A well-written mystery-thriller that keeps you guessing to the end. Jack Lynch continues to please.

I’ve been binge reading this first-rate series of books about Peter Bragg, a San Francisco private eye. Brash Books has reissued this series written by Jack Lynch and they provide an enjoyable read with absorbing plots, plenty of action, and some great characters. Especially recommended for fans of “old school” detectives.

My review was posted on Goodreads.

Firstly, I must declare that I am hooked on this series involving Private Investigator Peter Bragg. As with previous story lines by this author, you are taken on a journey of intrigue where the outcome only becomes clear at the end of the book.Jack Lynch is a master story-teller and my only disappointment is knowing that there are only 2 more stories remaining in the series after this one.

Peter Bragg bumps into an old acquaintance - Jo at the Monterrey Jazz Festival. She this then accused of her husband's murder. Pete is then drawn into murder and blackmail. This is another exciting book by the late Mr Lynch. Our hero is charging around trying to work out what is happening. I liked this fast paced action thriller which kept me turning the pages till the very end.

You don't have to wander the bookshelves or spend hours with Google to find forgotten but great crime writers anymore. Brash Books, a new independent publisher, is doing it for you. One fine example is Jack Lynch.

Truth or Die, the sixth in an eight book series, features California Private Eye Peter Bragg. He's visiting Monterey with his girlfriend when he runs into an old acquaintance, Jo Sommers. Jo's married now, but she can still turn heads, and Bragg's head is ready to spin. So when he learns she's in trouble, he can't resist the temptation to look into it, for old times sake.

Big mistake. Jo's husband has been murdered, and she's the prime suspect. Instead of running back to Allison, Bragg decides to interview the less than grieving widow. Dr. Sommers was a psychiatrist and many of his patients were ex-navy officers. While the doctor helped them deal with the horrors of war, someone decided to use their secrets for blackmail. That may have gotten Dr. Sommers killed. And Bragg may be next, if he gets too close to the blackmailer.

He has to be wondering what Jo is up to...is she part of the blackmail scheme or an innocent patsy? Was her husband blackmailing his own patients? Is the wife really a black widow? This story will keep you turning the pages to find out and has enough action to keep you entertained along the way.

Lynch has a clean, straightforward prose style that was made popular by Ernest Hemingway, and copied by countless writers. But Lynch is no imitator. He learned to write while working for numerous newspapers including the San Francisco Chronicle (Hemingway cut his teeth at the Kansas City Star). They must feed those newspapers reporters something potent, because most of them can write a tight sentence that packs a punch. Lynch was nominated for the Edgar and twice for the Shamus award.

This is the first of the Bragg novels I've read, but it won't be the last. There's seven more on my list. They should be on yours.

With this being the fifth I’ve read in the series, it feels comfortable, like an old hoodie on a sprinkly day. This one takes place in Central California, at an art/music fair in Carmel. An ex-military psychologist—who obviously knows a lot of secrets—a Navy tragedy, people looking for revenge and extortion, all figure in this mystery where the detective, as always in this series, is surrounded by women who want him even when he’s with his girlfriend.
In this case he helps out because he knows the widow, who is of course the main suspect; his girlfriend, for once, doesn’t seem to mind. This edition of the series had more characters, and therefore more suspects, than most, which didn’t help, but overall it was just as good as the others, and much better than the first in the series, which is the last one I read. The sinking of the navy ship was real, but the rest of the story isn’t, unless it was some long-buried secret, which is doubtful.
So basically if you’ve liked others in the series, you won’t complain about this one. And if it’s your first time with this author, this is a pretty good intro.

Great thriller!!! This is a must read book. Jack Lynch. Truth or Die, the sixth in an eight book series, features California Private Eye Peter Bragg. A tough smart character with a penchant for getting into trouble. . Monterey California is the setting which is beautiful and only adds to the story . This story will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next and has action throughout to keep you reading. Lynch has a straightforward writing style that makes his stories come to life. This is the first of the Bragg novels I've read, and it stands alone on its own merit to enjoy. A fabulous reading experience and I look forward to the next release in the series. Thank you for the advance reading copy Brash Books and Net Galley.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Brash Books for this free readers edition. In exchange I am providing an honest review.

I'm a Bragg fan. Jack Lynch writes a good thriller. It's somewhat elementary but enjoyable nonetheless. Because I've seen a picture of the author I always imagine Bragg looking just like him, I wonder if he did too. I'm pretty sure that isn't the case but I can't help it. Jack Lynch had such a distinct look, in my opinion. Anyway.
In this title Bragg and his girlfriend, Allison, are in Monterey for the Jazz Festival. He has given Allison his word that work is on the backburner all weekend and Allison can have his full attention. But as the saying goes, "...the best laid plans." Bragg runs into a former acquaintance at the Festival and by the next day is visiting her in jail as she's been accused of murdering her husband the night before. Before Bragg can help it he's in deep to an investigation of what quickly turns into more than one murder. Methodically uncovering clues and truth as he goes along Bragg finally links it all together but not before Allison is used as leverage against him. Now not only does he have the crime to solve but his girl to rescue. As with other Lynch books I enjoyed this one. I'm reading his Bragg Thrillers out of order, which isn't my normal m.o., but it isn't interfering with the overall storyline of Bragg to much.