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Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan Mystery Series #2
Family Business: Ein Fall für Delpha
After a serial killer almost murdered Delpha Wade (The Do-Right, 2015), the county hospital releases her into the handcuffs of the city police for questioning. The reason is she killed the man who was trying to kill her, and she is, after all, an ex-con. It's still Beaumont, 1970s, and mindsets don't change along the Texas Gulf Coast. Her boss, the neophyte private detective Tom Phelan, awaits her, and soon they are once again in deep shit. It seems like an easy case--one Bird brother looking for the long-lost other--but it turns out that one brother is a murderer. He likes to slit throats. But which one? Maybe the young girl who sees into the dark places of human hearts can help. But only Delpha is wise enough to listen.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2019
160 people are currently reading
535 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Sandlin
16 books87 followersLisa Sandlin was born in the Gulf Coast oil town of Beaumont, Texas, and lived there before and after a transfer sent her family to Naples, Italy, for three years. She graduated from Rice University in Houston and then lived many years in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Once she had earned an M.F.A. in Writing at Vermont College, Sandlin packed a small car and headed for Nebraska in January. She taught at Wayne State College 1997-2009, with semester leaves to teach at The University of Texas and Kadir Has University in Istanbul, Turkey, and at University of Nebraska Omaha 2009-2018. Her books are "The Famous Thing About Death" (Cinco Puntos Press, 1991); "Message to the Nurse of Dreams" (Cinco Puntos Press, 1997), winner of the Violet Crown Award from the Austin Writers League and the Jesse H. Jones Award from the Texas Institute of Letters; "In the River Province" (Southern Methodist University Press, 2004), a finalist for the Jones award; "You Who Make the Sky Bend," (Pinyon Publishing), a collaboration with New Mexican retablo artist Catherine Ferguson, NM Book Award. Lately she has written two noir mysteries from Cinco Puntos Press: "The Do-Right" (2015), winner of the Shamus Award and the Hammett Prize, and "The Bird Boys" (2019). She is a professor emeritus of the Writer's Workshop at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
August 20, 2019
Best book I've read this year. While a literary and beautifully descriptive writer, Lisa Sandlin can also construct a great plot about meaningful subjects. This second Tom Phelan & Delpha Wade book easily equals the first.
Highly, highly recommended to everyone on Goodreads.
Sandlin writes with great empathy and, as a Beaumont native, is the rare writer who doesn't sneer at this part of the world and the people who inhabit it. What a relief! Beyond that, here are a few of the many, many passages I enjoyed. The first, in particular, nails the refinery towns I have grown up in and worked in:
"Without the refinery, Port Arthur might be a village with a little fishing, people selling to day-trippers down to dabble in the water or serving the bankers whose sailboats snugged into the marina. Refinery gave you hamburger and chicken five nights a week instead of macaroni or collards and cornbread, gave your family a pickup truck and a sedan, sent your girl to nursing school and your boy to college with a slipstick in a case."
A few other gems--For example, In a general store scene:
"She hefted a double-barrel to her square shoulder like she needed to hold off Housewares with it."
in a jail scene,
"These items were puny and a surprise and their juju all the stronger for that."
and in a legal scene "throwing the protection of the law over her like a coat and not a net."
The Bird Boys deserves every award I hope it wins.
Highly, highly recommended to everyone on Goodreads.
Sandlin writes with great empathy and, as a Beaumont native, is the rare writer who doesn't sneer at this part of the world and the people who inhabit it. What a relief! Beyond that, here are a few of the many, many passages I enjoyed. The first, in particular, nails the refinery towns I have grown up in and worked in:
"Without the refinery, Port Arthur might be a village with a little fishing, people selling to day-trippers down to dabble in the water or serving the bankers whose sailboats snugged into the marina. Refinery gave you hamburger and chicken five nights a week instead of macaroni or collards and cornbread, gave your family a pickup truck and a sedan, sent your girl to nursing school and your boy to college with a slipstick in a case."
A few other gems--For example, In a general store scene:
"She hefted a double-barrel to her square shoulder like she needed to hold off Housewares with it."
in a jail scene,
"These items were puny and a surprise and their juju all the stronger for that."
and in a legal scene "throwing the protection of the law over her like a coat and not a net."
The Bird Boys deserves every award I hope it wins.
September 20, 2019
I've decided I love Lisa Sandlin's writing! I loved "The Do-Right" in 2015, and waited impatiently for this sequel, the second Delpha Wade/Tom Phelan detective tale. I have not been disappointed. I love the terse, spare noir sensibility, and the vivid setting (1970's Beaumont Texas, just across the line from Louisiana). where Cajun and Texan attitudes intertwine. This is technically a mystery (all sleuthing done pre-internet, without so much as a cell phone to facilitate the research) but it's a series of character studies above all, and is told with such creativity that I suspect Sandlin could make a phone book sound interesting. Opening pages set a scene that takes place immediately after the end of the prior book: Delpha is once again being interrogated by police after she has killed a man, but THIS time she has a lawyer competent to defend her: a man who walked "like wherever he went, the street beneath his feel welcomed him," and who "emitted serene, tailored, carnivorous readiness." This time her lawyer will "throw the protections of the law over her like a coat and not a net."
The mystery is satisfyingly complex, and the setting will make you grateful you didn't live then, while making clear how much society has changed in the interim. Neophyte Private Investigator Tom Phelan grows increasingly to realize that his ex-con receptionist Delpha has all the instincts of a true detective, and he is smart enough to welcome her help. I am astonished that these two books have not gotten more publicity: Sandlin is a writer to watch!
The mystery is satisfyingly complex, and the setting will make you grateful you didn't live then, while making clear how much society has changed in the interim. Neophyte Private Investigator Tom Phelan grows increasingly to realize that his ex-con receptionist Delpha has all the instincts of a true detective, and he is smart enough to welcome her help. I am astonished that these two books have not gotten more publicity: Sandlin is a writer to watch!
August 25, 2019
I received a copy of this book for free. This is my honest and thoughtful review.
As a huge fan of the mystery genre, I was immediately drawn to the synopsis and the cover. Dark, creepy, and eerie looking, and following a near miss from a serial killer, I was excited to get started on this one. Unfortunately, there quickly seemed to be something that I wasn't connecting with, and I have to believe that it was the "noir" conventions that were just not for me. Nihilism and cynicism colored the mood, and everyone seemed to be entangled in a web of doom and gloom of their own making. While Tom and Delpha try to do the best they can for their clients who are bent on self-destruction themselves, a cloud of fatalism cast its shadow and followed everyone around.
Overall, the storytelling is striking, and I can acknowledge the definite appeal this series has to a wide audience; I just need a little more optimism in my reading. I can absolutely appreciate and understand what makes this series so special and an entertaining and enthralling read for many; however, for me, it was slightly too literary for my taste and attention span right now.
"Soon as the office was cleared for business, Phelan trashed the yellow crime tape and hired industrial cleaning guys to blast the blood from the wood floor, patch up the stain. He'd paid them extra to work on the weekend. Still smelled funky though. Bleachy - and underneath, a whiff of something live, gone over. He pushed up the windows and let Beaumont's August heat K.O. his stuttering AC unit."
Personal preference aside, this is a fantastically modern call back to the classic detective story. Set in 1970s Beaumont, the story is incredibly atmospheric and intensely descriptive, capturing the setting of this town in such a gripping way that in a sense it becomes its own character as well. Having grown up in a coastal refinery town myself, I could smell the oil burning and feel the heat and humidity resonating off the page. Every word matters, and the author uses language stylistically to not just captivate with her descriptions, but create strong dialogue and internal conversation. Yet, for me, the narrative became overwhelmed with too many words that implied more than it seemed to just come right out and say. I found myself getting lost and ultimately feeling detached towards a story that I initially assumed would work for me.
"The library drew her, and not just for the books - the building, rough limestone blocks, a towered and turreted castle fit for a river king. Close behind the castle ran the slow brown Neches."
Not surprisingly, the scenes revolving around case research and the library were phenomenal! Book lovers will definitely be transfixed by the author's ability to envelope readers in the complete essence of the bookish experience.
The reading experience is deeply personal to each of us, and what may not work for me may be the exact right read for you. This original voice weaves together a compellingly gritty character study that remains steadfast to its thematically bleak truth. Definitely begin with the first book, THE DO-RIGHT, to fully embrace this edgy and wholly intelligent genre.
As a huge fan of the mystery genre, I was immediately drawn to the synopsis and the cover. Dark, creepy, and eerie looking, and following a near miss from a serial killer, I was excited to get started on this one. Unfortunately, there quickly seemed to be something that I wasn't connecting with, and I have to believe that it was the "noir" conventions that were just not for me. Nihilism and cynicism colored the mood, and everyone seemed to be entangled in a web of doom and gloom of their own making. While Tom and Delpha try to do the best they can for their clients who are bent on self-destruction themselves, a cloud of fatalism cast its shadow and followed everyone around.
Overall, the storytelling is striking, and I can acknowledge the definite appeal this series has to a wide audience; I just need a little more optimism in my reading. I can absolutely appreciate and understand what makes this series so special and an entertaining and enthralling read for many; however, for me, it was slightly too literary for my taste and attention span right now.
"Soon as the office was cleared for business, Phelan trashed the yellow crime tape and hired industrial cleaning guys to blast the blood from the wood floor, patch up the stain. He'd paid them extra to work on the weekend. Still smelled funky though. Bleachy - and underneath, a whiff of something live, gone over. He pushed up the windows and let Beaumont's August heat K.O. his stuttering AC unit."
Personal preference aside, this is a fantastically modern call back to the classic detective story. Set in 1970s Beaumont, the story is incredibly atmospheric and intensely descriptive, capturing the setting of this town in such a gripping way that in a sense it becomes its own character as well. Having grown up in a coastal refinery town myself, I could smell the oil burning and feel the heat and humidity resonating off the page. Every word matters, and the author uses language stylistically to not just captivate with her descriptions, but create strong dialogue and internal conversation. Yet, for me, the narrative became overwhelmed with too many words that implied more than it seemed to just come right out and say. I found myself getting lost and ultimately feeling detached towards a story that I initially assumed would work for me.
"The library drew her, and not just for the books - the building, rough limestone blocks, a towered and turreted castle fit for a river king. Close behind the castle ran the slow brown Neches."
Not surprisingly, the scenes revolving around case research and the library were phenomenal! Book lovers will definitely be transfixed by the author's ability to envelope readers in the complete essence of the bookish experience.
The reading experience is deeply personal to each of us, and what may not work for me may be the exact right read for you. This original voice weaves together a compellingly gritty character study that remains steadfast to its thematically bleak truth. Definitely begin with the first book, THE DO-RIGHT, to fully embrace this edgy and wholly intelligent genre.
September 24, 2019
"The Bird Boys" is the sequel to "The Do-Right", continuing the story of private investigator Tom Phelan and his secretary, Delpha Wade. The previous book ended with Delpha killing a child abuser and serial killer after he attacked and stabbed her in the office of Phelan Investigations.
This story opens with Delpha being taken to the local police station in the small Texas city of Beaumont. Delpha has already served 14 years jail time for killing a man who raped her and, at first, things look bleak. But with the help of her boss and a whip smart lawyer, all she has to suffer is a police interrogation before she's released, innocent of any crime. In fact some police officers thank her for ridding the world of an evil man.
Soon, she's helping Tom track down the brother of man called Xavier Bell, who tells them he wants to make peace with his brother. But Tom & Delpha discover Bell is lying and the case becomes more complicated and dark the more they discover about these two brothers.
Lesser cases distracts Tom when the boss of a large store has him checking out who's stealing white goods from his business and a married woman asks him to find out where her husband goes at night, worried that he's up to no good.
As with "The Do-Right", the writing is beautiful and a joy to read. "The Do-Right" won the Shamus Award for Best First P. I. Novel in 2016 and The Hammett Prize and if there's any justice in this world, "The Bird Boys" will garner many more awards.
If you enjoy excellent crime writing, read the Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan Mystery Series. These are books to be savoured and the words will linger long after you've finished reading. Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan are characters you want to find out more about. Highly recommended.
This story opens with Delpha being taken to the local police station in the small Texas city of Beaumont. Delpha has already served 14 years jail time for killing a man who raped her and, at first, things look bleak. But with the help of her boss and a whip smart lawyer, all she has to suffer is a police interrogation before she's released, innocent of any crime. In fact some police officers thank her for ridding the world of an evil man.
Soon, she's helping Tom track down the brother of man called Xavier Bell, who tells them he wants to make peace with his brother. But Tom & Delpha discover Bell is lying and the case becomes more complicated and dark the more they discover about these two brothers.
Lesser cases distracts Tom when the boss of a large store has him checking out who's stealing white goods from his business and a married woman asks him to find out where her husband goes at night, worried that he's up to no good.
As with "The Do-Right", the writing is beautiful and a joy to read. "The Do-Right" won the Shamus Award for Best First P. I. Novel in 2016 and The Hammett Prize and if there's any justice in this world, "The Bird Boys" will garner many more awards.
If you enjoy excellent crime writing, read the Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan Mystery Series. These are books to be savoured and the words will linger long after you've finished reading. Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan are characters you want to find out more about. Highly recommended.
May 26, 2019
Shout-out to the Booklist reviewer who wrote the review that inspired me to download this; it's from a small press and could easily get lost in the never-ending stream of mysteries, but I'm so glad I picked it up.
I like my mysteries heavy on character and atmosphere and with enough care toward the lives of the victims that they don't feel too prurient or too light. This checked all my boxes. the detectives here are a newbie PI and his secretary who is recently out of prison after serving 14 years for killing a man who was raping her. She's a fascinating character, cowed by her time in prison but still curious and proud. The setting is Beaumont, Texas, 1973, and Sandlin's writing drips with atmosphere. I'm reading another book that's all telling not showing, and this is exact opposite - she tells you almost nothing, just puts the details on the page for the reader to work out.
Bonus points for a delightful (and stereotype-busting) librarian character.
I like my mysteries heavy on character and atmosphere and with enough care toward the lives of the victims that they don't feel too prurient or too light. This checked all my boxes. the detectives here are a newbie PI and his secretary who is recently out of prison after serving 14 years for killing a man who was raping her. She's a fascinating character, cowed by her time in prison but still curious and proud. The setting is Beaumont, Texas, 1973, and Sandlin's writing drips with atmosphere. I'm reading another book that's all telling not showing, and this is exact opposite - she tells you almost nothing, just puts the details on the page for the reader to work out.
Bonus points for a delightful (and stereotype-busting) librarian character.
August 26, 2019
Even days after finishing THE BIRD BOYS by Lisa Sandlin, the weight of it surrounds me. The book is heavy, nuanced, and the very best of noir fiction. This second installment in the Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan Mystery series again had me completely immersed in the 1970s and the world revolving around these two characters. There is a top-notch primary mystery that as it unravels, reveals layer upon layer of surprises and switchbacks involving sketchy people and perpetrators. But the waters are muddied, and Tom and Delpha have to find a way to see through them to get to the truth. Along the way, there are several side-cases that require the help of Phelan Investigations, and each involves quirky and colorful characters that readers won’t soon forget.
“People don’t like people that are indigent, Tom. They think they can catch it.”
Author Lisa Sandlin writes with a unique style and cadence to which I became accustomed in THE DO-RIGHT, book one of the series. The dropped conjunctions, the alternate spellings, and the deliberate word choices and phrases place readers fully in the moments as they unfold and enhance the sense of setting and situation. Peppered with pieces of history – like the Watergate hearings, the Billy Jean King/Bobby Riggs showdown, the $1.60/hour minimum wage – THE BIRD BOYS not only informs (or for some of us, reminds), but that organic drizzling of facts lends an air of authenticity to the story. The historical elements pull-in the reader, and while Sandlin shows that great strides have been made since the ‘70s, she also shows where society hasn’t much evolved.
“Outside, steam was masquerading as air, and the small parking lot to the side of the building was an archipelago of blacktop islands amid a rainwater-sea filling its ruts and dips.”
“Sultry September opened its square mouth and breathed.”
The art of Sandlin’s writing is in her observations and glorious descriptions that set the tone and lend to the mood. But amidst the gloom, Sandlin sprinkles in the ordinary delights that Delpha, free from fourteen years of incarceration, enjoys: the wind on her face through a rolled-down car window, the ability to fail without painful consequences, a flock of birds in flight, spontaneous trips to the library, simply existing on her own terms.
“That’s what I’m telling you. That’s what we do. There’s . . . there’s a whole army of reference librarians out there—every town in America.”
I must take a moment to say that in The Bird Boys, I love the prominence of the library and librarians as essential research tools, at the ready for anyone who needs them. It makes my librarian heart sing. But also, I like how via the library, readers see a little bit more of Delpha in her interactions with the feisty librarian, Angela, but we also see more of what’s happening inside Delpha’s head and how her mind works. One of the subtle feel-goods of the story is watching Delpha learn and grow and begin to find self-confidence and self-worth. And the library helps Delpha find order in the chaos. I can relate to the comfort it brings Delpha to rely on lists, on organization, on process. (ooh! I dropped my conjunction! It’s the Sandlin Effect!)
“What was in front of him was a clear and present treat followed by a comets-tail of trouble.”
While readers learn much about Tom and Delpha through their internal monologues (the story is told from both points of view), their external dialogue and interactions with each other ooze with innuendo. It is in this tentative relationship that by book’s end, readers see a glint of something shiny . . . is it hope? Can it be snatched out of the murky waters of the bayou or will it sink, never to be found again?
Having read both books in the series, I highly recommend readers do the same. THE BIRD BOYS can stand alone, but it is immeasurably enriched by the experience of first reading THE DO-RIGHT and by knowing the backgrounds of the characters and their relationships. Looking for giggles and endings that will move you to tears of joy? Move along. But looking for intriguing characters, intriguing premises, and depth? THE BIRD BOYS has those in spades. Don’t miss this thought-provoking series.
Thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tours, the author, and Cinco Puntos Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review and other special features on Hall Ways Blog.
“People don’t like people that are indigent, Tom. They think they can catch it.”
Author Lisa Sandlin writes with a unique style and cadence to which I became accustomed in THE DO-RIGHT, book one of the series. The dropped conjunctions, the alternate spellings, and the deliberate word choices and phrases place readers fully in the moments as they unfold and enhance the sense of setting and situation. Peppered with pieces of history – like the Watergate hearings, the Billy Jean King/Bobby Riggs showdown, the $1.60/hour minimum wage – THE BIRD BOYS not only informs (or for some of us, reminds), but that organic drizzling of facts lends an air of authenticity to the story. The historical elements pull-in the reader, and while Sandlin shows that great strides have been made since the ‘70s, she also shows where society hasn’t much evolved.
“Outside, steam was masquerading as air, and the small parking lot to the side of the building was an archipelago of blacktop islands amid a rainwater-sea filling its ruts and dips.”
“Sultry September opened its square mouth and breathed.”
The art of Sandlin’s writing is in her observations and glorious descriptions that set the tone and lend to the mood. But amidst the gloom, Sandlin sprinkles in the ordinary delights that Delpha, free from fourteen years of incarceration, enjoys: the wind on her face through a rolled-down car window, the ability to fail without painful consequences, a flock of birds in flight, spontaneous trips to the library, simply existing on her own terms.
“That’s what I’m telling you. That’s what we do. There’s . . . there’s a whole army of reference librarians out there—every town in America.”
I must take a moment to say that in The Bird Boys, I love the prominence of the library and librarians as essential research tools, at the ready for anyone who needs them. It makes my librarian heart sing. But also, I like how via the library, readers see a little bit more of Delpha in her interactions with the feisty librarian, Angela, but we also see more of what’s happening inside Delpha’s head and how her mind works. One of the subtle feel-goods of the story is watching Delpha learn and grow and begin to find self-confidence and self-worth. And the library helps Delpha find order in the chaos. I can relate to the comfort it brings Delpha to rely on lists, on organization, on process. (ooh! I dropped my conjunction! It’s the Sandlin Effect!)
“What was in front of him was a clear and present treat followed by a comets-tail of trouble.”
While readers learn much about Tom and Delpha through their internal monologues (the story is told from both points of view), their external dialogue and interactions with each other ooze with innuendo. It is in this tentative relationship that by book’s end, readers see a glint of something shiny . . . is it hope? Can it be snatched out of the murky waters of the bayou or will it sink, never to be found again?
Having read both books in the series, I highly recommend readers do the same. THE BIRD BOYS can stand alone, but it is immeasurably enriched by the experience of first reading THE DO-RIGHT and by knowing the backgrounds of the characters and their relationships. Looking for giggles and endings that will move you to tears of joy? Move along. But looking for intriguing characters, intriguing premises, and depth? THE BIRD BOYS has those in spades. Don’t miss this thought-provoking series.
Thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tours, the author, and Cinco Puntos Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review and other special features on Hall Ways Blog.
August 21, 2019
"Everyone should have something that is lovely forever."
The Bird Boys by Lisa Sandlin is gripping, but not because the pace is overly fast, or the action is nonstop. This story will grab you because the characters, especially Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan, are complex, layered, and compelling. To get the full picture, you need to read the first in the series, The Do-Right (2015), which is fantastic. The Bird Boys picks up where the first book leaves off, so it would be unwise to read them out of sequence. You wouldn't want to anyway because the characters are so wonderfully flawed and beautiful.
The first book establishes the characters and sets up the fledgling private investigation firm called Phelan Investigations as the backdrop for the series. In The Bird Boys, Tom and Delpha take on the case to find a long lost brother, but the ensuing investigation opens up a box of riddles, confusion, and lies that lead the two on a convoluted hunt for answers and the truth. The overall setting in both books is Beaumont, Texas, during the Watergate scandal in the early 1970s. This time frame means that the investigations are slow affairs and require the ingenuity, patience, and cunning that have become somewhat lost in our modern digital age of convenience and instant access to, well, everything.
While the investigative main plot and an investigative subplot are interesting and a huge focus of the overall story, it is the delectable characterization that pushes The Bird Boys (and The Do-Right) toward perfection. Tom is still relatively young, yet he often comes across as an old soul. Delpha is in her early thirties and is burdened by a troubled past filled with immense struggle and heartache (all presented in the first book). Watching both of these characters develop and blossom and stumble once or twice before righting themselves is pure entertainment.
Lisa Sandlin's writing is controlled yet mesmerizing, and she imbues the overall plot with expertly crafted characterization, providing a work of moderate crime drama that is both intriguing and engaging in its complexities, understated humor, dark moments, and realistic narrative. Becoming completely engaged in the story is easy and immediate, so be prepared for the inevitable reluctance to stop reading occasionally so that you can eat, sleep, and live your life.
The main story of Tom and Delpha solving the case of the Bird Boys is steeped in bad blood between two brothers that spans decades, leaving nothing but sadness and loss in its wake. This part of the story will have you pondering the folly of grudges, hate, and greed and then comparing all that to the wonder of new freedom, budding affection, and a hopeful eye turned toward a promising future. While Tom is a fun and interesting character, Delpha will burrow into your heart and stay with you. She is truly flawed yet all the more likable for her mistakes, vulnerability, and stark determination to live a free life on her terms. She is resourceful out of necessity and completely wary of emotions and affection. The ending scene between Tom and Delpha is almost staggering in its gentle and subtle brilliance as these two drift ever closer. They are still delicately exploring the depth and boundaries of their relationship, and I personally can't wait for the next book.
The Bird Boys by Lisa Sandlin is gripping, but not because the pace is overly fast, or the action is nonstop. This story will grab you because the characters, especially Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan, are complex, layered, and compelling. To get the full picture, you need to read the first in the series, The Do-Right (2015), which is fantastic. The Bird Boys picks up where the first book leaves off, so it would be unwise to read them out of sequence. You wouldn't want to anyway because the characters are so wonderfully flawed and beautiful.
The first book establishes the characters and sets up the fledgling private investigation firm called Phelan Investigations as the backdrop for the series. In The Bird Boys, Tom and Delpha take on the case to find a long lost brother, but the ensuing investigation opens up a box of riddles, confusion, and lies that lead the two on a convoluted hunt for answers and the truth. The overall setting in both books is Beaumont, Texas, during the Watergate scandal in the early 1970s. This time frame means that the investigations are slow affairs and require the ingenuity, patience, and cunning that have become somewhat lost in our modern digital age of convenience and instant access to, well, everything.
While the investigative main plot and an investigative subplot are interesting and a huge focus of the overall story, it is the delectable characterization that pushes The Bird Boys (and The Do-Right) toward perfection. Tom is still relatively young, yet he often comes across as an old soul. Delpha is in her early thirties and is burdened by a troubled past filled with immense struggle and heartache (all presented in the first book). Watching both of these characters develop and blossom and stumble once or twice before righting themselves is pure entertainment.
Lisa Sandlin's writing is controlled yet mesmerizing, and she imbues the overall plot with expertly crafted characterization, providing a work of moderate crime drama that is both intriguing and engaging in its complexities, understated humor, dark moments, and realistic narrative. Becoming completely engaged in the story is easy and immediate, so be prepared for the inevitable reluctance to stop reading occasionally so that you can eat, sleep, and live your life.
The main story of Tom and Delpha solving the case of the Bird Boys is steeped in bad blood between two brothers that spans decades, leaving nothing but sadness and loss in its wake. This part of the story will have you pondering the folly of grudges, hate, and greed and then comparing all that to the wonder of new freedom, budding affection, and a hopeful eye turned toward a promising future. While Tom is a fun and interesting character, Delpha will burrow into your heart and stay with you. She is truly flawed yet all the more likable for her mistakes, vulnerability, and stark determination to live a free life on her terms. She is resourceful out of necessity and completely wary of emotions and affection. The ending scene between Tom and Delpha is almost staggering in its gentle and subtle brilliance as these two drift ever closer. They are still delicately exploring the depth and boundaries of their relationship, and I personally can't wait for the next book.
August 27, 2019
In the interest of full disclosure department: I know Lisa Sandlin, and think of her as a good friend. The story of how we met is (I think) amusing but I will omit that because it really is not germane to the issue at hand, which is this: what is the skinny on The Bird Boys, her latest novel? If you've been reading my reviews long enough, Constant Reader, you know I have spoken previously about the ethical dilemma I experience when I review a book a friend has written. You always want to give a friend's book a positive review yet at the same time you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear-if the book you are reviewing is awful you have an obligation to be truthful about that. Happily as The Bird Boys is excellent I'm in good shape. This novel continues the story Lisa started in The Do-Right which won a Dashiell Hammett Prize and a Shamus Award. (Street cred!) I think you will enjoy reading about the "further adventures" of Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan in the Beaumont Texas of the 1970's. In addition to being well written there is a good and sinister mystery to sink your teeth into. Go buy both books immediately. You won't be sorry.
September 29, 2019
Featured on Lone Star Literary Life Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Average Lone Star Blogger Team rating: 4.4 Stars.
August 28, 2019
I was a big fan of the first book in this series, The Do-Right, so I was thrilled to get an opportunity to read and review the follow-up novel. It is not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this one, but if you do, The Bird Boys begins right after the other one ends, with the main characters, Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan, dealing both physically and emotionally with the fall-out of a crime.
Delpha Wade is a wonderfully well-drawn character, and her personality shines through in both novels. She has been recently released from a long prison term after killing a man in self-defense who was assaulting her when she was 18 years old. But the prison experience has shaped the person she is today: strong, organized, determined; someone who doesn't suffer fools gladly.
Tom Phelan is a Vietnam vet and is struggling to get his P.I. business off the ground. He feels a growing attachment to Delpha, but is very aware of how badly she has suffered in the past and is gentle with her, which I admired. The two cases the main characters investigate are interesting, and you really see the reality of what it must be like working as a private investigator.
The novel's setting is in Beaumont, Texas in 1973, and the author has done an excellent job of characterizing this town, which is located not far from Houston. The era of the book is interesting to read about since there were no computers, cell phones, or other technology that we are used to seeing in contemporary mysteries. This means that the work done by a private investigator is a lot more complicated and slow. The author also was careful, and successful, in getting the historical references right, including, for example, the mentions of Watergate, Hurricane Celia, the use of a Selectric typewriter, the Bobby Riggs/Bill Jean King tennis exhibition, and the $1.60 cent minimum wage.
The writing is something special. The author's sentence structure, which is short, and not always complete, really drives the narrative and gives a unique cadence to the reading experience, as in this paragraph toward the end of the book:
"....he hoped the phone was still in working order. He got out and tried it. Dial tone, all right. Hung it up and leaned against the wall, waited. The breeze mild, pleasant. Clouds on the moon. The station's orange security lamp stained the leafy underside of the nearest tree an orangey-brown. Weird effect."
For me, the pace really slowed down in the middle of the book as Tom and Delpha each investigate the two mysteries they are trying to solve. The description of the process of uncovering the clues says a lot about how tedious most P.I. work probably is, but this is not so great for a narrative that you want to keep moving. That being said, I never wanted to stop reading this noirish tale at any point, and was hungry to find out the solution to the mysteries.
One of my favorite things about the book, hands-down, is that the author has dedicated her novel to "librarians everywhere," and she incorporates libraries and librarians into the novel in a very positive way. Overall, I enjoyed The Bird Boys and would recommend this series to those who like mysteries with intriguing characters, a slower pace, and an unusual setting of time and place.
Delpha Wade is a wonderfully well-drawn character, and her personality shines through in both novels. She has been recently released from a long prison term after killing a man in self-defense who was assaulting her when she was 18 years old. But the prison experience has shaped the person she is today: strong, organized, determined; someone who doesn't suffer fools gladly.
Tom Phelan is a Vietnam vet and is struggling to get his P.I. business off the ground. He feels a growing attachment to Delpha, but is very aware of how badly she has suffered in the past and is gentle with her, which I admired. The two cases the main characters investigate are interesting, and you really see the reality of what it must be like working as a private investigator.
The novel's setting is in Beaumont, Texas in 1973, and the author has done an excellent job of characterizing this town, which is located not far from Houston. The era of the book is interesting to read about since there were no computers, cell phones, or other technology that we are used to seeing in contemporary mysteries. This means that the work done by a private investigator is a lot more complicated and slow. The author also was careful, and successful, in getting the historical references right, including, for example, the mentions of Watergate, Hurricane Celia, the use of a Selectric typewriter, the Bobby Riggs/Bill Jean King tennis exhibition, and the $1.60 cent minimum wage.
The writing is something special. The author's sentence structure, which is short, and not always complete, really drives the narrative and gives a unique cadence to the reading experience, as in this paragraph toward the end of the book:
"....he hoped the phone was still in working order. He got out and tried it. Dial tone, all right. Hung it up and leaned against the wall, waited. The breeze mild, pleasant. Clouds on the moon. The station's orange security lamp stained the leafy underside of the nearest tree an orangey-brown. Weird effect."
For me, the pace really slowed down in the middle of the book as Tom and Delpha each investigate the two mysteries they are trying to solve. The description of the process of uncovering the clues says a lot about how tedious most P.I. work probably is, but this is not so great for a narrative that you want to keep moving. That being said, I never wanted to stop reading this noirish tale at any point, and was hungry to find out the solution to the mysteries.
One of my favorite things about the book, hands-down, is that the author has dedicated her novel to "librarians everywhere," and she incorporates libraries and librarians into the novel in a very positive way. Overall, I enjoyed The Bird Boys and would recommend this series to those who like mysteries with intriguing characters, a slower pace, and an unusual setting of time and place.
September 2, 2019
To start off - I really wish I had read the first book in this series, The Do-Right. I believe by reading that book, it would have been much easier (and quicker) to get into The Bird Boys. With that said, I still very much enjoyed Bird Boys and all it’s noir goodness.
There is a bit of a glimpse as to who Delpha and Tom are from The Do-Right, but the reader truly starts to understand who these two are once we are introduced to the fact that Delpha has done some time and Tom rushes to help keep her out of it at the beginning of Bird Boys. There as an obvious and mutual appreciation between the P.I. (Tom) and Delpha. It was evident from the get-go that I was sincerely going to enjoy these characters - and I did. Author, Lisa Sandlin, does a fantastic job in creating characters that the reader can care about and thoroughly appreciate. In my opinion, this is due a lot to the fact that Sandlin gives us the opportunity to experience this story through both of the POVs of Tom and Delpha. I absolutely adore reading two POVs in stories (anyone who has read my other reviews knows this). There are many layers to Tom and Delpha and the execution of their stories by Sandlin as well as the characters’ personalities only adds to the mutual gratitude the characters have for each other, and that we, the readers, have for them.
Speaking of layers - that is also the way I would describe this story. Firstly, the atmosphere that Sandlin has created is truly ethereal and (what I imagine to be) reminiscent of the 1970s (the story is set in 1973). The descriptions gave me the feel of what the 1970s in Beaumont, Texas must have actually felt like. I’ll be honest, what first drew me to the book was how the cover looked to be very creepy-looking. However, when I started reading it, I was pleased to experience the true in depth and intricate weaving of a southern gothic noir story. What ultimately had me in love with the book, however, was the absolutely fantastic pieces of the story that took place around research, the library, and the absolutely fantastic librarian, Angela! So, to this bookish nerd, the scenes concerning bookish love was just a wonderful experience to partake in.
All in all, this work is a great piece of mystery fiction even if at first it took me awhile to get into - which I totally blame on my inability to make it to the library to pick up a copy of The Do-Right. It is definitely worth getting into if you are curious for or are in love with noir fiction.
There is a bit of a glimpse as to who Delpha and Tom are from The Do-Right, but the reader truly starts to understand who these two are once we are introduced to the fact that Delpha has done some time and Tom rushes to help keep her out of it at the beginning of Bird Boys. There as an obvious and mutual appreciation between the P.I. (Tom) and Delpha. It was evident from the get-go that I was sincerely going to enjoy these characters - and I did. Author, Lisa Sandlin, does a fantastic job in creating characters that the reader can care about and thoroughly appreciate. In my opinion, this is due a lot to the fact that Sandlin gives us the opportunity to experience this story through both of the POVs of Tom and Delpha. I absolutely adore reading two POVs in stories (anyone who has read my other reviews knows this). There are many layers to Tom and Delpha and the execution of their stories by Sandlin as well as the characters’ personalities only adds to the mutual gratitude the characters have for each other, and that we, the readers, have for them.
Speaking of layers - that is also the way I would describe this story. Firstly, the atmosphere that Sandlin has created is truly ethereal and (what I imagine to be) reminiscent of the 1970s (the story is set in 1973). The descriptions gave me the feel of what the 1970s in Beaumont, Texas must have actually felt like. I’ll be honest, what first drew me to the book was how the cover looked to be very creepy-looking. However, when I started reading it, I was pleased to experience the true in depth and intricate weaving of a southern gothic noir story. What ultimately had me in love with the book, however, was the absolutely fantastic pieces of the story that took place around research, the library, and the absolutely fantastic librarian, Angela! So, to this bookish nerd, the scenes concerning bookish love was just a wonderful experience to partake in.
All in all, this work is a great piece of mystery fiction even if at first it took me awhile to get into - which I totally blame on my inability to make it to the library to pick up a copy of The Do-Right. It is definitely worth getting into if you are curious for or are in love with noir fiction.
October 18, 2020
Lisa Sandlin repeats the triumph of her debut private-eye novel, THE DO-RIGHT, with this second adventure featuring paroled murderer Delpha Wade and her boss — and maybe more? — private detective Tom Phelan. Once again it's 1973 in Beaumont, Texas; and once again, Hank Aaron and Watergate dominate the headlines as local malfeasance of the sort that the cops sometimes overlook spools out in the summer heat.
As with the DO-RIGHT, the pleasures of THE BIRD BOYS are less in its plot — though it's great fun watching training-wheels detectives use libraries, phone books, government registries , shoe leather and other wonderful anachronisms to track down needed information — than in its sleepy but deceptively sharp-eyed prose. Some of the book's most brilliant lines are seeming throwaways, like "The house was a pile of night" and "That Watergate gang running the country, they held the truth underwater till it run out of bubbles."
The characters, too, prove to have the room to grow to go the distance of a series: As Delpha slowly trusts the world — and herself — to not conspire to throw her back in prison, she starts thinking of what a life of true freedom might look like, and who might be in that picture. And where is Tom Phelan in that picture? Taking the long way around the bar, much as he often does in his dogged detective work. That the two of them start becoming aware of one another in ways that aren't entirely about a boss and his secretary is not a spoiler here; what's the surprise is what they do—and don't do with it—by the story's end, which features the sexiest non-sexual scene I've ever read.
THE BIRD BOYS is every bit the equal of the DO-RIGHT, and every bit its own growth enterprise, and every bit an answer to the question of what a female Elmore Leonard might read like. A small-press offering, it is the best crime novel you might never have heard of. May that change. And not change.
As with the DO-RIGHT, the pleasures of THE BIRD BOYS are less in its plot — though it's great fun watching training-wheels detectives use libraries, phone books, government registries , shoe leather and other wonderful anachronisms to track down needed information — than in its sleepy but deceptively sharp-eyed prose. Some of the book's most brilliant lines are seeming throwaways, like "The house was a pile of night" and "That Watergate gang running the country, they held the truth underwater till it run out of bubbles."
The characters, too, prove to have the room to grow to go the distance of a series: As Delpha slowly trusts the world — and herself — to not conspire to throw her back in prison, she starts thinking of what a life of true freedom might look like, and who might be in that picture. And where is Tom Phelan in that picture? Taking the long way around the bar, much as he often does in his dogged detective work. That the two of them start becoming aware of one another in ways that aren't entirely about a boss and his secretary is not a spoiler here; what's the surprise is what they do—and don't do with it—by the story's end, which features the sexiest non-sexual scene I've ever read.
THE BIRD BOYS is every bit the equal of the DO-RIGHT, and every bit its own growth enterprise, and every bit an answer to the question of what a female Elmore Leonard might read like. A small-press offering, it is the best crime novel you might never have heard of. May that change. And not change.
August 27, 2019
There is something about mysteries set in the 1970s where there is no technology, P.I.s seem somewhat seedy or shady, and the overall feel is so much different than what we experience today when it comes to mysteries. Tom isn't really seedy or shady but the office is a piece of work. No slick furniture just whatever can be pieced together so it feels like what you might expect for the time period. Delpha is more than just his secretary, she is organized and delves into helping Tom on various cases. Delpha is very organized and it is not a surprise when she uncovers various pieces of information throughout the book to help move them forward.
The cases seem straight forward until Tom and Delpha really dig into the case and question everything they have been told. What you might have been led to expect is tossed and turned and the truth is revealed. I was quite surprised at certain facts as they were presented.
The book is heavier than others but that would be the noir aspect of the book. While this isn't a genre I read often, it is always nice to switch things up from the ordinary and find a new favorite.
Overall we give this 4 paws up.
The cases seem straight forward until Tom and Delpha really dig into the case and question everything they have been told. What you might have been led to expect is tossed and turned and the truth is revealed. I was quite surprised at certain facts as they were presented.
The book is heavier than others but that would be the noir aspect of the book. While this isn't a genre I read often, it is always nice to switch things up from the ordinary and find a new favorite.
Overall we give this 4 paws up.
June 11, 2020
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did the first one but I think Delpha remains an interesting character to read about.
October 6, 2022
Mon avis en français
My English review
J’ai passé un bon moment avec le premier tome, et quand j’ai vu que le deuxième sortait, je me suis dit pourquoi pas.
Notre duo doit faire face à une toute nouvelle affaire : retrouver le frère d’un homme qui change constamment d’identité et qui ne laisse aucune trace derrière lui. Vous vous en doutez, ça sera loin d’être simple !
Je me suis plongée avec plaisir dans le roman. Malheureusement, eu du mal à rentrer dans l’histoire et même en insistant un peu, je n’ai pas réussi à accrocher.
My English review
J’ai passé un bon moment avec le premier tome, et quand j’ai vu que le deuxième sortait, je me suis dit pourquoi pas.
Notre duo doit faire face à une toute nouvelle affaire : retrouver le frère d’un homme qui change constamment d’identité et qui ne laisse aucune trace derrière lui. Vous vous en doutez, ça sera loin d’être simple !
Je me suis plongée avec plaisir dans le roman. Malheureusement, eu du mal à rentrer dans l’histoire et même en insistant un peu, je n’ai pas réussi à accrocher.
July 22, 2020
(2 1/2). I like our (sort of) dual protagonists in Wade and Phelan. I like the style and quality of the writing. But this story starts slowly and continues at that pace throughout. It just kind of muddles along and never gets you excited. We have one moderately hot sex scene that seems so out of place it is remarkable. Lots of grey here, not what I expected at all. Medium stuff.
December 26, 2019
An easygoing read that doesn't play like an uptight, twist-heavy mystery. The story meanders, in a good way, such that the lives of the characters are well rounded. Not everything about it makes sense, but it's a good read.
October 21, 2019
4.5 stars
This second series entry after The Do-Right doesn't disappoint.
This is a fresh voice and setting and two lead characters who make you care very much about what happens to them. Delpha Wade is not long out of prison, jailed for murdering a man who raped her, but really for being young, female and poor. The world is not ready to welcome her back except for Tom Phelan, who has just started a P.I. business in Beaumont, TX. The year is 1973. Tom is a Vietnam vet but we hear only bits and pieces. These are two very decent people.
As if Delpha hasn't suffered enough, as this book opens, she is being escorted to the police station from the hospital after being wounded by a serial killer who she ends up killing with a broken whisky bottle. Delpha has plenty of scars, inside and out, and Tom is careful of her and more importantly, has a high regard for her.
Their newest client is odd -- an old man, obviously disguised, allegedly looking for his younger brother after a decades old estrangement in order to put things right. It doesn't take long to figure out his story doesn't hold together and he has told them a lot of lies.
But the plot, interesting though it might be, isn't the point here. It's the characters and the setting and the distinctive narrative voice. A great pleasure to read.
This second series entry after The Do-Right doesn't disappoint.
This is a fresh voice and setting and two lead characters who make you care very much about what happens to them. Delpha Wade is not long out of prison, jailed for murdering a man who raped her, but really for being young, female and poor. The world is not ready to welcome her back except for Tom Phelan, who has just started a P.I. business in Beaumont, TX. The year is 1973. Tom is a Vietnam vet but we hear only bits and pieces. These are two very decent people.
As if Delpha hasn't suffered enough, as this book opens, she is being escorted to the police station from the hospital after being wounded by a serial killer who she ends up killing with a broken whisky bottle. Delpha has plenty of scars, inside and out, and Tom is careful of her and more importantly, has a high regard for her.
Their newest client is odd -- an old man, obviously disguised, allegedly looking for his younger brother after a decades old estrangement in order to put things right. It doesn't take long to figure out his story doesn't hold together and he has told them a lot of lies.
But the plot, interesting though it might be, isn't the point here. It's the characters and the setting and the distinctive narrative voice. A great pleasure to read.
February 7, 2020
I wasn't sure I'd like this quirky mystery. My daughter got it for me for Christmas. It's the second in a series about Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan, who together run Phelan Investigations. They're a very likable pair, and they both seem to be resisting an attraction to each other.
The principle case they're investigating is a bit slow, but towards the end really picks up speed and momentum. In between, they solve several other cases that are comical and/or have aspects of the ridiculous. Sandlin's writing style is a bit eccentric, but apparently reflects Beaumont, Texas. Her figures of speech are often perfect: "The desk man was a middle-aged cop whose starched shirt could have worked the shift without him."
I want to read the first book in the series, THE DO RIGHT, so I can learn the details of Tom and Delpha's back stories.
The principle case they're investigating is a bit slow, but towards the end really picks up speed and momentum. In between, they solve several other cases that are comical and/or have aspects of the ridiculous. Sandlin's writing style is a bit eccentric, but apparently reflects Beaumont, Texas. Her figures of speech are often perfect: "The desk man was a middle-aged cop whose starched shirt could have worked the shift without him."
I want to read the first book in the series, THE DO RIGHT, so I can learn the details of Tom and Delpha's back stories.
September 15, 2019
Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan return as richly drawn private detectives in 1970s Beaumont, Texas, in this terrific sequel to "The Do-Right." Lisa Sandlin picks up right where the earlier book left off, but adds sufficient back story to acclimate readers who are starting with "The Bird Boys." I do recommend reading the books in order, though, so as not to miss out on the details of the complex life that brought Delpha to Tom's office. It is hard to put this book down as Sandlin pulls the reader through the twisty plot with her beautiful, powerful writing. Every character, no matter how minor, is exquisitely detailed as we are immersed in a very specific time and place. We can only hope that the next book in this unique series comes quickly.
October 11, 2019
Time flies with Bird Boys
Lisa Sandlin has discovered in her imagination and memory a mystery-solving couple with an deep East Texas vibe living in, of all places, tiny Beaumont Texas. I know this oil and lumber town where our 2 g-kids were born, not as well as the author, but enough to know she set the table and the location perfectly to allow her characters to be as real as the near-constant humidity there. Tom and Delpha are righteous, hopeful characters who serve others with their true words, native intelligence, curiosity and street smarts. Both is better for finding the other and their clients most of all. I predict many difficult cases to puzzle out and a Netflicks series is ahead for Delpha, Tom and their creator, Lisa.
Lisa Sandlin has discovered in her imagination and memory a mystery-solving couple with an deep East Texas vibe living in, of all places, tiny Beaumont Texas. I know this oil and lumber town where our 2 g-kids were born, not as well as the author, but enough to know she set the table and the location perfectly to allow her characters to be as real as the near-constant humidity there. Tom and Delpha are righteous, hopeful characters who serve others with their true words, native intelligence, curiosity and street smarts. Both is better for finding the other and their clients most of all. I predict many difficult cases to puzzle out and a Netflicks series is ahead for Delpha, Tom and their creator, Lisa.
December 29, 2019
The time is 1973. The place is Beaumont, Texas. The people are Delpha, who has just been released from a 14 year term in prison, and Tom, a Vietnam War veteran who has opened his own private detective agency. Tasked with finding a long lost brother for a strange client, Delpha and Tom use the tools available at the time -- land line phones, talking directly to people, the library help desk, and reams of paper records supplied by a county recorder -- to piece together the tale of the bird boys.
Amazing writing, a perfect sense of place, and two damaged characters forging ahead make "The Bird Boys" a wonderful novel.
Thank you to Marilyn Stasio, who writes the NY Times Crime book review column, for leading me to this clever, riveting, novel.
Amazing writing, a perfect sense of place, and two damaged characters forging ahead make "The Bird Boys" a wonderful novel.
Thank you to Marilyn Stasio, who writes the NY Times Crime book review column, for leading me to this clever, riveting, novel.
September 8, 2019
Sandlin is a terrific writer, and it would be a mistake to miss her. The second novel in the series about a private investigator and his assistant, it’s debatable as to whether this should be categorized as a mystery. Investigations are conducted, the main one for a client looking for his brother. Little information is given the detective, and even that is unreliable. Other investigations are conducted while this one is ongoing. All the trappings of a mystery novel are here, but the main attractions are Sandlin’s excellent writing, the great dialogue, and solid characters throughout.
January 8, 2020
This story was better than the first book. I was much more interested in the characters and the storyline. This story focused more on the characters growing and coming alive than in the constant pointing out that it was set in the 1970's, though that was still being reinforced. Both books also had another heavy emphasis on location, in this case, Dallas, Texas.
I am up in the air as to whether I will read any more books about Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan if they come out in the future. They are quick reads, taking about 2-3 days to read through.
I am up in the air as to whether I will read any more books about Delpha Wade and Tom Phelan if they come out in the future. They are quick reads, taking about 2-3 days to read through.
February 13, 2020
Writers are advised to develop Voice. Lisa Sandlin’s writing has it in spades— her characters’ voices are distinctive, and her author voice is too. Pungent turns of phrase. No wasted words. Lyrical passages, suspense, mystery — it’s all there.
This is the second in a series, and I’m going to have to go back to read the first. The series features a new private investigator, Tom Phelan, and his ex-con, long-victimized assistant Delpha Wade, in Beaumont, Texas. Both are memorable characters. Deservedly award-winning.
This is the second in a series, and I’m going to have to go back to read the first. The series features a new private investigator, Tom Phelan, and his ex-con, long-victimized assistant Delpha Wade, in Beaumont, Texas. Both are memorable characters. Deservedly award-winning.
February 25, 2020
Another fascinating second book in this new series, although several years after the first one was published. Other than some references that will situate it in the 1970's, eg technology & cars, much of it could be contemporary.
I hope there is another book in the works, as the characters grow & develop in their new situations, careers, & lives, with a touch of growing romantic & sexual tensions between them, acknowledged by neither.
I strongly recommend reading the first book (The Do-right) before reading this one.
I hope there is another book in the works, as the characters grow & develop in their new situations, careers, & lives, with a touch of growing romantic & sexual tensions between them, acknowledged by neither.
I strongly recommend reading the first book (The Do-right) before reading this one.
August 11, 2022
This is great story telling. I enjoyed getting to know the new private investigator, Tom Phelan, and his secretary/partner, Delpha Wade. Delpha is learning to find her place in the world after going free from prison. I loved the backdrop of the early 1970’s. It was great learning how average people digested the Watergate hearings. In only a few pages, Lisa Sandlin demonstrates the power books can have on an individual as Delpha recounts discovering books in prison. Both Tom and Delpha are clever and resourceful.
July 24, 2023
The novel has engaging characters and a plot. But: the book leaves questions unanswered. For example, why was the book entitled The Bird Boys? Yes, it does have some references to birds and a bird, but the references were not developed very well in connection to the plot-the reader must infer a vague connection. I found this ambiguousness to be the case numerous times. Also, were the mini crimes solved and the "amorous" incident included to enhance the plot or to sell the book to publishers? Maybe character development, but not plot development.
August 24, 2019
This, for me is very much a character-driven mystery. I enjoyed seeing how Tom Phelan, a new private eye in 1970s Beaumont , Texas, and Delpha Ward, his ex-con secretary/receptionist work to solve a couple of cases and grow into the lives they are creating. The cases were fine, but the characters and the language are what worked for me.
And the dedication: "Dedicated to librarians everywhere"
Favorite line: "His blue shirt usually looked like a chicken had ironed it."
And the dedication: "Dedicated to librarians everywhere"
Favorite line: "His blue shirt usually looked like a chicken had ironed it."
September 23, 2019
3.5 Stars
This is a promising series with intriguing protagonists. It’s a 70s, Texan version of the cormoran and robin mysteries set in London. Here, Delpha is still acclimating to life outside of prison in how thinks and acts. She’s so deliberate and thoughtful and her progressive is so gratifying for read. She and Tom work well together, playing off their respective strengths and weaknesses. And the new firm is growing because of their partnership.
This is a promising series with intriguing protagonists. It’s a 70s, Texan version of the cormoran and robin mysteries set in London. Here, Delpha is still acclimating to life outside of prison in how thinks and acts. She’s so deliberate and thoughtful and her progressive is so gratifying for read. She and Tom work well together, playing off their respective strengths and weaknesses. And the new firm is growing because of their partnership.
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