Drink the Tea: A Mystery

This is a truly fantastic PI novel, especially considering its Kaufman's first effort. Gidney is a fascinating character, with an interesting past that comes out in bits and pieces throughout the novel. The story is a mix of crime and politics (is there a difference?). As the story unfolded, I found myself with more questions than answers (a good thing, considering the predictability of so many crime novels). The action-filled ending didn't disappoint, as the questions were answered through a series of plot twists and turns, but never in a forced, contrived way. The book was definitely a page-turner, and at the end I found myself impatient for the next installment. Highly recommended!!

"Drink The Tea" has a great story line, fantastic plot twists, and a fascinating array of characters who, by the end of the novel, you feel you know well. Tom Kaufman is a writer who not only knows how to tell a great story, but paints the scene for us with the skill of the filmmaker that he is. It is an astounding first novel, and stands up well alongside other stories of the genre. I've already bought two copies--one for me and one as a gift--and am thinking of "gifting" more of these. I hope the publisher pushes this novel and that we see more of the main character, Willis.

I met the author at a bookstore signing and, being in the need of reading material of a new author, thought it would be a good book to enjoy. Boy was I wrong. It was a great book. The characters are flawed but believable and the plot has unexpected twists and turns that keep you interested without being taken on a Ludlum-type excursion. I wanted to read it in one sitting but instead I savored it like a nice Stan Getz solo. Buy it. Read it. You will enjoy it as well.

I'll leave the plot summary to others. No need to risk spoiling it. It's a great story with a gripping, and importantly, believable plot and characters. Too many books of this genre have ridiculously caricatured protagonists. Willis Gidney is the kind of guy you've probably met before. He's not a superhero. Just a guy with a possibly unhealthy amount of curiosity trying to help his friend. And what starts out as a mundane missing person hunt grows into a great deal of trouble. This is potentially the start of a great detective series. I hope we see more from Thomas Kaufman soon.

I just finished Drink the Tea at the recommendation of an old friend. I owe him big time. The character of Willis Gidney is totally original and engrossing as we learn his background and work ethic. I used to read the '60s detectives and all you ever knew was they were "ex-Marines" (I know, there's no such thing) or ex-cops, or ex-somethings. Willis is an original and a one-off. His knowledge of the DC underbelly, which of course includes Capitol Hill, is encyclopedic. A fine cast of supporting characters who should stay with him as he grows in his new occupation. You just can't ship Polka CDs forever for a living. I started to read it with no expectations and finished it, reluctantly, hoping that Kaufman is already working on the sequel. If he writes as many books as I would wish, he'll do it forever. I could go into the plot but that would spoil the fun. Willis is a reluctantly bright light on the detective genre scene. Just to see him fly out an office window to land in the Potomac, immediately followed by the entire building brought me back to Georgetown and my misspent youth. I won't be putting this book on [...]. I want to treasure a first edition.