After Pearl (Nicholas Bishop Mysteries 1) by Stephen G Eoannou -review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 1, 2025

1942. War rages in Europe. Pearl Harbor still smolders. And alcoholic private eye Nicholas Bishop wakes up on a hotel room floor with two slugs missing from his .38 revolver. The cops think he’ s murdered lounge singer Pearl DuGaye, mobsters think he saw something he shouldn t have, and Bishop remembers nothing… Together with his indomitable assistant Gia Alessi, who he may or may not have fired, a WWI vet who often flashes back to 1918, and a one-eyed female dog named Jake, Bishop tries to piece together the events that took place during his disastrous five-day bender. Along the way, he stumbles across a dirty politician, a socialite and her unfaithful husband, and a cabal of American Nazis who are undoubtedly up to no good. Written in the spirit of classic noir, Eoannou adds his own unique voice and flair to the genre in this, the first action-packed outing of the Nicholas Bishop Mysteries…

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REVIEW:AFTER PEARL is the first instalment in Stephen G Eoannou’s historical adult literary noir NICHOLAS BISHOP MYSTERIES focusing on PI Nicholas ‘Nick’ Bishop.

Told from third person perspective AFTER PEARL follows PI Nicholas ‘Nick’ Bishop, in the aftermath of an alcoholic bender, wherein not only are his money and car missing but so are five days in his life. Still struggling with the after effects of his bender, a new client, Mrs. Elizabeth Brandt hires Nick to get proof of her husband Meyer’s affair but something about the woman doesn’t sit well with Nicholas Bishop. All does not go according to plan when a black lounge singer, Pearl DuGaye goes missing and is presumed dead, and Nick Bishop is the last to see the singer alive, something our ‘hero’ does not remember. With the help of his on again, off again assistant Gia Alessi, attorney Ira Weiss, journalist Timothy Flynn and Benny the Junkman, Nicholas Bishop goes in search of his car, his money, a missing lounge singer, a rumored affair and the truth, only to find himself enmeshed in a Nazi conspiracy, and missing art.

The world building focuses on the hunt for a missing black woman in 1942 Buffalo New York, and her connections to everyone involved. Nick Bishop is a flawed anti-hero; an alcoholic whose alcoholic tendencies outshine his investigative skills, and his reputation has earned him the nickname the Weasel, and as such, Nick is usually the target of law enforcement, gangsters and the people of Buffalo New York.

There is a large ensemble cast of interesting, questionable and colorful secondary and supporting characters: Nick’s long suffering assistant/partner Gia Alessi, and his uncle Sal; alcoholic journalist Timothy Flynn, attorney ‘Fat’ Ira Weiss, Benny the Junkman, Lieutenant Darcy, The Gospel Brothers-Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; gangster Joseph Bonesutto aka Joey Bones, nightclub owner Phil Amigone, Doris Slater and Council Rhielman. The requisite evil has many faces.

AFTER PEARL is an intriguing and suspenseful story of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and determination wrapped in a classic noir scenario in 1942 America during WWII. The Nazis, the Jews, and the Klan are prevalent and reflect the time period’s conspiracies, racism and attacks on someone consider ‘other’; everyone is suspect, American hands are dirty, and one man’s need to uncover the truth sets into motion the downfall of some powerful people.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy