Private Investigator Nick Saylor, head of Saylor Security, received a call from an intern in the middle of the night letting him know that a fragile young woman who lost her memory and identification during a vicious attack was about to be admitted to the notorious Bellevue Hospital psychiatric ward. The attacker had also carved the number 44 on her back. The only reason Nick decided to check out the situation was that she had his business card in her possession.

Nick lives on a barge on the Hudson River in New York. His sidekick, Meriwether, is a savant who also lives on the converted barge and assumes the role of overseer. Another occupant is a retired doctor by the name of Edward Sloan, MD, PHD, and a good friend of Nick who has been at Nick’s side when he has needed the doctor the most. Also helping him out are two NYPD detectives by the names of Thomas Fallen and Linda Goode.

From the moment Nick and the dancer left the hospital, his investigation into the attack and his attempt to find out who the woman was who put him in grave danger. He soon found out that this dancer was the third to be attacked in a short time. The only thing that saved her life was an anonymous taxicab driver who rushed her to the hospital. Nick soon finds himself the target of a cunning killer willing to do anything to reach his goal, including kill Saylor.

Bolero is a fast-paced psychological detective thriller written in the noir tradition by Joanie McDonell, one that keeps the twists and turns coming throughout the story. Just when you think Nick is close to figuring out who wants the dancer dead, and why, his own life ends up on the line.

McDonell has created a unique new detective who will draw in readers in spite of his faults. He has experienced much tragedy in his life and yet he is willing to help out those in need. Bolero is a good start to a new mystery series. Hopefully there will be more stories about Nick Saylor and his comrades.

A special thank you goes to Thomas & Mercer for providing a complimentary copy for our review. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of your own, it is available at Amazon.com.