Review: Late Fees by Marshall Thornton

Title: Late Fees

Series: Pinx Video Mysteries: Book Three

Author: Marshall Thornton

Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited

Length: 229 Pages

Category: Mystery/Suspense

At a Glance: There are very few characters that I let get under my skin, but Marshall Thornton makes Noah seem so real in dealing with his personal issues that it just shreds my heart. I highly recommend this exceptional series.

Reviewed By: Maryann

Blurb: It’s Thanksgiving, 1992 and Noah Valentine is late picking his mother up from the airport. When he arrives he discovers that she’s made a friend on the flight whose also waiting for her son. When the woman’s son doesn’t show up, they eventually take her home for breakfast with neighbor’s Marc and Louis. Soon after, they learn that her son has overdosed—or has he? Noah and his motley crew investigate over the holiday weekend; which includes a fabulous dinner, a chat with a male stripper, a tiny little burglary and some help from Detective Tall, Dark, and Delicious.

Review: Noah Valentine hasn’t seen his mother, Angie, in over three years. But, the happy day is here; she’s arrived in LA to spend Thanksgiving with him. Noah’s running late to pick her up at the airport, but it isn’t a big inconvenience; Angie has made a new friend in Joanne Lincoln. Joanne is also waiting on her son, Rod Brusco, who’s also late, so Angie and Noah offer to take Joanne to her son’s apartment since she can’t reach him. When they still fail to get any response from Rod, they’re off to Noah’s apartment and spend an evening with Noah’s friends.

Then, the dreaded call comes from Detective Amberson of Hollywood Division.

Noah finds himself wrapped up in a suicide…or is it murder? His little band of friends, Marc, Louis, Leon, Deborah, Rob, and Tina, never fail to keep Noah energized to seek out the truth, and even Noah’s mother gets into the act. When Noah feels the need to help Joanne get more information about her deceased son, he calls Detective Javier O’Shea for help. Javier, of course, is taking a big chance but comes through for Noah. Before he and Javier part company, Javier has other news that sets Noah back. As Noah becomes more deeply involved in and frustrated by the mystery, he comes up against a brick wall in Detective Amberson, whose warnings have become threats.

Marshall Thornton has that magic which takes us back to Los Angeles in the 1990s and paints a clear picture of how different times were then. He also gives us an in-depth look at some of the most colorful and unforgettable characters. I absolutely loved Noah’s mother, and the banter between them is sweet, hilarious and loving. She’s a great addition to this wonderful group of characters.

Besides this being a puzzling and intriguing mystery, Thornton brings real issues into the mix: HIV/AIDs, AZT and alternatives to taking the medication, greed, viatical settlements, and support groups which have Noah giving more deep thought to his own plight with HIV. Noah never complains or makes his HIV an issue, he’s told very few people about it, and is noble in his decision to protect the people around him. He thinks about the future and doesn’t want anyone to suffer or have to face what he did with his ex, Jeffers. He’s even gone so far as to deny himself a relationship. For Noah, at this point, there is no HEA, but he does take a step in the right direction in his fight with HIV.

There are very few characters that I let get under my skin, but Marshall Thornton makes Noah seem so real in dealing with his personal issues that it just shreds my heart. I highly recommend this exceptional series. I’m not sure what’s planned for Noah Valentine’s future, but I for one hope that there’s more to come.

You can buy Late Fees here:
[zilla_button url=”http://authl.it/B07GZYZDSX?d” style=”blue” size=”large” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Amazon/Kindle Unlimited [/zilla_button]