Title: Body In The Woods
Subtitle: A Jack Ludefance Novel
Author: Behcet Kaya
Publisher: Square Fish
Pages: 288
Genre: Fiction / Crime / Mystery
Reviewed by: Jake Bishop
Hollywood Book Reviews
Florida Private Investigator, Jacque (who goes by Jack) Ludefance, is embroiled in murder, mayhem, industrial espionage, maybe even treason in this second installment of the Cajun gumshoe’s adventures. However, this time the action isn’t taking place on the sandy seashores of the southeastern United States. It’s unwinding in Hollywood, Malibu, and trendy enclaves just beyond The City Of Angels’ city limits. Can the good old boy from the bayou get things done on the California coast just like he does in Florida or Louisiana? The fun is in seeing him try.
A murder has been committed on the West Coast. Jack is contacted by the primary suspect who wants the shamus to come help him clear his name by finding the real murderer. Hesitant to get involved initially, Jack finally agrees because of old ties and a potentially big fee. When he arrives, he begins to find a lot more than he expected. The P. I.’s acquaintance is a wealthy businessman suspected of killing his partner, a brilliant but abrasive scientist who either developed or stole a top-secret formula capable of making aircraft literally invisible to radar. Such a product would obviously be of enormous appeal to the U. S. Department of Defense. But it seems the secretive scientist is not above searching out the highest bidder—whether it be domestic, foreign, friend, or foe. When the scientist turns up dead, the police put the finger on his partner—aided by an overheard threat to kill the scientist.
Jack begins his investigation by investigating the man he’s working for. When he’s relatively satisfied that his employer isn’t the actual murderer, he begins looking into the murdered man. Along the way, he runs into a coterie of interesting characters. There’s the sumo-sized criminal who (for a price) gives Jack entree to local underworld information. There’s the hapless computer hacker who needs a shower and a new set of clothes but is uniquely skilled at coming up with hidden assets. There’s the dead man’s housekeeper who’s a real knockout that’s apparently been knocked up by the deceased. There are even some Turks involved who give Jack a lot more than he bargained for when he dashes off to England to run down a potential lead.
Author Kaya keeps his novel easy to read and his protagonist easy to like. Sharp, crisp sentences keep the paragraphs pumping along at a comfortable pace. Ludefance is a private eye without pretense. An ex-military pilot with a facial scar provided by an actual alligator, the gumshoe is never far from a few Sam Adams beers or appropriate substitutes. He’s a country boy capable of holding his own with intimidating hoods or condescending sophisticates. You’ll find yourself rooting for him to turn over whatever rock gets in his way—and plenty do—particularly when you and Jack discover that both the living and the dead may definitely not be what they seem.
If you like to follow personable P. I.’s involved in intriguing cases, you’ll likely enjoy tagging along as Jack Ludefance tries to find who’s really responsible for the Body In The Woods.