Illegal by Paul Levine

Copyright: 2009

Publisher: Bantam

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 367

Challenges: The Pub Challenge

New-to-me Author? No

Author's website

Simple Description

Jimmy Payne (Royal Payne) used to be a good lawyer, now, not so much.  He is almost forced to bribe a judge by a cop who is working a sting to uncover dirty judges.  On the way to bribe the copy Jimmy decides to take some of the money.  He feels it's what he is owed for the grief and crap that others will give him for doing this.  Later when the cops show up at the judges house, the judge committs suicide.  Then the cops find out some of the money is missing.   Jimmy decides to make a run for it.  

His son was killed in an automobile accident not long ago.  The other driver was a drunk illegal.  Jimmy decides to take the money to Mexico, hunt down this guy and kill him.  However there is something else in store for him.

When Jimmy shows up at his office to get the stolen money, he fins a young boy in his office.  The cops show up however, so he sends the boy to be a decoy while he escapes.  He picks up the boy and finds that the boy was sent to him.  He crossed the border illegally and was seperated from his Mom.  His Mom told him to find Jimmy Payne if he was in trouble.   

Jimmy takes the boy, Tino, to his ex-wifes house.  She won't let him drop the boy off, instead she convinces him to search for his Mom.  So this starts several days of Jimmy evading the cops, which gets him into even more trouble, crossing into Mexico, and leaving Mexico with a fake passport.  

Mixed in you also get the story of what is happening to Tino's Mom.  

Why did I read this book?

I have enjoyed the author's Solomon vs Lord series so when I was offered a copy of this book for review, I just couldn't pass it up.

What I liked most?

I loved the interaction between Jimmy and Tino.  You have this guy who is lost and has no will to live.  Yet he is helping this young boy try to find his Mom.  He gets himself into even more trouble with the law just to help this boy, whom he just met.  You have Tino who is young in years but seems so much older must of the time.  Half the trouble is caused by Tino too.  Yet...you can see the two begin to really bond.  I just loved it.  Plus, Jimmy is a real smart ass, so he was a fun charactor to read about.

Was there something I didn't like?

Can't say that there was.

Do I recommond the book?

Absolutley.  This was such a fun read.  You get a great mystery, lots of action, but it's also a lot of fun to see what Jimmy will do next and what he will say. It's not as light as a cozy but it's not that dark either.  If you are in the mood for a mystery but don't want something heavy, this might be for you. 

Have you reviewed this book on your blog?  If so let me know and I'll link it here.

Sorry..no reviews yet.

Happy reading and thanks for stopping by.....Kris