Title: The Lovely Pines
Series: BJ Vinson Mysteries: Book 4
Author: Don Travis
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Category: Mystery/Suspense
Pages: 239
DSP Publications
When Ariel Gonda’s winery, the Lovely Pines, suffers a break-in, the police write the incident off as a prank since nothing was taken. But Ariel knows something is wrong—small clues are beginning to add up—and he turns to private investigator BJ Vinson for help.
BJ soon discovers the incident is anything but harmless. When a vineyard worker—who is also more than he seems—is killed, there are plenty of suspects to go around. But are the two crimes even related? As BJ and his significant other, Paul Barton, follow the trail from the central New Mexico wine country south to Las Cruces and Carlsbad, they discover a tangled web involving members of the US military, a mistaken identity, a family fortune in dispute, and even a secret baby. The body count is rising, and a child may be in danger. BJ will need all his skills to survive because, between a deadly sniper and sabotage, someone is determined to make sure this case goes unsolved.
The fourth book in the BJ Vinson Mystery series is The Lovely Pines and like the previous books in the series, we have a real mystery to solve. There’s secrets on top of secrets in this book and BJ is here to solve all of them, regardless of what he was hired for! As with the previous books, the author is giving us a new location to discover with new characters and still some of the familiar characters from previous books. Though it seems like BJ has a simple breaking and entering to solve, the case devolves into such much more. There are mysteries on top of mysteries in this book!
This book has BJ working with different police forces, some who are not familiar with him and not happy to have him involved in their cases. BJ is having to put more effort into making sure he’s not stepping on any toes. The easiest mystery to solve, in my opinion, was how the breaking and entering occurred. From the first inspection of the wine room, I knew what would be coming out, but it took BJ a little longer of working through the pieces. But BJ had a lot to solve when a death becomes involved in his investigation. Paul worked with BJ on this case, though I don’t know if it was as much as the previous book. With Paul’s interest in journalistic investigation, it would seem that him working alongside BJ would be something he’d be interested in.
The author really does a fantastic job of introducing completely new mysteries to this series. He keeps each case interesting, fresh and engaging. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next! I love that I can just start this book and sink into BJ’s world of solving crimes. Mystery lovers make sure to grab all of these books and get to know BJ!
Rating: 5 stars!
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Series Review
Series: BJ Vinson Mysteries: Book 1
Category: Mystery/Suspense
DSP Publications
2nd Edition
B. J. Vinson is a former Marine and ex-Albuquerque PD detective turned confidential investigator. Against his better judgment, BJ agrees to find the gay gigolo who was responsible for his breakup with prominent Albuquerque lawyer Del Dahlman and recover some racy photographs from the handsome bastard. The assignment should be fast and simple.
But it quickly becomes clear the hustler isn’t the one making the anonymous demands, and things turn deadly with a high-profile murder at the burning of Zozobra on the first night of the Santa Fe Fiesta. BJ’s search takes him through virtually every stratum of Albuquerque and Santa Fe society, both straight and gay. Before it is over, BJ is uncertain whether Paul Barton, the young man quickly insinuating himself in BJ’s life, is friend or foe. But he knows he’s stepped into something much more serious than a modest blackmail scheme. With Paul and BJ next on the killer’s list, BJ must find a way to put a stop to the death threats once and for all.
First Edition published as The Zozobra Incident & The Bisti Business by Martin Brown Publishers, LLC, 2012.
The BJ Vinson Mystery series by Don Travis could probably be read as a standalone, though I would never recommend anyone do that with any series. This series follows the cases of Confidential Investigator BJ Vinson. There are characters that are introduced in the first book that are part of each of these books. There are some references to cases or actions in previous books, which is why I think for full enjoyment you should read this series in the appropriate order.
For the most part, this series takes place in New Mexico and as I’ve never traveled to this area, and know very little about it, I found the location fascinating. The author does a fantastic job throughout the series of bringing the area, food, people, and scenery to life. I don’t know anything about the area so I can’t confirm if it’s authentic but it certainly feels that way.
The first book in the series is The Zozobra Incident, and as weird as the name was to me, it absolutely makes sense when you read the book. If you’re from the area or familiar with it, you probably have an idea. I did not, and this was just further fascination about learning of the area.
BJ is quite the character and I struggled to like him at first. He could be abrasive, cocky and was more than willing to use physical aggression to force answers out of someone. BJ had served in the marines, he was a police officer until he was injured in the line of duty and then he moved on to his current work. He wasn’t a private eye, because that was too low class and dirty for him. He was wealthy and at the rate he attracted attention, good looking. In this first case, we’re following along with he’s been hired by his ex who was a prominent, out attorney. Del is being threatened by naked photos of himself and asks BJ to find the culprit and stop it. I thought both Del and BJ were jerks and seemed to deserve each other, but they were not to be. Though there is the drama of BJ’s personal life, the focus of this story is really on his work and solving the mystery of the threats against Del, and the events that unfold during his search.
The setting of this book is in the early 2000’s and it really had more of an old time feel, like those old private eye books in the 70’s or 80’s. That added to my struggle with this first book a little, along with my dislike of BJ. It also really makes you realize how advanced technology has become in less than 20 years.
I sometimes struggle with first books in the series just because there’s so much information purge. The first book introduces the characters, behaviors, settings, and tone for future books. It’s a lot to take in, plus add all the information that BJ’s learning in his quest to solve Del’s problem. By the end of this book, BJ’s personal life has settled down with the new man in his life. This is definitely a mystery, detective series and not a romance. There are some elements with BJ’s personal life, especially in this first book, but it’s really just a small part. Having read all the books in the series, I can definitely recommend if you enjoy mysteries and detective books, that you read this series now!
Rating: 4 stars
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Series: BJ Vinson Mysteries: Book 2
Category: Mystery/Suspense
DSP Publications
2nd Edition
Although repulsed by his client, an overbearing, homophobic California wine mogul, confidential investigator B. J. Vinson agrees to search for Anthony Alfano’s missing son, Lando, and his traveling companion—strictly for the benefit of the young men. As BJ chases an orange Porsche Boxster all over New Mexico, he soon becomes aware he is not the only one looking for the distinctive car. Every time BJ finds a clue, someone has been there before him. He arrives in Taos just in time to see the car plunge into the 650-foot-deep Rio Grande Gorge. Has he failed in his mission?
Lando’s brother, Aggie, arrives to help with BJ’s investigation, but BJ isn’t sure he trusts Aggie’s motives. He seems to hold power in his father’s business and has a personal stake in his brother’s fate that goes beyond familial bonds. Together they follow the clues scattered across the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness area and learn the bloodshed didn’t end with the car crash. As they get closer to solving the mystery, BJ must decide whether finding Lando will rescue the young man or place him directly in the path of those who want to harm him.
First Edition published by Martin Brown Publishers, LLC, 2013.
**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by DSP Publications for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.**
The second book in this series is The Bisti Business, and so far, this is my favorite book of the series! I went into this book not liking BJ, but he grew on me in this installment. I didn’t see the jerkiness the first book showed. As the case in the first book revolved around his ex, it may not have shown BJ in the best of light. In this book, it was everything I had hoped for!
BJ’s life is pretty settled in this book with Paul. BJ has an interesting new case of a missing son and BJ is all over northern New Mexico on the trail of Lando. This book had new locations and characters to introduce us to along with characters from the first book. This was absolutely a perfectly, well-done mystery that took the reader along for the ride of hunting down Lando and figuring out who was after him! There are twists and turns, and you’re not sure who the bad or good guys are. BJ was in his element of finding and following clues.
This book still has the feel of the old-time detective series, but I was prepared for it and knew what to expect. Again in this book, we had a new area to explore of New Mexico and the author does a fantastic job of bringing the area to life. In the first book, I thought BJ came across as cocky and arrogant and it rubbed me wrong. In this book, it really highlights the skills BJ has in solving more than just the case he was hired for.
I love mysteries and detective stories where you get sucked into the story right along with the main character and this book is one of the best I’ve ever read! Though I expected some of the elements of the ending, I didn’t expect all of it! The story really keeps you invested and though there were some real tough parts in the ending, the author doesn’t allow it to bog down the storyline.
The second book in this series is The Bisti Business, and so far, this is my favorite book of the series! I went into this book not liking BJ, but he grew on me in this installment. I didn’t see the jerkiness the first book showed. As the case in the first book revolved around his ex, it may not have shown BJ in the best of light. In this book, it was everything I had hoped for!
BJ’s life is pretty settled in this book with Paul. BJ has an interesting new case of a missing son and BJ is all over northern New Mexico on the trail of Lando. This book had new locations and characters to introduce us to along with characters from the first book. This was absolutely a perfectly, well-done mystery that took the reader along for the ride of hunting down Lando and figuring out who was after him! There are twists and turns, and you’re not sure who the bad or good guys are. BJ was in his element of finding and following clues.
This book still has the feel of the old-time detective series, but I was prepared for it and knew what to expect. Again in this book, we had a new area to explore of New Mexico and the author does a fantastic job of bringing the area to life. In the first book, I thought BJ came across as cocky and arrogant and it rubbed me wrong. In this book, it really highlights the skills BJ has in solving more than just the case he was hired for.
I love mysteries and detective stories where you get sucked into the story right along with the main character and this book is one of the best I’ve ever read! Though I expected some of the elements of the ending, I didn’t expect all of it! The story really keeps you invested and though there were some real tough parts in the ending, the author doesn’t allow it to bog down the storyline.
Rating: 5 stars!!!!!!
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Title: The City of Rocks
Series: BJ Vinson Mysteries: Book 3
Category: Mystery/Suspense
DSP Publications
Confidential investigator B. J. Vinson thinks it’s a bad joke when Del Dahlman asks him to look into the theft of a duck… a duck named Quacky Quack the Second and insured for $250,000. It ceases to be funny when the young thief dies in a suspicious truck wreck. The search leads BJ and his lover, Paul Barton, to the sprawling Lazy M Ranch in the Bootheel country of southwestern New Mexico bordering the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
A deadly game unfolds when BJ and Paul are trapped in a weird rock formation known as the City of Rocks, an eerie array of frozen magma that is somehow at the center of the entire scheme. But does the theft of Quacky involve a quarter-million-dollar duck-racing bet between the ranch’s owner and a Miami real estate developer, or someone attempting to force the sale of the Lazy M because of its proximity to an unfenced portion of the Mexican border? BJ and Paul go from the City of Rocks to the neon lights of Miami and back again in pursuit of the answer… death and danger tracking their every step.
**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by DSP Publications for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.**
The third book in the series is The City of Rocks and kudos to the author for the very different storyline/mystery than the previous books. In this book, BJ has been hired to investigate the theft of a duck. Yes, let that sink in a minute. A duck. A duck worth $250,000. Seriously, the author wrote a book about the theft of a duck and did it brilliantly! What at first seems a simple task turns into a much, much bigger mystery and more dangerous than you’d think the hunt for a duck could be. This time the author has us in southwestern New Mexico, learning about a new area and new people.
In this third book, Paul is a bigger part of the story. Something I really need to remember is how different the early 2000’s were. While being gay or out isn’t that big of a deal, in many areas, that was not common in the timeframe this book exists in. Paul and BJ don’t hide that they're gay, but they also don’t give an appearance of being gay. Really, it shows that technology isn’t the only area that’s really advanced in the last 13 years. Paul and BJ work together more in this book, and take their explorations from New Mexico to Miami. Like the previous book, the reader is taken along from start to finish on this case and following along to solve all the crimes that are adding up.
Not to brag or anything, but I knew from pretty early on who was responsible for what was happening on the Lazy M Ranch and the missing duck. I thought out of the three books, this one had the most obvious bad guy. But, never did the storyline fail to keep me intrigued and reading to get all the puzzle pieces in place. This author has a fantastic writing style with lots of detail to bring every scene to life.
I enjoyed Paul being in this book more than the previous ones, but don’t think this has romance elements, it does not. This is a mystery/detective series. I love for my mystery/detective series to have a main character in a relationship. I’m not a fan of too much mystery time being taken up with the elements of a relationship. I like for them to be a settled couple who are together, but as a sideline to the main part of the story and the author does that perfectly.
If you can’t tell from the reviews, I highly recommend mystery/detective story lovers to check this series out! I think you’re going to find writing, characters and cases that keep you coming back for more. The storylines are varied and you really get to follow along to solving the mystery from the very beginning. And, you really need to read this series in the appropriate order. The author is really building characters and a world in this series, and you’re short changing yourself by skipping any parts of that.
Confidential investigator B. J. Vinson thinks it’s a bad joke when Del Dahlman asks him to look into the theft of a duck… a duck named Quacky Quack the Second and insured for $250,000. It ceases to be funny when the young thief dies in a suspicious truck wreck. The search leads BJ and his lover, Paul Barton, to the sprawling Lazy M Ranch in the Bootheel country of southwestern New Mexico bordering the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
A deadly game unfolds when BJ and Paul are trapped in a weird rock formation known as the City of Rocks, an eerie array of frozen magma that is somehow at the center of the entire scheme. But does the theft of Quacky involve a quarter-million-dollar duck-racing bet between the ranch’s owner and a Miami real estate developer, or someone attempting to force the sale of the Lazy M because of its proximity to an unfenced portion of the Mexican border? BJ and Paul go from the City of Rocks to the neon lights of Miami and back again in pursuit of the answer… death and danger tracking their every step.
**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by DSP Publications for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.**
The third book in the series is The City of Rocks and kudos to the author for the very different storyline/mystery than the previous books. In this book, BJ has been hired to investigate the theft of a duck. Yes, let that sink in a minute. A duck. A duck worth $250,000. Seriously, the author wrote a book about the theft of a duck and did it brilliantly! What at first seems a simple task turns into a much, much bigger mystery and more dangerous than you’d think the hunt for a duck could be. This time the author has us in southwestern New Mexico, learning about a new area and new people.
In this third book, Paul is a bigger part of the story. Something I really need to remember is how different the early 2000’s were. While being gay or out isn’t that big of a deal, in many areas, that was not common in the timeframe this book exists in. Paul and BJ don’t hide that they're gay, but they also don’t give an appearance of being gay. Really, it shows that technology isn’t the only area that’s really advanced in the last 13 years. Paul and BJ work together more in this book, and take their explorations from New Mexico to Miami. Like the previous book, the reader is taken along from start to finish on this case and following along to solve all the crimes that are adding up.
Not to brag or anything, but I knew from pretty early on who was responsible for what was happening on the Lazy M Ranch and the missing duck. I thought out of the three books, this one had the most obvious bad guy. But, never did the storyline fail to keep me intrigued and reading to get all the puzzle pieces in place. This author has a fantastic writing style with lots of detail to bring every scene to life.
I enjoyed Paul being in this book more than the previous ones, but don’t think this has romance elements, it does not. This is a mystery/detective series. I love for my mystery/detective series to have a main character in a relationship. I’m not a fan of too much mystery time being taken up with the elements of a relationship. I like for them to be a settled couple who are together, but as a sideline to the main part of the story and the author does that perfectly.
If you can’t tell from the reviews, I highly recommend mystery/detective story lovers to check this series out! I think you’re going to find writing, characters and cases that keep you coming back for more. The storylines are varied and you really get to follow along to solving the mystery from the very beginning. And, you really need to read this series in the appropriate order. The author is really building characters and a world in this series, and you’re short changing yourself by skipping any parts of that.
Rating: 5 stars!!
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