No preconceived notions. None whatsoever. This was a new author for me but the description sounded interesting and appealing. So, I took a chance and opened Buried Lies. And, I’m very glad I did. Along the way I was entertained and the plot and characters kept me engaged until the very last page.

Buried Lies is the second book in a series by Steven Tingle. In this book there are references to prior events, which helped give context to Buried Lies. As a result, I found it quite easy to follow along and understand the backstory.

In Buried Lies, Davis Reed, PI and former police officer, is recovering from his injuries and anxiously waiting for a settlement check. Meanwhile, somewhat short of funds, he agrees to investigate an accidental death that occurred on a local golf course. As Davis delves into the nuances of the case, he discovers there are a lot of things that demand explanations.

I liked so many things about this book. The humor, the characters (besides Davis, Floppy was one of my favorites) and the plot that just keeps going. In the end, there are a number of twists and revelations that gives the book a satisfying ending. I have a new favorite author and I hope he keeps writing. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

Firstly I would like to thank Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read this book.
Buried Lies by Steven Tingle is an amazing mystery book based in a small town. I really enjoyed the concept of the book and the mind blowing plot twist at the very end.
I believe that the aim was to have readers on edge, which Steven Tingle definitely succeeded with, due to the building up of the plot twist.
I believe this book would be great for beginners who want to start reading the mystery genre.
The book I believe had the funny parts in the exact right section and felt that Floppy only made it more funny, but I also loved that when the situation was serious it was purely only serious.
I believe it was a lovely murder mystery.
I will be posting my review on my instagram page in the next couple of hours (@melbournereader) and I will tagged Crooked Lane Books and Steven Tingle in the post with a link to where people can purchase their own copy of Buried Lies

This murder mystery was a lot of fun. The main characters were people I would definitely hang out with. I enjoyed how the mystery unfolded, with the clues just falling into their laps.

When I first started reading Buried Lies I didn’t release it was the second book in a series—The Graveyard Fields series precise—but fear not while it might have been nice to know a bit more about Davis Reed’s character before starting this one, I had no problem enjoying this story without prior knowledge of his first adventure.

It all starts when Davis’s buddy Dale invites him to go check out a dead body. No, it’s not as weird as it sounds. Dale is a law enforcement, and Davis is also a former cop as well as private investigator. The body in question is at the local golf course and belongs to real estate agent Prentiss Wells. While no one actually saw it occur, he appears to have been killed when a golf ball struck him in the head. Such an odd way to die, it has to be an accident, right? Well not everyone thinks so, and a wealthy couple Davis meets at the course are certain its murder and want to hire him to investigate. It’s a good hook and pulled me right into the story. The book features quite the cast of characters, with Davis himself being particularly complex and intriguing, though I think Floppy is sure to be a favorite of many. Fast paced, complex storyline with both tension and humor. I’ll definitely be going back to read the first book and will be looking forward to more of Davis's adventures in the future. I’d like to thank Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Buried Lies.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3CFZ0CR7B24PU/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Buried Lies by Steven Tingle was a great murder mystery.
The pacing was steady to fast and the storylines were interesting and engrossing.
Well written and with well developed and likeable characters,

I’d like to thank Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Buried Lies.

My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for an ARC of this novel.

Davis Reed is a sharp-edged, intrepid, rather dashing former cop-private detective who fits the mould of old-time noir fiction protagonists. He is not easily scared off, always happy to take up a challenge, and invariably ready with a quip. The author has managed to turn this into a very humorous ‘cosy mystery,’ notwithstanding the murder and mayhem. As he describes himself, I can’t help picturing Davis as Lieutenant Columbo, a rumpled, middle-aged man ‘who wears a constant five o’clock shadow,’ like the 1980s TV detective whom he resembles physically and otherwise. Except that the five feet ten inches Davis is taller than the diminutive screen cop. Davis Reed is just as dogged and persistent, however, as rigorous and undaunted, and ultimately as cuddly. Neither is afraid of bending the rules, providing that the outcome is a resolved case, justice for the victim, and rightful punishment for the culprit. Who can argue with those aims?

I found this book clever and compelling and I happily immersed myself in it, especially because of the way that Davis, who narrates, comes across, but also because the other characters are well-written and not just ‘there’ to move the plot along. The story begins with our man sitting on the deck of his cabin, drinking beer, eating junk food, and being bored, while staring at Cold Mountain. He is in a small town in western North Carolina, which, judging by not a few of the mysteries I’ve read this year, is a good place for bad things to happen. This includes what happens to be a funny murder. An unfortunate accident in which he was shot by his brother in law led Davis to leave the much livelier city of Charleston, South Carolina. He had wanted only to recuperate in solitude and write a book. After half a year in exile, his leg was improving, the solitude was and nature contemplation were,boring him, and he had done nothing about his literary pursuits. Nor did he particularly care.

That’s not to say that the tedium of his stay was entirely unbroken. He had bonded with his landlord/local deputy sheriff Dale in a scrape involving some ‘seriously nasty bad guys’ and 3 murders. Then, while sharing beer on the deck, Dale got called to check out a sudden death that had just happened at the town’s country club. Four well known elderly members were enjoying a round of golf when one of them collapsed, hit square in the temple by an errant golf ball. The three witnesses actually witnessed nothing, each preoccupied with their phones. The victim, Prentiss Hall, was a respected seventy-ish real estate attorney. The medical examiner and the other cops agreed that it was accidental. Dale and Davis disagreed. And so ends Davis Reed’s trial by tedium.

This novel is well written, fast paced, and notably humorous, with plenty of colourful characters such as Dale’s cousin Floppy, and his blustering police colleague Earl. There is a captivating young blonde reporter, who had covered the earlier nasty business , to add some romantic intrigue. And of course there is the mystery: who would want to see a nice old guy assassinated in a respectable, exclusive place in broad daylight? And why?

A romp of a cozy of sorts featuring a humorous private investigator and sidekick who find themselves investigating the case of a real estate developer killed by a ....a golf ball. Davis and Floppy discover there's an old secret of sorts and lots of people who weren't fans. I missed the first book but this was fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for a lazy day.

Davis Reed is busy sitting on his porch, looking at the mountains, drinking beer, and not writing the book he said he was going to write when his friend Deputy Dale Johnson calls him to go look at a body. Prentiss Wells was playing golf with his buddies when he was apparently struck and killed by a golf ball. At first, everyone is willing to write it off as just a weird accident.

But when a local rich, eccentric couple who like to play detectives hires Davis to prove that the death was murder, Davis who badly needs the money since his settlement with the Charleston Police Force is tied up in legal wrangling decides to look into things.

There are a lot of questions. First, why was the foursome playing that course when they were members of a different country club? Second, does the death have anything to do with an accidental death from 1988 when Wells struck and killed a young burglar?

As Davis, a former private investigator, looks into things with the help of both Dale and Dale's eccentric cousin Floppy, he uncovers a lot of local secrets and connections between the characters. From what really happened in 1988 to a real estate scam being perpetrated by the other members of Wells' foursome, secrets are gradually revealed.

I enjoyed Davis's character. He is smart but also suffers from anxiety and maybe a bit of depression. He is still getting over the first case he solved when he came to Cruso, North Carolina, and is still concerned with being the target of a motorcycle gang whose illegal activities he, Dale and Floppy uncovered.

My favorite character was Floppy who is eccentric, a motormouth, and something of a mechanical genius.

This is a good mystery with a great dose of humor. I didn't realize it was the second in a series, however I didn't feel lost. The previous book and case is mentioned just enough. What made the book for me is the characters. While I was following the mystery I also had plenty of laughs. I'll definitely read this author again.

Loved this murder mystery. It is witty, smart, at times funny and a bit sarcastic? Well written and with well developed and likeable characters, you will never guessvwho did it!

A former police officer turned private detective, Davis Reed, is hiding out, and attempting to write a book, in a remote cabin in North Carolina. Because of his friendship with his landlord, who happens to be a local deputy, he becomes involves in investigating the accidental death of a prominent real estate broker. When an eccentric couple challenges him to prove that it was murder, he is skeptical, but starts asking questions, and uncovers several possible motives and a trail of secrets going back decades.

This is a great mystery, filled with humorous and quirky, yet endearing characters. There are several unexpected plot twists making it difficult for the reader to figure out 'whodunit' until the very end. I hope there are more books featuring Davis Reed and his unlikely companions in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

satire, mystery, thriller, verbal-humor, snarky, witty, ex-cop, private-investigators, North-Carolina, not-TTS-enabled, murder, investigation, local-law-enforcement, fraud, real estate, secrets, lies, friendship, friends, relatives*****

I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, but now I have to wait to completely read the book because the one I got is NOT TTS enabled! I hopped around in the story as my vision allowed and know that I HAVE to get to read the whole thing. Hopefully this one will be made audio like the first in series. I can tell you that the characters make this book worth reading and that PI Davis Reed gets the Snark of the Year award. I am going to go ahead and give it a 5* because I feel that it has that much potential even if my vision disagrees.
#GraveyardFieldsBk2 Not TTS enabled

10 stars, a definite winner! Complex mystery weaving past and present in a very small town, where everyone knows everything, well except maybe who the murderer is! Or do they? With an underdog PI and a cast of amusing and eccentric, or is that crazy, characters, there are red herrings, multiple interwoven subplots, and some definite chuckles thrown in.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue action, murder, mystery, a great who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me! Former police officer turned private detective Davis Reed is taking refuge in the mountains of Cruso, North Carolina, after a run in with a biker gang dealt him an unfavorable hand. When respected real estate agent Prentiss Wells is killed by an errant golf ball, Davis has no reason to suspect it wasn’t an accident. But then a wealthy couple hires him to prove the death was murder and catch the killer. In desperate need of cash, Davis takes the job!!