Liquid Shades of Blue
Hardcover
Paperback
Ebook
Audiobook
First his brother, now his mother—Jack Girard searches for the truth behind his family’s tragedies
When hungover ex-lawyer and Key West bar owner Jack Girard groggily wakes up one morning, he’s greeted by a beautiful woman lying next to him and a shrill, ringing telephone. Seeing the call is from his father, Claude “The Duke” Girard, Jack answers. Within seconds, he learns that his mother is dead in an apparent suicide, and Jack hits the road, heading back to his childhood home in Miami to face his tyrannical father.The death of his mother brings up haunting memories from Jack’s past—memories of his brother Bobby’s suicide when they were in college together. Being back in Miami only continues to dredge up his family traumas, but things grow more complicated when The Duke suggests that his estranged wife’s alleged suicide may have actually been a murder.
As Jack begins to uncover the truth about his mother’s death, including the secret she had revealed to only two people—the same secret Bobby had taken with him to his grave—he finds himself in imminent danger. Can Jack reveal the true story before it’s too late? He has to act quickly, or he fears he may be the victim of the next Girard family tragedy.
Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter and Harlan Coben
Praise
"Liquid Shades of Blue is a ride on the lethal waves of corruption and murder in a place that shimmers like diamonds in the sun. James Polkinghorn knows these South Florida courtrooms and waterways like the back of his hand. This one sticks to you like the humidity of a summer night in Key West." —Michael Connelly, New York Times best-selling author
“Smart, sophisticated, slow-burn suspense that builds to a final scene you won't expect—don't miss this.” —Lee Child, New York Times best-selling author
“Rarely are debut novels this original, taut, and polished. Liquid Shades of Blue is an intoxicating cocktail of equal parts John Grisham, Miami Vice, and Ernest Hemingway, served stiff and chilled. Like a dead body. Hollywood, take note.” —Larry Loftis, New York Times best-selling author
“All the more impressive when considering that Liquid Shades of Blue is author James Polkinghorn's first novel, this psychological suspense thriller of a read will hold a special appeal for readers with an interest in carefully crafted amateur sleuth stories that come with more unexpected plot twists and turns than an Oklahoma tornado. Original, fascinating, memorable, Liquid Shades of Blue is highly recommended.” —Midwest Book Review
“This is a tale of intrigue, deceit, coercion, the essence of being human—one person’s endeavor to bring justice to the justice system. Perhaps Polkinghorn has coined a new genre: essentialism mystery.” —Bookreporter