August Hearts: The Dave Garrett Series

Dave Garrett #8

by Neil Albert

Against his better judgment, Dave takes on a case for the president of a corrupt union and his wife. Their son wants to marry his college girlfriend and the parents are deeply suspicious of their prospective daughter-in-law. When Dave’s investigation of the girl comes up with nothing he thinks the case is over—until the son angrily bursts into Dave’s office and tells him that his girlfriend is in jail for stealing a diamond-studded heart-shaped brooch from his mother. He agrees to help the young couple, but everything he learns suggests that the girl has secrets to hide. Was he wrong about her the first time, or is he wrong now? Dave has to get to the bottom of the case quickly, but both his old clients and his new clients are living up to his definition of a client as “someone who’s holding out on you.”

229 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2021

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

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a twisting mystery, in which everything and everyone are not as they seem. Dave Garrett and his assistant Lisa have to unravel both secrets that are decades old, that lead to present day deceptions. I enjoyed the book, and I am looking forward to reading the further adventures of Dave Garrett!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a complicated, twisted tale of secrets and lies, and the present-day repercussions as the deceptions continue. Dave Garrett and his assistant, Lisa take on what seems to be a routine case, and soon find themselves in grave danger. As they work to unravel what happened in the past, they start to realize that the past still haunts some of those involved in that "routine case." It was quite a good mystery, that kept me guessing until the end. Looking forward to the next book in the Dave Garrett series!

[Northwestreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

August Hearts was a book that I was looking forward to reading. I first met Dave Garrett and his assistant Lisa eight books ago in January Corpse and have followed them ever since. After all these books, these two characters seem like old friends who have an interesting life and always have interesting experiences to share. I've enjoyed watching them develop their relationship throughout this series. And, of course, I have to wonder where they will end up when Mr. Albert gets to the December book.

Mr. Albert has been careful to add something unique in each of the Dave Garrett books so they are never formulaic. The reader has to read every page to get the full story--skimming won't work here. For readers who are avid fans of detective stories, Mr. Albert inserts a clever, but subtle, nod to Agatha Christie.

August Hearts was definitely an enjoyable and engaging read. I look forward to continuing the journey with Dave and Lisa as they continue through the year.