The OC

by D. P. Lyle

Overview

Thrill-a-minute crime fiction—infused with wry humor

Restaurant owner and former professional baseball player Jake Longly is hoping for a few weeks of fun with Nicole Jamison in the warm Orange County, CA sun—The OC, baby. After that, they’ll be on their way to LA for the filming of Nicole’s sure-to-be-a-hit screenplay.

On arrival, they discover that Nicole’s friend Megan Weatherly, a local TV reporter, has picked up an anonymous stalker. Megan downplays any real danger, but her new intern Abby, as well as Jake and Nicole, don’t agree. Bit by bit, as the harassment escalates and the shadowy man invades Megan’s world, Jake calls in the big guns from back home in Alabama: Ray and Pancake. But will Ray’s military black ops experience and Pancake’s technical skills be enough to expose the predator in time?

The stalker is no fool and likely has a predatory history. He makes no mistakes and manages to cover his trail completely. So, how do you identify and locate the untraceable? How do you protect Megan from a potentially lethal phantom?

Suddenly the sunshine and safety of The OC seem more facade than reality. Jake and crew must punch through that facade and dig into the dark world of celebrity stalking. The clock is ticking.

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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608094608
Publisher:	Oceanview Publishing
Publication date:	10/05/2021
Series:	The Jake Longly Series , #5
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	195,112
Product dimensions:	6.25(w) x 9.25(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

D. P. Lyle is the Edgar, Macavity, and Benjamin Franklin Award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction books. The OC is the fifth 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, the USA Best Book Award, and included on Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of the Year list. Lyle has authored 20 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.

Editorial Reviews

08/09/2021

Edgar finalist Lyle’s sparkling fifth Jake Longly thriller (after 2020’s Rigged) takes the cheerful Alabama investigator, who describes himself as an “ex-pro baseball player, restaurant/bar owner, and lover of women,” and the woman he loves, Nicole Jamison, to Orange County, Calif., to watch preparations for filming a screenplay by Nicole based on an actual Hollywood murder case. At a restaurant, they meet Nicole’s TV newscaster friend, Megan Weatherly, who tells them she’s been receiving disturbing emails from an anonymous fan. When the messages become more threatening and are accompanied by gifts such as a dozen dead roses, Jake and Nicole summon serious help—first, their gargantuan, tech-savvy buddy Pancake Jeffers, then Jake’s grimly serious PI father, Ray. The tension rises as it becomes clear the stalker is someone close to Megan who’s eagerly looking forward to terrorizing, torturing, and killing her. There’s little doubt, though, that Jake, Nicole, and company will catch the culprit before too much harm is done. Snappy patter lifts this bright look at a dark subject. Lyle should win new fans with this one. Agent: Kimberly Cameron, Kimberly Cameron & Assoc. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

[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, #1 New York Times best-selling author


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


“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


“[In The OC,] the dialogue, as always, is witty, fun and the characters wrap you up in a mystery that remains suspenseful through the very last word.” —Suspense Magazine


Praise for the Jake Longly Thriller Series

“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


“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


“D. P. Lyle returns in superb form in Deep Six. Smart, wickedly funny, expertly constructed and deftly executed, Lyle is at the top of his game as he takes his readers on a romp on the Gulf Coast that goes down as smoothly as a cold beer on a hot day at a bar next to the beach.” —Sheldon Siegel, New York Times best-selling author


“Sunshine State sizzles with just the right mix of action and mystery, a rollicking roller-coaster ride on a track lined with thrills and spills.” —Jon Land, USA Today best-selling author


“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


“With an ingenious plot, lots of laughs, plenty of romance, and a hot, Florida locale, Sunshine State is the definition of the perfect beach read.” —Lee Goldberg, #1 New York Times best-selling author

“ . . . Bright look at a dark subject. Lyle should win new fans with this one.” —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher