Janet LaPierre Family Business

Family Business

Janet LaPierre

Perseverance Press, Sept 2006, $13.95, 296 pp.

ISBN 1880284855

The normally quiet serene town of Port Silva in Northern California is undergoing turmoil as anti-war demonstrations are becoming violent The residents are certain that the US is going to invade Iraq for the second time and people on both sides of the issue have very strong opinion. When rain disrupts a rally in the park, fights break out with two men pushed into the ocean. One is two year resident Daniel Sato and the other person nobody recognizes.

Grace, Daniel's lover is sure Daniel is still alive and hires the mother and daughter firm of private detectives, Patience and Verity Mackellar to find him. If they believe he is dead, she wants them to find out Danny's background because he never spoke about his family or where he came from. Someone breaks into Grace's apartment obviously looking for something and Daniel's best friend is murdered. Finally there is no record of a Daniel Sato in any database so Verity and Patience wonder if Daniel survived the turbulent ocean and if so why doesn't he make his presence known.

As much a mystery as a family drama dealing with social issues FAMILY BUSINESS is an excellent Port Silva tale. Janet LaPierre creates images so vivid that readers will feel as if they are in Port Silva observing events unfold. With strong characterizations and a superbly well crafted mystery, this is one story too good to miss.

Harriet Klausner