Latest Books The Big Thrill Recommends: WHITE WEDDING by Vincent Zandri

The Big Thrill Recommends: WHITE WEDDING by Vincent Zandri

Recommended by Jennifer Sadera

I recommend Vincent Zandri’s latest hard-boiled mystery, #8 in the Jack “Keeper” Marconi series, if you crave a humorous, fast-paced jaunt into the realistically rendered underworld of New York’s capital city, Albany. Being from the area, I recognized a lot of the streets Zandri referred to, which guaranteed a fun and relatable read. Even though this was my first exposure to a book in an extensive series, I had no trouble following the action. This read worked well as a stand-alone story.

The premise:

When Elaine and Quentin Stark hire ex-prison guard-turned-PI, “Keeper” Marconi and his best bud, ex-prisoner, Blood, to find their missing daughter, who’d been abandoned at the altar just weeks earlier, the duo doubts they can do much. The would-be-bride is likely licking her wounds at a friend’s apartment amid crying bouts, sweatpants, and a couple dozen cartons of ice cream. But they could use the cash the wealthy couple offers—until Quentin’s retainer check bounces.

Forced to find not only the jilted and missing Kelly Stark but also her rubber-check-writing father, Keeper and Blood plan to follow the trail to Quentin’s posh Mercedes dealership but detour to the local airport’s long-term parking lot after learning Quentin Stark is discovered dead in his own luxury car.

The payoff:

Keeper and Blood are decidedly fresh characters with a unique relationship. The storyline, while snagging the sleeve of stereotypical sexual innuendo, is propulsive and irreverent as the unlikely friends track down the whereabouts of Kelly Stark and search for her father’s killer. Along the way, they encounter a barrage of suspects—many of whom would like to put an end to their sleuthing. Be prepared for gore and plenty of F-bombs en route, but also lots of action and adventure.

The Big Thrill Recommends: WHITE WEDDING by Vincent Zandri