A Portrait of Andrew

Rating:
Summary: BEST YET!
Review: First off, I have to admit I'm a sucker for novels that follow the adventures of the same principal characters, but that's just one reason I have enjoyed J P Bowie's 'Portrait' series so much. In "A Portrait of Andrew" his third and latest mystery in the series, Bowie once again hooks us with a tight, tense plot, lots of humor and a sprinkling of sex amid the twists and turns the story takes.
Our heroes, Peter the artist and Jeff the PI, jet off to the Big Apple to spend the Holidays with their close buddies Andrew and David - (in A Portrait of Emily, David gets a promotion that necessitates their move from Laguna Beach to NY.) I found their reunion, and Peter and Andrew's sharing of confidences, truly heart warming. Bowie's talent for drawing his characters well is shown to great effect when we meet the loathsome Jeremy Kennedy and his paranoid wife Morgan at a party Andrew and David throw at their apartment. Morgan and Andrew have formed a close friendship that is shattered by Jeremy's treachery, but when Jeremy is murdered and Andrew considered the prime suspect, Morgan turns on Andrew and accuses him of having a clandestine affair with her husband.
Enter Nick Fallon, an NYPD detective with an unhappy past and a secret he keeps from his partner. He suspects a set up, and with Jeff's help, sets out to find the real killer. Nick is a great addition to Bowie's cast of characters and I hope he shows up again in future stories.
"Andrew", set against a backdrop of a snow bound New York City, is rich in atmosphere, witty dialogue and surprising twists. I can really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read, a tricky whodunnit and a darned good yarn!

Rating:
Summary: "A Portrait Of Andrew" by J.P. Bowie
Review: In "A Portrait Of Andrew", the third and superlative
installment of his "portrait" series, J.P. Bowie takes
us on a journey to New York City. Peter, the artist,
and Jeff, the private detective, travel to the Big Apple
to visit their friends, Andrew and David, for the Christ-
mas holidays. There is an engaging, easy-going bond that
the four share that is so enjoyable to witness, and it is
that bond that ultimately will be tested when a lurking
dark force rears it's ugly head. Andrew's trust and con-
cern for a friend in need is betrayed, and his life is
suddenly thrown into peril and continuous danger.
We are introduced to a host of new characters this time
around including Morgan Kennedy, a middle-aged aristocrat,
Jeremy, her gold-digging gay lover, and Nick Fallon, a
closeted New York detective who, along with Jeff, cracks
a complex murder case, and in the process, frees himself
from a troubled past and finds a soul mate in the process.
Bowie's plot is rich with character portrayals and is,
once again, vividly real and engrossing. The love scenes
are sometimes erotic and passionate, but always tender and
loving. There is a certain edge and grit to the storyline
here, due in large part to the geographical surroundings
of a big, bustling metropolis, as compared to the laid
back, California coastline feel to Bowie's first two epics.
This adds to the suspenseful and climactic ending that
is once again, startling and unpredicatable.
For those who enjoy intelligent, entertaining, insight-
ful and heart-warming reading, "A Portrait Of Andrew" will
not disappoint. It is time and money well spent, and will
have you anxiously looking forward to Bowie's next offering
which will, no doubt, be well worth the wait.

Rating:
Summary: "A Portrait Of Andrew" by J.P. Bowie
Review: In "A Portrait Of Andrew", the third and superlative
installment of his "portrait" series, J.P. Bowie takes
us on a journey to New York City. Peter, the artist,
and Jeff, the private detective, travel to the Big Apple
to visit their friends, Andrew and David, for the Christ-
mas holidays. There is an engaging, easy-going bond that
the four share that is so enjoyable to witness, and it is
that bond that ultimately will be tested when a lurking
dark force rears it's ugly head. Andrew's trust and con-
cern for a friend in need is betrayed, and his life is
suddenly thrown into peril and continuous danger.
We are introduced to a host of new characters this time
around including Morgan Kennedy, a middle-aged aristocrat,
Jeremy, her gold-digging gay lover, and Nick Fallon, a
closeted New York detective who, along with Jeff, cracks
a complex murder case, and in the process, frees himself
from a troubled past and finds a soul mate in the process.
Bowie's plot is rich with character portrayals and is,
once again, vividly real and engrossing. The love scenes
are sometimes erotic and passionate, but always tender and
loving. There is a certain edge and grit to the storyline
here, due in large part to the geographical surroundings
of a big, bustling metropolis, as compared to the laid
back, California coastline feel to Bowie's first two epics.
This adds to the suspenseful and climactic ending that
is once again, startling and unpredicatable.
For those who enjoy intelligent, entertaining, insight-
ful and heart-warming reading, "A Portrait Of Andrew" will
not disappoint. It is time and money well spent, and will
have you anxiously looking forward to Bowie's next offering
which will, no doubt, be well worth the wait.

Rating:
Summary: "A Portrait of Andrew" is yet another page turner!
Review: J.P. Bowie is continuing to bat 1000 with his latest novel, "A Portrait of Andrew." The third novel in the series has moved locale from laid-back California to fast-paced New York City. I was anxious to see what new things would happen with our main characters, Peter and Jeff, when they went to visit their good friends, Andrew and David, who had moved to New York City at the conclusion of "A Portrait of Emily." We are treated with new and interesting characters -- some good and some evil -- and, of course, murder. We get all of the intrigue and "who-done-it" scenarios we have come to expect from J.P Bowie's work, but in this installment there is more comedy, a pleasant surprise. If you want a novel that is a quick read with characters you will come to care about, this one is for you. I highly recommend it. Kudos to the author!

Rating:
Summary: "A Portrait of Andrew" is yet another page turner!
Review: J.P. Bowie is continuing to bat 1000 with his latest novel, "A Portrait of Andrew." The third novel in the series has moved locale from laid-back California to fast-paced New York City. I was anxious to see what new things would happen with our main characters, Peter and Jeff, when they went to visit their good friends, Andrew and David, who had moved to New York City at the conclusion of "A Portrait of Emily." We are treated with new and interesting characters -- some good and some evil -- and, of course, murder. We get all of the intrigue and "who-done-it" scenarios we have come to expect from J.P Bowie's work, but in this installment there is more comedy, a pleasant surprise. If you want a novel that is a quick read with characters you will come to care about, this one is for you. I highly recommend it. Kudos to the author!