Book Review – Dead Wrong by Ralph Zeta

“Dead Wrong” by Ralph Zeta is the second book in Jason Justice’s mystery series about a divorce lawyer turned murder investigator.

Justice, divorce attorney extraordinary, loves his current lifestyle of living on a yacht, drinking, and beautiful women. You have no intention of changing this or looking for dangerous cases. However, an unexpected phone call from millionaire Milton Lowry will change your life forever. Assuming Lowry wants to divorce his “controlling” wife, and with very little information to go on, Justice makes the trip to Lowry’s ramshackle old farm to find out the reasons behind the whole secret. Lowry is a highly respected figure in the community as a philanthropist, real estate developer, and world traveler. His wife Gabriela Benítez married Lowry for his money as a way out of financial difficulties.

When Justice arrives at the abandoned farm, he discovers the front door ajar, his first clue that he must leave and get out fast. Receiving no response to her call to Lowry, she encounters harsh sounds as if someone is struggling to breathe. He sees an older man strangled by someone in camouflage, using a club to silence him. Before Justice can take any action, a sharp blow to the back of his neck knocks him unconscious. Local Sheriff Powell is having a hard time believing Justice’s account, as there is no evidence of a murder on the farm. The most important question is: “How do you figure in all this Mr. Justice?”

Zeta does an excellent job of capturing the reader’s attention from the first page. As each character appears with a motive for killing Lowry, the author’s vivid descriptions incite speculation and assumptions about who did the “deed.” Zeta characters will invoke strong opinions from their readers, who will end up loving or hating potential murder suspects.

The authors’ writing style draws readers in with the complex twists of the plot, along with the detailed thoughts and experiences of each character, and how they present those behaviors and thoughts to others. His narrative gives readers an opportunity to get involved in the investigation as they try to find out who benefits the most from Lowry’s death.

What most attracted me to the story was how Jason steps out of his comfort zone to explore different options and reevaluate his profession. For me as a reader, that shows great character development, as he is willing to grow both within himself and in his profession.

Ralph Zeta’s “Dead Wrong” is a fast-paced and intriguing story that you won’t be able to put aside. At 326 pages, this is an exciting read, as each character and their motifs provide unexpected revelations and dark secrets one would expect from a good mystery. I highly recommend this murder mystery.

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