Rating:  Summary: Political Intrigue Review: PI Frank Pavlicek has been hired by Representative Tor Drummond's daughter Cassidy to find her twin Cartwright. The college freshman disappeared on her way to break up with her boyfriend. But the boyfriend claims she never made it over. Then her rental car is found with bloody fingerprints. All Frank has to go on is a 20 year old newspaper article about a hit and run car accident. Will that be enough to find her before it's too late? If it isn't already. Meanwhile, he's struggling with letting his red-tailed hawk Armistead return to the wild.I'm not normally a reader of PI novels, but this series is making me rethink that. The storyline is interesting, and the characters are well drawn. I am aware they fall well within PI novel norms, but that doesn't really bother me in the least. The added element of falconry adds another level of interest to an already strong book. This series is certainly worth a look if you enjoy PI novels. And if you don't normally read them, pick these up and give the sub-genre a try.
Rating:  Summary: delightful investigative tale Review: When Frank Pavlicek received the call from a person claiming to be Cassidy Drummond, daughter of the Charlottesville, Virginia Congressman, he thought it a prank. However, Cassidy persuades Frank that she is for real so the former New York detective agrees to meet with her and hear her reason for needing a private detective. Cassidy believes her father Tor has done something to her missing twin sister Cartwright. Though the evidence is flimsy and Wright is probably warm and comfortable with some guy, Frank begins to make inquiries. Perhaps he would have reconsidered taking on the case if he knew the danger to those he loves from uncovering family secrets and betrayals. However, by threatening the birds he and his associate Jake Tornado cherish as much as any falconer does only makes Frank dig all the deeper. Though less involved in falconry than its predecessor (see the mega-excellent A WITNESS ABOVE), A KILLING SKY is a delightful investigative tale. The action-packed story line focuses mostly on Frank, who firmly believes he is wasting his time and that of his client even as he begins to uncover clues re the disappearance of Cartwright. The secondary cast adds depth to the investigation though to his family Tor, a Clintonesque-like player, seems so nasty that one wonders if his charisma is enough to keep getting him reelected. Still Andy Straka soars to wonderful heights with his latest Pavlicek tale. Harriet Klausner
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