Cantor's Gate — Tom Larsen

Tom Larsen's debut novel; An Unusual Gift is "A modern twist on the hard-boiled detective novel," says PDX Reader. In Cantor's Gate, hapless private investigator Jayce Freeh is surprised to find that his recently deceased grandfather has willed him a one-third share in his estate on the island of Jersey. So, who are the other two inheritors?

The first is Gerald Beaumont, a twenty-six year old UCLA grad student who, like Jayce's late father, is the old seadog's illegitimate son. The second is Bridey Callas, a seductive Neopagan princess who has taken up residence at Cantor's Gate with her band of modern day pagans, and set about returning the land to its natural state. By the time he gets to the island to check things out, Beaumont is dead and Bridey Callas seems bent on eliminating Jayce from the equation as well.

After nearly two years of bliss Jayce's relationship with his off and on girlfriend, Jennifer, seems to be in jeopardy and he can't figure out why. She agrees to accompany him to the island, but is definitely hiding something. How's a guy supposed to solve a mystery with something like that hanging over him?