Twisted Perception: A Kenny Elliot Mystery

by Bob Avey

Porter, Oklahoma holds a dark secret, and troublesome dreams plague Tulsa Police Detective, Kenny Elliot, who grew up in the small town. When a bizarre murder catapults Elliot into his past, he’s brought face-to-face with the fabric of his nightmares. A shiny necklace dangles from the rearview mirror of the vehicle where Lagayle Zimmerman, the victim, is discovered. Nine years earlier, in Porter, a similar necklace swung from the mirror of a Mustang that harbored the mutilated bodies of Elliot’s friends, Jonathan Alexander (Johnnie Boy), and Marcia Barnes. Most of the town believed Elliot killed his classmates, but no arrest was made. Risking his job and his sanity, Elliot digs into his past to solve the murders and expose the truth.

221 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2021

About the author

Bob Avey is an award-recognized mystery author and crime fiction writer, best known for the Kenny Elliot mystery series, a collection of dark psychological mysteries that blend police procedural, literary mystery, and psychological thriller elements.

His novels, including Twisted Perception, Beneath a Buried House, Footprints of a Dancer, and Identity Theft, follow Detective Kenny Elliot, a Tulsa police detective drawn into ritualistic murders, cold cases, and small-town secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Set primarily in Oklahoma, Bob Avey’s work appeals to readers who enjoy detective mystery novels, suspense crime fiction, and stories that explore the dark side of human nature, faith, and fear. His writing is frequently described as a fusion of literary mystery and psychological suspense, delivering tension from the first page.

When he’s not writing, Bob researches mystery writing techniques, explores antique shops for forgotten artifacts, and visits ghost towns in search of history’s hidden echoes. He is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, the Oklahoma Writers Federation, and Tulsa NightWriters.

Reviews

[H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many intriguing characters and a stunning twist at the end

I grew up in a small town not too far from Tulsa, similar to the fictional Porter, which is at the heart of this novel. So I could readily identify with the ethos of such a place. The pacing of the story is good and not many readers will have figured out the twist that comes near the end of the book. To keep the characters straight, I suggest writing down their names as they appear in the narrative along with a few words about their involvement in the story. This often helps a reader follow the plot a bit better in mysteries. I also think this is a book best read straight through, with not much time passing between reading.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted Perception

As a mystery, this was an excellent book. I was wondering if Elliot was the murderer, but then he wasn't. Then if he wasn't, who was. Finding out who was,was really mind blowing. Great book.

[Kathleen L. Haun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Page Turner

Twists and turns. Read through in one sitting. Enjoyed this book, as well as the others in the series. Waiting hopefully for another book about Kenny Elliot.

[Johnetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

New author for me…enjoyed greatly.

A very interesting book with just the right amount of twists and turns.

I must say a few times I had to reread some things as I was either getting lost or trying too hard to solve the mystery.

I’ll try another….maybe he and Carmen will get together.