Naked Alliances (The Naked Eye Private Investigator #1)

Would you join a nudist camp to succeed in your job? P.I. Richard Noggin reluctantly does, in order to solve a ten-year-old murder. Its a case he didnt even want to take on, preferring getting the goods on cheating spouses over doing heavy police-type work. But his client, a former politician with higher aspirations, makes an offer thats too good to refuse. Things go crazy right from the start, when Rick gets sidetracked while rescuing a victim of a sex trafficking ring and the bizarre women trying to protect her. As strange as it seems, Ricks case gets tangled up with his act of benevolence after gunshots and a car chase. The nudist camp comes into play while seeking information on things related to the murder case, too. Its also a good place to hide. Turns out that taking off your clothes and mingling with the masses makes you hard to find, which is what Rick does to protect his new sort-of partner and the girl. But he has to venture out again, where he gets beat up and shot at while tracking down bad guys (and gals). He probably drinks too much for his own good, but otherwise has his heart in the right place. If youre worried about this book being beyond normal sensibilities, dont be. Aside from an occasional four-letter word, the perversions of a few, and the violence that happens when dealing with villains, its mostly good clean fun.

An intriguing book about a ten year old cold case murder mixed with the seedier side of Orlando, Florida’s Little Saigon. The main character, PI Richard Noggin, is thrust in the middle of both when he rescues a women and a girl who are being chased by two Asians with guns. The woman, Brandi-formerly Brandon, and girl, Cara Kiau, on his way to meet a client. The client ends up being a politician and the husband of the ten year old murder victim.

The book continues with so many connections between Cara and the cold case that Richard is kept running ragged trying to figure both out. Somehow he inherits Brandi and Cara as his responsibility, and ends up stashing them at a nudist resort. At some point Brandi (who has an unusual set of skills from her previous life) and Richard become partners in solving the mysteries.

This is a fast paced book that covers a multitude of issues and situations. I was impressed that the resort scenes were not about nudity or sex, and merely showed an alternative life style many of us are unaware of or haven’t thought about very much. The plot was intricate, the characters were fascinating. When I read the blurb for this book I wasn’t really sure what I would be reading, but it turned out to be an interesting book with a pulse that raced, making me read it in an evening with barely any breaks.

I’m hooked and will be waiting impatiently for Book Two. Nicholls got a great idea here for a mystery seriesadventurous mysteries that feature the nudist resort Leisure Lagoon and diverse Orlando as backdrops. What an original concept. And one S.K. understands since her family owns and operates one of the oldest and largest nudist resorts in the nation.

The book is fast-paced and plausible. The mystery itself takes some twists and turns and always seems to have one more twist ahead (even at the end). Richard Noggin (yes, think about it) is a semi-stable, humane, and very human protagonist, and his at-first-unwilling helper Brandi has a colorful personal style. I hope we see more of the two of them teamed up solving crimes. Not sure Richard can do without Brandis assistance!

Maybe the most glowing praise I can pin on this book is that I kept envisioning everything as if it were a movie playing out before my eyes.

Whats not to like about a thriller set mainly in a Florida nudist resort?

Naked Alliances is a crisp tale about a ten-year-old murder thats suddenly relevant, and Richard Noggin is the sometimes reluctant PI to solve it. Believe me, this isnt the Orlando of Disney World. Instead its a completely believable underworld of seedy operators and innocent victims, transvestites with hearts of gold, and plenty of danger for Mr. Noggin. The pace is relentless, though theres occasional time for fishing and beer.

Readers will love Brandi, the transgender hot mama who tumbles into Richards life on page 1 and then helps him in his investigation of the murder. Brandi has her own baggage for him to deal with, but the two of them make for a great team that Im sure well be seeing together again in Book 2 of the series.

For my next vacation in Florida, I think I might shoot for the Gulf side

Part Carl Hiaasen, part Elmore Leonard, Naked Alliances takes the reader on a humorous but serious ride through the seedy underbelly of Orlando. Richard, a likable private investigator, teams up with a transgender showgirl, Brandi. Not only does Brandi make for a refreshing and original protagonist, her military background enriches the story, making her a capable sleuth in her own right. Throw in the setting of a nudist resort along with some alternative sexual lifestyles, and you’ve got a unique and page-turning read. I thoroughly enjoyed this ride and fans of original murder mysteries will too.

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