Hard Latitudes

[A] fast-paced mystery . . . Fans of the prolific Stuart Woods and Randy Wayne White will hope that Birtchers engaging series has an equally long life. Booklist A Nero Award Finalist After twenty years in the LAPD, Mike Travis should be enjoying his retirement in Hawaii. Instead, hes become a reluctant PI who cant manage to stay out of troublemuch to the chagrin of his long-suffering girlfriend. This time, the problem is his brother, Valden, head of the family company of Van de Groot Capital. A mover and shaker, hes in Los Angeles for a political fundraiser at the home of a powerful pharmaceutical titan. But first, hes being blackmailed. Someone has a compromising video of him and a young woman who is definitely not his wifeand they want three million dollars for it. Thats when he calls Travis. With his longtime connections in Los Angelesincluding his former partner on the forceTravis has everything under control, until he doesnt. Now entangled in a web of murder, finance, and politics, only Travis can unravel a conspiracy international in scopeand unparalleled in evil . . . Birtcher is a solid, fluent writer; the story unfolds with good-humored ease, and Travis is a personable narrator . . . All of the elements are in place for a tense thriller. Kirkus Reviews Well-executed . . . Readers will hope they dont have to wait another seven years for the world-weary Traviss next adventure. Publishers Weekly A thrilling page turner with a very complicated plot that all comes together in the end . . . Highly recommended. Detective Mystery Stories