After Pearl

As a book reviewer, I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher or author to facilitate this review. I received no other compensation, and all opinions are always 100% my own.

When Nicolas Bishop wakes up in his hotel bedroom, he remembers nothing of the previous 5 days except the nagging conviction that he’s been blackout drunk for most of it. 2 shots have been fired from his gun, his skin is sweating out the empty bottle of bourbon on his nightstand, and he is incongruously accompanied by a one-eyed female puppy, whom he names Jake. It soon becomes clear, however, that he needs to figure out what happened. To start with, black lounge singer Pearl DuGaye, is missing, presumed dead. (Do those two missing bullets have anything to do with this? Bishop has no idea) The cops definitely think he had something to do with it. But local gangster Joey Bones and his 4 thugs, known as the Evangelists, seem convinced that Bishop saw something he shouldn’t have, and they’re doing his best to ensure he never has a chance to regain his memory.

Bishop is working for local lawyer Ira Weiss, and the duo are hired by a socialite to spy on her cheating husband. But Ira’s getting worried. First his office window is spray painted with the word “Jude,” and a Star of David. Then the glass itself is broken. Ira’s convinced that Buffalo is harboring a band of Nazis. As Bishop battles his own alcoholism and his growing attraction to his secretary, it becomes clearer and clearer that if he can’t figure out what happened during that infamous bender, he might not survive.

After Pearl reads like a classic noir detective story. Set in 1942, the “Pearl” of the title refers both to Pearl Harbor and the murdered lounge singer. Bishop and Gia Alessi, his former secretary, are wise-cracking and smart-mouthed, and the plot races along through twist after convoluted twist. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more in the series. Highly recommended!

Amazon –    https://pictbooks.tours/GnUqG
BN –    https://pictbooks.tours/SKzFi
Goodreads –    https://pictbooks.tours/g8j2t
BookShop.org –    https://pictbooks.tours/4HrBP
Talking Leaves   https://pictbooks.tours/PsJ9n

Author Bio:

Stephen G. Eoannou is the author of the award-winning short story collection Muscle Cars and the novels Rook, Yesteryear, and After Pearl. He holds an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte and an MA from Miami University. He has been awarded an Honor Certificate from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Best Short Screenplay Award at the 36th Denver Film Festival. His latest novel, Yesteryear, was awarded the 2021 International Eyelands Award for Best Historical Novel, The Firebird Book Award for Biographical Fiction, and Shelf Unbound’s Notable Indy Books of 2023. He lives and writes in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, the setting and inspiration for much of his work.