Book Review: The Last Clinic by Gary Gusick

net galley disclosure


I am very happy to bring you a new Southern detective police procedural/ mystery series,
 set here in the deep South- Jackson, MS!

the last clinic cover


Synopsis:

Outside the local women’s health clinic, the Reverend Jimmy Aldridge waving his protest sign is a familiar sight. But that changes early one morning when someone shoots the beloved Reverend Jimmy dead. Sheriff Shelby Mitchell knows the preacher’s murder will shock the good people of Jackson—and the pressure to find the killer is immediate and intense, which is why Shelby calls in detective Darla Cavannah. 
 
When police detective Darla moved from Philadelphia to Jackson with her husband—hometown football hero Hugh “the Glue” Cavannah—she never imagined the culture shock that awaited. Then after Hugh dies in a car crash, Darla enters a self-imposed exile in her Mississippi home, taking a leave of absence from the sheriff’s department. Now she’s called back to duty—or coerced, more like it, with Shelby slathering on his good-ole-boy charm nice and thick, like on a helping of barbecue.
 
Reluctantly partnered with a mulish Elvis impersonator, Darla keeps a cool head even as the community demands an arrest. The court of public opinion has already convicted the clinic’s doctor, Stephen Nicoletti, but Darla is just as sure he’s not guilty—even as she fights her growing attraction to him. From the genteel suburbs to a raunchy strip club, Darla follows a trail of dirty money and nasty secrets—until the day of judgment comes, and she faces down an ungodly assassin.

Review:

If you live in Mississippi, are from Mississippi, or live in the general area (ie the South), you will WANT to read this series. PERIOD. Knowing Jackson as well as I do, I found myself nodding along with the cultural idioms, idiosyncracies and myths, and how they played into the story line.Which meant the book was much more personal to me and I finished it in one sitting! 

All the 'Southernisms' make this story- it's the nuances that leas to the twists and turns, the humor and the relationship boundaries, that establish plot line and tell you everything you need to know about the characters. You find yourself screaming "NO, the book isn't over!" when you finish, as it seems like there is so much more that could have been said and dwelt on longer. The Last Clinic is surprisingly, the author's first novel- it has such great pacing, humor (don't worry- you Yankees will get most of it- the author explains it for you) and plot that I would out it up against any of the mystery writers I've been reading for 10 years! The book is a very satisfying read and I can't wait to read the next book in the Darla Cavannah series, Officer Elvis!


About the Author:

Gary Gusick is a former advertising executive with more than thirty years experience as a copywriter and creative director. He is a winner of numerous national and international awards for creative excellence in advertising. 

Comments

  1. Thanks for taking the time to read and review The Last Clinic. This is the first book in the Darla Cavannah mystery series, and I’m very interested in learning how readers respond to my efforts.

    Again, thanks so much.

    You can follow me at https://www.facebook.com/GaryGusickAuthor
    or on Twitter @GaryGusick.

    ReplyDelete
  2. color me hooked! i'll be waiting for the next one!

    ReplyDelete

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