Reviews

Cultured by D.P. Lyle

cemoses's review

3.0

This is the first book I read in this series. Unlike many other series, I did not feel that I needed to read the previous books in the series to understand the story. For me this is a plus for this book. Furthermore, I found the detectives in the story were a likeable group of people. The book was pleasant reading.

However, I am giving this book only three stars because the author did not provide sufficient transitions in the mystery plot line. The investment club that is being investigated is shown initially as appealing to wealthy women who doing some of the investing. However, when the detectives go undercover and explore joining this club, it comes across right away as appealing to solely wealthy men. For me to find the plotline believable, there would have to be a secret subgroup to make the plotline believable.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for honest review.

anndudzinski's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This is Book 6 in the Jake Longly Detective Series and the author promised it can stand alone.  I suppose it can, considering that all of the backstory you need is dumped into the first three pages.  This was followed by on-the-nose physical descriptions of most of the characters (i.e., a character’s height and weight followed by an exact description of what they were wearing) and I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting here.

Still, the story sounded good.  Ex-pro baseball player Jake and his girlfriend, Nicole, get called in to investigate John Lindemann and his company, TLM (The Lindemann Method).  The company bills itself as a method of self-help and financial advice.  To Jake, it smells like a cult.  The client is concerned because her daughter worked at the nearby lodge that housed TLM and went incommunicado a few weeks prior.  After posing as potential clients, Jake and Nicole discover that not only does the financial aspect appear to be a Ponzi scheme, but the attractive young women who work there are encouraged to “entertain” the wealthy clients.  As they dig deeper, more girls turn up “missing” and the darker the TLM scheme seems to run.

This started with in your face descriptions/backstory and never really picked up from there.  I realize that’s a bit harsh; maybe I’m just not the target audience for this book.  I definitely think this was written for a male reader because as hard as I tried, I could not connect with the MC.  Most of the book is from Jake’s point of view; although, chapters veer off to other characters at the convenience of the story (a huge turn off for me).  What didn’t I like about Jake?  He seemed like an okay guy, but he had no drive, except to hang out on the beach, and the constant sexual innuendos between him and his girlfriend, who is treated as little more than eye candy despite having written a smash screenplay, got tiresome.  Even though I think Nicole got short shrift (she probably would have made a better MC), her “being a sugar baby is fine and understandable” attitude didn’t sit well with me.

Why would I root for Nicole as the MC over Jake?  Because when it came right down to it, Jake didn’t do anything.  I’ve seen him described as the reluctant P.I., but that’s being kind.  He’s not a private investigator.  His father (Ray) is, his best friend (Pancake) is, and Nicole is part-time.  Jake makes it extremely clear he wants nothing to do with the business and for most of the book, just goes where the wind blows him.  Or where Nicole drags him.  To my recollection, Jake didn’t really do anything except crack jokes, feed Pancake, and try to get Nicole into bed.  In fact, they didn’t actually solve the case of the missing girl.  Granted, Pancake did follow the financial trail but (and I’m not a lawyer) I think a lot of what Pancake did was illegal and most of the evidence he collected probably would have gotten thrown out at trial.  Don’t get me started on Ray going Rambo with no repercussions (I might have missed a pertinent backstory to explain Ray’s connections).

While not a bad novel, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing the ARC ebook.  I’ve left my review honestly and voluntarily.

bookanonjeff's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Laid-Back Mystery With Bite. Here in this sixth entry of D.P. Lyle's Gulf Coast based mysteries, we see so much of what makes this series so great. There is quite a bit of humor, a great sense of laid back Gulf Coast small town life, and a mystery that could prove to be either nothing at all or quite sinister indeed. Human/ Sex Trafficking is mentioned early as a possibility of what is happening, though to reveal if it actually is would be a massive spoiler. Just be prepared for the possibility, if that is a major no-go for your own reading tastes. Overall this is truly a great book full of heart and humor all wrapped up in a satisfyingly complex and dangerous-enough mystery. Very much recommended.