It's Not a Pretty Sight

Aaron Gunner #4

by Gar Anthony Haywood

When his ex-fianc é e is murdered, Gunner vows to take vengeance on Los Angeles
For more than a decade, private detective Aaron Gunner has regretted letting Nina Hillman go. They met on a city bus while he was on his way to the Los Angeles Coliseum for a football game, and by the time they were through talking he had long since missed kickoff. He proposed to her quickly, only to get cold feet and cancel the wedding. After less than a year, she married another man. Eleven years later, Gunner is still alone, and Nina’s house is a crime scene. The homicide detectives tell Gunner that Nina’s husband has been abusing her for years. They assume that today he simply went too far. As he seeks justice for his long-lost love, Gunner uncovers a citywide chain of domestic abuse that he could have saved Nina from, had he been man enough to marry her. It’s too late to protect her now. Revenge will have to do.

Genres: Mystery

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 9, 1996

About the author

aka Ray Shannon.

Gar Anthony Harwood also writes as Ray Shannon. He has won the Shamus and Anthony Award for his mystery fiction. He writes stand-alone novels and short-stories as well as series. He has also written for the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, written scripts for television drama series (e.g. New York Undercover and the District) and Movies of the Week for ABC. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America.

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a big fan of Gar Anthony Haywood's fiction for over 20 years. I read a few of his P.I. Aaron Gunner novels back then and decided to read another one now. I'm happy to report his sturdy, compassionate, and well-plotted private eye novels hold up quite nicely. He spins a good mystery, too. Think of Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins. At any rate, I plan to read some more titles in the series.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author deserves more acclaim. It’s like reading a protege of Mosley’s Easy Rawlins. Such pathos. Gunner gets involved on a no fee basis investigating the death of a woman whom he almost married eleven years ago. Same old story of the police rushing to judgment and the violent and abusive husband being the principal suspect. Even after being attacked by the husband and shooting him Gunner is the sole person convinced he didn’t do it. And Gunner also has to worry about losing his license over shooting the husband. Lots of shoe leather as Gunner probes a battered woman’s shelter for clues. A great read with the reality of the situation being fate and a mistake.

[Sandy Tessier · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Arron Gunner mystery . An African American detective investigates the death of his former girlfriend.

[Kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strong characters and a plot that gets a stronger focus as the pages turn make this a good read. Characters feel real and make up for a wandering plot at the start. Lots about women who are abused and the men who abuse them. Recommended.

[Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the weaker books in this series. Good character, somewhat of a lackluster story but still good enough to be while away a couple of evening hours before drifting off to sleep.

[Murvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An action thriller on the level of Easy Rawlins.