This is
the first time I’m reading anything by Tony Dunbar and it won’t be the last. Although
this is the sixth book in the Tubby Dubonnet series, I am already loving Tubby.
So, let’s meet him. Tubby is a lawyer who has given up booze, looking for his
pay day from prior clients, and is now embroiled in a doozy of a case while on
the brink of a potential love interest. 

The doozy
of a case involves Judge Al Hughes who calls Tubby because he is caught in a
bind with District Attorney Marcus Dementhe who confronts him with dates, times,
and places of having sex with a young lady (Sultana Patel). Judge Hughes is worried
about his wife finding out as well as appearing before a special grand jury the
DA is convening to nail corrupt judges. However, if the judge cooperated in getting
dirt on his colleagues, the DA might work out a deal with him. 

When Tubby
connects with Sultana to find out what she told the DA, he learns that she was
paid to come on to the judge at a party. Her story is pretty similar to that of
another young lady who is seen on a video (in Tubby’s possession from a prior
case) talking about a man placing personal ads in newspapers looking for young
women to act as escorts. Tubby with the help of his private investigator friend,
Sanre Fueres (Flowers) tracks down the man (Max Finn) behind the personal ads.
But before they could talk to him, he was found dead at his home. Yet, another
complication because Finn’s wife, Norella used to be the girlfriend of one of Tubby’s
friends – Jason Boaz, the inventor. 

Overall,
this was a quick, fun, humorous, and puzzled-filled read. There were a lot of
characters but what drew me in was their colorful names (Raisin Partlow, Candy
Canary, Sapphire Serena, Lucky LaFrene, etc.), their quirkiness, and how they
fit perfectly in the storyline which readers need to follow carefully. The
dialogue and descriptions were spot on. I thoroughly enjoyed going a ride with Tubby
as he meandered the streets of New Orleans (sights, sounds, smells) in search
of finding the truth about Max Finn as well as his zest for justice for his
clients. I won’t give anything away, but I had hoped that a certain someone (the
DA) would have gotten his comeuppance. Anyway, as Tubby said, “At some level
the guilty will pay” and I believe him. Two thumbs up! 

Rating: 4
stars  

Some of my
favorite lines: 

“Can I
come over to see you right now? I’m feeling a lot of pressure here.”

It must be
going around, Tubby thought, and gave her the address. He told Cherrylynn to be
on the lookout and asked very politely if she would mind staying in the room
while he interviewed the woman.

“As of
today, you’re a paralegal,” he told her. “Anything you hear is privileged.”

“Does that
involve a raise?” she asked woodenly.

            “Does it
feel like Christmas?” She didn’t smile, but he thought she might be brightening
up a bit. 

Originally Published on https://vocalexpressions.blogspot.com

Deliah Lawrence Attorney, Author, Blogger, Workshop Facilitator

Deliah Lawrence is a Maryland-based attorney and award-winning author of two romantic suspense novels (Gotta Let It Go and Gotta Get It Back) set in Baltimore. She’s also a blogger and workshop facilitator who writes poetry and short stories.

When Deliah isn’t writing, you can find her reading a book, indulging in her addiction to investigation discovery shows; or painting her yet-to-be exhibited oil artworks of landscapes, portraits or whatever else comes to her creative mind. Constantly on the go, she is also a member of the Black Writers’ Guild of Maryland and Sisters in Crime.