The Case of the Antiquities Collector: A Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brian Crime Mystery (Volume 4) by Owen Parr features crime, mystery, and investigation in a delightful offering that will, undoubtedly, excite fans. The novel features a cast of exceptional characters, including two half-brothers, Joey Mancuso and Father Dominic O’Brian, hired to investigate the abduction of Gavi Drucker, the daughter of a multi-millionaire. It doesn't take them long to determine that it’s not a for ransom kidnapping and, as they follow the investigation, they will also find themselves investigating the same case the FBI, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security are working on. How is the kidnapping of Aaron Drucker’s daughter linked to the black market of rare antiquities, and what role does the father play in it. The path is slippery and the two brothers could just be setting themselves up as prey to a dangerous group that will do anything to stop the truth from coming out.

Owen Parr knows what it takes to create great characters and a captivating story, and there is a quirkiness in the narrative that grips the reader and compels them to follow the characters. The plot is masterly, with twists and turns that take the reader by surprise. One of the things I enjoyed in this narrative is the relationship between the two half-brothers — Joey Mancuso and Father O'Brian — and the author shows great ingenuity in creating a methodology into crime solving that is peculiar to them. The Case of the Antiquities Collector: A Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brian Crime Mystery is the kind of crime mystery that excites readers looking for characters they can enjoy. I loved the clear and focused narrative, the pithy dialogues, and the engrossing plot.

The Case of the Antiquities Collector: A Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brian Crime Mystery (Volume 4) by Owen Parr is a first-class crime thriller with memorable characters; a rollicking ride involving crime, abduction, and a gritty investigation. Aaron Drucker is a very rich man whose daughter, Gavi, gets kidnapped. Retired NYPD homicide detective Joey Mancuso and Father Dominic O’Brian, his half-brother, are hired to investigate the abduction. The initial premise of the investigators that this could be a kidnap for ransom quickly dissipates as they uncover more crucial evidence, and as they encounter the FBI and other agencies digging where the investigation leads them. It could be something even greater than anything they had imagined and how involved is Aaron Drucker? The closer they get to the truth, the more they discover that a powerful underground group is determined to stop them and protect a very lucrative business, and this could also mean murder.

This is a great story, deftly handled, plotted with cunning and intelligence, and featuring characters that readers will enjoy. Owen Parr begins the story with a crisis — the abduction — and readers are immediately hurtled into the action. What is most interesting is that in each chapter, there are questions to be answered and readers are compelled to keep on turning the pages to find the next clue or to discover where it leads them. The characters are rock-solid and three-dimensional in nature. Although The Case of the Antiquities Collector: A Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brian Crime Mystery is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone novel. I loved the two half-brothers, especially the priest, and how they relate to each other. The author skillfully uses suspense with humor to grab the attention of readers and hold it throughout the narrative.