I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
5 Pounds of Pressure by A.J. Lape Series: Darcy Walker Investigations #5
Published by A. J. Lape on July 11, 2021
Genres: Fiction / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Christian / Romance / Suspense, Fiction / Christian / Suspense, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Amateur Sleuth, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Cozy / Culinary, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths, Fiction / Romance / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Romance / New Adult, Fiction / Romance / Police & Law Enforcement, Fiction / Thrillers / Crime, Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense, Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories, Young Adult Fiction / Thrillers & Suspense / Crime
Pages: 387
Format: eBook
Source: Author
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Being the hero is her job. It also comes at a price.
Darcy Walker is settling into life walking a beat. But when she delivers a warrant off the clock, her life changes in an instant, giving her a deadly lesson she won’t soon forget. Going back to her roots for a temporary change of scenery, she can’t escape the reality that life has gone on without her—her father might have a girlfriend, her aunt has secrets, and her little sister dresses like a stripper in her prime.
Choking on a pang of guilt that she followed her dreams, one thing that hasn’t changed is the relationship between her and her mentor, Kellan Sutherland, AKA, Jaws—king of the underbelly of Cincinnati. Six years later, Darcy still doesn’t know the real man behind the proverbial mask...and she’s tired of the subterfuge.
Determined to uncover the mystery, she discovers information that leaves her gobsmacked. Sucker-punched. And doubting her skills as an investigator. When she gets involved with a case involving a missing YouTuber while dodging the antics of a mobster who's placed a bounty on her head, she and her loved ones just could pay the ultimate price.
5 Pounds of Pressure is the electrifying fifth novel in the Darcy Walker Crime Thriller series. If you like shock-a-minute twists and heroines who won't quit, then you’ll love AJ Lape's intense mystery.
Buy 5 Pounds of Pressure for a front row seat to the action today!
My absolute favorite crime/mystery series is back, and I enjoyed every second that I got to spend with Darcy Walker. In 5 Pounds of Pressure, Darcy has found herself on leave from the Los Angeles Police Department so she can recover from the bullet wounds that a pimp put into her at the end of book four. This book goes back to it’s roots, sending Darcy back to Ohio to stay with her father and little sister while she’s supposed to get some much needed rest and relaxation to recuperate. But those words are not in Darcy’s vocabulary. She’s hot on the trail of a missing YouTuber and delving into the mystery that is her informant of six years.
Once back in her old room, Darcy finds that many things have changed back in her hometown. Her father is still just as protective and understanding that he can’t rein Darcy in once she’s set in motion, but now he might have a girlfriend. And her preteen sister has taken to dressing like some of the working women that Darcy arrests back in LA, and now Marjorie’s even more into the bad boys than Darcy ever thought she’d be. People who helped Darcy along the way in high school pop back into the picture once she’s on the hunt for a possible kidnapper, and her ally Kellan Sutherland aka Jaws is in the picture from the start. But now that Darcy’s back in the neighborhood, she’s bound and determined to figure out just who Jaws really is once and for all–and to meet him in person.
Darcy being back in Ohio puts the crimp in several people’s lives with the way she slithers in and tears everything down on her way to getting to the truth. She makes some powerful new friends and enemies, all while displaying her investigative genius, fantastic work ethic, and almost supernatural ability to make people feel like they owe her and want to help her no matter how dangerous the situation is.
This installment was longer than the last books, so I savored my time with Darcy, her family, and extended friends/loved ones. Coming home was good for her, and I really enjoyed getting a deep dive into just who Jaws really is and how far he’ll go to protect Darcy. Her prosecutor aunt had a much bigger role to play here, and it was nice to see more of the family explored and their ties within the community. Everyone has secrets–even Darcy–and just how far she goes to bring those secrets to light is just in her reckless and selfless nature.
I’m left wondering when we’re going to get a book that has a lot of boyfriend Dylan? Now that we know a lot about Jaws and how he’s been able to pull strings and set things in motion, even when Darcy is in California and he’s back in Ohio, I feel like I got such a pleasant surprise in the unveiling of his story–with still quite a bit of mystery surrounding him. After the events of this installment, I’m feeling like Darcy and Dylan are a bit on unstable ground in regards to their relationship, especially with how Darcy sees the inevitable fall for them while Dylan still appears to be holding on. They’re still on opposite coasts with Dylan in college in Florida and Darcy in LA, and the little pop-ins that Dylan does just leaves me wanting more from this power couple.
Bottom line, I just want more Dylan…period.
I give 5 Pounds of Pressure a five out of five. The writing is fantastic in this installment, and the comedy, suspense, and danger are on point. I really loved how Darcy is finally dealing with her grief and guilt over the murder of her mother, as well as all the traumatic events that have happened to her over the years. It was so nice seeing her father and sister in person again, along with some of the shady characters from the high school books. Overall, I just really enjoy Darcy as a person since she’s personable, hard working, empathetic, fearless, and determined. While this book whet my appetite for Darcy and her world, I’m still left wanting the next installment ASAP since I love the characters so much. I highly recommend this series, and there’s plenty of books to choose from by A.J. Lape.
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About A.J.Lape
A. J. Lape is the author of the top-rated Darcy Walker Series, Detective Ruby Rivera Novella Series, and 15 Saddles Motor Cycle Club novellas. She lives in the unpredictable and chaotic weather of Cincinnati with her husband, two daughters, a dog, and hamster.
Graduating from the hills of Morehead State University with a Master’s degree in Communications, she double-majored in English and journalism but basically went to grad school because she wasn’t ready to grow up. A PI wannabe, she stops crime daily through her characters while adding a dose of hope, humor, faith, and edge-of-your seat thrills. If the FBI ever checks her computer, she may be wearing prison-orange due to the “wiki” articles she researches—all, of course, in the name of career research, insomnia, and straight-up boredom.
A perfect day for A. J. consists of writing in her favorite recliner, feeding her addiction to Coca-Cola, then lounging in her pajamas by 8PM. And sometimes a late night walk with her husband where she stares at the sky and contemplates the mysteries of the universe. She swears by two things: God is real, and so are aliens—and she hopes to one day be beamed up.
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