CULTURED (Jake Longly #6) by D.P. Lyle will be released on May 2, 2023 by Oceanview Publishing.
No matter how hard Jake Longly tries to avoid his father's private eye business, he keeps getting tangled up in investigations. This time Jake finds himself helping search for April Wilkerson. The young woman has gone missing from Lindemann Farms—a high end resort and investment program that feels more like a combination cult and brothel. Jake, along with his girlfriend, pose as potential investors in The Lindemann Method program and go undercover at the resort. Jake and Nicole quickly learn that not only is April the first young woman to go missing from Lindemann Farms under suspicious circumstances, but that Jonathan Lindemann is much more of a conman than he appears.
CULTURED is a great addition to the Jake Longly series. While it is the sixth in the series, it can be read as a standalone novel.
Much like Jake, CULTURED is a relaxed novel with a slow build. It's clear from the beginning that there is something seriously wrong at Lindemann Farms. The first half of the novel sets the scene and provides plenty of background information on Jonathan Lindemann and his program. Jake and Nicole pick up bits and pieces of crucial information as they interview Lindemann's followers and employees. Clues that there is something sinister going on beneath the surface are parceled out and help build the case. Jake's lackadaisical attitude can get a bit annoying, but his humor helps offset the serious subject matter. Overall, CULTURED is an intriguing read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.