Book Review - PLATFORM SHOES A Steve Daniels Mystery Series Book 1 by Linda Watkins

Something different... A noir crime/historical mystery

ABOUT THE BOOK

The year was 1943. He was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps, on loan to the British, flying a reconnaissance mission over occupied France. Shot down, he had to make his way back to England with what could prove to be a very important reel of film taped to his chest.

Wounded, he was grounded and sent back to the States to the Air Cadet Base in San Antonio, Texas to teach. Plagued by nightmares stemming from his wartime experiences, he was easy pickings for a woman like her … She was his commander’s wife – beautiful, restless, and the wrong kind of woman for him. 

What would happen when they got together would be nothing less than murder... 

REVIEW 

Although Steve Daniels is a hero, due to his injuries sustained as a pilot, he's to teach pilots instead of being one. His nightmares and his disappointment at not being able to continue his dream career? Well, he's not always thinking clearly. 

Then there's Kathy. She's married to Steve's commanding officer and she wants out of the marriage. Steve falls for her and she frames him for her husband's murder, then disappears. His attorney and the assistant appeal his guilty verdict, get the charges erased. You'd think he would take the good fortune and run (with the assistant now officially a lawyer). Anyone could predict the trouble he would find searching for Kathy.

Watkins depicts what was happening in the early 40s, the tension, and the effects of war before PTSD was even recognized. I'm partial to happy endings and Steve blows his HEA. At the same time, there's part of me that understands his wanting to confront Kathy, and the consequences be damned. 

I don't usually read noir crime, however, I do read historical fiction, especially the WWII era.The book is well-written, kept my interest, with twists and turns, and more action just when I thought it would end. It is as advertised - noir crime and historical fiction. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from Amazon)

USA Today bestselling author, Linda Watkins is the author of the multi-award-winning MATEGUAS ISLAND SERIES. She currently resides in Sedona, Arizona and, in another life, was a Senior Clinical Financial Analyst at Stanford University School of Medicine. 

In 2006, she packed her belongings and, along with her four rescue dogs, took the plunge and moved to a remote island off the coast of Maine where she started the MATEGUAS ISLAND SERIES. 

She also published a new stand-alone novel, SUMMER GIRL, and a novella, SARAH & ZOEY, A STORY ABOUT THE POWER OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, both of which are award-winners. In November, 2018, she published the first of the THE KATE POMEROY MYSTERIES, STORM ISLAND. She also has a novella (The Witches of Storm Island, Book I: The Turning) in the USA Today bestselling boxset, LOVE UNDER FIRE. 

Serious about dog welfare and rescue, all net proceeds from sales of THE MATEGUAS ISLAND SERIES are donated to Linda's charitable trust, The Raison d'Etre Fund for Dogs, Dedicated to Rescue and Research. Linda is a member of the Horror Writers Association, The Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers, The International Association of Crime Writers (N.A.), and the Authors Guild. 

To take a look at her other works or communicate with her, please visit her website, her blog where she posts book reviews and other features and/or her novel website, dedicated to the Mateguas Island Series.