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Book Review
Reviewed: 15 February 2026

Killer Vibes

by: Jack Friday

Peter Key Mystery, Book 1

  • Rating: full starfull starfull starhalf starstar outline (3.5/5)

This is my first read of this author. I didn’t know what to expect from a bisexual-man-bun-wearing-weed-smoking amateur sleuth. We really get a look at how Peter ends up in Austin, right from the start. It sets the stage, and looks like we will have an unlikely, unreliable hero/sleuth/narrator that we may or may not like. I had an inkling at the beginning that some people were not who they portrayed themselves to be, but I was way off on so many things. There are quite a few characters, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed or the need to have a notepad while reading. 

Peter is having a time of it. Getting kicked out of his home (deservedly), getting threatened, getting saddled with a large loan, getting followed, and did I mention getting threatened? While Peter may have initially come across as a slacker, you know there is more to him, as his aunt points out; he has been selling marijuana most of his life and has not been caught. 

I liked the growth of Peter throughout the story and how he used his wits/instincts. He went through a lot searching for answers to his uncle’s death as well as finding his own direction instead of floating from garage to garage. 

To say Peter’s family is complicated is an understatement. I hope there is more of Aunt Sylvie in the books to come. With Grady, LaShirl, and Carlos, Peter will do okay in Austin, but Austin may not be ready for him. 

Thank you, #NetGalley and #MinotaurBooks, for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts.

Happy Reading!

Release Date: 14-July-2026
NetGalley, Mystery

Plot Summary

Meet Peter Key: self-proclaimed “laziest private investigator in Texas” (it’s harder than it looks), full-time bisexual, dedicated stoner, and the surprised recipient of a windfall inheritance from an uncle he barely knew. Peter’s life was a mess before he became the owner of a dilapidated house in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Austin, but now he has a mountain of debt to deal with—and pushy realtors popping up on every corner to convince him to sell the land while the market is hot.

But Peter doesn’t like to be pushed around. And when he discovers a bag full of cash and a suggestion that his uncle's death might not have been an accident, he starts asking questions. When they said “Keep Austin Weird,” they weren’t joking. Just about everyone Peter meets seems to have a hidden agenda, and he soon finds himself pulled into a lethal game where not everybody plays by the rules. Fortunately for Peter, he’s never been a rule follower anyway.

Sexy, suspenseful, and packed with Austin’s quirks, Killer Vibes is the start of an iconic new series with a singular, unforgettable cast of characters.