Book Review: The Single Twin by Sean Patrick Little

The Single Twin
Author: Sean Patrick Little
Series: Abe and Duff Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Spilled Inc. Press; 1st edition (December 2, 2019)

Description: Abe Allard and C.S. Duffy are not handsome, wise, or tough. They’re not successful. They’re not good at much, but they do know how to solve a mystery. A woman digging into the adoption of her long-lost twin brother starts getting close to a long-buried secret which riles up those who would rather it stayed hidden. Fearing for her safety, she asks Abe and Duff to find out what really happened that night, and why someone might be willing to kill to keep this adoption from being brought to light.

My Thoughts: The first Abe and Duff mystery introduces two unlikely detectives with as many psychological problems as they have IQ points. 

Abe is recently divorced. His wife came out as a lesbian. He moved into a cheap apartment to leave his house for his ex-wife and teenage daughter. Duff is a loner who lives in their office and likes to pick fights. Both work as consultants for the Chicago police department when the department runs into a tough case to solve. 

When Mindy Jefferson comes to them with a problem, they find themselves dealing with a long-term political coverup. Mindy's mother has recently passed away from cancer. Before she dies, she tells Mindy that she had a twin brother. Mindy is determined to find her missing twin and, as a former CIA analyst, she should have the skills to do so. However, she's found herself in a hornet's nest and needs to disappear. 

Abe and Duff take the case which comes with a hefty fee for each of them. They begin to look into a possible crime that happened 35 years earlier and soon discover that Marcus Stevens, the son of long-time Chicago politician and long-time senator Robert "Even" Stevens, might be Mindy's missing brother. 

Believing it is one thing, proving it is quite another and very dangerous for the detective duo as someone is willing to do anything to keep the secret. 

I enjoyed this mystery. The characters were interesting people with real problems. The banter between the two partners was quite witty. 

Favorite Quote:

Both men were slump-shouldered, out of shape, and looked like they'd gone seven rounds with Life and their cornermen had thrown in the towel. They were a modern-day Laurel and Hardy without any of the joy, optimism, or charm. 

I bought this one January 20, 2024. You can buy your copy here.