Although this isn’t going to come across as well I intend, she combines intellectual storylines and hard-edged action into a great read. Her prose and sarcasm are well laid out through the story that you savor many different moments as you try and solve the mysteries before they get revealed.

My only complaint is the ending had a strong reveal that will keep me thinking until the next book in this series comes out next year. Way to go Ingrid! Yes, I am drinking the Kool-Aid; however, I have no qualms recommending her books to everyone who likes smart and witty mysteries. I would recommend to start with the first book in the series “Loyalty” because the key family plotlines develop in sequential order of the books. Come drink it with me. I am willing you bet you will love Fina as much as I do.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read in this series. Fina is a delightful, quirky private investigator working with her father, a personal injury attorney. In this book, there are two main threads: Fina is asked by her father to investigate a possible cult-type church, one in which his former girlfriend's daughter is about to donate land worth a considerable amount of money.

The other thread involves a brother of Fina's who has committed crimes close to home, one of which involves a family member.

I'm really getting hooked on these books. Recommended to anyone who likes a good mystery with great characterization. I stayed up late a couple nights, glued to the pages, and have already purchased the author's other two books.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fina Ludlow is an investigator for her family's large personal industry law firm. As such, she handles cases with the kind of drive that earns her threatening messages, a trashed apartment, slashed tires, and a beatdown contract from someone presumably close to one of her cases. She's not superhuman, but she is tough and resourceful, and gives as good, or better, than she gets. Her targets in this book include a large church that seems to be run for the benefit of its ministers, a murderer of one of the church's internal critics, and her own bother, Rand, who molested his own daughter. Her family is both rich and highly dysfunctional, her parents being a fright show all on their own, and her boyfriend is a cop who disapproves of her sleuthing methods. She continues to be interesting and indomitable, as well as pretty funny. Her interactions with the ministers are especially funny.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the Fina Ludlow series books. They are SOOOO much better than the Stephanie Plum series and remind me a lot of the Spellman books, which I love as well.

In this book, Fina is trying to keep a client's daughter from giving up all her land to a church that she feels is crooked. The pastor and his wife have three homes, go to fancy resorts for vacation and drive very expensive cars.

Fina also finds out that someone has put a contract out on her. Not to kill her, but to injure her pretty bad. When she discovers the culprit, she definitely sees red.

I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading this book. I met the author on her first book tour with Loyalty and have enjoyed every book since. Her writing just keeps getting better. I'm ready for the next one!

Huge thanks to G.P. Putnam & Sons for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another nice addition to the Fina Ludlow series. Fina is asked by her father to investigate a church and right when she begins a prominent member dies. Her investigation is two-fold as she searches for the killer and looks into some of the church's possible shady dealings. On top of all that her eldest brother is back in town and stirring up trouble. She tries to enlist her family in stopping him but she finds out that she is on her own playing a deadly cat and mouse game with someone who is supposed to be her family.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come later.

Quick thoughts:
I love me some Fina. She's strong. Opinionated. And caring. Her family is a mess of hot tempered personalities and shark like behavior, but Fina tries to what is morally right even if she has to bend the rules of law to get there.

Ingrid Thoft kept me flipping pages as fast as I could to see how this case and Fina's family drama was going to work out. Loved it and now can't wait for the next chapter!

[Lisa Konet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't really like this because I didn't realize it was the 4th book of a series, so no idea what happened before because characters talk about things that happened before. Plenty of mystery and deception and lies, just a blah story for me

[Sue Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of the Fina Ludlow series (this is #4.) The first in the series rocketed to the top of my favorite books of that year, and none of the following in the series has disappointed. Fina is a tough P.I. with a singular point of view who works for her family's law firm. In this book she is brought in by her father to investigate a church before the daughter of a friend makes a large scale donation of property. Of course, the investigation leads to a murder which may or may not involve the church. Meanwhile, the issues within her dysfunctional family continue to percolate.

All in all, if you love a well-plotted P.I. story and fabulous characters, you can't afford to miss this series.

[SpookySoto · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I liked this book, it was interesting, intriguing and fast paced.

I haven't read any of Thoft's novels before, and I enjoyed her writing style a lot. I didn't have any difficulty in reading this, there's clearly references to her previous novels, but I wasn't confused or felt I needed more background information than the ones this book provided. I'm now interested in reading the other books of the series and her next one.

I liked Fina a lot, she is badass without being more rude than her job requires her to be. I find her views of romantic relationships a bit cliche, but that didn't bother me too much.

Overall, this was a great mystery, entertaining and interesting. I recommend it.

I received this book via Netgalley

[Pgchuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fina (in her role working for her family law firm) is asked to look into an evangelical (here used to connote promoting a prosperity gospel and wifely submission etc) church to which the daughter of a client is proposing to donate a valuable property. At the same time she is dealing with the return to town of her brother Rand, who we know from the previous instalment to be guilty of an appalling crime.

This was fast-paced and never over-complicated. I like Fina, but don't understand why she doesn't just move away from her family and make her own life. One of the elements of the ending was a little underwhelming, but overall excellent.

[Michelle Calvello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her books. Stayed up late to finish...omg cliffhanger! Great characters.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunner of a book. Loved it. Can't wait to see what is next.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really engrossing series. Fun, with serious issues and complex issues. I enjoy her writing and Fina is a very unique character in the best way.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duplicity, the fourth book in Ingrid Thoft's Fina Ludlow series, finds the Shamus Award winning author unfurling what could be thought of as, at least at this point in time, her magnum opus. Yes, the story is that damn good.

Fina finds herself dragged into a case by her father on the behalf of one of his old flames. It seems the woman's adult daughter is about to drop a huge piece of real estate on the church she belongs to. The woman's mother doesn't trust the church and engages Fina to investigate the church.

In the course of her investigation, a body turns up which further complicates matters. Fina is being stonewalled but grows more suspicious by the moment when things begin not to add up with the church or their leaders.

And that is just the main plotline. Ingrid Thoft has jam packed this novel with a bevy of running storylines but confidently manages to explore each thread without giving short shrift to any of them.

The themes of duplicity, faith, loyalty and family are all explored inside and out, sometimes for the good, sometimes not. But after dropping a truth bomb on her mother at the end of the previous book Brutality, Fina is really on the ropes with her family. Her mother refuses to believe the truth about her eldest (and monstrous) son Rand, patriarch Carl is tacitly backing the son's return from exile while the other two sons continue to frustrate Fina when she needs their help to protect her niece.

And if that wasn't enough, there's the matter of an oddly specific contract that has been put out on Fina by parties unknown (though it shouldn't surprise anyone when that particular reveal is made). Beset on all sides by love, friendship, family and responsibilities, Fina's staunch determination to follow through on all fronts begins to yield results even as she is attacked and betrayed by those closest to her. Not to mention that the story ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger...right when a startling revelation leaves Fina reeling.

The supporting cast of characters in the Fina-verse continue to be a hoot. Whether it is Dante, the reluctant but helpful pimp or Frank, her retired mentor their inclusion to any story feels natural and unforced.

I wrote an article a year or so back where I referred to Ingrid Thoft as a literary rock star. If the first three books in the series haven't convinced readers of that belief already (and why haven't they?), then Duplicity certainly WILL! The book is quite simply one of the best private eye novels I've ever read.

[Ammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 4th book in the Fina Ludlow, PI, series. She takes on a less-than-holy church organization and her dysfunctional family.

Fina is a great character. She’s a strong, independent, intelligent woman. Good plot but…SPOILER ALERT…I was hoping this would be the end of the “Rand” issue. The overall situation is unsettling and it is difficult to believe that her parents are that cold especially at the end when her brother attempted to kill her. Also, they would turn a totally blind eye to their granddaughter? From the ending, looks as if the saga will continue which will be extremely annoying and, for me, detract from the enjoyment of the book.
2017(6)

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better and better!

[judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm not sure what it is about this series but i cannot seem to put them down. this book in particular grabbed me which is a testament to really great pacing & the steady, believable development of the b storyline - fina's personal life.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished the 4th “Fina Ludlow” novel “Duplicity” and loved it!!! :D Ingrid Thoft’s series is one of my favorite PI/detective series and each book just keeps getting better as it explores Fina’s messed up family in Boston as well as each case. This case was really good as it looked into a murder of a member at a Boston megachurch and there were so many suspects. Took some twists too I never saw coming, especially with Fina’s family, that it was totally worth the long wait. Can’t wait for the 5th book!!! :D

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner. Binge read the series after learning about this author on Jungle Reds. Hope #5 cones out soon. Gutsy irreverent female PI.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duplicity was well worth the extra wait and now I can't wait for the next one. being inside Fina's head is delightful for me.

[Jessica Gintner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series started with book #1 bringing a VERY violent end to the main character's-- Fina Ludlow--sister-in-law. I wasn't sure how the rest of the series would proceed, but Ms. Thoft has made this what seems like a realistic series of a private detective's life of constantly pounding the pavement, asking questions until people are sick of seeing & hearing from her!
But she has also spun a story about family--this one happens to be financially well off. Not sure that it would have mattered if they had money issues or not because family dynamics can be pretty complicated either way. At least half of the all the stories are related to conflicts within Fina's family that have half of them fighting her & half working with her. It makes for a lot of action & compelling reading!
By the end of each book, Fina has solved the crimes but the resolutions are kind of simplistic. Just straight forward problem solving. But totally engrossing. Unfortunately, there aren't any more in the series at this time. I'm hoping Ms. Thoft can add another to the series--I have a GREAT idea for another volume!!! Enjoy!!!

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars This is the 4th book in the Fina Ludlow series. I really like Fina. She has a great sense of humor and justice. Fina works as a PI, primarily for her father's law firm in Boston where her three brothers are also lawyers. Fina's father asks Fina to investigate a church that Carl's good friend's daughter wants to donate a very expensive piece of land to in order to convince her not to donate the land. There is clearly something more to the "friend" relationship between Carl and Ceci. During the investigation, a church member is found poisoned to death, someone takes out a contract to put Fina in the hospital, Fina starts receiving threatening messages, and the family drama involving Fina's brother Rand is full blown as Rand has returned to Boston. Oh, and there is trouble between Fina and Christian, her cop friend with whom she has decided to start dating. There's a lot going on personally and professionally for Fina. I really enjoy spending time with Fina, and this is a very entertaining read. Recommended, but read this series in order!

[sas820 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I raced through the four Fina Ludlow books (Loyalty, Identity, Brutality and Duplicity) and cannot wait for the fifth! Ingrid Thoft has created a strong, complex PI and a surrounding cast of interesting characters. The storylines in each book are intense and absorbing, with threads of humor and clear-eyed observations of relationships and emotions. And the best part of all is Thoft’s writing. She has a good ear for conversation and a keen eye for interpersonal relationships- and the result is that both read true and genuine throughout the four books. The action is consistently paced in such a way that it pulls you along but doesn’t beat you up with too much action/anxiety all at once. I highly recommend all four books! Ingrid Thoft is one my favorite finds for 2018!

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first novel by this author, but the fourth in a series. A mystery novel featuring Josephine (“Fina”) Ludlow, a woman with a “poor-little-rich-girl” background, who is also a bit of a black sheep. Pretty good one-liners provide backdrop to a mystery involving a guilt-tripping, suspicious church and the death of one of its’ patrons. Intersperse with a healthy dose of family drama continuing from previous books but fairly easy to get a grasp on even if you haven’t read the previous books, and you have an above-average mystery. Not quite five stars for me, but that could be because this is book #4 in a series. Definitely worth a read.

[Helene · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this one only gets two stars. Though jam-packed with more action, the "third rail" issue of controversial evangelistic churches and charismatic pastors, the book "finished" with too many loose ends in my opinion and no hope of a sequel for two years since the author was asked to work on a different series.

What does Rand have on Fina's father? Where is her relationship with Christian going? Milloy? What's up with the newly discovered half-sister? What will happen with Rand?

Will I still be interested in Fina two years from now? Time will tell.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series so was anticipating a great read for the fourth book. The storyline and mystery kept me turning the pages. However, the ending left one in limbo as there was no explanation as to certain events. With so many loose ends, I could only imagine what the family situation was in so many different ways, but would’ve liked the author to complete the mystery. I was hoping to find a fifth book in the series as this book was written in 2017. Google search does say the author is working on a fifth Fina book - hope so!!

[Race Bannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I did not find anything to get excited about
when I read this one.
First of all, it is my first read of this series and it
was Book #4. I really felt if you have not read
the first three you are definitely missing
some things.
Second of all, I just felt the protagonist is
rather mundane. The writing seems to be
sort of a monotone. I just could not work
up any empathy for her.
I know others may like this kind of writing
but it just is not for me.

[Dasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th in series. In each book, Thoft has a central issue which is resolved at the end -- in this case, the advisability of a large bequest to a church -- and continues to develop other threads which run throughout the series. By the end of this one, she's thrown in a new family twist that will undoubtedly take several more volumes to deal with. It's wonderful and also maddening -- it will be a while before she's had time to publish the next installment!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 4th in a series, and I'll be going back to read a few of the others. Fina Ludlow is a likable and human character who is tough as nails and definitely not aiming for perfection in her own life. She is smart, gets the job done, and this foray into a mega-church makes for an interesting story. A good summer read.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3+. Have read all four of this series and found them fast paced and fun to read. Especially like Fina a quirky, fearless Private Investigator for her Father (and Brothers) law firm. Often while investigating a case for her father she gets involved with another case that seems to just fall into her lap. I have enjoyed them all and hope that Ingrid Thoft has another one ready soon.