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Jack Ludefance #1
Treacherous Estate
While enjoying his usual Friday night after dinner beer at a local restaurant, Jacques (Jack) Ludefance’s evening is suddenly shattered when a beautiful young woman sits down next to him, whispers, “Mister, can you help me?” then falls dead.
After her death is ruled ‘natural causes,’ Jack digs in to unravel the reasons she came to him desperately asking for his help and to investigate her mysterious death. To complicate matters further, her husband is a prominent, highly respected local business man. As Jack begins to unravel the pieces to the unsolved puzzle, the more heinous the crimes of the dead woman’s husband become and Jack finds his own life is in danger.
After her death is ruled ‘natural causes,’ Jack digs in to unravel the reasons she came to him desperately asking for his help and to investigate her mysterious death. To complicate matters further, her husband is a prominent, highly respected local business man. As Jack begins to unravel the pieces to the unsolved puzzle, the more heinous the crimes of the dead woman’s husband become and Jack finds his own life is in danger.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 22, 2018
35 people are currently reading
22808 people want to read
About the author
Behcet Kaya
9 books3,617 followersBehcet Kaya is the author of nine novels. His first literary fiction novel, Voice of Conscience, follows, to some extent, his own life experiences. His second novel, Murder on the Naval Base is a fast-paced who-done-it, his recently published third novel, Road to Siran, Erin’s Story is the eagerly awaited sequel to Voice of Conscience and the fourth Treacherous Estate is a crime thriller and the fifth Body in the Woods, Appellant Judge. Murder in Buckhead, Uncanny Alliance, Deception.
Born in northeastern Turkey, Behcet grew up in a very small village with long held traditions. His rebellious nature emerged at an early age and by time he was ten, he had read, in secret, all the Turkish translated stories of Mike Hammer. In addition, he read several of Dale Carnage’s works, and all of Yashar Kemal’s novels. His world burst out beyond that of his small village and he yearned for a more western way of life.
Defying his father, Behcet left home at fourteen and travelled first to Istanbul and then on to London. His obsession was to complete his high school education and then a college degree in engineering. He supported himself by working full-time and earning scholarships from Inner London Education Authority. His creative side began emerging when his drama and literature teacher cast him in a play in which his performance awed the audience. His insatiable appetite for literature widened to include the classics of Dickens, D.H. Laurence, and the Russian masters.
While at Hatfield Polytechnic, Behcet made his first visit to the US as an exchange student with the British Universities North American Club. He made the move to the US in 1976 and became a US citizen in 1985. While living in Atlanta, Georgia he followed his creative yearnings and attended the Alliance Theatre School and studied at the SAG Conservatory of Georgia, which earned him his Screen Actors Guild card. In 1994, Kaya and his wife moved to Los Angeles, where he continued his studies at the Roby Theatre Company and the Shakespeare, A Noise Within, Theatre Workshop.
In the soon to be released movie, “Being American” starring Lorenzo Lamas, Behcet plays the part of a Turkish Defense Minister.
Along with acting, writing became a natural outlet. In addition to his three novels, Voice of Conscience, Murder on the Naval Base, and Road to Siran, Erin’s Story, Treacherous Estate, Body in the Woods, appellate Judge and Murder in Buckhead will be published in 2022. Behcet has published numerous short stories and is currently working on his fourth novel, Body in the Woods.
Behcet Kaya received a BA degree in Political Science from California state university channel Island, 2017
Born in northeastern Turkey, Behcet grew up in a very small village with long held traditions. His rebellious nature emerged at an early age and by time he was ten, he had read, in secret, all the Turkish translated stories of Mike Hammer. In addition, he read several of Dale Carnage’s works, and all of Yashar Kemal’s novels. His world burst out beyond that of his small village and he yearned for a more western way of life.
Defying his father, Behcet left home at fourteen and travelled first to Istanbul and then on to London. His obsession was to complete his high school education and then a college degree in engineering. He supported himself by working full-time and earning scholarships from Inner London Education Authority. His creative side began emerging when his drama and literature teacher cast him in a play in which his performance awed the audience. His insatiable appetite for literature widened to include the classics of Dickens, D.H. Laurence, and the Russian masters.
While at Hatfield Polytechnic, Behcet made his first visit to the US as an exchange student with the British Universities North American Club. He made the move to the US in 1976 and became a US citizen in 1985. While living in Atlanta, Georgia he followed his creative yearnings and attended the Alliance Theatre School and studied at the SAG Conservatory of Georgia, which earned him his Screen Actors Guild card. In 1994, Kaya and his wife moved to Los Angeles, where he continued his studies at the Roby Theatre Company and the Shakespeare, A Noise Within, Theatre Workshop.
In the soon to be released movie, “Being American” starring Lorenzo Lamas, Behcet plays the part of a Turkish Defense Minister.
Along with acting, writing became a natural outlet. In addition to his three novels, Voice of Conscience, Murder on the Naval Base, and Road to Siran, Erin’s Story, Treacherous Estate, Body in the Woods, appellate Judge and Murder in Buckhead will be published in 2022. Behcet has published numerous short stories and is currently working on his fourth novel, Body in the Woods.
Behcet Kaya received a BA degree in Political Science from California state university channel Island, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 97 reviews
February 13, 2020
Very well written
The opening scene was extremely powerful and original. There was slightly too much static detail in the first few pages after that, to do with the backgrounds of various characters, however, once past it I became absorbed in the narrative.
There were some points where the author departed from the main story and concentrated on the personal life of the main character, and I said to myself, ‘Uh-oh! Is this wise?’ But I needn’t have worried, because it was well handled and not out of place. It all depends on how the writer accomplishes this feat of juggling details about the personal life of the main character, which are separate from the main story. It is difficult to achieve the right balance and still hold the interest of the reader who might become impatient for the story to continue, but this writer did an excellent job and I did not once become impatient. That said, I think the whole interlude with the woman judge could have been safely left out as it did not add anything to the story.
Actually I found myself very impressed with this writer’s ability for providing an intensely absorbing narrative and many times when I took a break I found myself wanting to return to my Kindle eagerly to find out what happened next. The writer showed a great deal of knowledge about how things work in the real world; the description of how the FBI operates was very illuminating, and I was shocked to discover how ineptly such an elite organisation handles people who come to them with information the FBI could never hope to acquire legitimately. For this kind and public spirited person who offers this information to be then treated like a criminal himself, to the extent that he has to hire an expensive lawyer to accompany him to the FBI interview, is surely a disgrace. Surely this will discourage people from approaching the FBI in the first place, as it seems that they are, right from the word go, only intent on pinning some charge on the person who approaches them. I found this surprising, confusing, and sad.
This is a very well-written thriller, quite unputdownable, and it is proof of the general incompetence of the traditional publishing world out there that it hasn’t already been snapped up as a series with Jack Ludefance as the main character. He has a distinct approach and would fit in neatly beside other PI series with a first person narrative to provide a lucrative investment for any publisher in this genre!
The opening scene was extremely powerful and original. There was slightly too much static detail in the first few pages after that, to do with the backgrounds of various characters, however, once past it I became absorbed in the narrative.
There were some points where the author departed from the main story and concentrated on the personal life of the main character, and I said to myself, ‘Uh-oh! Is this wise?’ But I needn’t have worried, because it was well handled and not out of place. It all depends on how the writer accomplishes this feat of juggling details about the personal life of the main character, which are separate from the main story. It is difficult to achieve the right balance and still hold the interest of the reader who might become impatient for the story to continue, but this writer did an excellent job and I did not once become impatient. That said, I think the whole interlude with the woman judge could have been safely left out as it did not add anything to the story.
Actually I found myself very impressed with this writer’s ability for providing an intensely absorbing narrative and many times when I took a break I found myself wanting to return to my Kindle eagerly to find out what happened next. The writer showed a great deal of knowledge about how things work in the real world; the description of how the FBI operates was very illuminating, and I was shocked to discover how ineptly such an elite organisation handles people who come to them with information the FBI could never hope to acquire legitimately. For this kind and public spirited person who offers this information to be then treated like a criminal himself, to the extent that he has to hire an expensive lawyer to accompany him to the FBI interview, is surely a disgrace. Surely this will discourage people from approaching the FBI in the first place, as it seems that they are, right from the word go, only intent on pinning some charge on the person who approaches them. I found this surprising, confusing, and sad.
This is a very well-written thriller, quite unputdownable, and it is proof of the general incompetence of the traditional publishing world out there that it hasn’t already been snapped up as a series with Jack Ludefance as the main character. He has a distinct approach and would fit in neatly beside other PI series with a first person narrative to provide a lucrative investment for any publisher in this genre!
April 1, 2019
Review for Treacherous Estate from Ben Kaya
An enthusiastic enigma.
With much delight, I discovered Ben Kaya’s third novel: ‘‘Treacherous Estate’’ where the private investigator, Jack Ludefance is from the beginning, swirled in to a mysterious case of felony. The stakes are high for the character whose past left him sour by unaccomplished goals in the Navy along a fractured marriage. All he has left, is now to prove that he is worth the credibility of his pairs by assembling the abundance of proofs and let a magna of illicit businesses rot behind bars. I was overwhelmed by the author’s writing, the short chapters, the polite treatment of intimate scenes plus the knowledge of the subject. Once again, Kaya delivered a prestigious book worthy of a film scenario.
An enthusiastic enigma.
With much delight, I discovered Ben Kaya’s third novel: ‘‘Treacherous Estate’’ where the private investigator, Jack Ludefance is from the beginning, swirled in to a mysterious case of felony. The stakes are high for the character whose past left him sour by unaccomplished goals in the Navy along a fractured marriage. All he has left, is now to prove that he is worth the credibility of his pairs by assembling the abundance of proofs and let a magna of illicit businesses rot behind bars. I was overwhelmed by the author’s writing, the short chapters, the polite treatment of intimate scenes plus the knowledge of the subject. Once again, Kaya delivered a prestigious book worthy of a film scenario.
November 21, 2020
Behcet Kaya writes this mystery as if they’ve lived it. The description in this book is wonderful and vivid. Some of the characters feel unnecessary, but most of the prominent ones are fleshed-out very well and aid Jacques in his journey (for better or for worse). I’m a local NW FL person, so it was a bit disappointing seeing some of the areas here misrepresented (intentional or otherwise) as I kept pulling myself out of the story to do mental corrections of locations that were off geographically or the spelling of some places that were a bit different. I’m sure people who aren’t local won’t notice, but for me it’s like a small chip in the paint right in the corner: I’ll see it every time even if it’s small and no one else notices.
The story follows Jacques, a PI and formal Navy pilot (which lends itself to his current home port), as he figures out himself while trying to solve a mystery we are thrown into pretty early into the book. The woman who died had a cry for help that seems to mirror Jacques’ need to help someone (in order to help himself), and we watch the story develop as our beloved main character grows as well.
Overall, it’s a good and detailed story. Some parts for me stuck out and pulled me from immersion, but it’s a well-written book that’s worth the read.
The story follows Jacques, a PI and formal Navy pilot (which lends itself to his current home port), as he figures out himself while trying to solve a mystery we are thrown into pretty early into the book. The woman who died had a cry for help that seems to mirror Jacques’ need to help someone (in order to help himself), and we watch the story develop as our beloved main character grows as well.
Overall, it’s a good and detailed story. Some parts for me stuck out and pulled me from immersion, but it’s a well-written book that’s worth the read.
October 5, 2020
Treacherous Estate is an exciting and suspenseful private investigator novel. The PI, Ludefance, is unconventional to say the least. Using old school tactics to get ahead of the case. This makes the story much more dangerous and gripping. I loved the style of writing and found myself absorbed by the book. Highly recommend.
October 8, 2020
Treacherous Estate is a great PI thriller. The plot is classic and original at the same time. Exactly what you would expect from a PI novel while offering unique perspectives. I loved the characters and thought they were well conceived. I like this author a lot and will be looking to read his other work.
September 25, 2020
The old fashion policing techniques used by Ludefance make this a dark and dangerous underworld crime thriller. The plot makes for a great mystery and the characters are perfect for the roles that they play in this exciting, fast paced, book. The author gives just enough details about the main character's personal life without deviating from the main plot and he clearly has a talent for writing. Highly recommend.
July 13, 2022
Treacherous Estate is a fiction book but is very close to everyday living, for instance although Treacherous Estate is fiction but recently in Seattle FBI raided and arrested number of massage parlors employees exactly described in the book as fiction
June 23, 2022
Reviewed by Gary Sorkin for Pacific Book Review
Pacific Book Review Star - Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
In the ever popular genre of detective stories is a subgroup referred to as Hard-Boiled; personified by the characters including Sam Spade by Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe, and Mickey Spillane’s infamous Mike Hammer. These guys were tough, fearless and gals were hanging on them like Spanish Moss in the swamps.
Award-winning author Behcet Kaya now introduces us to the real swamp detective, Jacques Ludefance, or Jack for short, in his novel Treacherous Estate.
Along Florida’s panhandle from Pensacola towards the west all the way to New Orleans, Jack has made this area his home. A man knowing his limitations and honest enough to divulge them; such as failing the F-18 Hornet pilot test while in the Navy, and making the biggest mistake of his life by having a one-night-stand with a woman while married, Jack often is mistaken by others. Unlucky in love and sometimes a bit awkward with women, he has the outward scar on his face obtained when bitten by an alligator as a kid and the inward scar of the loss of his loved wife to divorce. Jack is seeking to find himself while all the while bringing forth the frailties of a real man; when he is drawn into a new case. It seems the wife of a very powerful businessman dies right before him while at a restaurant, just a moment after handing Jack an envelope containing cash, passports and photographs of murdered Asian women.
Behcet Kaya brings readers in at ground zero – that is, knowing nothing about the woman, the photos or why she was giving Jack $20K in cash; but Jack took this as a presumptuous contract and began to investigate whatever leads he could muster. Along the way he finds out the dark culture of sex slavery, drugs, pornography, gold smuggling and corruption with military contractors by the husband of the deceased woman. Kaya masterfully weaves the threads of Jacque Ludefance’s life into a tapestry of credible events displaying the entire spectrum of a man seeking to find himself as he settles a personal vengeance with his investigation.
Jack’s character development is truly the key to this story, as readers will be intrigued with such a daring and cunning protagonist; a Private Investigator, willing to break the rules to find out what he needs to know. The dampness and beauty of the coastal regions, once devastated by hurricane Katrina, are reinstated to their inherent beauty by the vivid descriptions of the area with its beautiful beaches, restaurants and unbreakable will of the inhabitants. The challenges Jack faces solving this case are credible, believable and humble in their realistic sequence of events. There is more than one climax, so to speak, as Jack uncovers human sex trafficking from Vietnam and Malaysia along with the corruption, money laundering and murder that comes with the territory.
This book is very fast paced, gripping readers from the first page; with dynamic quick chapters, each leaving the reader with a bit of wit or a significant reveal.
The entertainment value of this book won’t disappoint. The synergy of the people, events and emotions, resulting in the whole being greater than the sum of the many subplots, makes Treacherous Estate an excellent introductory novel of a PI, Jacques Ludefance, who will win the respect of all readers. A character worthy of the mystery genre, and one we certainly hope to see again.
Pacific Book Review Star - Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
In the ever popular genre of detective stories is a subgroup referred to as Hard-Boiled; personified by the characters including Sam Spade by Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe, and Mickey Spillane’s infamous Mike Hammer. These guys were tough, fearless and gals were hanging on them like Spanish Moss in the swamps.
Award-winning author Behcet Kaya now introduces us to the real swamp detective, Jacques Ludefance, or Jack for short, in his novel Treacherous Estate.
Along Florida’s panhandle from Pensacola towards the west all the way to New Orleans, Jack has made this area his home. A man knowing his limitations and honest enough to divulge them; such as failing the F-18 Hornet pilot test while in the Navy, and making the biggest mistake of his life by having a one-night-stand with a woman while married, Jack often is mistaken by others. Unlucky in love and sometimes a bit awkward with women, he has the outward scar on his face obtained when bitten by an alligator as a kid and the inward scar of the loss of his loved wife to divorce. Jack is seeking to find himself while all the while bringing forth the frailties of a real man; when he is drawn into a new case. It seems the wife of a very powerful businessman dies right before him while at a restaurant, just a moment after handing Jack an envelope containing cash, passports and photographs of murdered Asian women.
Behcet Kaya brings readers in at ground zero – that is, knowing nothing about the woman, the photos or why she was giving Jack $20K in cash; but Jack took this as a presumptuous contract and began to investigate whatever leads he could muster. Along the way he finds out the dark culture of sex slavery, drugs, pornography, gold smuggling and corruption with military contractors by the husband of the deceased woman. Kaya masterfully weaves the threads of Jacque Ludefance’s life into a tapestry of credible events displaying the entire spectrum of a man seeking to find himself as he settles a personal vengeance with his investigation.
Jack’s character development is truly the key to this story, as readers will be intrigued with such a daring and cunning protagonist; a Private Investigator, willing to break the rules to find out what he needs to know. The dampness and beauty of the coastal regions, once devastated by hurricane Katrina, are reinstated to their inherent beauty by the vivid descriptions of the area with its beautiful beaches, restaurants and unbreakable will of the inhabitants. The challenges Jack faces solving this case are credible, believable and humble in their realistic sequence of events. There is more than one climax, so to speak, as Jack uncovers human sex trafficking from Vietnam and Malaysia along with the corruption, money laundering and murder that comes with the territory.
This book is very fast paced, gripping readers from the first page; with dynamic quick chapters, each leaving the reader with a bit of wit or a significant reveal.
The entertainment value of this book won’t disappoint. The synergy of the people, events and emotions, resulting in the whole being greater than the sum of the many subplots, makes Treacherous Estate an excellent introductory novel of a PI, Jacques Ludefance, who will win the respect of all readers. A character worthy of the mystery genre, and one we certainly hope to see again.
October 18, 2020
Treacherous Estate by Behcet Kaya
Starts with a quote and then the story. After his meal he notices a woman sits next to him while he drinks his beer and before he knows it she's fallen off the bar stool and she's dead. She was holding an envelope which he slipped into his pocket and then dialed 911.
Deputy informs him not to leave the local area....
Jacques has refurbished his houseboat and relocated after the divorce to Florida.
He was a PI and just takes small cases, usually spouses cheating on one another.
There is so much to this story and a few characters that really just blend into the plot. Love travel, figuring out what is what and who to go after the clues he's collected.
Love how it all comes together at the end but didn't see it anywhere close to that.
Can't wait to read more from this author.
I received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
Starts with a quote and then the story. After his meal he notices a woman sits next to him while he drinks his beer and before he knows it she's fallen off the bar stool and she's dead. She was holding an envelope which he slipped into his pocket and then dialed 911.
Deputy informs him not to leave the local area....
Jacques has refurbished his houseboat and relocated after the divorce to Florida.
He was a PI and just takes small cases, usually spouses cheating on one another.
There is so much to this story and a few characters that really just blend into the plot. Love travel, figuring out what is what and who to go after the clues he's collected.
Love how it all comes together at the end but didn't see it anywhere close to that.
Can't wait to read more from this author.
I received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
October 23, 2020
Treacherous Estate by Behcet Kaya is a crime story that will have you digging deeper into the death of Lillian Holler, while Jacques (Jack) Ledefance investigates. Lillian gives Jack an envelope of mysterious items just moments before she dies. As a Private Investigator, Jack feels compelled to uncover the mystery Lillian was hiring him to solve. Lillian’s husband would have been the obvious suspect, but they considered her death an accident. Can Jack uncover the real reason Lillian wanted to hire him, without him or his assistant, Katy, getting hurt or worse, killed?
I love the unique details Behcet Kaya sews within the pages of Treacherous Estate. He keeps the plot fresh with a twist of something unusual. I admired the integrity of PI Jack, but I had a hard time connecting to him. His strengths and weaknesses make him appear real, but less like a hero which is needed to stomach the nasty businesses Lillian’s husband runs.
I love the unique details Behcet Kaya sews within the pages of Treacherous Estate. He keeps the plot fresh with a twist of something unusual. I admired the integrity of PI Jack, but I had a hard time connecting to him. His strengths and weaknesses make him appear real, but less like a hero which is needed to stomach the nasty businesses Lillian’s husband runs.
September 13, 2020
“Can you help me, Mr. Ludef…?”
There is something to be said about the combination of a writer who also is an actor that somehow makes tension scenes more credible. At least that is the case with author Behçet Kaya who is also known by his stage name as an actor Ben Kaya (`Fast Food', `The Practice', `Being American' on film and numerous roles on the legitimate stages such as The Noise Within among others). Whether it is the fallout of thinking though a storyline or actually taking on the role of a fictional character, the result in the case of Behçet Kaya heightens the verismo as is evident in his short stories and his novels VOICE OF CONSCIENCE, MURDER ON THE NAVAL BASE, ROAD TO SIRAN: ERIN'S STORY and now his new novel TREACHEROUS ESTATE. True, his background of having been born and raised in a small village in Turkey, secretly consuming the exemplary works of the Turkish writer of Kurdish origin Yaşar Kemal, his subsequent rebellious flight to Istanbul and London, compelled and succeeding to earn a degree in engineering, his successful introduction to the stage while attending the inner London Education Authority and his subsequent move to the United States where he gained citizenship and worked successfully to achieve is Screen Actors Guild card after studies in Georgia, and then moving to Los Angeles to embrace both his acting ambitions and writing skills - all of this is the progress of a man committed to his art - and it shows.
To invite the readers unfamiliar with Behçet’s skill the books opening is offered – ‘Bayside Restaurant is a well-known, popular eatery situated on Santa Rosaria Sound in the small beach town of the same name. Due to its central location in the Panhandle of Northwest Florida,
its regular customers number in the hundreds, with people traveling from as far east as Panama City, as far west as Mobile, and some as far away as New Orleans. Friday nights are always filled with families and single people alike; all enjoying their meals. The atmosphere is that of a big log house with sturdy wooden tables and chairs. The restaurant has open patio dining and a bar looking over the marina which is the favorite spot of most diners. Across the sound one can see the highrise condominiums situated along the thin strip of Santa Rosaria Island and in the distance the beginning of the pristine nine-mile Gulf Islands National Seashore. The condos and homes along the Gulf are owned by a wealthy clientele, with homes priced into the millions. In the evenings, even when there is no moonlight, how beautiful the landscape is. The twinkling lights of cars look like kindling-light crossing over Santa Rosaria Bridge on the horizon. There is that luxuriant influence passing on like a celestial presence, with the bright and colorful lights from the high-rises reflecting in the waters of the sound, reminding one of a Disney dreamland. From the vantage point of the restaurant patio, it looks as if night and day are intermingled into one. In reality, it is neither day nor night; yet beyond the deep darkness, the night is smiling. On this particular late July Friday night, I was among the throng of diners sitting outside on the patio, enjoying a cooler than usual summer evening. After my dinner of barbecued ribs, baked beans, and Cole slaw, I settled my bill, moved to the patio bar and ordered a Samuel Adams. As I was taking a gulp from the large glass mug, I noticed a woman walk up to the stool next to me and sit down heavily. I glanced over, never missing an opportunity to check out a beautiful woman.’ And so the curtain rises on this brilliant little mystery.
The plot is well distilled – ‘While enjoying his usual Friday night after dinner beer at a local restaurant, Jacques (Jack) Ludefance’s evening is suddenly shattered when a beautiful young woman sits down next to him, whispers, “Mister, can you help me?” then falls dead. After her death is ruled ‘natural causes,’ Jack digs in to unravel the reasons she came to him desperately asking for his help and to investigate her mysterious death. To complicate matters further, her husband is a prominent, highly respected local business man. As Jack begins to unravel the pieces to the unsolved puzzle, the more heinous the crimes of the dead woman’s husband become and Jack finds his own life is in danger.
Behçet Kaya's gift is not limited to the creation of brilliant intriguing stories: his style of writing captures the exotic flavors, the traditions and social amenities of social encounters, giving the reader a sense of place like few other writers are capable of achieving. He is obviously one of our more important writers of the times and his niche in literature appears secure. Highly recommended on every level.
Merged review:
‘Behind every great fortune lies a great crime.’ - Balzac
There is something to be said about the combination of a writer who also is an actor that somehow makes tension scenes more credible. At least that is the case with author Behçet Kaya who is also known by his stage name as an actor Ben Kaya (`Fast Food', `The Practice', `Being American' on film and numerous roles on the legitimate stages such as The Noise Within among others). Whether it is the fallout of thinking though a storyline or actually taking on the role of a fictional character, the result in the case of Behçet Kaya heightens the verismo as is evident in his short stories and his novels. True, his background of having been born and raised in a small village in Turkey, secretly consuming the exemplary works of the Turkish writer of Kurdish origin Yaşar Kemal, his subsequent rebellious flight to Istanbul and London, compelled and succeeding to earn a degree in engineering, his successful introduction to the stage while attending the inner London Education Authority and his subsequent move to the United States where he gained citizenship and worked successfully to achieve his Screen Actors Guild card, moving to Los Angeles to embrace both his acting ambitions and writing skills - all of this is the progress of a man committed to his art - and it shows.
The subtle manner in which the author opens the door into his mystery is evident in the first lines: ‘Bayside Restaurant is a well-known, popular eatery situated on Santa Rosario Sound in the small beach town of the same name. Due to its central location in the Panhandle of Northwest Florida, its regular customers number in the hundreds, with people traveling from as far east as Panama City, as far west as Mobile, and some as far away as New Orleans…On this particular late July Friday night, I was among the throng of diners…As I was taking a gulp from the large glass mug, I noticed a woman walk up to the stool next to me and sit down heavily...For some reason, my mind went into full alert…’ Almost cinematically, the scene opens a keen mystery.
How significant is that event? The plot is well distilled – ‘While enjoying his usual Friday night after dinner beer at a local restaurant, Jacques (Jack) Ludefance’s evening is suddenly shattered when a beautiful young woman sits down next to him, whispers, “Mister, can you help me?” then falls dead. After her death is ruled ‘natural causes,’ Jack digs in to unravel the reasons she came to him desperately asking for his help and to investigate her mysterious death. To complicate matters further, her husband is a prominent, highly respected local business man. As Jack begins to unravel the pieces to the unsolved puzzle, the more heinous the crimes of the dead woman’s husband become and Jack finds his own life is in danger.’
Behçet Kaya's style of writing captures the essence of ‘mysteries,’ giving the reader a sense of place and tenor like few other writers are capable of achieving. He is obviously one of our more important writers of the times and his niche in literature is secure. Highly recommended on every level.
There is something to be said about the combination of a writer who also is an actor that somehow makes tension scenes more credible. At least that is the case with author Behçet Kaya who is also known by his stage name as an actor Ben Kaya (`Fast Food', `The Practice', `Being American' on film and numerous roles on the legitimate stages such as The Noise Within among others). Whether it is the fallout of thinking though a storyline or actually taking on the role of a fictional character, the result in the case of Behçet Kaya heightens the verismo as is evident in his short stories and his novels VOICE OF CONSCIENCE, MURDER ON THE NAVAL BASE, ROAD TO SIRAN: ERIN'S STORY and now his new novel TREACHEROUS ESTATE. True, his background of having been born and raised in a small village in Turkey, secretly consuming the exemplary works of the Turkish writer of Kurdish origin Yaşar Kemal, his subsequent rebellious flight to Istanbul and London, compelled and succeeding to earn a degree in engineering, his successful introduction to the stage while attending the inner London Education Authority and his subsequent move to the United States where he gained citizenship and worked successfully to achieve is Screen Actors Guild card after studies in Georgia, and then moving to Los Angeles to embrace both his acting ambitions and writing skills - all of this is the progress of a man committed to his art - and it shows.
To invite the readers unfamiliar with Behçet’s skill the books opening is offered – ‘Bayside Restaurant is a well-known, popular eatery situated on Santa Rosaria Sound in the small beach town of the same name. Due to its central location in the Panhandle of Northwest Florida,
its regular customers number in the hundreds, with people traveling from as far east as Panama City, as far west as Mobile, and some as far away as New Orleans. Friday nights are always filled with families and single people alike; all enjoying their meals. The atmosphere is that of a big log house with sturdy wooden tables and chairs. The restaurant has open patio dining and a bar looking over the marina which is the favorite spot of most diners. Across the sound one can see the highrise condominiums situated along the thin strip of Santa Rosaria Island and in the distance the beginning of the pristine nine-mile Gulf Islands National Seashore. The condos and homes along the Gulf are owned by a wealthy clientele, with homes priced into the millions. In the evenings, even when there is no moonlight, how beautiful the landscape is. The twinkling lights of cars look like kindling-light crossing over Santa Rosaria Bridge on the horizon. There is that luxuriant influence passing on like a celestial presence, with the bright and colorful lights from the high-rises reflecting in the waters of the sound, reminding one of a Disney dreamland. From the vantage point of the restaurant patio, it looks as if night and day are intermingled into one. In reality, it is neither day nor night; yet beyond the deep darkness, the night is smiling. On this particular late July Friday night, I was among the throng of diners sitting outside on the patio, enjoying a cooler than usual summer evening. After my dinner of barbecued ribs, baked beans, and Cole slaw, I settled my bill, moved to the patio bar and ordered a Samuel Adams. As I was taking a gulp from the large glass mug, I noticed a woman walk up to the stool next to me and sit down heavily. I glanced over, never missing an opportunity to check out a beautiful woman.’ And so the curtain rises on this brilliant little mystery.
The plot is well distilled – ‘While enjoying his usual Friday night after dinner beer at a local restaurant, Jacques (Jack) Ludefance’s evening is suddenly shattered when a beautiful young woman sits down next to him, whispers, “Mister, can you help me?” then falls dead. After her death is ruled ‘natural causes,’ Jack digs in to unravel the reasons she came to him desperately asking for his help and to investigate her mysterious death. To complicate matters further, her husband is a prominent, highly respected local business man. As Jack begins to unravel the pieces to the unsolved puzzle, the more heinous the crimes of the dead woman’s husband become and Jack finds his own life is in danger.
Behçet Kaya's gift is not limited to the creation of brilliant intriguing stories: his style of writing captures the exotic flavors, the traditions and social amenities of social encounters, giving the reader a sense of place like few other writers are capable of achieving. He is obviously one of our more important writers of the times and his niche in literature appears secure. Highly recommended on every level.
Merged review:
‘Behind every great fortune lies a great crime.’ - Balzac
There is something to be said about the combination of a writer who also is an actor that somehow makes tension scenes more credible. At least that is the case with author Behçet Kaya who is also known by his stage name as an actor Ben Kaya (`Fast Food', `The Practice', `Being American' on film and numerous roles on the legitimate stages such as The Noise Within among others). Whether it is the fallout of thinking though a storyline or actually taking on the role of a fictional character, the result in the case of Behçet Kaya heightens the verismo as is evident in his short stories and his novels. True, his background of having been born and raised in a small village in Turkey, secretly consuming the exemplary works of the Turkish writer of Kurdish origin Yaşar Kemal, his subsequent rebellious flight to Istanbul and London, compelled and succeeding to earn a degree in engineering, his successful introduction to the stage while attending the inner London Education Authority and his subsequent move to the United States where he gained citizenship and worked successfully to achieve his Screen Actors Guild card, moving to Los Angeles to embrace both his acting ambitions and writing skills - all of this is the progress of a man committed to his art - and it shows.
The subtle manner in which the author opens the door into his mystery is evident in the first lines: ‘Bayside Restaurant is a well-known, popular eatery situated on Santa Rosario Sound in the small beach town of the same name. Due to its central location in the Panhandle of Northwest Florida, its regular customers number in the hundreds, with people traveling from as far east as Panama City, as far west as Mobile, and some as far away as New Orleans…On this particular late July Friday night, I was among the throng of diners…As I was taking a gulp from the large glass mug, I noticed a woman walk up to the stool next to me and sit down heavily...For some reason, my mind went into full alert…’ Almost cinematically, the scene opens a keen mystery.
How significant is that event? The plot is well distilled – ‘While enjoying his usual Friday night after dinner beer at a local restaurant, Jacques (Jack) Ludefance’s evening is suddenly shattered when a beautiful young woman sits down next to him, whispers, “Mister, can you help me?” then falls dead. After her death is ruled ‘natural causes,’ Jack digs in to unravel the reasons she came to him desperately asking for his help and to investigate her mysterious death. To complicate matters further, her husband is a prominent, highly respected local business man. As Jack begins to unravel the pieces to the unsolved puzzle, the more heinous the crimes of the dead woman’s husband become and Jack finds his own life is in danger.’
Behçet Kaya's style of writing captures the essence of ‘mysteries,’ giving the reader a sense of place and tenor like few other writers are capable of achieving. He is obviously one of our more important writers of the times and his niche in literature is secure. Highly recommended on every level.
February 16, 2021
Most enjoyable read.
January 10, 2021
Treacherous Estate by Behcet Kaya reinvigorates the classic PI detective story, this one featuring Jacques (Jack) Ludefance affectionately known by the sheriff as Ludicrous. The setting is the northwest part of Florida, with the opening and fast-paced scene in a local drinking spot. Jack is simply minding his own business when a lady collapses on the stool next to his. That is after she hands him a mysterious envelope. Jack starts his investigation and discovers a world of crime and intrigue linked to the late woman's husband, a prominent local businessman. Jack himself is a well defined and interesting character, always just ahead of law enforcement in figuring out what is going on crime-wise. With a fast pace, down to earth writing, and a solid plot, this is a book you won't want to miss. The scene-setting and backdrop add to the overall flavor of this book giving it a relatable quality as well. Finely written and highly recommended.
November 2, 2020
I love a novel that gets right into the action and that is definitely true of ‘Treacherous Estate’ by Ben Kaya. PI Jack Ludefance is enjoying his Friday Night Meal when an unknown woman lands at his table and drops down dead just after pleading for his help. Her death would be suspicious enough, but it is revealed she is the wife of a prominent local businessman, who doesn’t exactly play by the book. When her death is ruled ‘natural causes’ it does not sit well with Jack and he is determined to discover what happened to her and why.
I really loved the contemporary take on classic Noir fiction, with the troubled gumshoe doing whatever it takes to get to the bottom of a mystery no one else believes exists. A five star read for a lazy winter weekend!
I really loved the contemporary take on classic Noir fiction, with the troubled gumshoe doing whatever it takes to get to the bottom of a mystery no one else believes exists. A five star read for a lazy winter weekend!
January 15, 2021
Action packed and OMG!
After a lady dies at his favorite Friday night eatery, Jack is on the case. At the role right before she died she did say help me right before falling to the ground dead. What’s more interesting to him than her murder is her husband and all the shadiness that goes along with him. He even get someone on the inside defined out the inns and outs of Jonathan‘s business. This is the first book in the Jack Ludefance series and he comes out like gangbusters and even goes international. I love Jack’s stories and have bread too so far can’t wait to read more. This is a book I highly recommend it isn’t that long but it is so worth the read.
After a lady dies at his favorite Friday night eatery, Jack is on the case. At the role right before she died she did say help me right before falling to the ground dead. What’s more interesting to him than her murder is her husband and all the shadiness that goes along with him. He even get someone on the inside defined out the inns and outs of Jonathan‘s business. This is the first book in the Jack Ludefance series and he comes out like gangbusters and even goes international. I love Jack’s stories and have bread too so far can’t wait to read more. This is a book I highly recommend it isn’t that long but it is so worth the read.
October 22, 2020
The book jumps straight into the plot and remains intense and fast paced throughout. The story is fantastic but the authors use of language is remarkable. Behcet Kaya is a really talented writer and this book showcases his skill perfectly. The plot is intriguing and Kaya is well versed in keeping the reader’s attention.
February 16, 2021
Fantastic writing!
March 2, 2021
Jacques (Jack) Ludefance’s life is changed forever when a beautiful and mysterious woman sits next to him at dinner, pleads for his help, and then drops dead. From there this book is full of interesting twists and turns that will keep you on your toes as Jack delves into this woman's life, desperate to understand what happened to her, and finds himself in grave danger. I found this book to be exciting and fun. With a beginning like this, I knew that it would be a hard book to put down and I finished it in only a couple of readings. The story is an engaging read with a quick-pace. The settings and characters of this book are vivid and interesting. I found the mystery to be intriguing and enjoyed watching Jack try to solve what seemed like an unsolvable case. Jack himself is full of life and I will definitely be reading more books in his series to see where his story goes.
February 16, 2021
Most enjoyable book ever!
February 16, 2021
This was awesome.
February 17, 2021
Very good plot. Recommended.
March 2, 2021
Jack Ludefance, PI, is given information by Lillian Holler, previously Huey Nguyen, about her husband, Jonathan Holler, and then dies. What a start to a novel!
As Jack investigates Holler, and his company, he involves a young woman, Katy Ozener, to infiltrate the organization and gain information. They found out that Holler is involved with several military persons, as well as C130 cargo planes, drugs, and young girls being smuggled into the country.
As Jack uncovers more details, things become more dangerous for him and those around him. He depends on an old army, Lawson, for help.
Again, Jack displays his womanizing, but also his soft side.
Glad I read this novel, as it provides characters information that is referenced in later novels.
As Jack investigates Holler, and his company, he involves a young woman, Katy Ozener, to infiltrate the organization and gain information. They found out that Holler is involved with several military persons, as well as C130 cargo planes, drugs, and young girls being smuggled into the country.
As Jack uncovers more details, things become more dangerous for him and those around him. He depends on an old army, Lawson, for help.
Again, Jack displays his womanizing, but also his soft side.
Glad I read this novel, as it provides characters information that is referenced in later novels.
May 7, 2021
Even though this book is the first in the series, this is the second book I've read. I very much enjoyed Body in the Woods and was quite happy to read its predecessor. Before I go into the review, I would like to start off by saying I finished this book in one day. Even though it is quite long, it took a couple of hours. However, I had nothing important to do, and I couldn't bring myself to put it down.
Behcet Kaya has done an incredible job. It's a well-researched book and the characters are very entertaining and well-developed. Of course, Jack was my favorite. I especially like how Jack approaches the case. It's slow and steady, but it all makes sense. Not only does Jack investigate the case, but he also has his own life and problems he is dealing with. The book itself is easy to read and the flow of events happens steadily. There is nothing that I found confusing or exaggerated. All in all, it is an incredible read.
Behcet Kaya has done an incredible job. It's a well-researched book and the characters are very entertaining and well-developed. Of course, Jack was my favorite. I especially like how Jack approaches the case. It's slow and steady, but it all makes sense. Not only does Jack investigate the case, but he also has his own life and problems he is dealing with. The book itself is easy to read and the flow of events happens steadily. There is nothing that I found confusing or exaggerated. All in all, it is an incredible read.
March 15, 2021
The main character Jack Ludefance is an old school private investigator who finds himself investigating the death of a beautiful young woman putting his own life in jeopardy. The case fell into Jack lap (literally) as he was out having a drink when a young woman came along and sat at the side of him, handed him an envelope and asked for help before she collapsed and died in front of him! the woman death was ruled as “natural causes” by the authorities but Jack isn’t convinced so he decides to dig a little deeper into the woman’s life and finds many shocking discoveries including drugs, slavery, corruption and a very powerful business man who was the woman’s husband.
I read the first novel by Bechet Kaya and thoroughly enjoyed it so its no surprise that i was excited to read this one too!
I found Treacherous Estate to be a compelling mystery/thriller with so many twists and turns to the plot that I couldn’t stop turning the pages in haste to read more. I was always in a rush to get to the next chapter to try and figure out where the story would lead next, but every time I got there the plot changed leaving me in total anticipation for the next chapter! this is what makes a novel great for me, reading something that keeps me uncertain and constantly guessing and this novel did just that. I loved how daring and intriguing Jacks character was, he came to life in this story and I found my self facing the challenges with him as he tried to solve the mystery.
I read the first novel by Bechet Kaya and thoroughly enjoyed it so its no surprise that i was excited to read this one too!
I found Treacherous Estate to be a compelling mystery/thriller with so many twists and turns to the plot that I couldn’t stop turning the pages in haste to read more. I was always in a rush to get to the next chapter to try and figure out where the story would lead next, but every time I got there the plot changed leaving me in total anticipation for the next chapter! this is what makes a novel great for me, reading something that keeps me uncertain and constantly guessing and this novel did just that. I loved how daring and intriguing Jacks character was, he came to life in this story and I found my self facing the challenges with him as he tried to solve the mystery.
October 2, 2021
Was this book a joke written by a grown man or was this book some warped fantasy written by an adolescent boy? Read this book if you want to hate read something! This gem of a line towards the end really solidified the level of maturity of the author in my mind:
"She [a random waitress who never reappears in the book after this line] poured beer into large glass mugs and handed me one, and I had a tough time not staring at her obviously oversized breasts."
This mentioning of boobs is apropros of nothing btw. Like, what? Why?
The author has somehow gamed Goodreads ratings, which is obvious to me now, but in the future I'm going to scrutinize the reviews more closely!
"She [a random waitress who never reappears in the book after this line] poured beer into large glass mugs and handed me one, and I had a tough time not staring at her obviously oversized breasts."
This mentioning of boobs is apropros of nothing btw. Like, what? Why?
The author has somehow gamed Goodreads ratings, which is obvious to me now, but in the future I'm going to scrutinize the reviews more closely!
September 29, 2021
The worst book I have EVER read. Don’t bother - it’s appallingly bad.
October 9, 2023
Readable, but pretty basic even for a ‘gumshoe’ novel. I didn’t find the main character ‘charming’ or intriguing in the least. I didn’t expect a lot of depth…but geez. The couple attempts at introspect weren’t bad, and his confidence level was sometimes likeable aside from the arrogance.
The political comments didn’t add anything to the story. One may have had some merit had they not been simply stated as strong bias.
I don’t think the handling of Emma or Katy was done well at all. I’m not looking for sentimentality, but it was super shallow and self-centered.
Hurrah for him, he didn’t pay for sex. But, the descriptions of supposed authentic intimacy were pretty laughable. Re Debra: “The one woman I could see a future with.” Presumptive as shit. “I didn’t even know her now.” As if he did after two dates? Give me a break.
Not a nuance to be found. Not having sex with whores is along the lines of not hitting women. It’s a long fucking way from seeing them as people. The male characters were all described in much more detail. The nicknames were about as interesting as it got.
Author’s voices always come through. That’s entirely different from deliberately portraying a character as an ass. One would expect the main character to have rough edges. One of the few things I did admire is that when he lost his wife for cheating, he took it like a real man despite his momentary loneliness.
The story line wasn’t too bad, even if the most detailed event was a random car chase.
Mm, yeah, along with grammatical errors, I was not real impressed. But I was able read it to the end. I’m tenacious that way.
Then, at the end, the conclusion was terribly anti-climactic. I was hoping for the Sheriff to be the tie to the Military big guns or SOMETHING. Again, geez. I won’t be waiting for a ‘story on another day’ to see if Lee gets a call months after a one-night stand or anything else. Novels are my coping mechanism for disappointment IRL. Seeing as I read cereal boxes, I’m not that hard to please and I found this disappointing. I actually regret continuing to rip this apart, but fewer and fewer people read now. I hate to think this kind of experience would discourage them. I hope this author hones their skill!
The political comments didn’t add anything to the story. One may have had some merit had they not been simply stated as strong bias.
I don’t think the handling of Emma or Katy was done well at all. I’m not looking for sentimentality, but it was super shallow and self-centered.
Hurrah for him, he didn’t pay for sex. But, the descriptions of supposed authentic intimacy were pretty laughable. Re Debra: “The one woman I could see a future with.” Presumptive as shit. “I didn’t even know her now.” As if he did after two dates? Give me a break.
Not a nuance to be found. Not having sex with whores is along the lines of not hitting women. It’s a long fucking way from seeing them as people. The male characters were all described in much more detail. The nicknames were about as interesting as it got.
Author’s voices always come through. That’s entirely different from deliberately portraying a character as an ass. One would expect the main character to have rough edges. One of the few things I did admire is that when he lost his wife for cheating, he took it like a real man despite his momentary loneliness.
The story line wasn’t too bad, even if the most detailed event was a random car chase.
Mm, yeah, along with grammatical errors, I was not real impressed. But I was able read it to the end. I’m tenacious that way.
Then, at the end, the conclusion was terribly anti-climactic. I was hoping for the Sheriff to be the tie to the Military big guns or SOMETHING. Again, geez. I won’t be waiting for a ‘story on another day’ to see if Lee gets a call months after a one-night stand or anything else. Novels are my coping mechanism for disappointment IRL. Seeing as I read cereal boxes, I’m not that hard to please and I found this disappointing. I actually regret continuing to rip this apart, but fewer and fewer people read now. I hate to think this kind of experience would discourage them. I hope this author hones their skill!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2021
An old school PI crime story. Sufficiently entertaining though some plot points felt rushed and all too convenient. Somewhere between 3.5 to 4.0*.
July 25, 2021
Horrible writing and awful editing! Hated the main character.
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