A very well-rounded murder mystery, tonally The Fixer's Daughter feels like a crossbreed between cozy mystery and mainstream mystery thriller, which makes sense considering the author was a writer for TV shows such as Monk and White Collar, which requires a balancing act between lovable, charismatic characters and realistic world building.

His long-form storytelling pedigree is also evident in the way of character creation: each with a distinct, slightly exaggerated mannerism and speaking style—perhaps leaning into stereotypes ever so slightly, but on flip-side they are very iconic and easy to visualize. It is a slight shame the female protagonist is in my opinion the weakest link, whose reactions fluctuate between street-smart and incredibly naive, switching at the author's whim in favor for more drama/conflict. Even though this inconsistency didn't take too much away from my overall enjoyment, it is noticeable enough, and as the result I couldn't have a strong grasp at who she is suppose to be.

The mystery itself I really enjoyed! The Fixer's Daughter references classic murder mystery scenarios, but putting a new spin on it with atypical plot mechanism to keep it fresh. While the outcome is not fully unexpected, the various elements getting there is engaging enough to keep my attention. I'll add this is definitely a more procedural heavy execution, so if following trails of witness and evidence is not why you're interested in a mystery thriller, this might not be the book for you.

I'm surprised at the absurdly little ratings it currently has on Goodreads—definitely stronger than some of the more popular titles I've read in the past!