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Redemption
Dave Saari’s seventh novel again features the FYI Investigations wealthy young idealist Trey Isherwood, mother Madeleine, and wife Sybil Atwater, who has left the FBI after a brief but distinguished career. The trio delves into the case of ex-NFL player and convicted murderer Darren Cruikshank, whose wife was abducted and killed in Duluth in 2018. Five years after the fact, can FYI uncover new evidence that could lead to a new trial and Cruikshank’s Redemption? Using their unique blend of high-tech investigative tools, interviews with a fascinating array of “persons of interest,” and old-fashioned grit and determination, the team soon find themselves embroiled in a complex and harrowing saga, with new and potentially fatal danger arising with every new discovery. Grand Marais and Duluth are the primary settings for a thrilling tale of mystery, romance, and murder (with a smattering of golf), and forays to Jamaica and Belgium add an international flavor.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 21, 2024
About the author
Dave Saari
7 books12 followersI split my time between my summer home on the North Shore of Lake Superior and a condo in Minneapolis, having retired from a 40-year career as an Aerospace Engineer in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. I've written five golf-themed mystery novels and plan to add many more now that I have more time to write.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 11, 2024
For the mystery, this book has a decent case. It starts strong and intriguing with a kidnapping and ransom case of a wealthy man's wife. He then fades into the background as we learn that the said wife had been murdered, allegedly wrongfully convicted and has been sitting in prison for five years until a good friend of his hires a private investigator to relook into the case.
The private investigators called FYI are the main characters: husband and wife, Trey and Sybil, and Trey's mother, Madeleine. They are rich people who take up cases for fun as they don't need the money if they believe their clients are innocent.
I want to like this book. I really do. I like murder mysteries and detective stories, but these characters, their interactions and relationships are too unrealistic to me. In my opinion, they are very objectified, and if we take out everything sexually related, there is almost nothing left. They are unrelatable, and I don't root for them at all. Here are the examples. As an ex-FBI officer, Sybil approaches, and borderline harasses their suspect carelessly. Both of them got away with it the first time, but when she acts alone, with her husband waiting and watching, she is assaulted, slapped, groped, and harassed, complete with torn clothes with buttons flying off and everything in the daylight. That should be serious, shouldn't it? But nothing comes out of it. There are no reactions from them other than some casual remarks, and they move on to discuss a dress now that her clothes are torn as if that is Tuesday.
And the dress, sigh, so these two buy a flirty dress from a consignment shop because it reminds the husband, Trey, about their hotel receptionist, whom he flirts with openly and apparently lusts for him based on a few interactions. So, Sybil, the wife, agrees to wear it to fulfil his fantasy even though she is uncomfortable and protesting multiple times. Fortunately, it seems like she finally feels okay, and they both enjoy fooling around in it, but then she decides she doesn't like it, and then they gift it to the receptionist, Nicole, the one the husband lusts for, because she helps them with the investigation. This girl apparently expects a threesome invitation when they invite her to their room. They didn't, but still, she was delighted to get this third or whatever hand slutty dress. (I have nothing against reduce, reuse, recycle (because that is the justification), but I really don't think it's a norm to give people a used slutty dress and loudly state you give it away because you hate it, as a thank you). To top it all, she gets so excited and flustered that Nicole leaves with the new dress and forgets her bra. I don't know, but normal people don't forget undergarments, especially when they arrive wearing them. That is not all. Sybil then confiscates the bra and wears it like her own. What is happening here?
Another example is Madeleine, Trey's mother, who, in order to get the information she needs for the case, opts for performing for a man. Having a sexual encounter with her female partner while the man watches. Of course, he promises not to take pictures or videos and to leave the information if he is happy with the show. Of course. Please remember these are professional, super-wealthy investigators with money, qualifications, and reputations. Madeleine is a tech wizard; that's what I know because it is mentioned more than I see her in action.
I don't have triggers, and I'm really not against mature scenes. One or two are useful to the plot and characters, but others are very distracting and absurd.
The villain is supposed to be the charming genius and psychotic, and there is a potential redeeming ending, but the book doesn't have enough of it or more scenes about why and how this person is a chameleon and mastermind because there is almost no actual interaction that conveys his charm, a missed opportunity because I would certainly root for the villain instead.
This is my personal opinion, and books are very subjective. What doesn't work for me might work for others. I think the author writes a good murder mystery and I like the style of flashbacks as we reveal the case.
The private investigators called FYI are the main characters: husband and wife, Trey and Sybil, and Trey's mother, Madeleine. They are rich people who take up cases for fun as they don't need the money if they believe their clients are innocent.
I want to like this book. I really do. I like murder mysteries and detective stories, but these characters, their interactions and relationships are too unrealistic to me. In my opinion, they are very objectified, and if we take out everything sexually related, there is almost nothing left. They are unrelatable, and I don't root for them at all. Here are the examples. As an ex-FBI officer, Sybil approaches, and borderline harasses their suspect carelessly. Both of them got away with it the first time, but when she acts alone, with her husband waiting and watching, she is assaulted, slapped, groped, and harassed, complete with torn clothes with buttons flying off and everything in the daylight. That should be serious, shouldn't it? But nothing comes out of it. There are no reactions from them other than some casual remarks, and they move on to discuss a dress now that her clothes are torn as if that is Tuesday.
And the dress, sigh, so these two buy a flirty dress from a consignment shop because it reminds the husband, Trey, about their hotel receptionist, whom he flirts with openly and apparently lusts for him based on a few interactions. So, Sybil, the wife, agrees to wear it to fulfil his fantasy even though she is uncomfortable and protesting multiple times. Fortunately, it seems like she finally feels okay, and they both enjoy fooling around in it, but then she decides she doesn't like it, and then they gift it to the receptionist, Nicole, the one the husband lusts for, because she helps them with the investigation. This girl apparently expects a threesome invitation when they invite her to their room. They didn't, but still, she was delighted to get this third or whatever hand slutty dress. (I have nothing against reduce, reuse, recycle (because that is the justification), but I really don't think it's a norm to give people a used slutty dress and loudly state you give it away because you hate it, as a thank you). To top it all, she gets so excited and flustered that Nicole leaves with the new dress and forgets her bra. I don't know, but normal people don't forget undergarments, especially when they arrive wearing them. That is not all. Sybil then confiscates the bra and wears it like her own. What is happening here?
Another example is Madeleine, Trey's mother, who, in order to get the information she needs for the case, opts for performing for a man. Having a sexual encounter with her female partner while the man watches. Of course, he promises not to take pictures or videos and to leave the information if he is happy with the show. Of course. Please remember these are professional, super-wealthy investigators with money, qualifications, and reputations. Madeleine is a tech wizard; that's what I know because it is mentioned more than I see her in action.
I don't have triggers, and I'm really not against mature scenes. One or two are useful to the plot and characters, but others are very distracting and absurd.
The villain is supposed to be the charming genius and psychotic, and there is a potential redeeming ending, but the book doesn't have enough of it or more scenes about why and how this person is a chameleon and mastermind because there is almost no actual interaction that conveys his charm, a missed opportunity because I would certainly root for the villain instead.
This is my personal opinion, and books are very subjective. What doesn't work for me might work for others. I think the author writes a good murder mystery and I like the style of flashbacks as we reveal the case.
June 1, 2024
Redemption starts with a kidnapping and ransom gone wrong and the husband taking the fall. Five years in prison later his hyper-rich best friend hires the merely-rich FYI investigators to investigate from scratch to find new evidence that can get him out of prison.
The main characters, Trey and Sybil, are stated as twenty-five, so they couldn't have much experience other than college. Sybil was with the FBI for two years and a bachelors is required to be an agent. They don't have PI licenses so their methods make more sense, but it's all a little sketchy.
The aspect that worked well was the procedural of the investigation, and that the falsely accused and his murdered wife were successfully written as good people, and you genuinely want to see some justice done. As a matter of fact, the accused, Darren, is portrayed as the only man in the story who doesn't treat women like meat. Every female in the story is so hot that every male can't help but say something that would start a brawl in real life. However, these ladies and their significant others are so used to it that no one really reacts, or else they use it to their advantage. That was the part that didn't work as well, some of the interactions weren't very convincing. The suggestive banter of the charming men was sometimes identical to the misogyny of the lowlifes. That pulls the teeth of scenes where the heroines have to deal with scumbags, while making some of the flirting, even between husband and wife, a bit icky. Honestly, it wasn't that extreme, it just meant that often the tone was a little off.
The victims were much better developed characters, often with unlikelable flaws, and believable motivations. The flashbacks are the best-written sequences, though most of the locations throughout the novel are described well. The actual working of the case progressed logically and the book is well edited, so I won't spoil the mystery. It's worth the read.
As a last note, I wasn't aware that Golf Mystery was almost its own genre, or at least a few writers are determined to make it one. To the uninitiated, it's structured like the Cozy Mysteries, only instead of lattes and fireplaces, it's trust funds and golf courses. It appears this is a good example, so fans seeking a fix shouldn't miss this author.
The main characters, Trey and Sybil, are stated as twenty-five, so they couldn't have much experience other than college. Sybil was with the FBI for two years and a bachelors is required to be an agent. They don't have PI licenses so their methods make more sense, but it's all a little sketchy.
The aspect that worked well was the procedural of the investigation, and that the falsely accused and his murdered wife were successfully written as good people, and you genuinely want to see some justice done. As a matter of fact, the accused, Darren, is portrayed as the only man in the story who doesn't treat women like meat. Every female in the story is so hot that every male can't help but say something that would start a brawl in real life. However, these ladies and their significant others are so used to it that no one really reacts, or else they use it to their advantage. That was the part that didn't work as well, some of the interactions weren't very convincing. The suggestive banter of the charming men was sometimes identical to the misogyny of the lowlifes. That pulls the teeth of scenes where the heroines have to deal with scumbags, while making some of the flirting, even between husband and wife, a bit icky. Honestly, it wasn't that extreme, it just meant that often the tone was a little off.
The victims were much better developed characters, often with unlikelable flaws, and believable motivations. The flashbacks are the best-written sequences, though most of the locations throughout the novel are described well. The actual working of the case progressed logically and the book is well edited, so I won't spoil the mystery. It's worth the read.
As a last note, I wasn't aware that Golf Mystery was almost its own genre, or at least a few writers are determined to make it one. To the uninitiated, it's structured like the Cozy Mysteries, only instead of lattes and fireplaces, it's trust funds and golf courses. It appears this is a good example, so fans seeking a fix shouldn't miss this author.
June 18, 2024
A Cold case murder mystery
A wealthy ex-football player convicted of murdering his wife is given a second chance when one of his old friends puts in motion a pro-bono investigation through a lawyer. The lawyer engages FYI which is husband and wife team, Trey and Sybil, and Trey's mother who is a computer hotshot.
The book tracks the unfolding of the case, the odd game of golf and flashbacks to what really happened. It is convincingly plotted and an interesting murder mystery with a lot of danger along the way. The outcome is not one that most would predict until quite near the end, which is a bonus.
There is also a bit of sex, which is fine but a whole lot of sexism, which really isn't - sexism in terms of objectifying women (the term 'male gaze' is used to describe the process) and the way men seem to think it's ok to put their hands on women. I personally found it more than a bit distasteful. And how could anyone imagine that if a woman finds another woman's bra - one that the other woman had worn all day long and thus would be sweaty - she would choose to wear it rather than her own, just because it happens to be the same size? I felt a bit queasy at that one and at how when going clothes shopping for Sybil it is Trey, not Sybil herself, who decides what she should buy and has to wear, even though she doesn't like it, in a very distasteful, controlling way. There is way too much of this male-fantasy stuff, even including the classic 'man watches lesbian sex' cliché, and it spoilt the book for me.
That is, in my opinion, a great shame as without it the story is good, the plotting clever and the overall book an entertaining read.
A wealthy ex-football player convicted of murdering his wife is given a second chance when one of his old friends puts in motion a pro-bono investigation through a lawyer. The lawyer engages FYI which is husband and wife team, Trey and Sybil, and Trey's mother who is a computer hotshot.
The book tracks the unfolding of the case, the odd game of golf and flashbacks to what really happened. It is convincingly plotted and an interesting murder mystery with a lot of danger along the way. The outcome is not one that most would predict until quite near the end, which is a bonus.
There is also a bit of sex, which is fine but a whole lot of sexism, which really isn't - sexism in terms of objectifying women (the term 'male gaze' is used to describe the process) and the way men seem to think it's ok to put their hands on women. I personally found it more than a bit distasteful. And how could anyone imagine that if a woman finds another woman's bra - one that the other woman had worn all day long and thus would be sweaty - she would choose to wear it rather than her own, just because it happens to be the same size? I felt a bit queasy at that one and at how when going clothes shopping for Sybil it is Trey, not Sybil herself, who decides what she should buy and has to wear, even though she doesn't like it, in a very distasteful, controlling way. There is way too much of this male-fantasy stuff, even including the classic 'man watches lesbian sex' cliché, and it spoilt the book for me.
That is, in my opinion, a great shame as without it the story is good, the plotting clever and the overall book an entertaining read.
March 17, 2024
An entertaining read
When a wealthy socialite is found murdered, all the clues point to her husband and he's convicted and jailed. Five years later, FYI investigations are contacted by one of his friends and asked to investigate.
Redemption is an interesting read, the main characters, Trey and Sybil bounce ideas off of each other well while they interview characters and investigate the murder. Along the way, they also discover that several accidental deaths may not be as they seem, and are possibly connected.
The story is fast paced and the characters are fun to follow. Their relationship is believable and they both have a passion for golf. For the most part, the mystery is engaging as the characters discover clues. As a thriller, the book is exciting, especially when our Tesla loving heroes have to flee a gun wielding suspect.
As a mystery, this is when the book tends to fall a bit flat. There are not enough red herring characters, ones where it is possible they could have done it. They had the motive and the expertise. So when the solution is presented, it doesn't really offer much.
All in all, Redemption was enjoyable, I'm interested in reading more with these characters, I just hope that next time, there's more to the mystery.
When a wealthy socialite is found murdered, all the clues point to her husband and he's convicted and jailed. Five years later, FYI investigations are contacted by one of his friends and asked to investigate.
Redemption is an interesting read, the main characters, Trey and Sybil bounce ideas off of each other well while they interview characters and investigate the murder. Along the way, they also discover that several accidental deaths may not be as they seem, and are possibly connected.
The story is fast paced and the characters are fun to follow. Their relationship is believable and they both have a passion for golf. For the most part, the mystery is engaging as the characters discover clues. As a thriller, the book is exciting, especially when our Tesla loving heroes have to flee a gun wielding suspect.
As a mystery, this is when the book tends to fall a bit flat. There are not enough red herring characters, ones where it is possible they could have done it. They had the motive and the expertise. So when the solution is presented, it doesn't really offer much.
All in all, Redemption was enjoyable, I'm interested in reading more with these characters, I just hope that next time, there's more to the mystery.
May 17, 2024
Redemption follows Trey, Sybil, and Madeleine of FYI Investigations when they're asked to investigate the five-year-old murder of Kelli Masterson, the wife of Darren Cruikshank, who claims to have been wrongfully convicted of her murder.
The details of the murder were clearly explained and easy to visualize, making it easy to follow along as the story unfolded. The mystery itself was satisfying and fun to solve while reading. There were plenty of details to consider along the way that had me constantly questioning whether they were important to the case and trying to use them to figure out the solution. It didn't go in a predictable direction, which is always great for a mystery novel.
I was surprised to learn that this is the seventh in a series, as the metadata and title make no reference to that. However, this didn't negatively affect the reading experience, as the author ensured that all elements of the mystery stood on their own. Any returning characters or references were introduced in such a way as to quickly catch the reader up while making it apparent that they were from a previous book. So no worries if you haven't read the others!
A few of the time jumps/scene orders were perhaps a little jarring (two present-day scenes were actually in the reverse order, and I wasn't sure whether it was intentional for some reason or a mistake). There were also a few near the end of the book that I wish we (the reader) were "present" for instead of receiving a summary of events. It would have been more satisfying and exciting if we'd switched POVs to witness certain outcomes, but maybe I'm just being greedy!
Overall, a fun and exciting mystery worth the read.
The details of the murder were clearly explained and easy to visualize, making it easy to follow along as the story unfolded. The mystery itself was satisfying and fun to solve while reading. There were plenty of details to consider along the way that had me constantly questioning whether they were important to the case and trying to use them to figure out the solution. It didn't go in a predictable direction, which is always great for a mystery novel.
I was surprised to learn that this is the seventh in a series, as the metadata and title make no reference to that. However, this didn't negatively affect the reading experience, as the author ensured that all elements of the mystery stood on their own. Any returning characters or references were introduced in such a way as to quickly catch the reader up while making it apparent that they were from a previous book. So no worries if you haven't read the others!
A few of the time jumps/scene orders were perhaps a little jarring (two present-day scenes were actually in the reverse order, and I wasn't sure whether it was intentional for some reason or a mistake). There were also a few near the end of the book that I wish we (the reader) were "present" for instead of receiving a summary of events. It would have been more satisfying and exciting if we'd switched POVs to witness certain outcomes, but maybe I'm just being greedy!
Overall, a fun and exciting mystery worth the read.
June 14, 2024
FYI Investigators Trey and Sybil, along with Trey’s mom, Madeline, solve cases in their spare time and for fun. They don’t need the money, so they sometimes apply their investigative skills for free if they believe their client is innocent. Darren Cruikshank has been in prison for five years, convicted of killing his wife. As Trey, Sybil, and Madeline follow up on old clues, interview witnesses, and kick a few hornets’ nest, they soon learn that not everything is as it seems.
The mystery held my attention, and I felt so bad for Darren and Kelli. I had my suspicions about who the murderer was to begin with, but I enjoyed how it played out. The flashbacks were well done and didn’t lead to any confusion since each scene was dated.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t relate to Trey and Sybil, the main characters. They felt more like friends than a couple in love, mainly because Trey kept flirting with the hotel clerk. Why Sybil put up with that is beyond me, other than the fact that this story was written by a man and likely geared toward a male audience.
Anyway, I enjoyed the story for the case. It really was compelling.
3 Stars
The mystery held my attention, and I felt so bad for Darren and Kelli. I had my suspicions about who the murderer was to begin with, but I enjoyed how it played out. The flashbacks were well done and didn’t lead to any confusion since each scene was dated.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t relate to Trey and Sybil, the main characters. They felt more like friends than a couple in love, mainly because Trey kept flirting with the hotel clerk. Why Sybil put up with that is beyond me, other than the fact that this story was written by a man and likely geared toward a male audience.
Anyway, I enjoyed the story for the case. It really was compelling.
3 Stars
March 11, 2024
Review
In this third murder mystery featuring Trey, Sybil, and Madeline, they are up against a winding history of a pair of sisters who are also twins. This story leads you on a goose chase, a sense of intrigue amid hotel staff, and a winding story that'll end with a near bang. Trey and Sybil, now married, are in fine form. I am still not loving some of Trey's actions and sometimes think Sybil puts up with too much (though she 'seems' to like it). At the end of the day you'll be turning pages as the mystery unfolds and the truth behind the deaths leads to a slippery eel. The question is, will everyone survive the climax (and the rushed ending).
Rating
4 Stars
I could have done without some of the scenes that detracted rather than added to the story or the characters. That being said it was almost as good as the first one and definitely a step up from the second. Looking forward to reading more!
In this third murder mystery featuring Trey, Sybil, and Madeline, they are up against a winding history of a pair of sisters who are also twins. This story leads you on a goose chase, a sense of intrigue amid hotel staff, and a winding story that'll end with a near bang. Trey and Sybil, now married, are in fine form. I am still not loving some of Trey's actions and sometimes think Sybil puts up with too much (though she 'seems' to like it). At the end of the day you'll be turning pages as the mystery unfolds and the truth behind the deaths leads to a slippery eel. The question is, will everyone survive the climax (and the rushed ending).
Rating
4 Stars
I could have done without some of the scenes that detracted rather than added to the story or the characters. That being said it was almost as good as the first one and definitely a step up from the second. Looking forward to reading more!
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