Johnny Walker's Black — Dan Murphy

You can’t keep a good reporter down. Heroine Julie McNamara was introduced to readers in the first book in the series, entitled Johnny Walker’s Red. In the second book, Johnny Walker’s Black, Julie manages to get herself into and out of an assortment of scrapes with panache. Julie’s busy schedule and her job-hunting efforts precluded her from finding time for romance in the past. Not so now. In a surprise twist of fate, Julie ends up dating Evan Wilson, the attorney representing the investment group that bought out Polaris, the magazine where Julie worked, and which fired her. However, Evan did her more than a good turn. After a brief and disastrous attempt at being a paparazzi, and exposing a human trafficker (which involved Julie getting locked in a padded cell among other indignities), Julie’s amazing story secured her a job as an investigative reporter for the L.A. Times. How high can a girl fly?In the thrilling sequel to Johnny Walker's Red, our intrepid reporter answers the call when Johnny's thoroughbred race horse is stolen while in transit from Kentucky to California. Johnny asks Julie to help locate the horse. Although Johnny does not think highly of the local sheriff, Julie’s observations make a big difference in the investigation. Meanwhile, a young man has been charged with bank robbery, and begs Julie to help clear him. After visiting him at the jail, Julie leaves, convinced of his innocence. Her efforts to get to the truth lead to some startling revelations and change lives. Julie is also involved in covering a story about a big construction company’s involvement with bribes and kick-backs. Does it never end? And what about Julie’s fledgling romance with Evan, whose every attempt to set up a romantic date is thwarted by Julie’s commitment to her job? A man’s patience can only last so long.