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Reviewed by Gaius Konstantine for Readers' Favorite
You can't hide inside a bottle when what haunts you comes from within. After Pearl: A Nicholas Bishop Mystery by Stephen G. Eoannou exemplifies this idea through the challenges confronted by its protagonist, Nicholas Bishop. The has-been private eye wakes up in his room with a raging hangover and a one-eyed pup staring at him. His gun has been fired, but Nic can't remember a thing, least of all how he got the mutt. As he struggles to remember what happened, he navigates a city filled with socialites, drunks, and villains, all against the backdrop of a world at war. But there's a hitch. No one likes Bishop because he is, after all, a poor excuse for a human being. With no one to trust save his secretary, Gia, and friend Ira, Nic must unravel a crime in which he is the prime suspect, ultimately revealing something far more sinister than he could have ever imagined.
Entertaining and beguiling, After Pearl by Stephen G. Eoannou is a gritty noir throwback that delivers, and even the title is a clever play on words with multiple meanings. The plot of this first-rate mystery focuses on solving a puzzling crime, which leads to a greater conspiracy behind the scenes. While themes of good versus evil and classic tropes are present, they are overshadowed and dominated by the protagonist's struggle to rebuild his shattered life and seek redemption. Bishop highlights top-notch character development, but Gia steals the show and makes me smile. The pace is what you would expect from a novel like this: quick, witty, and reminiscent of Bogart and Cagney in their heyday. Exceptionally well-written and immersive, After Pearl is a page-turner steeped in nostalgia and a bygone era.
