Verdict: Author Andrew Kent hits it out of the ballpark with the second in his Johnny Denovo mystery series.

Author Andrew Kent hits it out of the ballpark with the second in his Johnny Denovo mystery series.

The Green Monster finds detective Denovo at Boston’s Fenway Park, where he and his sidekick, the renowned if sloppily clad technologist and intelligence expert Tucker Thiesen, are approached at a Red Sox game by an adulterous biotech mogul who claims he’s being blackmailed. But world famous sleuth Denovo doesn’t “do petty adultery,” and it turns out this isn’t a simple case, anyway. Instead, the former neuroscientist—who was forced to change his name and identity after his involvement in a  top-secret government case—becomes embroiled in a complex web, with clues leading from third base to a mysterious website, and then deep into the bio-tech industry itself.

Along the way, Denovo enlists the help of his sexy agent/lover Mona Landau and calls in culinary reinforcements from his trustworthy neighbor, Wei, a Chinese cook, while investigating a slew of intriguing characters, including a chameleon-esque bartender, a New Hampshire recluse, and a shady geneticist. As Denovo probes his “limbic” brain, making connections and tuning into his uncanny ability to create and unravel metaphors, this fast-paced plot keeps readers wondering what play will come next—both at Fenway and in the world of crime.

With tension mounting, an exciting series of events reveals that a biological emergency is about to unfold; indeed, the health and safety of the entire nation may be at stake. In The Green Monster(named after Fenway’s huge, left-field wall), the brilliant Denovo and his savvy team keep mystery fans guessing till the final inning.

Reviewed by Kathryn Livingston

Avid reader and book reviewer. Author “All About Motherhood” (an indie) and other titles that are not. Blogs about family issues. Practices yoga.  www.livwrite.blogspot.com