Review - Swimming Upstream

Title - Swimming Upstream 

Author - Jack Thompson

Series - Raja Williams #3 

Genre - Mystery

Published - June 18th 2013

Publisher -Crackerjack Publishing 

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis 

Sometimes justice needs a hand.

When a young lawyer for the number one environmental law firm in Seattle is found dead on Mount Rainier, the police declare it a tragic accident. A desperate mother turns to Raja Williams, a private investigator always willing to help.

Neither the dark, tragic anti-hero nor the James Bond super-hero type, Raja is a wealthy Oxford-educated PI of mixed Caribbean descent who possesses a strong empathic power and a sixth sense for evil that gives him headaches and steers him straight into trouble. His partner Vinny Moore is a gorgeous hipster geek who prefers hacking computers to haute couture.

The discovery of a sinister scorched-earth plot to hide the truth leads Raja and Vinny to the Arctic wilds of Canada and lands them in the middle of a battle over the riches of the pristine wilderness. If assassins don't kill them, the sub-zero weather just might.

Swimming Upstream is the third intriguing mystery thriller in the Raja Williams Series. The colorful cast of characters and timely topics make it a fun, entertaining story that can be read as a stand-alone novel.

Review

I received Swimming Upstream in return for an honest review from the author. Raja Williams has been called in to solve the murder of a young environmental lawyer who was found after a fatal hunting accident. As her parents push to have her accident ruled a murder others attempt to stonewall claiming her death a tragic accident. After arriving in Washington Raja learns that her boss doesn't want an investigation into her death. Leading Raja to believe it wasn't an accident but she was murdered.

As Raja dives deeper into the death of Laura learning that she had a fiancé she hadn't decided if she wanted to marry her who had been pressuring her. He knew that there was more going on and he would need the help of his trusted partner Vinny to find the motive. After Vinny arrives they are able to make a connection with an environmental specialist Dana McAdams. In effort to speak with her in hopes of finding out why she’s never been a specialist for Laura’s law firm. However she’s off in the Arctic as of the prior week so tracking her down won’t be easy.

When they find out someone is trying to track down Dana the pair takes it into their own hands heading into the wilds of the Arctic in hopes of finding her before someone else does. They have a brief moment over the satellite phone and try to warn her of the danger. As the pair set out across the snow hoping to find Dana with the first nation they find her friend tortured and barely alive. He sends them off into the mountains to meet up with Dana to save her from the ones who attacked him. Will the pair be able to save Dana and solve Laura’s death or will they die in the ice cold Arctic?

Raja Williams reminds me of a cross between Dick Tracy and Bond. I never thought about Bond until I read the synopsis but it works. I don't read as many mysteries as I would like but Raja is on the top of my favorites list. He a brilliant private investigator with a amazing heart, he is willing to go above and beyond risking his own life. If anything happens to me I want Raja to find my killer because I know he’ll be able to get to the bottom. He’s doesn't solve cases for the money or fame which I find unique he does it because he’s just a good guy. He has a spunky partner who is unlike most sidekicks because Vinny has model looks but doesn't care to objectified by men. She prefers a baseball cap and baggy clothes, but loves to dance.  She’s also a wiz when it comes to computers one of the best hackers.

Swimming Upstream is the third book in the Raja Williams series. Another fast paced novel right from the start that draws you in keeping you captivated till the very end. The characters are easy to connect with filled with passion and they will leave you cheering them on even if they are buried deep in the snow. The mystery is one that keeps you guessing filled with twists and turns leaving you guessing till the end. All of Raja Williams books have been hard for me to put down, they are the kind of book you can get lost in, and I know I do. I actually read this whole book in one sitting this morning. A fantastic story that kept me on the end of my seat because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I love Raja and Vinny they are great together. I think Jack Thompson has created a brilliant series with gritty characters and well written stories. I love this series and can't wait to see what is next. I feel like I could babble all day about Raja and Vinny! Perfect combo.

5 out of 5 stars