Find out the latest indie author news. For FREE.

ADVERTISEMENT

Formats
digital Details
  • 07/2014
  • ISBN-13: 978-1499632538
  • 312 pages
  • $2.99
Howard Feigenbaum
Author
Benny Goldfarb, Private "I"
Synopsis: Benny Goldfarb, Private “I” – Howard Feigenbaum Attractive Rosa Zuleca manages a Los Angeles carwash which she owns with her brother, Enrique, a cardiologist in Cartagena, Colombia. She accepts a date to go dancing with Benny Goldfarb, a private investigator and long-time customer. The next morning, at the car-wash, a menacing stranger, Juan Garcia, appears and demands that Rosa sign over the business to him. His purpose is to expand drug operations in Los Angeles. Phone calls to her brother go unanswered. She believes her brother is held hostage. Desperate, she asks Benny for help. He has two weeks to find her brother in Colombia. Benny and Rosa travel to Colombia to rescue Enrique. Benny enlists the help of a Cartagena taxi driver, Umberto. Their search takes them to Medellin. After a gunfight with Garcia, Enrique is rescued. Juan Garcia escapes. Benny stumbles upon Garcia’s cash horde and splits the money among Rosa, Umberto, and himself. The investigator's professional distance from his client becomes compromised by his blossoming romance with Rosa. Their future together is threatened by the effects of the Spanish Inquisition on Rosa's family. She has questions about her identity since her Jewish past has been hidden. Rosa cannot make a commitment to Benny until she resolves her confusion. Benny returns to Los Angeles. Juan Garcia follows to reclaim his money. A fight ensues. Garcia is subdued and turned over to the police. Benny hopes that Rosa will clarify her intentions about their relationship. His secretary announces a call from Rosa in Cartagena. The book ends.
Plot/Idea: 7 out of 10
Originality: 6 out of 10
Prose: 6 out of 10
Character/Execution: 7 out of 10
Overall: 6.50 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot: Benny Goldfarb is a smooth-talking private detective who gets sucked into the complex world of Colombian politics, drug cartels, and gun-toting mercenaries, when his love interest Rosa asks him to help save her missing brother Enrique. The result is a fast-paced adventure through Colombia as Benny, Rosa, and their cab driver Umberto race to find Enrique before it's too late.

Prose/Style: Feigenbaum's prose is simple--though mostly effective--as it unravels the adventures of Benny and his cohorts; the reader is given what is needed to paint a narrative picture without deviating into fluff or overly complex prose. This simplicity allows the story to keep moving without too many stalls along the way.

Originality: A damsel-in-distress needing rescue from a private detective is formulaic; however, the chase through Colombia adds a bit of color and flair. Feigenbaum's familiarity with Colombian history, customs, and conflict--and his ability to keep the reader engaged--add a layer of interest to this standard detective tale.

Character Development/Execution: Benny Goldfarb is a fun character who has a few tricks up his sleeve--he's resourceful, passionate, and not afraid to resort to violence (when necessary); while still remaining morally upright, spiritual, and oddly old-fashioned. Rosa and Umberto, as Benny's sidekicks, add a sense of camaraderie to the narrative that makes it more enjoyable to read.

Date Submitted: May 22, 2021

Reviews
Book Life

Benny Goldfarb is a smooth-talking private detective who gets sucked into the complex world of Colombian politics, drug cartels, and gun-toting mercenaries, when his love interest Rosa asks him to help save her missing brother Enrique. The result is a fast-paced adventure through Colombia as Benny, Rosa, and their cab driver Umberto race to find Enrique before it's too late.

   Feigenbaum's prose is simple--though mostly effective--as it unravels the adventures of Benny and his cohorts; the reader is given what is needed to paint a narrative picture without deviating into fluff or overly complex prose. This simplicity allows the story to keep moving without too many stalls along the way.

   A damsel-in-distress needing rescue from a private detective is formulaic; however, the chase through Colombia adds a bit of color and flair. Feigenbaum's familiarity with Colombian history, customs, and conflict--and his ability to keep the reader engaged--add a layer of interest to this standard detective tale.

  Benny Goldfarb is a fun character who has a few tricks up his sleeve--he's resourceful, passionate, and not afraid to resort to violence (when necessary); while still remaining morally upright, spiritual, and oddly old-fashioned. Rosa and Umberto, as Benny's sidekicks, add a sense of camaraderie to the narrative that makes it more enjoyable to read.

Formats
digital Details
  • 07/2014
  • ISBN-13: 978-1499632538
  • 312 pages
  • $2.99
ADVERTISEMENT

Loading...