Dead and Not So Buried

James L. Conway

This debut novel by author James L. Conway is worth checking out.

A famous actress' bones are stolen from her vault. Gideon Kinkaid's business card is attached to the ransom note. Gideon is an ex-policeman turned private investigator. After the funeral director who owns the graveyard threatens Gideon, the man then hires him to help get the bones retrieved. Gideon takes the ransom money in his car. The bone kidnapper took his car, crashed it, then took the money.

Now Kincaid is more involved. The bone theft had recently been a novel plot from a Hollywood screenwriter, director, and novel author. Kincaid questions the man. This time a new ransom is demanded. The cops get involved. Unfortunately one of the two officers assigned is Kinkaid's ex-wife. They broke up after he left the force rather than get fired.

Soon people start dying. More ransoms are demanded. Kinkaid's business card is attached to each note, demanding that he be involved in the money delivery. Is it possible he is the next person on the killer's hit list?

James L. Conway uses his inside knowledge of the film business to write this fast paced, wry novel looking at the dark side of Hollywood. Dead and Not So Buried pulls the reader in and starts twisting the reader's perceptions almost immediately. As the saying goes, "trust no one". Remember that while reading Dead and Not So Buried.

The suspense/detective novel is told from two perspectives. Most of the story is first person narrative from Kinkaid's viewpoint. The rest are told third person, usually focusing on the murderer. The reader knows early on who the killer is. It's only later the reader learns why.

Conway has captured the essence of the behind the scenes Hollywood that readers suspect is there. Kinkaid's flaws make the character realistic. Dead and Not So Buried is full of interesting characters, odd situations. and surprises that don't stop.

Notice:  Non-graphic violence