When you’re a PI and dealing with Southie mobs, it’s a tightrope walk. Doing a favor, taking a job from both the Irish and the Italians at the same time, is working without a net. On the other hand, the reward is worth the risk, isn’t it? Shane Cleary convinces himself it is.

Shane’s girlfriend is an attorney. One of the favors he’s asked to do involves her, but it’s made clear, she will be shielded so no taint of mob activity can tarnish her reputation. A former cop, Shane can’t turn down the request when a cop asks for a favor. It’s relatively minor but not without risk.

Bonnie has been assigned a pro bono case. The firm believes the guy is guilty despite the evidence. Plead it out, wrap it up, get back to your real work, cases that pay, is their motto. Bonnie doesn’t believe in convicting an innocent man. With Shane’s help, can she prove her case?

What might be the biggest case is also the oddest which, all things considered, was quite a challenge. Jimmy is a dangerous man, a mobster feared by other mob families and ‘civilian’ families alike. When he asks Shane to find Boo, it turns out Boo is a standard poodle, gone missing under mysterious circumstances. How do you find one big poodle in a city the size of Boston? Quickly, quietly, and without fail, before the mob boss sends someone to find you. And then there are the two times Shane’s grabbed up by the cops, none too gently, and accused of murder.

Shane’s story reads like 40s noir but is set decades later. The Southies come through loud and clear, just by opening their mouths. With twist after twist, protection and betrayal, you’ll keep the pages turning until the very end and wish for more. Considering the cliffhanger ending, your wish should come true. I love the language and trying to figure out who did what and for what reason, always being wrong, and delighted to be shown the right answer that makes perfect sense.

This is the fifth book in the series and the first reviewed in KRL. Valjan also writes the Company Files series, three books there. My only problem is, now I have to get the first four books and then the Company Files series. It’s that good.

Shane Cleary is a former cop, now a PI. He’s less than thrilled when he receives a visit from South Boston’s most notorious criminal, wanting Shane to find his lost dog. Standard poodle, black, answers to Boo. But saying no isn’t really an option, any more than it is to the Italian mafia who want him to find a female Latin tutor for a gangster’s niece.

Shane’s girlfriend, a lawyer named Bonnie, is working on a pro bono case. An antique ring has disappeared, and the cops have arrested a black kid found in the vicinity. Her firm wants her to just do the bare minimum and have the kid locked up, but she and Shane are sure they can find out more about it. A look into his background might open up a can of worms for the city, if Shane and Bonnie can play their cards right. Meanwhile, two Irish thugs have been beating up black shop owners, and the cops are looking the wrong way.

Set in Boston in the 1970s, this book follows all the tropes of classic noir detective fiction–the hardboiled PI, his beautiful girlfriend, his shady connections, rotten cops who beat him up. It has that noir 40s feel, the wisecracks and the cynicism, but it’s definitely written in 2024 with modern sensibilities. The Big Lie is a fun read, especially if you like noir but cringe a bit at how dated it is.

It all begins with looking for a dog
But it's one big mystery,

One that keeps you involved,
It's intriguing. I must say.

A story like no other,


This one will keep you turning the pages.
The author did an exceptional job.


the cover of the book is exquisite. I love it. I myself am a dog Lover. 🐾🐾

Funny, entertaining, and gripping. A well plotted mystery that kept me hooked and turning pages.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Who knew that being asked to find a missing dog would lead to so much adventure. But then, since the dog was owned by a mob boss, adventure was sure to follow.

These PI novels featuring Shane Cleary are unique in that Shane blends a life of being an acquaintance of mob bosses, an ex-police officer who had alienated fellow police officers by being truthful, and the significant other of an attorney. That makes for a complicated and tightrope walking kind of life and it all comes together in this novel. Although this novel is down the line in the series, it reads pretty well on its own with enough back story included to make sense of the action.

Valjan's writing style is clear and entertaining. The pace of this novel is consistent as Shane gets into all kinds of trouble. We are taken into the murky world of mob influence, wondering of Shane will make it through in one piece. He is also involved preventing the railroading of a young black accused of theft. The two plot elements are woven together to make an engaging novel centered on the character of Shane as the driving force. The tight dialogue and relationship interactions he has with Bonnie are good additional aspects of the novel.

I recommend this novel to readers who would like an adventure into the underworld of Boston in the 1970s featuring a realistic and determined hero.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

So what is it about Boston that so many great crime fiction series are set there? Carlotta Carlyle encounters lawbreakers while she drives her taxi and Jane Ryland and Kent Murdock seem to only report on crime scenes. John Francis Cuddy, Spenser, Jeff DiMarco, Jane Rizzoli, Tom Bethany, Max Bittersohn, and Angela Matelli all investigate an assortment of felonies in their respective Boston neighborhoods, while Brady Coyne provides legal legerdemain to Bostonian blue bloods. And that’s just a few of the mystery and thriller series about the historic city, which seems to be caught in a permanent crime wave. We can add to the list Shane Cleary, whose fifth adventure by Gabriel Valjan will be released by Level Best Books on March 12th.

Jimmy B, a psychopathic criminal who terrorized South Boston, appeared at Shane’s door, which boded ill for Shane. Instead, Shane was stunned to learn that Jimmy wanted him to find his black poodle, which was missing. Shane never figured Jimmy as an animal lover but since no one says no to Jimmy and lives, Shane agreed and took some notes.

He barely ended that interview when Tony Two-Times, one of the Boston Mafia, dropped in to request assistance for his niece who needs a Latin tutor. Only he wants Shane’s girlfriend Bonnie to help, as his strict Italian mother will not allow her granddaughter to interact with men outside the family.

Then Bonnie wants Shane’s help with a pro bono case in which a young black teenager is being unfairly charged with felony robbery. Bonnie’s law firm expects her to plead the young man to whatever sentence she can negotiate and close the case fast, and she is convinced he is being railroaded.

All in all, Shane has a lot on his plate. He navigates the racial and ethnic divisions of the metropolis carefully while coping with career criminals of all stripes and varying degrees of sanity. Jimmy B in particular is a scary guy with a surprising empathy when it comes to his dog. Shane himself is a cat person, which makes him my instant friend.

I found myself immediately immersed in Shane’s world. The energetic narrative is flecked with bits of Boston history. With multiple threads and a large cast of players, it could be easy to lose track of details but Valjan ties each story line up neatly at the end. His work to exculpate the wrongly accused teenager was notably slick. The ending sets up a new story arc for Shane’s next books.

Recommended especially for readers of private investigator series and fans of Boston-based books.

Read his full review on https://rosepointpublishing.com/2024/03/03/the-big-lie-by-gabriel-valjan-bookreview-hardboiledmysteries/ Rosepoint Publishing.

A beloved pet is missing. Tony Two-Times wants him back and orders our hero to find him. There will be no reward, just a ticket to stay alive. Finding a dog does not usually require a private detective but refusing Tony invites a visit six feet under. He has lost his beloved dog and wants the bitch back yesterday.

A mob leader or mafioso boss have many things in common. Denying their requests is not an option. Our hero finds that leads he feels may be fruitful were not. Meanwhile the time is getting short and the dog cannot be found!

This story explores the underworld and the loyalties that are required to stay alive! Cleary, an ex-cop, is the subject of the mob bosses’ angst and the dog better be found. The result is an exposé of the thinking within the mob. Very informative! 4.5 stars – CE Williams

PI Shane Cleary's newest case involves finding Boo, a missing black poodle owned by Jimmy, Southie’s most dangerous criminal. Meanwhile, Shane's lawyer girlfriend Bonnie asks for his help on a pro bono case involving a B&E jewel theft & a black teenaged suspect.

Both cases prove to be more treacherous & full of deceit thanks to some brutal encounters with Boston cops. In the end, Jimmy reveals the truth behind "the big lie" that has haunted Cleary's life.
Another fine mystery filled with pathos, humor, sarcasm & a glimpse into life in different 1970s Boston neighborhoods.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Level Best Books. All opinions are my own.

"The Big Lie" is a sweeping PI mystery that careens through the streets of Boston in the late '70s filled with larger than life characters and gritty backdrops. Shane Cleary is as tough as they come, his girlfriend, Bonnie, is as whip-smart as they come, and the plot zips with authenticity on every page. The neighborhoods of Boston are treated to an in-depth rambling of history that fascinated and enlightens on every page. Put both boots on and jump right into this book and then hold on for the ride.

Gabriel Valjan transports us to Boston in the late '70s, where we meet up with criminals and alleged criminals from a variety of backgrounds. With riveting banter, PI Shane Cleary evades death at the hands of gangsters while solving multiple mysteries. Valjan writes with verve, sarcasm, humor, and authenticity, capturing the feel of a time and a place. Don't miss Cleary's escapades.

I love the writing style and the language, but I don't like "historical" (1970s?) books. I do like the speed, so all in all this is a very entertaining book.

Hard-as-nails noir about ... a poodle-napping? Gabriel Valjan nails it in The Big Lie, the fifth in his series featuring PI Shane Cleary, a former cop and Vietnam vet back on his home turf in Boston. Valjan’s talent for crackling dialogue and telling detail is on full display here. The Big Lie is classic noir, leavened with humor, pathos and an ending that brings a tear.

The Big Lie is a fascinating story that pulls you in, shakes you, and then leaves you with mixed emotions. It is beautifully written, and powerful.

Shane Cleary is a former policeman, and now works as a Private Investigator. Considered a rat by the local police for reporting bad actions on the part of the police, they are now his enemies. Looking for an opportunity to destroy his life. Now he walks a fine line between the Mafia and the Southie criminals in Boston as he works his investigations.

At the beginning of THE BIG LIE, he takes on a case he cannot refuse without making a dangerous enemy. Jimmy, a Southie, has come to Cleary to find his stolen dog, Boo. The only living thing that he loves and that loves him back. He takes on the case and finds himself caught between Jimmy, the Mafia who disapprove, and keeping it all secret from his girlfriend Bonnie Loring, a lawyer with a large firm in Boston.

Along the way Shane is twice picked up by the police who think they have a case they can use as an excuse to brutalize Cleary and potentially send him to prison. Both times he is rescued by a combination of Bonnie and the evidence just not being where the cops thought it was.

This story reveals the layers of society existing in Boston after Vietnam (where Shane served), where money and power, and who you know can make you a good man or a bad man - depending on your education, family connections, and money. Which leads to men being both - often at the same time.

The other case Cleary is working is a young black man who has been arrested for the theft of a very expensive ring. Bonnie has been assigned the case "pro bono" a way to make the firm look good, but expecting no money or real effort to be spent upon it.

Bonnie has Shane working for her to discover if the young man is guilty. This case raises a whole new level - with a history of juvenile justice that was never meant to be any kind of justice at all - simply a means to keep certain races in their correct place.

It strips back the veil on Boston, and reveals the ugliness of the past, along with the manipulations of the present.

When it all ends, many things have been tied up - the dog found, Cleary both framed and cleared, the young black man revealed to be innocent - and probably victimized again simply because of the color of his skin.

Then Jimmy - in exchange for the return of his dog, pays Cleary and gives him information. Many years before Cleary's father had committed suicide, It left Cleary and his mother destitute - changing the directions of their lives. This new information places Shane Cleary in a position to decide what will he do, now that he has names for who was responsible.

So while some things are neatly resolved, the reader realizes that the history of Boston and the men who control the lives of other men have been stripped of their anonymous state and placed glaringly in the light.

As a reader, I need to know what happens next. I await Shane Cleary's decision.

This intrigued and the melange of characters indicated its plot. It centered on multicultural realities. Those sentiments spread to disdain. Those distinctions and problems caused an uproar and purported to the issues with diversity.