The OC by D. P. Lyle

The OC
Jake Longly thriller series
By D. P. Lyle
Oceanview Publishing

Power, personal relationships, and the price of celebrity

The OC by D. P. Lyle is a story of power, personal relationships, and the price of stardom. It is part of the Jake Longly* series, but everything a new reader needs to know about this unique group of characters is included in the first few paragraphs. The story unfolds in Jake's first-person narrative with some alternating chapters from other perspectives. The plot is conversation-driven and full of casual exchanges and friendly banter, but it is also heavy on the attitude. Jake talks to readers as if he were talking to friends over dinner and drinks-lots of drinks!  The fun and familiar people from the previous books return, and Jake and first-time filmmaker Nicole leave the Gulf Shores of Alabama to work in sunny California.

Nicole's rich and famous relatives and friends in the film industry provide the background as Nicole begins work on her first feature film, the action thriller "Murderwood." The trip is also supposed to be a vacation of sorts- work mixed with relaxation on sunny beaches, but the group soon finds that Orange County, California, is filled not only with fun, sun, and sand but also with treachery, intrigue, and danger. Celebrity certainly has its perks and privileges, but it can hold peril as well.

The OC moves at a deliberate pace with an undercurrent of peril balanced with lighthearted celebrations. The story is about the characters; they do not just drop into the story; they are the story. I was given a review copy of The OC BY D. P. Lyle and Oceanview Publishing. While the conflict and its resolution are important to readers, The OC is really just an excuse to spend time with this group of colorful and entertaining characters.Barbara Howe