Tedious. Couldn't finish, stopped half way. ( )

At the start of Griffin's complicated eighth mystery featuring retired lawyer Matt Royal (after Fatal Decree), Royal's sweetie, Longboat Key, Fla., detective J.D. Duncan, receives a text message with a photo of her friend Katie Fredrickson, who disappeared after Katie's husband, Jim, was murdered in Sarasota a year earlier. Forensic evidence at the scene suggested Katie was probably dead, but now there's hope she's alive. Duncan also investigates the fatal shooting of elderly Ken Goodlow, a WWII vet who was on his way to see Royal at the time of his murder. Duncan follows up the cold case involving Katie, while Royal tries to discover why Goodlow wanted his legal services. When the going gets tough, Royal turns to his best friend, Jock Algren, whose ruthlessly applied justice provides counterpoint to Royal's relaxed Florida lifestyle and good-natured banter with Duncan. Despite the unwieldy plot, Griffin's fans should be pleased.

This was a Library Thing giveaway for a review! Thank you Library Thing~ "Found" is a Matt Royal Mystery - apparently #8 in the series, but my 1st! Although I have not read any of the previous books, I definitely did not feel lost or had even a inkling in reading this book, that it was part of a series, so I would say if you like the legal thriller mystery genre - than you can start with this one and not feel lost or that they are discusing something that happened in previous books(even if they happen to be). I have to say, it was a good book, It definitely had the feel of a Micky Spillane or better yet, a Travis Mcgee. An interesting twist at the end that got me.. and I thought I had it all figured out, only to find a twist at the end that caught me by surprised. This is a quick easy going read with plenty of action, romance, mystery and well... a lot of drinking too. Worth your while if you like the "legal thriller' genre ( )

An old man is shot and killed in a seemingly random attack. A cop gets a text from her friend . . .one whom everyone thought was murdered a year ago. Another man who knew them both disappears. A German U-boat lurks in the Gulf of Mexico 60 years ago. A mysterious mobster that no one can identify is involved with all of these things somehow.

These are the things that Matt and JD, partners in life and in solving crimes, try to unravel. They have to deduce all of the connections that exist between them before more people end up dead.

I enjoyed this book generally, but I did find it to be a bit difficult to follow. There are a LOT of characters and a lot of plot points that a great deal of attention needs to be paid to all of them to really follow this story. I liked the depth of the characters and the fact that they are multi-dimensional. The conclusion of the story is satisfying and there is a neat plot twist towards the end. The pace is steady and the action is exciting if a bit predictable. The Florida setting feels authentic. The writing is precise with crisp descriptions of both the actions and the setting. Really the only thing I didn't like was that the plot at times seemed to be overly complicated and there were so many characters that at times it became a bit confusing. Still, I did like the story and the main characters are compelling. If you like police procedural type mysteries you should check out this series. ( )

I would give this 6 stars if I could. JD is a cop, Matt is a retired lawyer living on an island off Sarasota, FL. The story starts with a murder, a high speed chase that results with the perp driving off a bridge.

Griffin has two story lines going throughout the book, one with a 1940's timeline, the other one in the present.

Who is killing the senior citizens from Cortez? Why? Where is JD's friend Kate and is she still alive?

The story moves fast and holds your attention. Griffin ties everything up neatly and plausibly. I am going to hunt down the other Matt Royal novels. Great series ( )