When a famous philosopher vanishes, his estranged son must summon the detective skills that failed him in his darkest hour. Three years ago, Jack was a brilliant young detective with the LAPD. Now he plays poker to make ends meet, and to forget the horrific event that ended his police career. Out of the blue Jack gets a call from his father Joseph Pearl, a distinguished Harvard professor who is in Los Angeles for a philosophy conference. The two haven't spoken in years yet Pearl seems anxious to discuss some matter in person, behavior strangely out of character for the emotionally-distant dad who Jack still blames for the family tragedy that tore them apart. But when the philosopher fails to show up and can’t be found, Jack knows something is wrong and feels compelled to find him. As his shaky detective instincts kick in, Jack tracks down a beautiful yet troubled Yale grad student named Claire who was having a clandestine affair with Pearl. Together they search for the man they both have issues with and uncover secrets and lies in the world of philosophy, including a trail of murder and no shortage of colleagues who wanted Pearl dead. The more Jack risks his life for answers, the more he fights old demons and his growing attraction to Claire. Then just as he learns the shocking truth behind his father’s disappearance, Jack finds himself drawn back into the haunting, unsolved case that got him kicked off the force. Impossible to put down, THE NAKED PHILOSOPHER is a gut-wrenching, heart-stopping crime thriller about family and revenge that keeps the reader guessing to the very last page.

Recommended to book clubs by 2 of 2 members.