The Fundamentals of Murder is the second book in the Bishop Regan and Davey Goldman Mystery series. I like this book because of its unique story. The characters are easy to like. Further, I like how I get to think and try to solve the case in the story.

The book description sounded very intriguing to me and I wanted to like this book but I could never really get into it.

The story is told through the eyes of Davey Goldman, a private investigator and ex-homicide detective with NYPD. Davey also works part-time as a special assistant to a Catholic Bishop named Francis Regan. Bishop Regan is a very intelligent man who happens to be paraplegic due to a gunshot wound he suffered six years ago. Bishop Regan gets pretty cranky and Davey is witty and sarcastic which leads to a strange and rocky relationship. Despite their bickering and bantering they use the Bishop’s brains and the David’s investigative street-smarts to solve crimes together.

One day a man named Jerry Fanning shows up and asks to see Bishop Regan. He says he had a vision of Jesus telling him to go tell Bishop Regan about Him. Jerry had only arrived in New York a few weeks before from Oklahoma. Before leaving, Bishop and Jerry pray together and Bishop Regan tells Jerry to let him know if he ever needs anything.

Jerry Fanning ends up taking the Bishop up on the offer not long after when he is suspected of being the serial killer the media has dubbed “Strangler John”. The evidence against Jerry is circumstantial and after meeting with Jerry in jail, the Bishop is convinced of his innocence and agrees to help him.

I liked how the author used wit, humor, and sarcasm throughout the story. I found myself laughing out loud at times. The overall story just did not keep my attention so I give this one a 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you William F. Love, Endeavour Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

4 and 1 / 2 stars

These books are so darn delightful that I hardly know where to start.

Bishop Regan is being his cranky old best self, so Davey Goldsmith decides to pull a fast one over on him. He invites into the house a fundamentalist Christian hoping that it will get on the Bishop’s nerves big time. Of course, it backfires, and the Bishop tells the young man from Oklahoma, Gerry Fanning, that should he need anything to please call him.

Mr. Fanning’s attorney calls the Bishop and Gerry is in very big trouble. It seems he’s been arrested for a string of four murders of young women. The murdered women are three prostitutes and one very wealthy and attractive model agency owner. Right away, the Bishop and Davey don’t feel he’s guilty – Davey less so than the Bishop.

While Davey creeps around almost, but not quite, impersonating different characters he interviews a number of Ms. Penniston’s, the model agency owner, associates, friends and relatives. He picks up several clues along the wat and reports them back to the Bishop.

The suspense increases as does the pace of our story. AS it races to its conclusion, the killer is revealed. I have to tell you that I did not suspect who the killer was.

This book is extremely well written and plotted. It is funny in places, suspenseful and quickly paced. I most certainly enjoy Mr. Love’s Bishop Regan and Davey Goldman books. I will keep reading them.

A very big thank you goes to Netgalley and Endeavour Press for forwarding to me a copy of this most delightful book to read.