Unbalanced

Jake Longly is never saying yes to his father again

It was a simple task. Five minutes tops.

Ex-pro baseball player Jake Longly and his girlfriend, Nicole, are asked by Jake's father, Ray, a private investigator, to pick up some papers from a realtor for his business. Jake would rather be lying on the beach outside of his Gulf Shores restaurant, but he begrudgingly agrees.It'll only take a few minutes.

But somehow, things are never simple in Ray's world. When Jake and Nicole reach the office, they find it empty-except for the dead body of the realtor lying on the floor, a single gunshot wound to his head. Who could've wanted him dead? The long suspect list and the numerous possible motives make untying the knot difficult.

Working with the police department, Jake, Nicole, Ray, and their friend Pancake dive into the deceivingly simple investigation, which grows more complex by the minute. With millions of dollars at stake, weeding through the realtor's entanglements requires all hands on deck, and yet again, Jake is dragged into the PI business he can't seem to escape.

Perfect for fans of Carl Hiaasen and Janet Evanovich

While all of the novels in the Jake Longly Thriller Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:

Deep Six
A-List
Sunshine State
Rigged
The OC
Cultured
Unbalanced

D. P. Lyle is the Edgar, Macavity, and Benjamin Franklin Award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction books. Unbalanced is the seventh in his best-selling Jake Longly Thriller Series. Earlier books in the series were finalists for the Shamus Award, Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award, and the USA Best Book Award, and were included on Suspense Magazine's Best Books of the Year list. Lyle has authored 22 books, been a consultant to numerous novelists and screenwriters of popular TV shows, served as co-host of Crime and Science Radio, and currently hosts the Criminal Mischief podcast series. He lives in Orange County, California.

"Unbalanced is a first-rate, fast-paced humdinger of a tale of murder and mystery." --Paul Levine, author of the Jake Lassiter series

"The OC is a poignant and wickedly funny tale. D. P. Lyle's prose is stylish, smart, and compelling. Another grand slam in an immensely entertaining series. Highly recommended." --Sheldon Siegel, New York Times best-selling author

"We all know Lyle's erudition and expertise--but who knew he was this funny?" --Lee Child, New York Times best-selling author

"Corruption, vendettas, cartel killers, oh my! Deep Six puts the fun back into late-night reading with this fast-paced romp through murder and mayhem. Prepare to flip the pages." --Lisa Gardner, New York Times best-selling author

"Jake Longly is a character who would be right at home in the pages of novels by Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard or Tim Dorsey, but he's also a true original--smart, funny and self-aware--someone you'd love to grab a beer with, assuming he doesn't get killed first." --Tim Maleeny, best-selling author

"The clever plot twists will surprise even genre veterans. [Sunshine State] is the best in the series so far." --Publishers Weekly

"Snappy dialogue, fun characters, smart writing, a juicy mystery--all had me flipping pages until I reached the end. Jake and Nicole remind me of my favorite mystery duo, Nick and Nora Charles, with a modern twist. The Jake Longly series never fails to entertain." --Allison Brennan, New York Times best-selling author

"[The OC is a] witty, charming, and exciting crime story that rockets to a blood-chilling climax. Make some popcorn, grab a cold drink, and settle in for a fast, single-sitting read." --Lee Goldberg, New York Times best-selling author

"Snappy dialogue, fantastic scene setting, and polished prose set the action without hampering the pace. Sunshine State is an enjoyable murder mystery filled with heart and humor." --Foreword Reviews

"The release of a new D.P. Lyle book is a highlight of any year, and Sunshine State is his best yet! This is one of those rare novels where everything in your life stops until you read through to the end. Jake Longly rocks!" --John Gilstrap, New York Times best-selling author

"The dialogue, as always, is witty, fun and the characters wrap you up in a mystery that remains suspenseful through the very last word. I can't wait for the next D.P. Lyle ride!" --Suspense Magazine

"D.P. Lyle hits it over the fence with A-List. This mystery, featuring former Major League pitcher and reluctant PI Jake Longly, is fast-paced, slick, and funny. Bad times in the Big Easy mean a great time for readers. Head to New Orleans with Jake, and enjoy the trip." --Meg Gardiner, Edgar Award-winning author

"Page-turning action and knockout dialogue from a master craftsman and storyteller. I devoured this one!" --Robert Dugoni, New York Times best-selling author