Hard Prejudice by Dave Stanton
Dan Reno #5
Dan Reno, Private Investigator, is a man who takes cases many would not. He always goes in with good intentions but often finds himself up against some tough customers. Cody Gibbons, a friend from high school and also a PI, often ends up working with Dan on the same case. Having only read this and the previous book in the series I have to say that I am hooked. Sure, there is violence and some might consider some actions questionable but when it comes down to it Dan does have a moral compass and does “feel” when he is required to do something that he wishes had not been necessary to sustain his own or a loved one’s life.
This book hits close to home for me…in more ways than one. I know the places mentioned in the book and have driven through more than one of them. I remember the riots that in Los Angeles that were mentioned. I have lived in countries in the Middle East that have been impacted by war, bombs and strife and understand the fear of this reaching into and being experienced by those living in the West.
Dan and Cody are asked to find out who “lost” evidence in a trial. The trial was one in which a sadistic rapist got off due to the loss of the DNA that was necessary for conviction. While searching for the person responsible trips are taken to various cities in California and research is also carried out in Tahoe. There are car chases, shootouts, corrupt cops, prostitutes, gangsters, drug dealers, possible jihadists, explosions and other violence that occurs but throughout it all I was aware of the true friendship between Dan and Cody that is as close as if not closer than that of many brothers.
I think one of the main takeaways for me is that evil people are everywhere in the world and they no doubt always will be. There is no one cause for their being in the world or a solution for eradication of them. The fact that Dan and Cody and some of their friends, acquaintances and colleagues deal with such people and come out scathed but still positive makes for a solid story worth reading. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39894267-hard-prejudice