Title: Missing Daughter, Shattered Family
Series: David Lloyd Investigation, Book 1
Author: Liz Strange
Genre: Mystery
Length: Novel (293 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-60880-412-0
Publisher: MLR Press (September 1st, 2011)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: When a brutal homophobic attack ended David Lloyd’s career as a police officer, his life was changed forever. Five years later David is running his own private detective agency, where a missing person’s case comes to his attention. Digging into the circumstances of her disappearance forces David to realize he has not dealt with what happened to him, and that he can no longer deal with his long-time partner’s fear of being honest about their relationship.
Solving the case might not only bring peace to a shattered family, but could finally put David’s own demons to rest.
Purchase Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=LS_MIDSF
Review: I am normally a romance reader, especially when it evolves two very hot and sexy men. I even love paranormal books. I have never been one to read mysteries. However, I must say that this was one hell of an exciting read. David and Jamie are really the perfect characters for this story. I also loved that Liz threw in a bit of romance into the story.
David at one time had been a cop, till another cop and some of his friends beat David up pretty badly. They beat him up because he was gay and the fact that they are just some sick individuals. He and Jamie had been together for over five years ago. However, Jamie was not out at all. So on top of trying to work at their relationship, David had to find a young woman named Stella.
Stella was known as a junkie and a dancer. However, she was missing and her mother wanted to find her. So hiring David seemed like the best way to do it. Every time David talked to someone to ask them questions, he would get threats, until the people he talked to started getting hurt or killed. While the mother was very helpful, the father and brother were not. Every time he talked to someone, he ended up with more questions than answers.
I though this story was quite good, you get pulled in from the beginning, and you’re trying your hardest to figure out who did this. You spend time trying to figure out is she in a rehab, was she killed, has she been abducted and tortured, or has she ran. I spent most of the time trying to figure out who was doing the treats against David and who tore up Jamie’s home. Trying to put the pieces of a puzzle together is what it seemed like to me. I was pretty sure who did it, then come to find out they were guilty of something else but not Stella’s disappearance. Then I would move onto another character and be wrong there. It was funny the way I am writing the clues down and trying to be the one who was the detective.
I also loved Jamie, the way he showed his love for David. He was willing to come out to everyone although I didn’t like that he thought he would lose David if he didn’t. However, I loved the fact that David wasn’t trying to come off like he was going to leave. They truly love each other and proved it in the end.
You kind of feel bad for David, being forced out of the police force because of homophobes.
However, he is a wonderful detective and he proves it with his determination to find Stella. I recommend this to those who love mysteries, characters who prove that they are strong with the feelings and commitment. Liz has given me a very good reason to start reading more mysteries. She has a gift for telling a story.