Review of Don't Believe Your Lying Eyes: A Darryl Billups Mystery (Hardcover)

Darryl Billups is a thirty-something reporter with the Baltimore Herald. He enjoys chasing down a good story. In fact, Darryl gave up his position as an editor in order to return to his true love of reporting.

Darryl is engaged to long term girlfriend Yolanda Winslow whom he has little in common. He is a middle class educated brother and she is a struggling sister with a GED. Yolanda is into hip hop; whereas Darryl enjoys listening to jazz. However, Darryl adores her four year old son. He believes that he is ready for the ultimate commitment until he and his sister Camille visit Yolanda's family. Classes collide and a break up ensues. Yolanda leaves Darryl for her son's father.

Darryl is devastated and he decides to focus on work. He is assigned a news breaking story about a dead body found in a storage unit.

Eighteen years ago, Baltimore jazz singer Adrienne Jackson warmed the hearts of many. She then mysteriously disappeared. No one suspected that she had been murdered and her body has been stored in a unit like an old piece of furniture.

Her former fiancé is the current powerful Mayor of Baltimore. At the time of Adrienne's disappearance, the citizens of Baltimore expressed their condolences to Adrienne's fiancé.

The discovery of Adrienne's body results in a gun battle. Two people die and a team of two Baltimore cops are wounded.

Scott Donatelli is a white detective who is from the old school. He resents his partner Thelma Holmes who is African American. He feels that Thelma is merely an affirmative action promotion to fill a quota. He has no real respect for her until she literally saves his life from the midst of gun fire. Scott now understands that they have one goal; he and Thelma must find the killer before more lives are lost.

The case takes a turn for the worst. The body is stolen from the Medical Examiner's office.

Darryl then launches his own investigation. As he tracks down the killer, Darryl suffers a series of mishaps. His tires are slashed and his house catches on fire. Is his ex-fiancé Yolanda responsible? Or are the incidents linked to the murderer?

Darryl and Baltimore detectives Thelma and Darryl become allies in their quest to solve the murder.

When they discover the real killer, the game is not over. With a surprise ending, DON'T BELIEVE YOUR LYING EYES is a fast paced and engaging mystery that will keep the reader turning page after page.



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