Blog Tour::Review:: Deadly Portfolio by John Hohn

by Lora - 7:30 AM

Book: Deadly Portfolio

By: John J Hohn

Genre: Mystery

Release Date: September 12, 2011

Back cover blurb for Deadly Portfolio: A Killing in Hedge Funds

(Please note: the text below was initially on the back page of Deadly Portfolio. As reviews came in, however, this synopsis was shortened so that excerpts from the reviews could be quoted.)

July 2008. Four families are riding high on heady market returns until the body of Rene McAllister, wife of multi-millionaire Alan “Mac” McAllister, washes up on the beach after a daylong Fourth-of-July bash at the home of stockbroker, Matthew Wirth. Eager to avoid publicity, authorities dismiss her death as an accident. Days later, when the body of college drop out, Jamie Sherman, a neighbor to Wirth, is discovered adrift in his fishing skiff, investigators suspect foul play, but the Medical Examiner reports that the youth died of a drug overdose. Only Detective James Raker, upon hearing McAllister’s complaints of unauthorized trading in his deceased wife’s account, suspects the two deaths are related. Bucking his superiors, Raker plunges into an investigation and quickly discovers that at least four members of the affluent lakeside community had motive and opportunity in either one or both of the deaths. Raker’s pursuit slams headlong into an investigation being conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) who were closing in on Jamie Sherman’s drug dealings in the affluent neighborhood.

Ignoring the orders to drop his investigation, Raker fears that the killer will attack again and races to prevent it. The killer does strike for a third time but, tragically, claims the wrong victim. The story is set in the fictitious bedroom community on Heron Lake, NC, a short commute from Charles City, a metropolitan area of more than 1,000,000 and the financial center of the state.

Snippet

“Dead? You’re sure it’s her?”

“It’s her, Mac. No mistake. Do you want me to come get you?”

“At your place?”

“Yes. Well . . . no, actually . . . down next to Sherman’s dock. The police and EMS

people are here right now. Do you want me to come get you?”

“Come to our house first.”

“Oh . . . no! My God . . . no. I’m OK. I’ll be right there.”

“Right. Your house. I will.”

Rating: 4 of 5 Hearts

What happens when the rich and snobby have a murder turn up at their backdoor?

I’ll tell you, you get a fun realist read. Author John Hohn wrote one of those books that you could relate to multiple characters. Each family had every day issues they are trying to resolve without everyone getting involved.

The beginning of this book was a little slow for me. I know the author was building the characters back stories. It was just a little long for me. And all the names that started with “M.” I loved them all once I got the plot down and could keep them straight.

Once the story started moving it really started going. The twists and turns that unfolded kept me turning the pages. The plot was woven together beautifully.

In this book the rich and wealthy all have secrets they do not want disclosed. From the men who will do anything to hide secrets and put on a happy front. And the women who will do anything to protect their husbands. There is so much at stake for them all that they plot just keeps getting thicker.

Even the sheriff wants to push this under the rug. Lucky for us James Raker knew there was more to the story. He never gave up on solving the murders.

If you want a book that will keep you turning the pages as the story plays out. Give this book a go!