Appellate Judge
Jack Ludefance #3
by Behcet Kaya
From the swamps of the Florida panhandle, once again emerges private investigator Jack Ludefance, in a murder/mystery/thriller novel by award winning author Behcet Kaya, titled “Appellate Judge.” A key element in this case, in which readers are orbited into with a very subtle path of reasoning, revolves around a violin. Not just any ordinary violin, but a Stradivarius, worth many millions of dollars. What’s more, it seems this particular Strad, which was gifted to the judge years back by a Swiss aristocrat, was actually at one time owned by the most famous violin virtuoso who ever lived, Niccolò Paganini; adding even more to its value. The uncovering of details about this violin makes for a very sophisticated history into the world of classical instruments.
REVIEW
4 out of 5
This was my first experience with PI Jack Ludefance. I have to say it was an interesting introduction. A dead judge, a prestigious violin, and enough suspense and action to keep you turning pages. When the police hit a wall after a year investigating the judge’s death, Ludefance steps in after being contacted by the judge’s daughter. The timing of his death was suspicious itself – in the middle of an appeal trial for big pharma (not to mention the marks on his neck). The trail might be colder than he’d like but Ludefance’s determination is admirable. A thrilling mystery that many will enjoy.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Behcet Kaya is the author of seven novels. His first literary fiction novel, Voice of Conscience, follows, to some extent, his own life experiences. His second novel, Murder on the Naval Base is a fast-paced who-done-it, his recently published third novel, Road to Siran, Erin’s Story is the eagerly awaited sequel to Voice of Conscience and the fourth Treacherous Estate is a crime thriller and the fifth Body in the Woods, Appellant Judge. The next novel series “Murder in Buckhead” will be published in 2022
Born in northeastern Turkey, Behcet grew up in a very small village with long held traditions. His rebellious nature emerged at an early age and by time he was ten, he had read, in secret, all the Turkish translated stories of Mike Hammer. In addition, he read several of Dale Carnage’s works, and all of Yashar Kemal’s novels. His world burst out beyond that of his small village and he yearned for a more western way of life.
Defying his father, Behcet left home at fourteen and travelled first to Istanbul and then on to London. His obsession was to complete his high school education and then a college degree in engineering. He supported himself by working full-time and earning scholarships from Inner London Education Authority. His creative side began emerging when his drama and literature teacher cast him in a play in which his performance awed the audience. His insatiable appetite for literature widened to include the classics of Dickens, D.H. Laurence, and the Russian masters.
While at Hatfield Polytechnic, Behcet made his first visit to the US as an exchange student with the British Universities North American Club. He made the move to the US in 1976 and became a US citizen in 1985. While living in Atlanta, Georgia he followed his creative yearnings and attended the Alliance Theatre School and studied at the SAG Conservatory of Georgia, which earned him his Screen Actors Guild card. In 1994, Kaya and his wife moved to Los Angeles, where he continued his studies at the Roby Theatre Company and the Shakespeare, A Noise Within, Theatre Workshop.
In the soon to be released movie, “Being American” starring Lorenzo Lamas, Behcet plays the part of a Turkish Defense Minister.
Along with acting, writing became a natural outlet. In addition to his three novels, Voice of Conscience, Murder on the Naval Base, and Road to Siran, Erin’s Story, Treacherous Estate, Body in the Woods, appellate Judge and Murder in Buckhead will be published in 2022. Behcet has published numerous short stories and is currently working on his fourth novel, Body in the Woods.
Behcet Kaya received a BA degree in Political Science from California state university channel Island, 2017