Liquid Shades of Blue by James Polkinghorn

Powerful, compelling, thought provoking, dark, and tragic – Wow!

What I liked:
* The prologue that caught my attention and made me wonder “why?” and then “what comes next?”
* Jack: bar owner, lawyer, martial arts training, athlete, strong, fit, grew up in a dysfunctional family…even if he didn’t realize it at the time, more complex and interesting than he first seems to be
* Bobby: Jack’s older brother, athletic, conflicted, had secrets, bowed out through suicide much too young
* The plot, pacing, location in Key West and Miami, and the writing
* The twists and turns and surprises
* Being able to really HATE the bad guy
* That this book made me think, care, and hope
* Reading a new-to-me author that I really enjoyed
* The conclusion of the story

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how evil some people are
* Thinking about the impact family and religion can have for the positive and the negative on so many lives

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Welcome to Liquid Shades of Blue, introducing the Girard family, past and present. His mother's death, suicide they say, pulls Jack back into the family's influentual neighborhood. As his father's actions threaten to pull him back into the family's shadow, Jack must investigate his mother's death and how it might relate to his brother's suicide many years prior. His father's attitude and demeanor remind him everyday why he left but now he has a mission, find out why his mother died.

This is my first book by this author and I'm suitably impressed with his writing and world building. Should it become a series, I'll definitely be reading the next book too.

A promising debut novel…

Liquid Shades of Blue is a promising first book from author James Polkinghorn. It’s a bit rough in places, but kept me reading much later into the night than I should have - not so much trying to figure out what happened (the outlines of which seemed pretty clear early on), but trying to understand the details of how, and more importantly, why.

As the story opens, Jack Girard wakes up with an unexpected woman in his bed and an unexpected call on his cell. The call seems more important: his mother has been found dead in Miami and although they were separated, his father demands he return to the city. Jack has a justifiably tense relationship with “the Duke”, and has established a comfortable life for himself in Key West, but he still heads north. After he arrives, though, questions proliferate. Did his mother really commit suicide, or was she murdered? And is there any connection to the years-earlier suicide of Jack’s brother, Bobby? Is the mobster that his mother was supposedly hanging out with really involved? Jack investigates and slowly the pieces start to come together, until there’s a final explosive conclusion.

I’m not much of a thriller reader, and the thrilller-ish ending felt just a little off to me: the resolution of the “whodunnit” part was fine, but the manner in which it occurred seemed a teeny bit forced. Still, there was quite a nice mystery along the way though to carry me through. And the "sunny place for shady people" atmosphere fit beautifully with Jack’s extremely dysfunctional family – even though Somerset Maugham was talking about the French Riviera, and not South Florida...

I’m now left wondering whether Liquid Shades of Blue is going to be the first in a series, providing the author with a chance to further develop Jack’s character and life in Key West, or whether this will be a standalone. But either way, Liquid Shades of Blue is worth a read. And finally, my thanks to Oceanview Publishing for the advance review copy.

Oh yeah, and I’m a bit of a “title collector” - and Liquid Shades of Blue definitely gets some “title kudo points” from me…

Jack wakes up to bad news. His mother has died. But what’s the real story? As he noses around his nostrils are assailed with the stink of the truth he unearths.
This was a different kind of book than I normally read. The ending was astonishing and I think Jack’s last act was keeping in character with the plot.
An interesting read about the seedier side of life.

Beautiful cover, it definitely catches the eye, great marketing!

Written in first person past, Liquid shades of blue is fast-paced, dashed with humour and the writing style is enticing. Always great to find an author’s voice that clicks with you.

Even if you are not an experienced reader, you can guess the “twist” since very early chapters, so I think some information should have been revealed in latter parts of the book or showing it instead of telling it. I also think a lot of character background should have been cut, even though Polkinghorn’s writing makes them easy to read, these “info dumps” don’t contribute to the plot at all.

With a bit polishing, James Polkinghorn definitely looks like a promising author and, by the way the book is styled, definitely shows that he has vision and knows how to appeal to audiences.

Gripping thriller that had me turning page after page. Was Jack's moms death truly a suicide or washer more to the story than what was written. The characters were well developed and brought the story to life while the plot kept pulling you in page by page.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Jack Girard wakes up to the phone ringing - a call from his big shot lawyer father, The Duke, telling him his mother is dead. She committed suicide several days ago, but his father had to "arrange" a few things before he notified the only other member of their family. Jack's older brother, Bobby, also committed suicide some years ago and Jack was the one who found him and helped his father cover up the manner of his death. So why didn't he do the same for his wife? They were in the midst of a divorce, but his father still had his reputation to uphold, and a suicide doesn't look good. But why did his mother kill herself? A lapsed Catholic, but still a Catholic, she knows that is a mortal sin, so why did she do it? Or did she do it?

Jack had previously worked for his father's firm in Miami, but now owns and operates a bar in Key West and has little interest in returning to Miami. But he must, for his mother's sake. When he gets there, he discovers that his father has torn down the family home and replaced it with a much larger place that has no family memories or feelings attached. And he feels like a stranger and a visitor.

Family secrets are really the hardest ones to keep and to bear and Jack sees that his father is just in denial about the deaths of both is older son and his wife. But when the secrets are revealed, what will the Duke do?

LIQUID SHADES OF BLUE by James Polkinghorn was twisty, wonderful, Florida noir -- is Jack's mother's death a suicide or murder--and if murder, who did it and why? I thoroughly enjoyed the voice, loved being in Florida with Jack's encounters and relationships. The pace is perfect, the characters vivid and believable, the twists and turns of events entirely a pleasure. I did not see the end coming -- and it was a thorough delight to spend time with a fascinating man in search of the truth when others are devoted to the reality they wish to prevail. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Liquid Shades of Blue by James Polkinghorn is a highly recommended mystery.

When ex-lawyer and Key West bar owner Jack Girard hears from his father, Claude “The Duke” Girard, that his mother has committed suicide, which brings up his brother Bobby's suicide when the two were in college. Jack heads to the family home in Miami to face his controlling father and to uncover what really happened to his mother.

This mystery is a short, fast paced novel that moves quickly, almost too quickly. A little more complexity might have made the plot more compelling. On the other hand, the short and to-the-point narrative did hold my attention and it was nice to read a novel swiftly. There are several little twists in the plot as it briskly reaches the final denouement, and you will want to find out the answers Jack is seeking.

Jack is an interesting character, but a bit more nuanced character development might have been nice. There is additional intrigue created with Anna. Both Bobby and their mother had secrets, and these secrets obviously are the impetus to their deaths. The secrets and the real menace in the novel are easily deduced, but it is a quick, entertaining journey to the end.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

Liquid shades of Blue is a cerebral thriller. Jack Girard receives a phone call from his father "The Duke" that his mother has died as a result of suicide. This is not the first suicide in the family. Jack leaves his home and bar in Key West to return to Miami where his father resides.

Jack has a complicated family relationship with his father and his mother who he hasn't spoken to in a while. His mother's death brings up memories from the past of his brother Bobby’s suicide when they were in college together. Being back in Miami only continues to dredge things Jack has not properly dealt with but things grow more complicated when The Duke suggests that his estranged wife’s alleged suicide may have been a murder.

Jack begins to uncover the truth about his mother’s death, a secret she had revealed to only two people—the same secret Bobby had taken with him to his grave.

This is an intense and riveting thriller. Much of what we read are Jack's thoughts and his memories. His family is dysfunctional much of which is caused by the domineering father. It is well written, and the characters are multi-dimensional.

South Florida Noir. This really does have that combo South Florida / Noir vibe to it, and if you approach it from that sense... it tends to make more sense. In the end, this is a tale of one man and his daddy issues, and while ultimately nowhere near the literary feat of The Great Gatsby, also gives off some similar vibes there too.

Note that the Amazon listing even for the Kindle book shows it dramatically shorter than what Goodreads currently shows it as - 209 pages on Amazon (which feels closer to accurate with just how quickly this book reads) vs 336 on Goodreads (which feels remarkably long for just how quickly this book reads). And yes, as I am writing this review a full week before release, that means I read an Advance Reviewer Copy and a Goodreads Librarian can update the page count on that site at any point between when I'm writing this review and when you are reading it. So if this has been corrected, ignore this part of the review. :)

Overall, this is a great, fun, short read perfect for a bit of escapism and perhaps a degree of catharsis. Maybe not a Dr. office read, and arguably not really a beach read either, yet perfect for one of those languid hot humid Southern summer nights. Particularly if you happen to be *in* South Florida at the time, and likely particularly with a good cigar in one hand while sipping a fine Old Fashioned. Damn, now *I* need to read this book again in that manner. :) Very much recommended.

I quite enjoyed this book. The pace was steady and characters well rendered and would read more books by James Polkingham. More a 3.7 score than three. I'll keep track of this author.

What a fabulous debut! I am seriously awestruck. I read this book in one sitting. To be honest, the story was so good that I didn't want it to end. This isn't your usual fast-paced thriller. At the same time, readers must be prepared for a nail-biting adventure.

The story begins with Jack waking up one morning, with a beautiful woman sleeping beside him. The phone begins to ring, and Jack ignores it. It rings again and Anna, the woman lying on the bed with him, insists he receive the phone call. It's The Duke, Jack's father (a famous lawyer.) He has news - his estranged wife Betty (Jack's mother) committed suicide in her apartment four days ago.

Jack hits the road and drives to Miami where he learns from his father that Betty's alleged suicide might have been murder. The Duke and Betty were in the midst of a divorce and The Duke claims she was having an affair with a neighbor. As Jack starts to dig into his mother's mysterious death, his past resurfaces.

As the story proceeds, we get to know how much The Duke influenced his family. He was not only controlling father but a shrewd and cunning lawyer. Things took a turn for worse when Jack, who worked at his father's firm, walked out feeling insulted.

I couldn't help but feel bad for Jack, Bobby, and Betty - especially at the end when the secret is out. The Duke is quite a villainous character who leaves nothing but destruction in his wake.

The storytelling is simply fantabulous. Well-portrayed characters and excellent character development. The pacing is simple perfect - neither too fast, nor too slow. The mystery behind the alleged suicide/murder kept me guessing till the end. I was hooked on to the story and couldn't put it down until the end.

I absolutely loved every bit of this book, and I cannot wait to read more of James' works. If you are looking for a perfectly paced, engrossing, unique, interesting, and riveting read, I highly recommend you give Liquid Shades of Blue by James Polkinghorn a try.

The premise of this book sounded so interesting. Unfortunately, this book fell flat. It wasn’t very long, but it felt long. Honestly? I was bored through most of it. There would be paragraphs upon paragraphs of description of a road, or a building etc.. and it didn’t advance the story at all. I would have rather the author cut all that out and had a shorter book that stuck to the plot. There actually needed to be more information to push the plot along. It felt like there were some major leaps and steps missed. Towards the end, when the mystery started to be revealed, that’s when I found it more interesting. I think with proper edits and a focus on the plot, this book could be really good.

James Polkinghorn’s debut novel, Liquid Shades of Blue is an engrossing mystery thriller. Jack Girard is a former lawyer and now Key West bar owner, whose family has been torn apart by tragedy. Jack is forced to return to Miami after his mother’s unexpected death and deal with his difficult father. As haunting memories surface, Jack wants to sort the truth from the lies, as hidden secrets have consequences that place Jack’s life in grave danger. A captivating tale with an absorbing narrative that builds into a surprising climax, where the sins of the past are realised. A promising family saga crime mystery set in sunny Florida, that is a four stars read rating. With thanks to Oceanview Publishing and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

“Liquid Shades of Blue,” by James Polkinghorn (Oceanview Publishing, ISBN 9781608095506, Publication Date 16 May 2023) is a classic whodunit that draws the reader in both as a participant and as an observer. It earns three stars.

The protagonist is Jack Girard, a former lawyer (who worked in his father’s law firm), but is now a bar owner, who is awakened by his father calling to tell him that his estranged wife, Jack’s mother, committed suicide. One learns his brother also committed suicide, but after traveling to Miami, Jack learns things his family long kept secret. As he unravels his family history, Jack finds himself at risk and begins to realize his mother’s suicide may not be that at all. In response, he puts together a plan to right a long-existing wrong and in so doing, prevent his own death.

Sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley, Oceanview Publishing, and Kindle, for granting this reviewer the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible.

Holds your attention but characters felt very stiff. I feel like the author could've gone a little deeper into character to development to understand why each character was the way that they were. Interesting twist at the end.

Jack Gorard, owner of a Key West bar, wakes up hungover to the surprise of a woman in his bed and a ringing phone. The story, told in first person, focused on the part Jack's father "Duke" played in the family drama. Duke draws Jack into the mystery determining how and why his mother died. The plot follows Jack's efforts to delve into his family history and the toxic relationships his family shared. For me, the book lacked depth and characters weren't relatable. I figured the ending out early in the story and found it hard to believe. I enjoyed the atmospheric setting of the beautiful Florida Keys and the authors great description of the area. Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC of Liquid Shades of Blue.

I requested this book immediately after reading its description because it sounded so promising. In short, a Key West bar owner, Jack, has to travel home to Miami suddenly after learning of his mother's suicide, and upon arrival is told by his father that he believes it was murder - not suicide.

Being home brings back unfortunate memories for Jack, mainly his brother's suicide years ago, but he forges ahead as he tries to discover how his mother died, learning about secrets she held while alive along the way.

This book felt like word salad with zero flavor.

I hate to talk down on someone's work, because I believe the author put his heart and soul into this project. And I will always commend anyone who is able to take a story from their mind and put it onto paper. But unfortunately, this book fell very, very flat for me. Reading it felt like more of a chore, and I felt like the pertinent information only took up about 15% of the book - everything else was unnecessary detail/forced back story.

I genuinely struggled to get through this one. It took me 5 days and I can usually finish a 400 page book in 2, 3 days tops.

I see what the author was trying to do; it just took way too long to get there.

While I do give this book one star, there are plenty of 4/5 star reviews out there for it, so there is definitely an audience for this story! I simply am just not part of it.

*The rest of the review contains spoilers*

The Duke was maybe one of the worst characters I've come across. Yes he ended up being the killer, but I felt that was soooo painfully obvious from the beginning. He tells his son "I think someone killed your mom. I think it was the guy she was having an affair with. But I can't tell the police this otherwise they'll point the finger at me." So immediately, you find him guilty. Not to mention, the way he talks is so pretentious and narcissistic that you are 0% surprised he killed his wife.

And the reasoning for her death was a bit... much? She's killed because she's gay. Which okay, yes, that unfortunately is something that still happens in real life and it is tragic. But the scene in which his reasoning for killing her was unveiled felt like a bunch of theatrics. The way he spoke/yelled, what he said... it all felt like forced dramatics.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel which I received from Oceanview Publishing is hard to give it a genre. It can be a psychological thriller or a legal thriller without court scenes or legal wrangling, it can also be a mystery...hum, who knows. But whatever names you may give it one thing for sure you will enjoy every minutes trying to figure out what Jack Girard, the protagonist, is up to. My attention was held so captivate in his searches for the truth behind his brother, and his mother suicides that I didn’t see the time past.

It all started when Jack Girard a hungover ex-lawyer and Key West bar owner groggily wakes up one morning and is greeted by a beautiful woman lying next to him and a shrill ringing telephone. He learns that his mother is dead in an apparent suicide. The death brings back memories from his past- of his brother suicide back in college years. He heads to the family home in Miami where his father suggests his mother’s death may be a murder. Acting on impulse Jack spins an exciting search for the truth...

The tale focuses on Jack and his father and tells us an intense mystery involving the family secrets. It kept me captive from the start, not wanting to put the novel down for a second. It definitely kept me on my toes. I really like how the Girard dysfunctional family is depicted with all their struggles and addictions. Mr. Polkinghorn gives this journey into the past, present and future a twist of its own. It is said without fluff or unnecessary words: right to the point. This is a fast read that is well said, paced and constructed.

“Liquid Shade of Blue” is a great first mystery novel. I will be looking forward to more from James Polkinghorn.