The Painted Gun by Bradley Spinelli

He needs some work.  What he chose to do after being fired as a journalist paid good for a while but then the internet took off and anyone with a computer could look up information that he used to get through connections.  Now his debts were past due and he takes on a case he's not sure he wants to because he needs the money.  He'll be sorry...

Akashic Books sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will be published March 7th.

He knew the guy that referred the case to him but they weren't exactly friends.  The money sounds good so he says yes.  Then he gets a special delivery from him that is a painting.  The funny part about is that the man in the painting looks like him.  He never posed for anyone.  He doesn't know the artist.  How could she have seen him in those private moments to paint a picture?

The answer to that is complex.  Without really doing anything, he finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy.  There are Guatemalans, the FBI, and the CIA involved.  He's being framed by experts.  As people start dying around him, he finds out they are planting guns he used at the gun range as the killing weapon.  The more questions he asks, the more he needs to answers to.  And that mysterious woman who says she loves him intrigues him, too.  How can someone love him who never met him?

This is convoluted noir-like story set in the present day.  Lots of people die, lots are being manipulated and it's hard for Itchy to stay ahead of them.  It's an intriguing read.  Give it a try.