Love for Sale

by John Leslie

Book Overview

It must be something in the air. First, reclusive circuit judge Just Watson -- who is now, by attrition, Gideon Lowry's closest living relative -- announces that he's retiring from the bench and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671511262
• ISBN13: 9780671511265
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.1" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A Conch detective

The Key West locale caused me to pick up this book and I was well-rewarded. In Gideon Lowry, John Leslie has created an intriguing detective. Korean War vet, lifetime native of the Keys, and a man who has faced quite a bit of personal tragedy, Lowry is a true original in a field where he detective is the true key(sorry!) to success. This tale of a lost and found chalice and a tragic suicide leads to an excellent mystery where the detective work makes sense and the characters ring true. This is the third book in the series but I will definitely check out this detective again.

Quite enjoyable.

I have become a fan of John Leslie as well as his Gideon Lowry series.Set in Key West it is peopled with the quirky types found in the southern most piece of land in the USA. The native Key Westers (conchs) have a strong sense of place and are protective of their own and the town.What appears to be suicide doesn't seem so to PI Gideon Lowry and off he goes to find the real answer. Along the way robbery, double dealing, smoke screens and red herrings turn up. The confusion mounts to the point where Gideon even wonders if his distant cousin (Judge Just Watson) is involved.Many a twist and turn sprinkled amongst the picturesque Key West sunsets, ocean breezes and humid air. It's a fun read.I guess John Leslie and Laurence Shames are my favorite Key West mystery writers and "Love For Sale" was a fast read. The characters are clearly defined, the pace is quick without be frantic and all in all the action is believable.With Gideon's cousin getting married and sort of adopting his bride's twentysomething child it appears a couple of new continuing characters have been added and I look forward to their further adventures.

An excellent book in an excellent series!

In "Love For Sale", John Leslie gives mystery fans what they have long been searching for: an extremely unique plot with a very engaging central character. Mr. Leslie also gives a sense of place that is almost haunting. His PI, Gideon Lowry, is one who will stay with the reader long after the novel has been finished.

Key West is the end of the road in more ways than one.

John Leslie's books about Key West's aging detective/piano player evoke the feel of that unique city and the people who live at the very bottom of the United States. Lowry, a lifelong Conch (or Key West native) lives in a world that has changed too much for him to be happy. Too many of his friends are dead or dying and the island he loves is dying too--dying of too much cuteness and too many outsiders with bad taste. Over 50, Lowry is still struggling with the ghosts of his childhood and his memories. The death of a local hooker and her ties to treasure hunters lead Lowry into still more confrontations with himself and with those he has known all his life. Like the storefronts on Duvall Street, nothing seems to stay the same forever in Key West. Anyone who likes a good story or anyone who knows the Florida Keys will find this and Leslie's other well crafted stories worth their time