Mystery Novel Hits Home – Nine Days for Justice

Mystery Novel Hits Home – Nine Days for Justice by Gerald Haslam

If you’re on the hunt for a good mystery novel, I highly recommend Nine Days for Justice, by Gerald Haslam. And I am not a lover of mysteries. This book, however, is outstanding – and I found myself staying up late because I couldn’t put it down. And I love my sleep 🙂

The basic premise is that a wealthy 21 year-old guy gets kidnapped and held for $25 million ransom – and the team of investigators assigned to the case has nine days to find him and return him to his family. The story is told from the perspective of the detective in charge of the investigation and he is a highly likeable character, flaws and all.

The novel is very well-written, unique, has a rich cast of diverse characters with interesting dynamics, and an unfolding plot with multiple complications that keeps the reader engaged. The epilogue at the very end brings it all together beautifully.

On a more personal note, I resonated strongly with the evolving relationship between the detective and his colleague, another police officer. It was refreshing – and enlightening – to read how these two people strived to determine the best way possible, for all concerned, to proceed with their budding relationship. For life within the police world is different – and keeping intimate relationships healthy can be challenging indeed.

I love how this book found its way to me. The author, Gerald, researched me on-line and sent me an e-mail about a year ago, asking me if we could have a phone discussion about the pros and cons of recording a self-published book as an audio book. So we had that chat – and then, when his book was published, he sent me the details on where to purchase it. So I did.

I genuinely enjoyed reading Nine Days for Justice. As an author of a self-published book myself, I can safely say from experience how difficult it can be to break through the barrier that exists – often for very good reason – between readers and self-published books. For not all self-published books are created equal. Some are dreadful. Some are okay. Some are pretty good. Some are in dire need of a decent edit. Some should have stayed as a person’s diary – and so on. But Gerald’s book, I can honestly say, is great.

If you do read it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Maryanne Pope is the CEO of Pink Gazelle Productions and Chair of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund. She is the author of A Widow’s Awakening and the upcoming book, Barrier Removed; A Tough Love Guide to Achieving Your Dreams. If you would like to receive her weekly blog, please sign up here.