The February Trouble

Dave Garrett #2

by Neil Albert

Lawyer-turned-private investigator Dave Garrett investigates the sabotage of a new Chinese fast-food franchise in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the heart of Amish country. By the author of The January Corpse. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

I am a trial lawyer, mystery writer, and retired foxhunter living in the Amish Country near Philadelphia. I started writing a series of mysteries in the 1990s and now I am returning to finish the series. I was very lucky to be published then, in the days when there were still independent bookstores and there was a chance to meet your fans face to face. As exciting as it was to be published, the best part was the fans, editors and other writers I met. Writing is far more collegial than people suspect.
I stopped the series in 1996 partly because I had run out of good ideas (I had plenty of bad ones) and because, at age 47, I had started riding horses for the first time in my life. Six months after my first ride I was fox hunting. It was very time intensive and the books went on the back burner. (And no, we do not kill the fox.) After twenty years and putting down my last hunt horse, I find myself with time on my hands and a need for a distraction.

Reviews

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say I enjoy these mysteries with Dave Garrett because they are intelligent. Does that make any sense? These are definitely not those cozies with all the fluffy chitchat and socializing that takes up a huge portion of the book (and I really dislike those too) and you are in over 100 pages and still nothing has happened but people socializing. If you want that, read a cozy. These are hard boiled crime with complex cases. And Garrett has to be on his toes to sort it all out and figure out why is someone shooting at him? What is really going on? Because sometimes his clients might not tell him the whole story! But that is why I like these... It jumps right into the case and the action too. And there are lots of twists. And often Garrett gets injured in these books too. Punches fly and so do bullets.

Was there a twist in this one? Yes, several! Did I guess the crook? Nope... But I sure had fun reading this!

I like that Garrett is so smart and no nonsense. In that respect he is like me. Maybe that is why I like these books? And like I said the story starts right away. No waiting for a crime to happen. In this particular case he is hired by a rather rich man who is running a new Chinese take out restaurant. And he is getting threats. But the case is unusual in that he is running the office side of the business out of his house! Events quickly get out of control. The man's wife is kidnapped. But by who? Why?

Garrett thinks everything through carefully. He makes lists and tries to eliminate suspects. Who was where? And yes there are many suspicious characters in here.

I suppose since this isn't a cozy that is why this has so few reviews? But if you dislike cozies for the reason I do (I never understood why many cozies make you read 100+ pages before a murder happens - to me that makes no sense whatsoever and you are starting the story way too soon) than you might really enjoy this series. I am reading them in order. And as I stated Garrett is very clever and no nonsense type of PI. He knows the laws, how to deal with cops and everything. And yes there are a few deaths in here.

The identify of the criminal certainly caught me off guard. It was a real surprise.

I do love the shade of blue on the cover. And yes the Amish do have a small role in this one. Set in Pennsylvania.

Going to read the March one soon!

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dave Garret, investigator, takes on what he thinks is a routine investigation of the destructive vandalism of a new Chinese restaurant franchise, set to open in Lancaster, Pa. As he delves into the case, he finds himself in the middle of kidnapping, ransom demands, and murder! As he races to find the perpetrators, he fears he may be in danger himself. This is a fast paced mystery with a plot that twists in ways I did not anticipate. And the setting in Lancaster County was a plus! I enjoyed the book and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Maria D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I read the first book and it was "okay" Felt the same about this one & probably won't continue with the series unless someone gives it to me and I need a book to leave in my car. I think I just genuinely dislike the main character & I also raised an eyebrow that in both books the women this guy gets with just want to have sex with him out of nowhere. I just can't. Setting that aside, the way he goes about unfolding the mystery is disjointed and uninteresting for me to get excited about what comes next. By the end of this book, I just didn't care anymore. I gave it 3 stars bc I do enjoy an insider's pov of the law & police procedure which the main character shares with the reader.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dave Garrett, private investigator is hired to investigate vandalism and sabotage at a Chinese restaurant franchise that is about to be opened in Lancaster, Pa. He soon finds himself in the midst of a dangerous investigation of kidnapping, ransom and murder. Can he find the perpetrator before anyone else is harmed, or he becomes one of the victims? This is an intricately plotted mystery that is full of twists and turns, and complex characters that I found intriguing! And it is set in beautiful Lancaster County, Pa, which is a plus! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I am looking forward to reading more of Dave Garrett's adventures!

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: Dave Garrett, PI
SETTING: Philadelphia
SERIES: #2 of 6
RATING: 3.0
WHY: Dave Garrett is a PI hired to figure out who is sabotaging the new Chinese fast food franchise before it opens. Soon, the new owner's wife is kidnapped. Garrett seems like a decent enough PI, but the plot is less than convincing and the pacing lags toward the end of the book.

[Daelith · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay read but I don't feel compelled to find more of the series.