The Dynamic Duo Has Blasted Us With Their Latest! Seriously Serial Murders! A Ricky Burns Mystery By C. K. Laurence and Jerry Lyons - WOW!!!

 

Ricky pulled himself out of bed at nine the next morning. He could smell bacon and eggs and hear Collette softly singing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” How can she possibly be so cheerful after last night, Ricky wondered. When he’d arrived home, they’d had a marathon of lovemaking. The second he’d fallen into bed, exhausted....he thought he could get right to sleep. Collette turned to him, leaned in to kiss him, and that was all she wrote. All that pent up sexual tension from the club exploded and he couldn’t get enough of her. It had to be five o’clock when they’d finally gone to sleep. ​Driving home last night he’d run what was ahead of him today through his head. He had to talk to Jay about the glass and the DNA. Hoping it wouldn’t end in disaster, he’d finally decided to suggest they talk to Bill and Carol about running the DNA. After breakfast, he was going to call Jay to see what he was up against. ​Collette came into the bedroom just as he finished dressing. ​“What a night,” she smiled. ​“It was amazing, You’re the best!” ​“No, you are, but let’s not argue. I made breakfast.” ​“I smelled it. I’m starving.” ​“Good, because it’s ready and I don’t want it to get cold” ​He followed her into the dining room where the table had already been set. They both sat down and after a few bites, Ricky decided to run his plan by Collette. ​“Babe, I got DNA last night. I want to give it to Bill or Carol to have it checked out, but I have to talk to Jay first. I’m going to tell him that I got it and the only way to find out if there’s a match with Tso’s ex is to have his permission to do it.” ​“When he says ‘no’ what are you going to do?” ​“I have an idea and I hope he’ll give me the chance to tell him.” ​“What kind of an idea?” ​“I thought we could take it to Tso and let him decide.’ ​“Whoa. That could end in disaster.” ​“I know, but I’m in a no-win situation. If I have it run without talking to him and it’s a match, I’m going to have to tell Jay and there’d be hell to pay. If there’s no match, I wouldn’t even have to say anything.” ​“True. You’re right, though. You’ve got to run it by him before you give it to Bill and Carol.” ​“I know. I’m going to call him when we finish breakfast. These biscuits are incredible. Pillsbury?” ​“Nice. No, not Pillsbury. Collette’s special recipe for my special man.” ​“You’re the best!” ​After they’d finished breakfast and he’d helped Collette clean up, he went into his office and made the dreaded call to Jay. As expected, Jay refused. Not too proud to beg, Ricky pleaded with him. Finally, he suggested they go to the jail and meet with Tso...

~~~

And another Wow!!! This dynamic duo has moved forward in their latest book, Seriously Serial Murders! Soooo, I'm now thinking this fantastic series is going onward and upward and in for a long run!

So I want to begin by properly introducing the main characters... The series features Ricky Burns, a PI as the main character. In my mind he is exactly the type of individual who should BE in law enforcement. Mainly because he wants justice and that means the individual who is guilty should be charged and punished. In this book, Ricky's search for the truth places him in a difficult situation. Why? Because he works for a defense attorney... And, in seems to me, the defense attorney never really wants to know the truth, just how to get his client off... Ricky agrees!

Jay is his boss and has notified Ricky that they have a new client. Not only has the client paid Jay in advance $50,000, but has also provided a $10,000 payment for an investigator... Frankly, both Jay and Ricky, while being thrilled with this, are also wondering just why this man has acted to be prepared if he is not guilty...of something...

Collette plays a double role. She worked for Jay when Ricky came into the picture. But now holds Ricky's heart and they are living together on a houseboat! Cool, right?!

But there is a serial killer in the area, killing women--women who are of a certain type--each one seemingly prettier than the last one... The MO is consistent, even to leaving a small plastic heart... And kills are escalating!

The book opens with Ricky playing darts with two of his best friends, who are cops he has met since he moved south and left his job as a NY homicide cop. Bill Sewell and Carol Brooklyn are good cops and they have worked a few cases with Ricky in the past. 

This time, however, Jay is hyper about maintaining client confidentiality, while Ricky is struggling with his own doubt about their "client." Why put out $60,000 and not explain? And Bill and Carol are both on the serial killer case as it is near Spring Break when all college students head to Florida for fun and games.

When another murder takes place, they found the man and arrested him immediately. The mayor announced they had their serial killer... but it was a copycat! And two more women were found dead with the original MO... The mayor had to spin his tale to the news staff as they were crying out for information!

Then the case got a break, the condom had been found inside one of the women recently found, apparently having been lost as the killer finished his assault...

And, suddenly it all fell apart as the DNA test showed that an Asian was the killer, but was not it their database...

And Jay and Ricky looked at each other, knowing that their...client...was...Asian...

I could not stop reading! I suffered along with Ricky as he struggled with his own moral code to seek justice for the victim... But, then, as he investigated,  information was confirmed that their client was out of town during the last two murders... But sooner or later, the fact that he was one of the few Asians in this area, just might mean he would be questioned.

Did Ricky follow his heart or would his boss tell him to ensure their new client was protected under the law...

Reading a book all the way to the last page is rare for me... And, I have to tell you, when I did, I was lying in bed reading the last sentence and I began to laugh wildly! Sure glad I don't live with anybody! Laurence has allowed herself to write as the book needed to be told and it shows that she's moving into a must-read author. She notes in her bio that she's tried many things through her life and just lately she's tried writing. Well, I'm finding that she's a natural at it! This book shares the dialogue, the situations, and the people that are encountered with criminally-minded people are encountered in daily life. She doesn't hold back anything, as it should be... And, indeed, it makes this book the best fiction I've read this year! Obviously, it's a personal favorite for me...

But for readers of mystery, true crime, with a touch of appropriate sexual encounters, Laurence has taken the story of the Real Ricky Burns, Jerry Lyon, and presented avid readers with a page-turner that will ensure you, too, will read it through once you get started! High praise for this solid thriller that keeps you guessing. I was fairly certain early on what was happening, but that is only because of the way the writer presented the case... Thank YOU Dynamic Duo for a series that keeps on providing great stories directly from the headlines!

GABixlerReviews

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Just Out! Killer Camp: A Ricky Burns Mystery - By C. K. Laurence & Jerry Lyons

 

Jay and Ricky were having lunch in a little out of the way deli. Ricky called the meeting because he had things to tell him that he didn’t want Collette to hear.  Carter had come to him a couple of days after the fire, when he learned the trailer that burnt down belonged to Terri Riley. When he realized it was the woman that Karen had cheated on Barb with, he knew just how badly he had screwed up and he had to come clean to Ricky. It’s not like he knew it was going to be Terri’s trailer when he told them how to burn one down, but he should have been reporting everything regardless of whether or not he thought it was important to the case. The reason he gave was they’d come to him about burning down an abandoned trailer for the insurance money. He’d lied about the reason his cap was lined with tin foil, which was an enigma to him. There was no way to know how many other things Carter hadn’t been straight with him about and more and more he thought Carter was just untrustworthy. He was sure that Carter was hiding even simple truths.  Ricky knew how dangerous this case had become and he felt he had to confide in people who would do the right thing if anything happened to him—and with each day that passed, he became surer that his life was in serious danger.  “So you’re saying that the tin man has definitely gone off the reservation and you don’t know what he’s not telling you or what he’s telling you that could be lies?”  “Yup. That’s about what I’m telling you. Those rednecks are bad people. They wouldn’t think twice about killing anyone who crosses them. They gave me that warning shot that messed up my pretty face believing that would get rid of me. Now they know I’m not going anywhere. Carter has lost his way. I can’t trust him about anything at this point and I’ve got to solve this murder.”  

“Ricky, don’t be a hero. I can drop this case and be done with all of it. Nothing’s worth losing your life.”  ​“Um, ‘Ricky don’t be a hero, don’t be a fool with your life’—wasn’t that a song from the seventies, Jay? Not going to happen. I’ve never walked away before and I’m not going to walk now. I just wanted you to know the situation and make sure Collette doesn’t know anything about it. Between this case and Becky’s incessant calls, she’s already upset enough. I’m meeting with Bill Sewell and Carol Brooklyn tonight to give them what I know. I can’t go to the police up there in Okeechobee because I think about half their force is involved in the camp. I’ll be careful, but I want you to be careful as well, and keep an eye on Collette.”  “Okay. I’m not happy about it, but I’ll play it your way.”  “I’ve got the police patrolling your office regularly. If you have any kind of problem, you’ve got Carol and Bill’s numbers. Call them.  When Ricky called Carol about meeting up that night, the first thing she wanted to know was if darts were involved and did he have plenty of money. She agreed to call Bill and meet him about seven in a bar that didn’t have a dart board.  After catching up over a few drinks and having some laughs, Ricky got serious and started filling in the details of the case.  

“I can’t go to the Okeechobee cops because a good number of them belong to the camp. They’ve already taken a shot at me, burnt down a trailer, and although I don’t know what their end game is, they’re sure as hell playing for keeps. I wanted you to know everything I know and if anything happens to me, make sure all the right people know.  “Also, I want you to keep an eye on Jay and Collette. I know you’ve already got a patrol over there, but now that the red hats are involved, I need some peace of mind so I can do my job without worrying about them all the time.”  Ricky went into the details and Bill and Carol asked plenty of questions. When they were comfortable that everyone knew their parts, they had one more drink toasting Ricky and assuring him they’d see to it he had a proper burial. They also promised to watch over Jay and Collette... The fire, and Carter’s part in it, bothered Ricky more than he thought it should. His first instinct had been to pull him out of the camp and treat him like a cabana boy. He could run errands and do research that didn’t put him near the red hats. After arguing with himself for a couple of days, he decided to let Mr. B stay with the red hats for anything he might retrieve. Of course, he'd have to discount a good part of what he told him, but at least he’d have someone inside the camp. Maybe his conscience would kick in and he’d actually keep his role straight. That would be a long shot though.  Ricky was on his way to Barb/Bob’s’ house to see if maybe she knew something about the fire. He didn’t know whether they were just trying to go up a notch in the attempts to frighten the lesbians and it was a coincidence that it happened to be Terri Riley’s trailer; or had they chosen Terri’s trailer to send a specific message. It was an awfully big coincidence that it was her trailer and Ricky had never believed in coincidence. There had to be an underlying reason...

~~~

I woke up at 3 AM, my heart racing with adrenaline, I was remembering that I and other women were in a fight with many men chasing, but at the close of the dream I asked if anybody wanted to go to have something to drink... Immediately I was confused. So was the fight real? Suddenly I understood. I had read and finished Killer Camp, the new Ricky Burns Mystery right before I turned out the lights... It was not what I had expected even though I knew the theme before I started to read...

I stayed there in bed, thinking about the book and how and what I would write about it. Suddenly, I recognized a theme: I wanted to analyze the true victim of the story... Or was he? I'm still not sure...

You see, although written as a mystery, with new characters based upon the latest case that had come to His lawyer boss and Ricky, working as his Investigator, I was reading... True Crime... I don't really like True Crime. Just the fact that it is real rather than fiction, doesn't allow me, the reader, to sink into the mystery, to look for the clues that the writer had "created" and try to figure out what was going to happen before the end of the book...

True Crime books, while maybe establishing a setting, such as Killer Camp, and adding a number of random characters surrounding the story, the basic storyline is based upon Truth... Not Fiction... The Reality of Life is what I want to escape, often, when choosing which book to read... But, as most of us know now, True Crime is TOO alive and well in America--in an unprecedented way. One I, and all potential readers of this book, have been living in since around 2015...

The book starts quite differently. A murder has already been committed. A woman was arrested, found guilty and imprisoned. A new lawyer has been hired to appeal the case, based upon having ineffective counsel. Jay Kirshman as been hired; Ricky Burns has already started gathering preliminary information by interviewing the previous lawyer, who Ricky quickly determines is a "dud," and goes on to find that he doesn't even have an office, but works out of his home! There certainly was bound to be enough documentation to ensure the case could be opened again!

Of course, the next action Ricky wanted to concentrate on was where the body of Karen Rogers' body was found on a family farm. When he got there, however, he immediately saw there were signs of no trespassing and mean dogs. He continued on, seeing two older men. One was the father of the man he wanted to talk to, who quickly aggressively pointed out his lack of attention to the signs and that he might get in trouble that way... Immediately, based upon how the man talked, he realized that he had met his first "Redneck." 

As he quick-stepped back to his car, he remembered Jay warning him that this was Redneck country, how mean and nasty they were, and to be careful. Ricky had smiled at him and talked about when he was facing other criminals in the city and was sure he'd be able to deal with these guys... Now, he wasn't so sure, going over what had just been said...

One of the guys looked hard at Ricky. “Don’tcha know how t’read, boy? Yer trespassin’.” “Yeah. I noticed, but there was no other way to get here without trespassing.” “Think yer funny? What you lookin’ fer—a beatin’?” “Nope. I’m looking for Bennie Arnold. I’m a private investigator working for the attorney who represents Becky Collins. She’s appealing her murder conviction and I just need a few minutes with Bennie.” “I’m Bennie’s paw, Harry. Bennie’s been going through a rough time. He got hooked onto drugs and is in a bad way. He ain’t talkin’ to no one. So git back into yer automobile and git the fuck off our property. Now.” “You’re Becky’s uncle. I thought surely you’d be more interested in helping her.” The old man stepped over into Rick’s face while the other guy picked up a shovel and started towards him. Ricky thought it was an awful time for him to have left his gun in the car. “Becky’s paw is my brother. I never liked my brother or any of his kin. And I’ll tell ya one more thing. If I see ya around here again, I’ll put ya in the ground and no one will ever find ya. Ever!”

After reading about 50 pages, I began to see the routine clues that readers find in a mystery, but these clues seemed familiar, too familiar. Soon, discussions began about the woman who had been murdered, having been involved with both women and men, that she had money which was often used to buy gifts for men with whom she was involved, while she might also have another lover, a female, with whom she was in love. Soon Ricky was visiting The Lez-be Friends Trailer Park, where Terri Riley lived. She had been identified as being a former connection with the victim. 

But as he was beginning the discussion, he was having trouble concentrating because of the close gunfire, sounding much like target practice, that he could hear in the background. Finally, he asked about it and learned that it was a group on a farm very close to their Park, who were constantly harassing those living there. Ricky asked about who they were and Terri lumped them all as "white supremacists," then made them more readily identified as:

...They constantly play creepy little games like knocking our trash pails over, throwing garbage onto our lawns and wiping excrement on our homes. Tough guys going after women. Little minds, lots of games.” “Who’s doing it and why?” “White supremacists. They’re all over the place, practicing for the revolution. They’re an uneducated, ruthless group of rednecks. Talk about your basic trailer trash. We could move, but to where? We’re a little concerned that they’ll eventually accidentally start shooting us, but to date, we’ve managed to come and go without incident except for an occasional tossed garbage can and smashed mailbox. Some way to live, huh?” “I’m from New York where it isn’t as obvious, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. The United States has become an angry place since 2016. I hope I live to see the pendulum swing back.”

And then I read a name...then another name... and I realized that this novel is a fictionalized background story, pre-January 6th Attack on the Capitol! So I honed in on a new character that had been introduced into the investigation team, based upon a friend of a friend type of thing where somebody needs a job...

Supposedly, Jay would be hiring somebody based upon a request of a friend, but he would hopefully be "backup" for Ricky given what they were learning about the people who were potentially being investigated as to who actually murdered the woman. As the character was described, almost immediately I had a picture of a young boy, just 17, who had committed murder during a protest... But, the character was older, had worked as a guard in a prison and was thinking about becoming a PI... As soon as Ricky saw him, he was...concerned...

What begins thereafter is the birth of a killer... a wolf in sheep's clothing... or a sheep trying to be a wolf, a self-absorbed man in a generation where selfishness is normal, based upon their home environment, and everything is viewed from their own perspective. I knew him right away. The authors intended him to be recognized. He is the individual who is confronted with meeting a breed of individuals who have gone too far during their entire lives, being who they wanted to be and creating lies about anybody who opposes their own beliefs... You know, readers, you might have heard a few testify at the Congressional Hearing on the January 6th Insurrection... The ones who said they thought they were doing what was right and had to be done... The ones who were so inundated by those who had created a false life in which to live...

Killer Camp was a location, supposedly one of many around America, where men are preparing for a revolution... There is talk about it in secret groups on the Internet. Within the Camp, there is constant pressure to assimilate--the character is being transformed within a few hours for readers, but it was days, weeks, perhaps even longer for some to become this individual, the one who is so prepared to kill, to protect himself, that nothing, and nobody else matters... This is Killer Camp. 

We talked about it beginning in 2015 or thereabouts. But these militia groups have been around for many years hiding their thoughts, their own values, but slowly infiltrating... until they are consumed, with an ultimate leader who frees them to act...

Key in the book is the fact that there are police officers who are embedded with those living and planning a revolution at the Killer Camp. Thus, confusion surrounds the thinking of the latest victim. The victim that they know better than the victim knows himself...

Laurence and Lyons have taken a major step in writing this book. They joined the many writers who are reporting what they see as is happening in today's world. They, like the actual victims involved in the January 6th Insurrection, have documented their own involvement, have determined that they must speak out. The Importance and the Impact of this book is significant, far-reaching; and, yet, sadly a commentary on the damage, the danger, of what one or more, perceived, strong dictatorial leaders can do to the mind of a young, very insecure mind... 

Today, Tell Yourself There Will Be No Revolution! Today, Vote to Ensure that Those Who Hate--those who TEACH Hate Will Not Succeed...

Read Killer Camp. A must-read. If you are still unsure about how the split of America has occurred, then you need to see how a young impressionable man/men can be affected by lies, hate, constant planning for revolution/war, learning how to shoot to kill, carrying a weapon that has no value except to kill... This book is not a Mystery! It's happening right now, Readers... The Mystery is How It Is Happening in America! 

GABixlerReviews

Announcing! Oh Baby! A Ricky Burns Mystery by C.K.Laurence and Jerry Lyons Now Out!

 

Check it out NOW

“Hey guys! Look at that. Breaking  news. They found the remains of that two-year-old girl that went  missing a few months ago. You know, the one where the mom didn’t bother to report her missing for a month.”  “Now there’s a case I wouldn’t want to have to deal with. She’s already been tried, found guilty and put to death in the court of public opinion,” Jay said. 

Ricky shook his head. “Oh, Mr. ‘it’s our job to get a not guilty verdict regardless,’ you’re quick enough to put a needle in  someone else’s client’s arm.”

“She’s not my client, and I wouldn’t want her to be. She’s someone else’s problem and that’s fine with me.”

“The mother wasn’t even the one who reported the baby  missing—the grandmother did. I don’t understand that at all. In fact, they had video of the baby’s mother dancing in a club after  the kid went missing. It sure seems to point to her, but if she did  it, you’d think she would have at least tried to cover for it somehow,” Collette added.

“Like I said,” Jay went on, “I’m glad she’s someone else’s problem. Where’s any doubt in that case, reasonable or otherwise?”

As if on cue, Jay’s phone rang. He answered on the first ring, nodded, said they’d be right there.

“That was fast,” Collette said.

“Yeah. They’re not going to make us wait on this one.” Jay signaled the waiter for the bill and Ricky stood. “I’m going to hit the head before we go.”

“We’ll wait for you, babe.” Collette smiled, hoping to brighten his mood, but he said he wished they wouldn’t and headed to the restroom.

“I’ve never seen him like this, Jay. He’s working himself into a real depression. I half hope they find him guilty for Ricky’s sake.”

“How about hoping he’s innocent for my sake, eh?”Jay had just finished paying the bill when Ricky returned. They stood before he could sit and headed back to the Courthouse.

~~~

A 2-year-old baby girl has disappeared! As soon as it is known, people come from near and far to help find and rescue the little child... But, those hunts were all in vain...and, only later, did they find the baby girl dead!

When a book spotlights one of the most horrendous abuses ever, it is difficult to say that I am excited to share my thoughts that I was happy it was written. The dynamic duo of C.K. Laurence and Jerry Lyons has once again provided what I consider will become a blockbuster! Two in the Head was the first in series, so if you missed my review, do take time to check it out!

Ricky Burns, the main character, had moved to Florida to become a Private Investigator after being a homicide detective in New York. He had at least one connection and found a home in a rented boat... And, then, he found work with a local defense lawyer. He had already completed his investigation and the court case was now in session.  But Ricky began to wonder if this "scumbag" was going to get off free... Of course, his boss in this case, Jay Kirschman, was quite happy that it was looking good for his client. And, indeed, he got off! Jay was happy; Ricky, not so much...

The adjustment to working for the defense, after having worked so many years to put the bad guy in jail was not sitting right in his head... Deals being made, without proper follow up--Ricky was having a hard time accepting that losing a case could ever be good, and especially for which he had, then, become a "hero..."  And after the trial was over, he began to ponder exactly what he should do next. He really didn't know whether he could continue to support defense lawyers. He liked Jay, but, more importantly, he had come to care very much for the paralegal working for Jay. What about her? 

Drinking and restless nights followed until one day, after not returning any contacts from Collette, she came to see if he was alright. Ricky was drunk and blew up! While it was not really about Collette, Ricky's major frustration in helping to keep a criminal from jail just could not be accepted... Ricky was just too much of a cop to be comfortable working on cases where the client might not be innocent. The  interaction with Collette was bad--very bad... But, at that time, he was planning to go back to New York where, at least, he would be near his family. He would find some place to work there....

And then a possible client came to his office. She was the grandmother of the baby who had been lost and found dead. She indicated that she had to help her daughter--that she knew she couldn't have done it. She begged, while at the same time admitting that she had no money to pay him for his work... But, once inside, he started to listen:

“Who is it?” he asked, slightly annoyed at having to wake up. "I need to speak to you,” said the voice outside. “I didn’t ask what you needed,” he groused, “I asked who’s there.”
“You don’t know me. My name is Catherine Martinelli. I need to talk to you about a case.”
“I’m not taking on any new cases, Ms. Martinelli. You’ll need to find another investigator.” “Please won’t you at least talk to me? This is a life-or-death matter, and you have a reputation for being honest, caring and a winner. I swear, it’s life or death—my daughter’s.”

“Sorry, lady. I’m out of the business. Don’t take it personally. In fact, I’m getting ready to leave Miami, so you need to go check out other investigators. There are plenty of good ones.”
“You don’t understand. They’ve arrested my only daughter and accused her of murdering her baby girl. They want to put her to death. Please at least talk to me.”

Ricky stood in front of the door, wanting to tell her to take a hike, but something about the desperation in her voice wouldn’t let him turn away. He opened the door. One look at the
woman told him he couldn’t just say no. She looked as though she hadn’t slept in days. Her eyes were red from crying, and she was as disheveled as he had been just a couple of days ago. “Come on in, Ms. Martinelli.”

She did so hesitantly. He led her to the sofa and told her to sit down. “I’m getting a cup of coffee. Looks like you could use one, too. Give me a minute.” “Don’t go to any trouble,” she said softly. “What trouble? I put a pod in the Keurig and voila! A cup of coffee appears. You look like you need it more than I do, and about now, that’s saying something.” “Thank you,” she whispered. “I think you’re right.” “How do you take it? “Just cream, please.” In two minutes, he showed up with two mugs, handed
her one and sat down in a chair across from her.

“I’m telling you,” he warned, “I’m not taking on any cases, and I am moving North within the next couple of weeks, but maybe I can direct you to someone who can help. Tell me what’s going on.”

“It’s my daughter. She’s made a lot of mistakes in her life—she's no saint for sure. She’s a liar, she’s mentally unstable, and has more issues than I have time to go through with you, but
she’s not a murderer, and she certainly didn’t kill her daughter.” “I’m in the dark here, Ms. Martinelli. Who’s accusing her of murder?”
“The police. They’ve arrested her. You must have seen  the news. My granddaughter went missing and last week they found her body. She was just two years old.”

Ricky remembered his last afternoon with Collette when she saw the news that the remains had been found. “Yes, I remember hearing something about it. Why are you so sure your daughter is innocent?” “I told you my daughter’s a liar, but it’s not her fault. Her whole life has been a lie and it’s taken twenty-two years to recognize that it started with me.”

“Let’s take this a little more slowly. I’m not following you.”“They arrested Jeri for murdering her baby Lena. It’s a mess. I don’t even know how to tell you so it will be clear
enough for you to understand. She didn’t report it when my granddaughter went missing. First she told me she was with a 
babysitter. Then, when we went to the house where the babysitter was supposed to be living, it was vacant. Jerri told me then that Lena had been ill and her father had taken her  somewhere for medical treatment. When I asked my husband about it, he told me to mind my own business, he had it under control. A month went by and I’d finally had enough so I went to the police to file a missing person report.

“Hold on a minute. It was a month before you filed a report?” “Yes, but I thought she was alive. I just wanted the police to help find her. My husband can be very ugly when he’s angry, and I’d pushed him as far as I knew I could before he’d get physical. I wasn’t getting any straight answers from him or my daughter. I asked my son if he knew anything about it and he said he didn’t have a clue, but if dad said to stay out of it, then I should stay out of it. But how can I stay out of it? I haven’t seen my granddaughter in I don’t even know how long, nobody even talks about her, so how can I just stay out of it. That’s why I filed the missing person report, and now my daughter is under arrest, sitting in a jail cell and facing the death penalty. None of this would have happened if I hadn’t filed that damned police report!”

“Calm down and take a couple of deep breaths, Ms. Martinelli. You’re blaming yourself for something that you have  no control over, and for sure, filing the missing person report has
nothing to do with her disappearance. I’m surprised you didn’t file it sooner, if anything.”

“Our house is a house of lies. I don’t know how I could have been so blind for so many years. I guess I was trying to protect myself from the truth—whatever that is. It’s like when I’m gardening. I pick up a rock and find families of bugs lying under it. Bugs. Crawling around everywhere. Living secret lives, carrying on and it never occurs to me that all that action is going on; but there it is, right under my face. And suddenly I realize that’s just what’s going on in my own life. I’m living in a house of lies! How could I be so stupid—living like this for so long?”

“Stop beating yourself up about this. It’s not your fault. Eventually people would start noticing the baby was missing, even without a missing person’s report. They had to have been
used to seeing her going in and out with your daughter and other members of your family. There had to have been some interaction with friends, relatives, whatever. Suddenly, she’s 
never around. No one’s talking to or about her. Your filing a report is the only natural thing about this. Jeri might be the only one blamed for it now, but that’s because she’s the mom. You’re not lying about it. You’ve just shown the concern that’s natural for a grandparent. It’s everyone else’s behavior that puzzles me. 
“Listen, I’m not leaving for another few days. Let me take a look into this. I have some friends in the police department that I can talk to, maybe dig up some inside information. Does Jeri have an attorney?” “A woman from the Public Defender’s office is handling 
her case.”

“A Public Defender can’t handle a death case.”

~~~ 

Burns first contact was with the PD. He was not only not impressed but found that she would not be willing to assist him, claiming they had their own investigators. This first step made his natural concern for justice become full-blown. You guessed it, He agreed to help at no cost...and then convinced Jay to take the case pro bono (with a deal made, of course). Collette was not so happy, still hurting from Ricky's brushoff. This interplay is an interesting and needed, in my opinion,  subplot that pulls readers from the reality which this book will get into...

Soon I started following the facts as they were revealed and began to...wonder... Something about all that he was discovering just did not add up! Except... if... there was some underlying secret(s) that, when, pulled into the public notice, would have to come out...

Laurence and Lyon make a dynamic duo who looks to just how any and every case, where even pre-judgments have been made about who is guilty, and investigates until a truly documented case can be "won." --because they are always on the "right" side, the winning side, and creates an unbelievably "believable" case that ensures that the guilty party(ies) will all be held accountable! How I wish that every such case could be handled by Laurence and Lyons! 

I'm not a true crime fan. It hits too close to reality for me. Somehow it is easier to explore just how cruelly people can treat each other... in fiction--even, if, perhaps, it is based on real-life cases. We have learned through today's headlines that a 10-year-old could not receive an abortion from incest in Ohio. And, in fact, she was taken to another state because Ohio politicians had prevented proper medical care...

I can't help but think of when I added my name to "Me-Too" when women first started speaking out... Yet, even as the young woman in the above video shares, many may have thought it was just part of the natural family environment...Until years later, finding out what really was happening...

And, that's why, I'm so excited to see a fictional accounting of what may, really, be happening over and over in America and in today's world... In fact, I've often wondered a very dark hypothesis...that those who vehemently opposed abortion, simply want to have new family "victims" available to them... Not possible? Those who have said "me too" now automatically think of that very possibility in ANY situation... 

Indeed, there are many writers working to spotlight one of the most, if not "the" most horrendous crimes now happening in today's world... Kudos to the writers! I finished reading this in one day, the pace is fast, the content definitely a page-turner. And, I've already learned of the title of the next in series!!! I CANNOT WAIT! 

GABixlerReviews

C. K. Laurence And Jerry Lyons Presents Two In The Head: A Ricky Burns Mystery - Just Out!

 

Ricky Burns’ twenty years as a New York City Homicide Detective were coming to an end. He was conflicted about his retirement, after all at forty-two he didn’t feel ready to give up the job he loved. As a cop, Ricky survived two shootouts and was the first guy the Department went to on the tough, grittier cases. He was smart and had been lucky to stay alive. His former partner was shot and crippled in one of the shootouts, and another detective on his team was dead and gone. When his eleven year-old son came to him, tears welled up in his eyes, and said, “Dad, what if you don’t win the next one?”, smart money told Ricky to take his pension and get the hell out of Dodge. So whether he was ready or not, he put in his papers and prepared to start chapter two of his life. 

It wasn’t easy for Ricky to clean out his desk and walk out of Major Case for the last time. The handsome detective spent more than twenty years of his life policing, and despite his son’s encouragement to leave while he could get out whole, abandoning his work bothered him more than he expected. He was still young enough to begin a new career, but the only thing he really loved was solving cases and making a difference. He decided to get his license and become a private investigator. Sitting alone in his small apartment, he agonized over what was next for him. That’s when he got the phone call that changed everything. It had always been a dream of his to live on a houseboat. Every time he passed the 79th Street Boat Basin over the years, he’d thought about it. Jake Sloan, an old buddy of his, moved to Florida ten years prior. He’d invited Ricky to visit so many times, but he had no interest in Florida and he’d never taken advantage of the offers. Now Jake, who knew Ricky had retired, was on the phone with a proposition. He owned a houseboat on Indian Creek in Miami Beach. Because it sat empty, it had been burglarized twice. He wanted Ricky to come live on the houseboat. He wasn’t asking for rent; he only wanted Ricky to be there to keep an eye on it. As long as Ricky lived there, he’d never pay rent. Ricky said he’d give it some thought. 

Two ex-wives with hands out for monthly alimony and child support meant Ricky had little time to decide where to go and what to do. His pension was half of what his salary was and that just wasn’t going to cut it. He figured he didn’t have to live in New York to do private investigations, and with his reputation he hoped to have all the work he could handle. That houseboat surely sounded good though. Living on a houseboat was a long-time dream of his, and rent-free was tempting. The more he thought about it, the better it sounded. They were expecting a bitter winter in New York, so “What the hell,” he said out loud. “I’m moving south.”

~~~

I so enjoyed Laurence's last mystery (check out link to that book in the right-hand column) that I got this next book and read in a few hours! This time, Laurence had joined with writer Jerry Lyons and dubbed the book A Ricky Burns Mystery...

I hope that is because there will be more featuring Ricky Burns. You will see that Lyons' previous life in law enforcement has resulted in a leading character that is well worth moving toward an ongoing series... 

Perhaps, though, more in the mystery phase than in the legal arena. You see, Laurence is known for being "extraordinary..." She has tried many things in her career and is outspoken when she has opinions, normally strong opinions. In setting the mystery within the criminal justice system as a whole, readers may find that her bias--which in most cases, matches my own--is showing. Is it a spoof? Satire? Or is it just a very real interpretation of just how badly the criminal justice system has sunk and how prejudices, the stereotypical processes by which legal officials make snap judgments about who is guilty, is shown through a critical, exaggerated level of incompetence? It is so extreme, it is almost humorous, but not, because it seems genuine as the police, crime scene specialists and attorneys presents their parts to we readers.

Note: This video was selected mostly because of length and topic, the problem has been identified for years...

Having come to know Laurence through her words, frankly I have no doubt, the ironic comparison between the prosecution and the defense is so well done that we want to start getting into the events that are happening and try to help...Lol... Seriously!

Ricky Burns, the lead character, has just taken early retirement from a major position in law enforcement. He has been involved in the normal danger that is faced by all good cops so much so that his son had begun to worry and asked him to retire. But Ricky wasn't really ready to retire... On the other hand, he knew his son had a right to be concerned. Was a change the best thing? Who knows what might have happened if a long-term friend had not contacted him and offered to have him live on his boat, rent free, just so the boat would have some security... Burns had always considered becoming a PI some day, and it suddenly turned out to be financially feasible as well as help to keep peace in his family life...

The book does not say whether his son ever was told that the very first case involved a double murder and, based upon the actions of the police, Ricky found himself right in the middle of solving the case--by himself!

There had been a shooting. Two men were found, dead, another, injured, in a car near a local club. A club at which Miami Demons Wide Receiver, Ron Ramirez, just happened to be. Mr. Ramirez had been in the news lately, when he had signed a forty-million dollar contract with the Demons, with a twenty-four million dollars guaranteed upfront. 

Jay Kirschman, Ron's defense lawyer, had contacted Ricky to see if he would work as the investigator on this high-profile case. So when Ricky heard about the case and that the client was a multi-million dollar athlete, there was no question in his mind. He was in and both Jay and Ricky hoped that Ron was innocent, but with him willing to pay in advance, Ricky was already anxious to get started! And he looked forward to working with Kirschman; and working with his beautiful assistant, Collette, to whom Ricky was immediately attracted.

Often when individuals are violent people, they are sometimes caught in situations where they claim to be innocent. And this was the case with Ramirez. But as the three individuals handling the case, they felt that at least Ramirez was trying to help rather than hinder their work to defend him...

“Okay, man. Take it easy. I just want to tell you something that can’t get out of this office. I wanna come clean, but I don’t want it to come back and bite me in the ass.” 

“All three of us are here to get you out of these murder charges. No one will ever hear or read what you tell us,” Jay reassured him. “I can only speak for us, though, Ron.  If you have or do tell others, that’s on your watch.” 

“You gotta believe I’m innocent when you talk about the murders, but so’s you’ll believe I’m not lying, I’ll tell you this. I did kill a guy a while back. It was what I had to do to get into a gang. I was young and didn’t believe I’d ever get out of the ‘hood. I wanted my back and my family to have protection and that was the best way to get it. You people don’t get it, I know, but it’s a way of life.” 

Jay sat forward in his chair and asked, “Who’d you kill?” “I shot James Bacon. He was a piece of shit that had been trying to move in on my posse’s territory. I don’t think anybody even remembers it now. It’s been five years.” 

“There’s no Statute of Limitations on murder,” Ricky warned. “Yeah, so?” Ramirez asked. “Just make sure you realize that. Keep it to yourself, we’ll keep it to ourselves and if no one else decides to out you, we’ll be fine.” Jay added. 

“Not something I’m likely to bring up in small talk, but I wanted you to believe me when I told you I did not kill those two guys!” Jay nodded and asked Ron to go back to the night of the murders and relate exactly what happened.

The story as Ramirez told them was going to be one where Ricky would have to work to find out as much information as he could. The police had already tied Ramirez to the hit, figuring that it was all related to drugs and one group hitting another... They just needed to name somebody and close the case... Or that was what they thought until the trial actually started and all the work by Ricky began to be shared.

There are a few issues that came to me as I was reading. Yes, I'm a fan of legal thrillers and know quite a bit about procedure. For one, no bail was considered. Ramirez was out free and even, got into a violent incident that resulted in a shot through the eye of another man. But neither of the men were saying anything about what had happened. As mentioned above, the prosecutor's case was shoddy and was revealed during the trial. Interestingly, though, there is at least one or more individuals who were working with Ricky who wanted to get to the real truth. And they had tried to proceed to merge new facts into the case being presented. These efforts were stopped by higher levels of the court.

I enjoy writers who make an effort to pinpoint problems within government, the criminal justice system, and other areas where ethics, truth and a right to a fair trial is spotlighted. America still has major problems, both with police brutality and the lack of controlled access to guns and other means by which violence can be performed. Laurence and Lyons has perhaps been too top-heavy in illustrating that the defendant was being hurried through the system without concern about who actually killed two thugs that were known individuals in gangs or drugs. But, in doing so, the point was clear and the way a criminal case should be handled is perhaps educational to those who are not as familiar with the rule of law and instead work to blame others in order to keep their own freedom.

By the way, there's a bit of secretive romance going on to break up the drama. I was impressed with both the characters of the defense lawyer as well as Ricky Burns, the PI... Hopefully, this pairing of authors will continue for at least a couple more books. Criminal Justice certainly needs to be better handled by having our citizens aware and watching... Reality Must Change! Fiction should not be how we learn Right from Wrong, don't you think?

GABixlerReviews