Searching for Gatsby

Searching for Gatsby
A Ronnie Lake Murder Mystery
Niki Danforth
Pancora Press
Amazon Digital Services
ISBN: 978-1946403001
Paperback
2016
$ 13.99
320 pages

Ronnie Lake is a fifty-six-year-old woman beginning her new business as a private investigator.   While at a party sponsored by some wealthy friends, she listens to her friend, Marilyn's suspicions about whether her husband Win, is having an affair.  She is a little hesitant accepting the position being that she is friends with both Win and Marilyn.
Marilyn is suspicious of a gorgeous woman, Katya Alessandro who just left the party.
Frank, Ronnie's brother and Juliana seem like they are still honeymooners.   Frank's first wife, Joanie died, and his new wife appears to fulfill all her brother's dreams and wishes.
Ronnie still has the grief of having a son die in Afghanistan.  Fortunately, she adopted her son's K-9 partner from the military.  Warrior is very protective of her and is a great partner in sharing their sorrow. 
Jamie Gordon has a charismatic quality attracting Ronnie as he joins the party.  His handsomeness certainly draws everyone's attention.
Suddenly a commotion is outside with the sound of breaking branches as an older man dressed in black falls through the dogwood tree.  While hanging in the tree, while moaning, Frank calls 9-1-1 just as the branches again break dropping him to the ground,   The man looks at Jamie and whispers, "The book."
"I always said...if it was the last thing...I ever did..."   These are the man's last words.   Why?   What did the burglar steal upstairs while the people were enjoying the elaborate party downstairs?
While waiting for the police, Win notices a bulge in the man's pocket.  Would you look?  It's evident that the man was stealing something from upstairs.  
Ronnie ends up investigating much more than Win's loyalty to his wife in Searching for Gatsby.
Niki Danforth, the author, resides in New Jersey with her dogs and husband.   Notice, the dogs are listed first.   She believes her desire for excitement is from being the daughter of a covert intelligence officer of the Cold War.  She previously has worked as a television director.
Searching for Gatsby is a fast-paced, tightly woven, cozy mystery.  The characters are believable and intriguing.   With a little touch of romance, a smattering of thrills, and mystery with as many tentacles as an octopus Searching for Gatsby is a fun, fast novel for mystery fans.