A detective’s greatest skill can make him fascinating company, especially when everyday affection leaves him searching for explanations. In Detective Pemberton’s Lessons in Love, Richard Enns introduces a man whose precision extends into nearly every corner of his working life. His latest case brings someone into his orbit who gives him plenty to think about.
Inside Arthur Pemberton’s World
For Arthur Pemberton, details matter. An altered security log calls for examination. A misplaced file suggests a question worth asking. Even a single fiber can become significant when it appears somewhere unexpected. His work as a property-crimes detective in Ocean View depends on that patient attention.
Evidence gives Arthur a familiar language. Probabilities and patterns help him organize what he observes, allowing him to approach a problem methodically. The expressions and gestures exchanged between people can leave him puzzled. He’s particularly uncertain about the smiles directed his way.
Arthur has dyslexia and ADHD and is neurodivergent. Alongside those aspects of his identity, the book presents his meticulous professional approach and difficulty understanding certain social signals. Readers meet someone with specific strengths, challenges, and habits, all of which contribute to the possibilities surrounding his first adventure.
The title’s promise of lessons in love finds an engaging starting point in his limited awareness of romance. Arthur believes he’s maintaining a professional relationship with florist Chloe Vance. He’s actually oblivious to the fact that they’re dating. That situation creates anticipation around what he might eventually recognize and how he’ll respond when he does.
His recurring visits to Chloe’s flower shop suggest a connection developing through ordinary encounters. The setup offers room for gentle humor as readers consider the emotional meaning of moments Arthur may interpret differently. It’s an appealing invitation to follow a detective through unfamiliar territory in his personal life.
The Florist Across the Street
Chloe runs Petal and Stem, located across from the historic clock shop where the Chronos Emerald disappears. Her talent for observation gives her a connection with Arthur’s investigation. She notices what others miss and understands the feelings and motives that can shape someone’s actions.
Her presence brings another set of questions into the story. What can a person’s behavior reveal? How much does an explanation depend on understanding the emotion behind it? Chloe’s perspective makes those considerations relevant as Arthur works through the evidence surrounding the stolen emerald.
She’s also recovering from heroin addiction and has moved away from a past involving promiscuity. These details give her a personal history that deserves thoughtful attention within the developing relationship. Her important cigarette ritual adds a distinctive element for readers to notice as her character becomes familiar.
The theft itself supplies a compelling investigative puzzle. The emerald vanishes without any obvious sign of forced entry, and an eleven-minute gap in surveillance footage raises further questions. A historic clock shop makes an evocative setting for a crime where timing and careful observation could prove significant.
Arthur’s inquiries take him into suspicious business dealings and bring professional thieves and security experts into the picture. A rival jeweler appears to know more than he admits. Each possibility encourages readers to consider access, opportunity, and the connections between those involved.
As the case becomes more dangerous, Arthur and Chloe must consider the value of trust. Their partnership links the practical demands of solving a crime with the vulnerability involved in growing close to someone. For Arthur, accepting Chloe’s insight may become part of learning how to understand her.
This opening installment launches the Detective Pemberton series as a spin-off connected to Richard’s Michael Tough Mystery Series. Its blend of police investigation, mystery, romance, and humor gives the new partnership several directions to explore. The missing emerald provides an immediate problem, while Arthur’s emotional discoveries create interest in his journey beyond the case.
About Author
Richard is a retired probation officer who served with the San Diego County Probation Department for nearly 22 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in History from North Park College in Chicago and a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary.
He lives in San Diego with his wife and two children. His thrillers include The Least of These, The Gynecologist’s Daughter, The Noblest Motive, The Public Good, and It Started With a Murder.
An Invitation to Follow the Clues
Detective Pemberton’s Lessons in Love, available on Amazon, offers readers an intriguing theft and an unusual romantic connection. Arthur and Chloe’s shared discoveries give this series opener an inviting foundation, with affection waiting to become part of the detective’s understanding.
