A paranoid recluse lures private eye author Jeff Reynolds into a complex web of deception, where delusions are deadly, life after death can be hell, and all roads lead to the McFeely Tavern.
Several popular mystery writers, including G.M. Ford and Tony Fennelly, make cameo appearances in this clever and captivating private eye caper set in Walla Walla, Washington.
Edgar Award winner Burl Barer brings us a private eye mystery unique and wondrous from the opening paragraph to the spectacular cinematic climax featuring one of the best plot twists in PI history.
Laugh out loud funny, and sadly bitter-sweet, HEADLOCK is among Burl Barer's best works...
"Nicely written dialog, tantalizing peeks at "name" writers, choice humor, stories within stories, and a slowly evolving plot makes this first mystery in a new series a real winner" -- Library Journal
"A brilliant piece of contemporary literature "hiding out" as a private eye novel...I think Barer is up to something." - Prof. Gerry Graber
"There are truly only a few writers working today who can sustain such a consistent level of fine writing, complexities of plot, great imagination, and humor." - Carl Brookins
"Clever, quirky, and often outrageous." -- Lee Goldberg, NYT best-selling author of numerous Mr. Monk mysteries, and co-author of the Fox and O'Hara series with Janet Evanovich
"...a detective as hard boiled as a twenty-minute egg, and wisecracks as sharp as a new Gillette!" -- Dale Furutani, Anthony and Macavity winning author of the Ken Tanaka and Samurai Mystery series
"Barer is obviously twisted. `Headlock' is a hoot. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!" -- G.M. Ford, author of The Deader the Better, Last Ditch, Bum's Rush, and Slow Burn.
"Jeff is the most appealing private eye since Archie Goodwin...the funniest and freshest mystery I've read all year!" - Cluelass.
"100% dazzling!" -- Professor Gerry Graber
"Brilliant and hilarious!" -- Tony Fennelly, author of The Glory Hole Murders, and 1-900-DEAD
"Burl Barer's new action-packed novel had me laughing my ass off, gasping for breath, and cursing his talent!" -- Sparkle Hayter, author of Revenge of the Cootie Girls, and The Last Manly Man
"Undeniable talent, pizazz and imagination -- Jack Olsen, NYT best-selling author
