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Scott Jarvis Private Investigator #2
The Ledger: A Florida Action Adventure Novel
A year has passed since Scott Jarvis left the Orlando PD and struck out on his own to thwart an organized crime plot to smuggle classified military secrets to Cuba. He's settled in as a private eye and his new business is doing well, and his only problem these days is whether or not he should hire a secretary to help him with the workload.
Like the unsuspecting fly who stumbles into the spider's parlor, however, young Jarvis is about to find himself wrapped up in a tangled web that only becomes more complex and deadly the harder he struggles...
It starts on a cold and rainy January morning when Jarvis goes to meet a beautiful young woman who needs him to track down her ex-boyfriend. The same day, a supermarket chain asks for his help to find out who's stealing from them... and a well-known billionaire hires Jarvis to find his missing valuables, including a coded personal journal that could ruin the philanthropist.
What Jarvis doesn't know is that these three seemingly separate and mundane cases are slowly spiraling down together into a dark and shadowy world of intrigue, sexual predation, false identities and murder. Can the young Orlando private sleuth unravel the mystery before it consumes him and everyone involved?
Like the unsuspecting fly who stumbles into the spider's parlor, however, young Jarvis is about to find himself wrapped up in a tangled web that only becomes more complex and deadly the harder he struggles...
It starts on a cold and rainy January morning when Jarvis goes to meet a beautiful young woman who needs him to track down her ex-boyfriend. The same day, a supermarket chain asks for his help to find out who's stealing from them... and a well-known billionaire hires Jarvis to find his missing valuables, including a coded personal journal that could ruin the philanthropist.
What Jarvis doesn't know is that these three seemingly separate and mundane cases are slowly spiraling down together into a dark and shadowy world of intrigue, sexual predation, false identities and murder. Can the young Orlando private sleuth unravel the mystery before it consumes him and everyone involved?
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2018
115 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 14, 2025
Hmmm, it should be a two star rating, but I did find The Ledger amusing.
The premise of the series is sound, the protagonist is well crafted, and the plot was solid but perhaps too convoluted. This is definitely a throwback to the glory days of American pulp fiction detective stories- the first person narrator even repeatedly mentions the genre and characters like Philip Marlow. And there is the problem. Scott Jarvis is no Marlow or Nick Charles or Mike Hammer. He is a pastiche of the hard-boiled detective and an irritating narrator. His self-referential style, prepubescent sense of humour, and manner spoil the narrative and diminish what could be a far better book. I will give the third book a crack and see if there is improvement just in case I'm missing the irony or the intentional irreverence.
The premise of the series is sound, the protagonist is well crafted, and the plot was solid but perhaps too convoluted. This is definitely a throwback to the glory days of American pulp fiction detective stories- the first person narrator even repeatedly mentions the genre and characters like Philip Marlow. And there is the problem. Scott Jarvis is no Marlow or Nick Charles or Mike Hammer. He is a pastiche of the hard-boiled detective and an irritating narrator. His self-referential style, prepubescent sense of humour, and manner spoil the narrative and diminish what could be a far better book. I will give the third book a crack and see if there is improvement just in case I'm missing the irony or the intentional irreverence.
September 2, 2023
A little closer to Travis And John. But in a good way.
Ok the Florida setting, the obvious familiarity with the region, even the mind of our hero are all so Travis McGee but not in a plageristic way. More of an ode to a favorite character perhaps? If Scott Cook is not a John D McDonald fan I will be as surprised as Jarvis's targets are. Two books in, still wanting more, on the verge of becoming a Scott Jarvis fan. Please don't have one of the remaining books use a color coded title?!!!
Ok the Florida setting, the obvious familiarity with the region, even the mind of our hero are all so Travis McGee but not in a plageristic way. More of an ode to a favorite character perhaps? If Scott Cook is not a John D McDonald fan I will be as surprised as Jarvis's targets are. Two books in, still wanting more, on the verge of becoming a Scott Jarvis fan. Please don't have one of the remaining books use a color coded title?!!!
July 15, 2021
In the Shadows
So quick and filled with action that you almost have to take a breath and put your hands on your knees. Scott Cook's books are fast paced and full of action. He uses allot of truth about the area so that the fiction parts are more believable. Living just south of where the are set, makes it even more exciting. Onto the next great Scott Jarvis adventure.
So quick and filled with action that you almost have to take a breath and put your hands on your knees. Scott Cook's books are fast paced and full of action. He uses allot of truth about the area so that the fiction parts are more believable. Living just south of where the are set, makes it even more exciting. Onto the next great Scott Jarvis adventure.
April 16, 2024
No Elvis and he is missing Pike
Another world class Detective but not quite on the same level as Elvis Cole . this story was a great deal better than the first effort. There is a lot of detail and sometimes to much but easy to skim and not miss anything important. The characters were well defined and easy to follow. The Ledger was a fun read and a surprise ending. Enjoy
Another world class Detective but not quite on the same level as Elvis Cole . this story was a great deal better than the first effort. There is a lot of detail and sometimes to much but easy to skim and not miss anything important. The characters were well defined and easy to follow. The Ledger was a fun read and a surprise ending. Enjoy
May 2, 2023
I previously enjoyed Scott's Bull Shark series, but I think he's really found himself in his Scott Jarvis, Private Investigator works! I'm really drawn, and already into the 3rd of the series!
Just two complaints: coffee with cream & sugar & scotch & ginger ale? Don't seem too "manly" to me!
Just two complaints: coffee with cream & sugar & scotch & ginger ale? Don't seem too "manly" to me!
May 7, 2023
Entertaining and a delight to read
Keeps one on its toes keeping up with the twists and turns. Excitement on every turn, with just the right amount of sexy interludes to make it interesting but not gross. Very well written.
Rock on!
Keeps one on its toes keeping up with the twists and turns. Excitement on every turn, with just the right amount of sexy interludes to make it interesting but not gross. Very well written.
Rock on!
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May 30, 2023Phillip Marlowe 21st century
Classic version redo DELUXE. I really enjoyed it EXCEPT for the overwhelming use of the "f" word. Ahhhh! Negotiating point in the 2023 Writers strike.....
The computer that is the brain is the true wonder of the world no matter when you were born.
Classic version redo DELUXE. I really enjoyed it EXCEPT for the overwhelming use of the "f" word. Ahhhh! Negotiating point in the 2023 Writers strike.....
The computer that is the brain is the true wonder of the world no matter when you were born.
November 13, 2023
Mickey spalone type detective story
It was a fun read, mostly tied together well. If I had one comment for the Author is to loose the F words and gutter talk. It’s just not necessary. Think Bogart, he didn’t need to be offensive to thrust his character forward. My two cents
It was a fun read, mostly tied together well. If I had one comment for the Author is to loose the F words and gutter talk. It’s just not necessary. Think Bogart, he didn’t need to be offensive to thrust his character forward. My two cents
August 5, 2022
Very interesting !
Pretty good follow up for ole Scott Jarvis ! Got a little wordy at times but kept my interest to the very end !
Pretty good follow up for ole Scott Jarvis ! Got a little wordy at times but kept my interest to the very end !
January 22, 2025
Scott jarvis, solves another case involving several different confusing turns, in the end, he surprises us all with how it all got started. 5 stars
September 14, 2023
Great story line and enjoyed the book a lot. I have already downloaded the next book in this series
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews