Title: Shadow House
Series: Terry Luvello, PI #3
Author: Joe Rielinger
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: 05/07/2024
Heat Level: 2 – Fade to Black Sex
Pairing: Male/Female
Length: 74100
Genre: Contemporary Mystery, lit/genre fiction, contemporary, transgender, established couple, private detective, cops, murder mystery, crime procedural, dysfunctional family drama, incest, mental instability, guns
Add to Goodreads
Description
An unexpected visit from the daughter of an old mentor launches private detective Terry Luvello into one of the most intriguing cases of his career. Margaret Reasoner, the matriarch of one of Cleveland’s wealthiest and most politically connected families, has recently passed away.
Not trusting any of her children, Margaret had added a clause in her will requiring a private inquest should her death take place under suspicious circumstances. Hired to investigate, Terry spends a week at the Reasoner’s sprawling estate dealing with the increasingly hostile family as he unravels the mysteries of the mansion known as the Shadow House.
Terry recruits his partner and girlfriend, Cleveland police detective Hannah Page to aid in the investigation. The two uncover a web of secrets and lies that stretch beyond anything they have ever experienced. As the deceptions pile up along with the body count, a killer plans the ultimate revenge.
Terry’s ingenuity and uniquely wry sense of humor help him navigate this complex case while juggling the demands of his clinical transition about to enter its final phase. In a household where no one is innocent, Terry must decide just how far he is willing to go to find the guilty party.
Shadow House
Joe Rielinger © 2024
All Rights Reserved
Hannah looked at me disdainfully on our way to the main dining room. “I can’t figure out whether you’re trying to make me look good or you really like that outfit. Do you own anything else besides T-shirts?”
We’ve had various versions of this conversation numerous times since Hannah and I met. She’d once bought me a Michael Kors polo shirt in the hope of improving my fashion sense. That effort ended when I wore it to mow the back lawn. I have received no further clothing gifts since.
“You don’t need me to make you look good. As far as my outfit goes, I like jeans, and I like T-shirts. I’ve worn a suit on occasion, but if I did that too often, I’d lose my PI license.”
Hannah shook her head, and we walked the rest of the way to the dining room in silence.
Like the rest of the mansion, the Reasoner dining area was massive, its table capable of seating your average football team. Though we got there at seven, it appeared we were the last to arrive. I counted eight Reasoners—the whole clan based on what I knew going in.
I had already met Joshua and Abigail. Joshua was seated at the far end of the table, no doubt where his father had sat before him, with Abigail at his side. Next to Abigail was Joshua’s brother, Matthew, and a short-haired blonde woman I assumed was Matthew’s wife, Emily. Luke Reasoner, the black sheep of the Reasoner family, was seated two seats farther down. I wondered if he’d been relegated to that position after his fight with Joshua.
On the other side of the table was Judith Reasoner, the only other family member we’d met so far. Next to Judith were her son Mark and daughter Lydia. Other than Joshua, Mark was the only Reasoner who looked up when Hannah and I arrived. As far as the others were concerned, we might have been the hired help.
Not for the first time, I was struck by the family’s biblical first names. Joshua, Matthew, Luke, and Judith—it was as if Margaret had named them in the vain hope a religious tie might lessen the family’s notoriety.
Not sure about protocol, Hannah and I sat away from the others toward the opposite end of the table. Joshua watched us closely and immediately insisted we move closer. That move placed us next to Lydia Reasoner, who, if she noticed the intrusion, gave no sign. Judith’s daughter was extraordinarily pretty, much more so than her mother, with blonde hair and deep green eyes. Her quiet, almost solemn look made it appear she was contemplating some sort of tragedy. Wrapped in the solitude of her own thoughts, Lydia stared intently at her place setting.
Our entrance triggered the arrival of the food. I grew up in a meat and potatoes household. I wasn’t sure what rich people ate, and I just prayed this meal would be recognizable.
Fortunately, my wish was granted. Two house staff brought plates filled with pork roast, au gratin potatoes, and green beans. It was surprisingly good compared to what I imagined we might be served.
I got in just three bites before the fun started. Joshua stood then and made the formal introductions. From there, he got to the reason for our visit.
“As you all know, Terry Luvello and Hannah Page are here to perform an investigation to satisfy the terms of Mother’s will. You all know why, and I won’t dignify her allegations by repeating them. They will be interviewing each of you, along with the household staff.”
As he spoke, a tall, bespectacled man wearing a vest entered the room and stood to Joshua’s right. I guessed this was Hannah’s majordomo.
Joshua Reasoner glanced at us and pointed to the new arrival. “Standing next to me is Lawton Summers, our estate manager. I have asked him to take you on a tour of the house. For your convenience, I have also asked him to be present when you interview the staff.”
“No.” Not quite a shout, my answer still came out louder than I intended. Joshua Reasoner appeared more startled than angry. I was betting no one other than his mother had ever said that word to him in his household. His younger brothers also seemed confused.
Joshua stood up. “What do you mean, no? I will remind you this is our house, and we are setting the rules. You will follow them, or you will leave.”
He stood, so I figured I should as well. I glanced quickly at Hannah, but she remained seated, still eating her pork.
I never even considered backing down. “You’re forgetting something. The rules we’re playing under were set by your mother, not either of us. Your mother’s will specified an impartial investigation, and that’s exactly what I’m here to conduct. I will certainly interview Mr. Summers, but that interview, like all the others, will be with him alone. That includes the house staff, your sister and brothers, and your niece and nephew.
“You can throw me out, though wasting this roast would be a shame. It would be even more of a shame if I had to tell my client and your mother’s designated arbiter that I was not allowed to conduct a proper inquiry. I’m not a lawyer, but that would seem like a clear abrogation of the terms of the will. “
Matthew and Abigail both also stood. Who was I, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, to challenge the eldest Reasoner? In the old days, they would have just had me shot. Given Bernie’s fate, perhaps I shouldn’t entirely discount that possibility.
Joshua gestured his wife and brother back to their chairs and sat down. He waited, clearly expecting me to sit as well. I remained standing. I wanted to hear his answer.
He finally spoke. “You’re quite correct. We are, for now, still living under our mother’s rules. You will get your one-on-one interviews, but that deference will end once your engagement is complete. When would you like to start?”
It was subtle, but I recognized a threat when I heard one. I sat and decided to dial things down a bit. “Your offer of a tour with Mr. Summers is much appreciated. Ms. Page and I would like to see the entire estate, including your mother’s bedroom.”
Joshua had no objection. Hannah and I spent the rest of the dinner eating and answering non-case-related questions from the Reasoner clan. Most of them were aimed at Hannah, a number of those inquiries involving her parents and growing up nearby. The most interesting questions, however, came from Luke and Lydia Reasoner.
Seemingly unable to take his eyes off Hannah, Luke Reasoner asked if her looks were ever a detriment to her career.
I couldn’t help being amused. If the question was a prelude to an attempted seduction, Luke Reasoner was in for a very rude awakening.
Hannah wasted no time in proving me right. “I’ve found that most guys who hit on me are trying to compensate for something. I brought the issue up once to the police psychologist after my first shooting. He said something about men seeking to substitute my gun for theirs.” In response to the wide-eyed stares from around the table, Hannah added, “You don’t have to worry about the shooting. I can tell you my bosses weren’t. The second time I killed someone, they didn’t make me see anyone at all.”
Purchase
NineStar Press | Books2Read
Amazon
Joe Rielinger lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife, Lisa, and their two fun-loving, though often borderline crazy golden retrievers. With a lifetime love of mystery, crime, and detective novels, Joe is currently working on a sequel to his first book, And God Laughed. When he isn’t writing, Joe likes to cook, read, and pretend he might someday learn something about training his two dogs.
Facebook | Twitter
One lucky winner will receive a $50.00 NineStar Press Gift Code!
