The Case of the Antiquities Collector – Book 4

Description

THEIR DAUGHTER GOES MISSING AND THEY DON’T CALL THE COPS?
THAT’S ONE OF MANY…

…intriguing mysteries deliciously and intricately layered in these pages. Layer upon layer, twist upon twist, secret upon secret, this is a case tailor-made for a Sherlock Holmes devotee like private investigator Joey Mancuso. From the beginning, there’s just something funny about parents who didn’t report a missing student right away, and days later still want no police.

Hold it here! This is their beloved daughter, last seen leaving for a date. Why wouldn’t they want as much firepower as they can get? Because they know too much, that’s why and Owen Parr’s clever detective senses that. Joeys first jobs to save the girl, but no way he’s going to stop there. The scrappy PI and ex-cops going to get answers if it kills him.

Which, of course, it nearly does. The body count soars as his brother and detective partner Father Dom, always the adult in the room, clucks, prays, and begs for caution to no avail. The ruthless kidnappers have something huge to cover up an operation involving stolen art thats being used to finance one of the greatest evils on the planet. Once Joey knows that, he’s a runaway train.

The usual suspects are here. Marcy, Joeys new wife and favorite FBI agent; researcher Agnes, who goes to Father Dom’s Mass every morning, presumably to repent for her shameless hacking; and Mr. Pat, gentle giant bartender-turned-detective. There’s also a welcome new addition a professor whos as close as you’re ever going to get to Indiana Jones.

Full of action and exotic locales, this PI series entry will appeal to action-adventure fans as well as those who can’t get enough of hard-boiled New York detective stories, devotees of clerical mysteries, and everybody who loves a tough, competent female sleuth– Marcy, Agnes, and Joey’s former partner Lucy will satisfy that desire in triplicate.

In a statement, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said:

“The art world must acknowledge that stolen antiquities are not simply collectible commercial property, but evidence of cultural crimes committed around the world. These important historical relics must be treated with caution and care, and galleries, auction houses, museums, and individual collectors must be willing to conduct proper due diligence to ensure that an item has not been unlawfully acquired.”          
Colin Moynihan, New York Times – October 11, 2017

Reviewed By Melinda Hills for Readers’ Favorite 5 Stars:

“From New York to Miami to the US Virgin Islands, private investigator Joey Mancuso and his team work diligently to solve the case of a missing young woman in The Case of the Antiquities Collector: A Joey Mancuso, Father O’Brian Crime Mystery (Volume 4) by Owen Parr. As ‘the victim’s last advocate’, Mancuso leaves no stone unturned, even as the case takes on a life of its own with international overtones, and the threat of becoming victims themselves keeps the team on their toes. Each answer leads only to more questions as the web of intrigue continues to grow far beyond the scope of the original assignment. Cooperation with the FBI and numerous other law enforcement agencies makes Mancuso’s unorthodox methods difficult to employ, but nothing will stop the intrepid detective from solving his case. In spite of the danger, the hunt for the ultimate bad guy is on, and as Mancuso himself says, ‘Of course, I thrived on the twists and loops.’

This is definitely a must-read series for the mystery/intrigue fan! Owen Parr has created the perfect vehicle for great action, intense characters and clever plot surprises with this series, and The Case of the Antiquities Collector shows off Parr’s skill to its maximum benefit. Although Volume 4 in the series, A Joey Mancuso, Father O’Brian Crime Mystery, it is possible to read this book without having read the others, but you would be missing out on the richness of Parr’s storytelling prowess as well as some of the subtle connections and underlying dynamics between the recurring characters. Great writing and a superior concept make The Case of the Antiquities Collector a book you won’t want to miss.”

Reviewed By Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite 5 Stars:

“The Case of the Antiquities Collector: A Joey Mancuso, Father O’Brian Crime Mystery (Volume 4) by Owen Parr features crime, mystery, and investigation in a delightful offering that will, undoubtedly, excite fans. The novel features a cast of exceptional characters, including two half-brothers, Joey Mancuso and Father Dominic O’Brian, hired to investigate the abduction of Gavi Drucker, the daughter of a multi-millionaire. It doesn’t take them long to determine that it’s not a for ransom kidnapping and, as they follow the investigation, they will also find themselves investigating the same case the FBI, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security are working on. How is the kidnapping of Aaron Drucker’s daughter linked to the black market of rare antiquities, and what role does the father play in it. The path is slippery and the two brothers could just be setting themselves up as prey to a dangerous group that will do anything to stop the truth from coming out.

Owen Parr knows what it takes to create great characters and a captivating story, and there is a quirkiness in the narrative that grips the reader and compels them to follow the characters. The plot is masterly, with twists and turns that take the reader by surprise. One of the things I enjoyed in this narrative is the relationship between the two half-brothers — Joey Mancuso and Father O’Brian — and the author shows great ingenuity in creating a methodology into crime solving that is peculiar to them. The Case of the Antiquities Collector: A Joey Mancuso, Father O’Brian Crime Mystery is the kind of crime mystery that excites readers looking for characters they can enjoy. I loved the clear and focused narrative, the pithy dialogues, and the engrossing plot.”