At most, this is a travel-read. It didn’t hook me straight away. However, it was entertaining enough to complete. So, if you pick up a copy – know you don’t have to think when reading, which can be nice!
In short – Damaged protagonist is a divorced dad, loves booze, and runs his own P.I. Agency. He takes a case to investigate a Mink Farm gone bad (for investors). Sorta an odd choice of catalyst, but no harm there.
The two in charge of said Mink Farm are MIA, along with the cash. He does catch up with the wife, Tag, and some quality murder and destruction takes place. Follow that with a hiccup here and there, some side action, cold trail, danger around the corner, and resolution. There is bloody, pretty bow ending to wrap it all up.
The writing has a few segments of well-done metaphors to paint the setting and/or situation. A lot of the book is more a Point A to Point B style of writing. The majority of the situations and action are believable, but nothing really reached out and grabbed my attention.
I didn’t feel this was a detective novel. The guts were pretty much present. It was more of a lusty track-someone-down affair. The pack – that important pack – nothing too revealing. The plan – pretty straight-forward stuff.
The mafia men are completely incompetent. O’Keefe is lucky. The violent and racial bits are more shock-value since the rest of the book was vanilla. Not sure if I missed something there.
So, Peter O’Keefe is a douche. He is a Vietnam Vet (plus a decade past), runs a business, but has his head up his six. He has unconditional love from his young daughter, but deserves a fraction and gives the equivalent, or less, in return. His existence boils down to ‘just breathing’ and he loves the ol’ fire water. Redeeming qualities (aside from being a Vet) are less than a dollar with loads of change back.
Constance “Tag” Parker is a super-hot blonde without real purpose or satisfaction in life. She wants what she wants and believes what she deserves is just over ‘there.”. So, she is on the move from here to there. With her backstory, readers will understand her more and pity her for chasing something that will, more than likely, never be fulfilled. But, a girl has to try – and I still rooted for her.
Although the blurb says October 1986, I totally forgot that and felt this was a mid-1970s setting. More of a recently returned, in business for a few years sorta protagonist. That would have allowed more empathy for the demons in the Vet’s life. Because at some point, you need to square your [stuff] away.
This P.I. rolls with an M16 auto and grenades. Hmm. Okay? He just have a couple grenades or does he have a full stash to be used as needed? At no point do cops seriously not look in his van to see his gear?’’ 3.0 of 5 Stars. ARC provided by author/publisher. From the Publisher:
“A HARD-HITTING, EXCITING DEBUT NOVEL …”
October 1986—the tarnished heart of the “Greed Is Good” decade. Private detective Peter O’Keefe is a physically scarred and emotionally battered Vietnam vet. Hired by his childhood best friend, ace attorney Mike Harrigan, O’Keefe investigates what appears to be merely a rinky-dink mink farm Ponzi scheme in the Missouri Ozarks. Instead, O’Keefe finds himself snared in a vicious web of money laundering, cocaine smuggling, and murder—woven by a mysterious mobster known as “Mr. Canada.” Also caught in Mr. Canada’s web is the exquisite Tag Parker, who might be the girl of O’Keefe’s dreams—or his nightmares. Mink Eyes weaves murder, addiction, obsession, sex, and redemption into a fast-paced, compelling detective novel that also brings in themes of duty, fatherhood, friendship and love. Peter O’Keefe is a reluctant hero who struggles every day to choose in favor of life over death.