The Case Of The Missing Starr book review

Here are my thoughts after perusing the initial chapters of the project. (revealed at the bottom):

Its 1:33 am and a sexy blonde pops into Ian’s office. Is she for real?

If you were in Ian’s shoes, would you reach for your

When a woman like this

hands over this:

Not just to anybody, but to a man with credentials like this:

*

Chapter 1

There’s a meeting here

Ian has a good buddy in Lou Ceasare, who runs Bottom of the Sea Strip Club and Lounge. This could have been a sculpture of one of his LIVE NUDES as advertised by his neon sign.

*

Chapter 2.

They share the trait of having yellow color, but all is not sunny where the woman and car are.

*

Chapter 3

The cop is always the P.I.’s rock.

*

Chapter 4

Can you imagine life interrupted even before a step into the real domain of the adult world? What can be so crucial to a foe that only silence can amend a violation?

*

Ch. 5

The omniscient color foretells rolling events. What can it be? Discover in the next chapter!

*

Ch. 6

Meanwhile this plagues us.

*

Ch. 7

You’re invited to the block party.

You know its serious when you see

There was an explosion. Was anybody injured or killed?

Ian can’t die. The book is all about him. 😎

Its all in a day’s work for super sleuth Ian.🥸

*

Ch. 8

Don’t crumple the bag. You don’t know what’s inside.

*

Ch. 9

Black clothing is ALWAYS in fashion.

What’s inside?

*

Ch. 10

I like my coffee black. How about you?

This is around one third of the book.

*

All these are not my writings, but it belongs to them. That is the project. Its interesting ……. click there to see yourself.

There’s foreshadowing, which any good reader-sleuth would love. Loose ends are tied up. Chapters end in cliff hangers. You’ll never put the book down.

Rating: ***** out of 5 stars.

Here’s a brief interview with Clark Farley, the author.

1. Where did you get your inspiration to write this mystery story?

Clark: Influenced by the old-school pulp novel/noir writers of the ’30s and 40s. Not so much influenced as, ‘Damn! The style of writing looks like fun.’ In particular Raymond Chandler (‘The Big Sleep’), Dashiel Hammett (‘Maltese Falcon’), Mickey Spillaine (‘I, the Jury’). Plus the city I attended college.

2. Did you use the plotting or the pantser style?

Clark: Totally pantser. (‘cept, more and more, I try to take a plotting view when getting close to a final edit.)

3. Have you encountered writer’s block while writing this story? If yes, how did you overcome it?

If by ‘writer’s block’ you mean a lack of ideas, have never experienced it. That said, when there is a shortage of energy when writing, that’s a different story. imo the source of all problems writing (at least in the first draft phase) is my inner critic. If I listen to it even marginally, I might as well take up a hobby like building a ship in a bottle. As to overcoming the energy issue: sometimes not trying to write and going to bed early, with a draft in front of me, going on line and following a breadcrumb trail of music videos… sometimes the right song will jumpstart the process.

4. What are your plans for this manuscript? Are you searching for a publisher? 

Clark: Looking to get organized enough to get cover art and go the indie publish route. Tried, a number of years ago to go the traditional publisher route when I completed ‘Almira’. Different set of challenges on that side of the game.

5. What are your other stories which you would like to introduce to new readers? If your works are online, please mention their links. 

Clark: Readable WIPs include: ‘Blog Dominion’, ‘The Case of the Missing Fig Leaf (an Ian Devereaux Mystery)’ and ‘Almira’ (still in final edit).

This post is shared with the Book blogs:

Share Your Shelf (Book related link up hosting on 1st Thursday of the month) https://www.myslicesoflife.com (Talking About It Tuesdays linky party)

What’s On Your Bookshelf? (3rd Friday of the month) by Joann Tracey, at https://storycrumbs.substack.com/p/the-book-post-june

Bookish Bliss, Musings & More (February 6th, May 1st, August 7th, November 6th of 2025) from betweenthebookendsblog, by Paula.