Review: The Man Who Hated Clouds (Ben Ames Files #3) by Gayleen Froese
Private investigator Ben Ames is supposed to be on vacation. He’s followed his rock star boyfriend, Jesse, to the Edmonton Folk Festival, where Jess is doing an acoustic set with friends and having a boozy sulk about his changing image.
Neither is there to solve a crime, but they’re offered a case anyway, when the festival headliner hires them to help his author friend Charlie.
Charlie’s latest manuscript is missing. A normal guy would have backups, but Charlie’s an internet-hating conspiracy theorist who saved his work to a laptop flash drive, and now the drive and the computer are gone. Ben thinks the case is impossible, but Jess could use a distraction, so they pay a visit to Charlie’s river valley home—where Charlie tells them he knows who took the book, he’s not telling, and a detective can’t help. Good day.
They’re still in Edmonton, enjoying a lazy summer day, when word comes that Charlie’s been murdered. Back on the case and without suspects or a motive, Ben knows the answers are in that missing book. He just needs to do the impossible and find it.
Dear Gayleen Froese,
I was waiting for Ben and Jesse’s next investigation/adventure, and overall the book did not disappoint me although as with many mystery series I start wondering what I can safely discuss in terms of spoilers besides what the blurb tells us.
I did like very much the small but significant developments in their relationship. I may be wrong on the timeline, but I think that in this book it has been a little less than a year from when they got back together and it makes sense to me that they are still feeling their way around the rebuilding relationship and their communication skills. They are not fighting exactly as the story begins, but it is clear to Ben than something is off with Jesse and Jesse is avoiding discussing this topic with him.
I enjoyed how it unfolded, I liked that it did not become the reason for a blow out of any sort, just that Jess eventually got his nerves together and told Ben. Even more importantly, his hesitation about discussing the topic also made sense based on what Ben said in the past. It did not feel as if, if Jesse talked about it earlier, all would have been good right away, but I was happy that it was discussed.
As to the investigation itself, the blurb gives a really nice set up. At first Ben is hired to find a manuscript, and he is very reluctant to take the case, but the writer in question does not seem to be interested in allowing Ben to start the search. And then the writer from whom the manuscript was stolen is found dead and now Ben is hired to investigate his murder and of course Jesse is coming along as his unofficial helper.
I am not sure why the investigations in these series have a realistic feel to me. I love reading/watching mysteries/ police procedurals, but I have had nothing to do with police investigations or private detective investigating anything, so maybe it is not really realistic, but still kudos to the writer for making me feel like it could be.
Maybe because Ben seems to deal with his cases without presenting himself as a super hero? Maybe because he tries to keep as much collaboration with the police as possible (which makes sense, him being a former cop) without abandoning his investigation? Maybe because answers to the questions are coming up while the investigation is ongoing and we still get enough suspense for the final confrontation?
I am not sure why, I just know that I liked it.
I am also very happy that the dialogues between the characters still have a touch of humor and it seems to blend well enough with the investigation without making me roll my eyes.
Also, Izzy is back, I loved her in the last book and was very pleased to see her again.
Grade: A-
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Yes to everything you said. I really like this series. Also, the punny titles make me smile.
@MaryK: Once again I can only agree. I am looking forward to book four.