Tag: Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller Page 46 of 61

The Keepers

by Jeffrey B. Burton
Series: Mace Reid K-9 Mystery, Volume 2

eARC, 288 pg.
Minotaur Books, 2021

Read: June 17-19, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s The Keepers About?

While at a police station wrapping up a case he’d helped Chicago Police to wrap up, Mace and his golden retriever, Vira, are brought along on an urgent call, the man in charge of the State Attorney’s Special Prosecution Office went missing at a park around midnight.

It doesn’t take long for Vira to find his body. Not long after that, while Mace is waiting to be sent home, Vira’s almost impossible/might-as-well-be-supernatural abilities give Mace a reason to believe that he knows the Attorney’s killer.

And Mace regrets that instantly—the man responsible isn’t anyone Mace, or his police friends, want to cross. But they have no choice—which leads to them being on the run, fighting some of the more powerful men in Chicago just to survive, much less get anywhere to finding his killer.

Returning Characters

In The Finders, there were two uniformed officers and two police detectives involved with Mace and the investigation. This time out, it’s pretty much just the two uniformed officers—Kippy Gimm and her partner Dave Wabiszewski. It’s not often (at least not often enough) that non-detective officers get the focus, and it’s a refreshing change of pace.

Also, while readers had enough exposure to all the police characters to be satisfied, it’s nicer this time to not have your attention split and the reader can really get to know these characters better and form a closer emotional bond. If memory serves, we met Kippy before we met Mace last year, but we didn’t get that much time with Wabs. It’s good to have that changed.

Ohh, a New Dog

Mace has added another dog to his pack, a three-month-old bloodhound named Billie Joe. Billie Joe isn’t good for much more than comic relief at the moment, but I’m sure within a book or two, Mace’ll have him trained enough that he can carry his own weight. In the meantime, he’s fun to chuckle at.

There’s an extended comedic break at the beginning of Chapter 21 that is great on its own—but it comes at just the right time in the book to give a little breather as the tension mounts and just before it shifts into a new gear. It’s just Mace talking to his dogs, pretty much the same way that anyone with pets has done regularly. I could rea 3-4 more of those each book and it wouldn’t get tired.

In the meantime, I’ll just reread that scene occasionally.

The Killer

That’s not really the best heading for this section, because there are a few killers running through these pages—and as some are acting on orders from others, who really gets that label? Anyway, I wanted to say a little about the individual who is immediately responsible for most of the deaths in the book—this isn’t a spoiler really, we meet him in Chapter 1.

He is large, frightening, brutal, and efficient. He’s also a very chatty guy who has a lot to say about the English language. This side of Justified‘s Boyd Crowder, you’re not going to find a criminal as chatty as this guy. I enjoyed his little talks about English idioms more than I should have. If this guy isn’t one of your favorite baddies of the year, you should rethink things.

Best of all? He’s not a serial killer. I was a little afraid that after The FInders this series would be Mace and His Dogs vs. Various Serial Killers. Now that it’s clear that Mace and the dogs will be dealing with a variety of criminals, I’m a bit more positive about the series as a whole.

So, what did I think about The Keepers?

At the same time I was reading this, I was listening to an audiobook (nonfiction) about Capone and Ness during Prohibition. Listening to a thoroughly researched account of corruption in Chicago politics while reading a novel about corrupt Chicago officials, really makes the fictional feel more reality-based. I’m not saying everyone needs to go out and grab a book about Capone and Ness to fully appreciate this, I’m just saying being reminded that things may not have changed that much in almost a century adds a little something to the experience.

I loved this, I really did. I remembered liking last year’s debut, I remembered most of the bigger plot points, the dogs, and so on—and remembered really enjoying the book. In less than one chapter of Mace’s first-person narration, I remembered just how much I like him and his voice. I kicked myself for forgetting that part—Mace is a great protagonist for this alone.

When I wrote about The Finders last year, I said:

It’s possible that I’m rating this a little higher than it deserves. If I was being entirely objective, I’d probably take off a half or maybe a full star from my rating. But this isn’t an objective piece, or an objective rating—this is about how much I enjoyed this, how it appealed to me, entertained me and made me want to read on. For that, it scored really high for me.

I’m not saying that this year—this is a superior novel that I enjoyed as much, if not more—I was again entertained and couldn’t wait to find out what happened. I’m giving this the same rating without apology or disclaimer.

It was tense, it was funny, it was horrifying (on a couple of occasions), and my jaw hit the floor a few times. I still can’t believe a few of the choices that Burton made, even with a few days’ worth of thought. He does some risky things, swinging for the fences with this—and they absolutely worked.

You don’t need to have read The Finders to appreciate The Keepers for what it is—great Crime Fiction with a strong central protagonist, some great supporting characters, and a fantastic opponent. Oh, yeah, and a bunch of great dogs. More than enough reasons to take this recommendation and run to your nearest library/bookseller with it.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

4 1/2 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

A Good Kill by John McMahon: Crimes New and Old Rock a Small City

By HCNewton

On June 17, 2021

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

A Good Kill

by John McMahon
Series: Detective P.T. Marsh, #3

eARC, 384 pg.
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2021

Read: June 11-14, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s A Good Kill About?

We open P.T. Marsh and his partner, Remy, on the grounds of a high school where an active shooter has taken some hostages. The two of them are able to bring things to a swift resolution, gaining them praise as heroes. The question stops being “who could do this” and changes into a “why did someone do this.”

Due to the staff size for this small city and that there are other crimes that need investigating, P.T. and Remy have to look into a double homicide while the other partners continue to follow up on the shooter. It’s this crime that provides most of what P.T. and Renee to go down a rabbit hole of corruption—one that might tie into the killing of his wife and son a few years back. Even if it doesn’t—it certainly ties into several deaths, drug use/sales, and other crimes.

A Word About the School Shooting

As we talked about in the Q&A yesterday, mass shootings in general—but specifically school shootings—are about as controversial as anything in American culture today. As they should be, I think I can say without getting into it. And some readers might be put off of the book because of that, this would be a mistake. First, because as McMahon said, “the subject is not entered into divisively or politically.”

Secondly, while the book starts with the school shooting—it’s not what the book is about. It’s the instigating event. It casts a shadow over everything that happens in the days following it for P.T. and the rest of Mason Falls. You can’t get away from it for long (but there are a few pages every now and then that might draw your attention away from it).

It reminded me of the Ian Rankin novel A Question of Blood, where Rebus is called to come help a friend look into a school shooting, and it turns out to be about a lot more than that. The two books approach the subject differently and go in different directions with it. But that doesn’t stop the reader from thinking about them at the same time.

Wait—You Can Do This In a Procedural?

P.T. and his partner Remy get along—they spend time with each other outside of work. Yes, they disagree on some things, but there’s a mutual affection and respect. In fact, that carries through the department—detectives and uniformed officers, every detective, even the Chief and everyone else—they look out for each other, support and help each other.* There’s no petty jealousies coloring things, no rivalry, no behind-the-scenes machinations. I cannot think of another police procedural like that, what a refreshing change.

* Okay, the Force Investigation Unit detective has something against P.T.

Now, there are politicians at various levels and federal agents from a couple of agencies—so I’m not suggesting it’s all rainbows and unicorns. In fact, things get pretty nasty on these other points. So it’s not like P.T. has nothing to worry about or put up with.

Jumping On At This Point

This is a tricky one to jump into the series with—McMahon says that he treated the three books as a series, and so jumping on with the third book brings some challenges. And no matter how well he blends in the details about what happened in the first two books, readers like me are going to miss something. But McMahon does a great job in giving you enough information from the first two books that you can jump in and get almost all the weight of the first two books on P.T. and the rest. I knew I missed out on some of the nuances, but I had no problem following things or caring about the way he wraps up this trilogy within a series.

I’m not convinced I could go back and read the first two at this point, I should add. But you never know…

Purvis!

Purvis is an eight-year-old bulldog, who had been P.T.’s son’s pet but is now P.T.’s. Not only is he good for comic relief. P.T. bounces a lot of ideas off of Purvis, who is just the listener P.T. needs. It was a really good depiction of a man and his pet, and you all know I’m a sucker for that kind of thing, and Purvis is off to a commanding lead in my “Favorite Pets of 2021” race.

There’s another dog, who seems like an adorable handful, in this book, and in P.T.’s life now. He seems like he could be a fun cast member—but the star of the K-9 action is Purvis. Still, I hope I get to see both of them again soon.

So, what did I think about A Good Kill?

There’s very little about this book that didn’t work for me—great characters; solid, twisty story; some strong action scenes; and believable criminals around at every stage. There’s more than your daily minimum requirement of fictional emotions—P.T. and Remy are put through the wringer, and you feel it at every step of the way. Which just makes the ending of the book so much more meaningful, even to people who hadn’t read the two previous books. You name it, McMahon provides it in one way or another.

All of this just makes this Crime Fiction reader all sorts of happy.

Grab this one, or the first in the trilogy, The Good Detective. You won’t regret it.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this, and to Wiley Saichek and Saichek Publicity for bringing it to my attention.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

A Few Quick Questions…with John McMahon

By HCNewton

On June 16, 2021

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

I wasn’t able to finish my post about John McMahon’s A Good Kill in time for this morning, but I wanted to get something up about the book today. Thankfully, McMahon had taken part in the Q&A with me over the weekend. I really enjoyed his answers to this, and hope you do, too. Even more, I hope this Q&A makes you curious about the book, which is absolutely worth your time. Before we get to the his As and my Qs, here’s a little about the book:

In the years since the unsolved deaths of his wife and son, Detective P.T. Marsh of Mason Falls, Georgia, has faced demons professional and personal. But when he is called to the scene of an unfolding crime and secures a clean look at an active shooter, the professional and personal become intertwined…and the consequences are shattering.

As Marsh and his partner Remy investigate the shooting, they confront confounding questions—and their search for answers leads them to a conspiracy at the highest levels of local government. The stakes in the case become increasingly high, culminating in a showdown that has Marsh questioning everything he knows…and wondering if some secrets are better left undiscovered.

At some point in time you decide that the instigating event for this book is going to be a school shooting—easily one of the most divisive things in the country. What led you to that pick? How do you go about researching that to make it authentic? How often did you regret that choice?
You’re 100% right to say that it’s a touchy subject, and for good reason. There’s been so many devastating active shooter events, at schools and other locations in the last two decades. But I think as you read the book, you see that the subject is not entered into divisively or politically.

In terms of the research, there was a playbook for how police handled this situation for years. Now that’s changed multiple times, most notably after Columbine. So unfortunately we’re living in an age where police manuals are available, as well as a lot of minute-by-minute reporting on the subject. Both those helped with authenticity.

There are elements of this novel that have their roots in (I assume, as this is my first encounter with your work) in the first novel. Had you been planning to keep this story going this long initially? How do you juggle the need to plant seeds to develop this slowly while keeping the readers of Books 1 and 2 engaged and keeping newcomers from feeling lost?
The three books are definitely a trilogy in my head, and certain storylines are one and two books long—while others last three books. But you’re right—it’s a juggling act.

I think it’s incumbent on the author to re-introduce key elements and characters in each book, so someone can join the hunt wherever they find a book. But you don’t want to bog it down for existing readers. Also, as you said, I’m planting seeds and laying long leads for future stories, past this book. I think part of the key is to leave some details unknown even to the author. Trust the subconscious.

I think of the three novels—#1 and #3 are the easiest to pick up and simply read as a stand-alone. So the optimal read starts with THE GOOD DETECTIVE—goes to THE EVIL MEN DO – and continues now with A GOOD KILL. That said, I’ve realized that readers will find book #2 first, then read #1. In my acknowledgments, I’ve invited readers to reach out, and a lot have emailed me they had no issues reading backwards, from two to one.

I loved Purvis—both in choosing to give Marsh a dog, and the choice of/characterization of this particular dog. Is there a real-life model for him? What are the downsides of having a character like him?
When I was writing book one, THE GOOD DETECTIVE… at some point, Purvis was in the back of P.T. Marsh’s F-150. I was writing the first 50 pages and Purvis just suddenly blurted out something. Like aloud.

I think in the first draft the bulldog said “So this is how we’re dealing with this shit, huh? For real?” As a writer I thought—am I crazy? Does P.T. have a talking dog? This is moody stuff I’m writing. Not a Disney movie. But surprisingly it worked. Purvis is sort of P.T.’s conscience in a lot of ways. Plus, he was technically not originally P.T.’s dog. He belonged to Jonas, P.T.’s son (who passed before the time of the first book). So Purvis is also a window into that old life and time period.

But in Book #3, A GOOD KILL, another dog is introduced, called Beau. This one has a real-life model: my own five-year-old Huskie retriever mix, Tessie. You might say they’re identical.

It’s Release Week for A Good Kill. How nervous are you? How’s it compare to the previous novels?
Where I get nervous is—will people discover the book? I had about 10 test readers on this one, through the final edits and into the final manuscript. Many were writers. Some were big time authors I’ve met in the last two years. And everyone was loving the book. But… that doesn’t mean readers will find it.

Book #2 came out last March, and there were a lot more pressing things going on in the world in March 2020. I was literally on tour on a Tuesday with fans in Houston, and the following day the world shut down. That was hard and hurt discovery of the book. So about three times as many people read #1 than #2. It’s understandable given the pandemic, but book discovery is a challenge for new authors. Avid readers are following 6 or 7 series, and they’re not physically browsing stores like they used to. So getting your work out there is a challenge. I’ve been featured in The NY Times “Top 10 Crime Novels of the Year” the last two years, and that’s helped tremendously.

For this book, I’m really excited to have people read it. The story in A GOOD KILL poured out of me faster than anything I’d written. Also, because of the pandemic, I had extra time to do a full re-write. I think it’s my strongest book, so I am excited to hear what readers think.

There’s a game we play around here, called “Online Bookstore Algorithm”. What are 3-5 books whose readers may like A Good Kill?
That’s a fun game. I think people who like these books would love A GOOD KILL:

Michael Connelly, THE DROP.
James Lee Burke, HEAVEN’S PRISONERS.
Brian Panowich, BULL MOUNTAIN.

I think the Panowich book would hit the algorithm for characters, the Connelly book for plot and police procedural, and James Lee Burke, for setting, although my settings/descriptions are not as thick as Burke’s. I should add that the above 3 are some of my favorite writers, so this could be a dream algorithm too.

What’s next for John McMahon, author?
I’ve been working for ten months on a new stand-alone. It’s not set in Mason Falls, Georgia, and P.T. Marsh is not in the story. It’s a high-concept FBI ensemble book, and I cannot wait for people to read it. Because it’s a new world and I want to get it right, I’ve decided to add 6-8 months to my writing timetable. My agent has read a partial, thinks the book feels big and reads like a T.V. show. So fingers crossed.

(Post note: The main character’s nickname in the stand-alone is “H.C.” Can’t say more than that now  but funny coincidence)

Clearly, this main character is a person of wisdom and taste—can’t wait to meet them.

Thanks for your time—and thanks for A Good Kill. I’m really enjoying it, and hope you have plenty of success with it.

I also want to thank Wiley Saichek and Saichek Publicity for arranging this Q&A and bringing the novel to my attention.

Meat is Murder by Chris McDonald: Adam and Colin Look into an Activist’s Death

By HCNewton

On June 15, 2021

In Book Tour, Chris McDonald/Frost, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, The Stonebridge Mysteries

Meat is Murder Tour Banner

Meat is Murder

by Chris McDonald
Series: The Stonebridge Mysteries, #3

eBook, 142 pg.
Red Dog Press, 2021

Read: June 10, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s Meat is Murder About?

Really, as with most of the investigation, he didn’t know what he was doing here. He was hoping that something would appear at his feet, or become luminous like in a video game, but he knew that wasn’t going to happen, so he got busy.

The amateurest of amateur detectives are back for another investigation. This time, it appears that a man died in setting fire to an abattoir in an act of protest. Hours earlier, he’d been part of a group that had chained itself to the front gates, interfering with a tour that a prospective buyer had intended to make. After that had been broken up by the police, the story goes, Tyler Love had come back to make a bigger and hotter statement and things had gotten away from him.

The police are done with the matter and have moved on. Tyler’s mom, on the other hand, wants some reassurance. So she convinces Adam to look into his death for her.

Speaking Ill…

‘Like I say, I don’t want to speak ill of the dead. All I’ll say is that he wasn’t well liked.’

‘By who?’

‘By most of the group…’

Tyler was not a good guy. In fact, outside of his mother, it’s difficult to find anyone who has a good thing to say about him. I’m enjoying the way that McDonald finds victims that the reader can have almost no sympathy for. None of these are hardened criminals, they aren’t the dregs of society, but they’re just…jerks. People that no reader is going to want to spend time with, generally fresh off of doing something no reader wants to associate themselves with.

So why do we care who killed them? Why do we care why they died? Because of these two yutzes who until recently were only good for playing FIFA and binging Netflix. They’re who make this series work, who make these stories interesting—the stories are good enough, but it’s McDonald’s work with these characters that brings readers back.

Incremental Growth

The feeling of pride he’d had at solving those cases had spurred him on to do something with his life. That something had turned out to be a garden maintenance business. It had started small; just him, his car, a lawnmower and a rickety trailer he’d managed to salvage from the dump.

Now, here he was, unloading tools from a van with his name and company logo on the side.

That point about “until recently” is the key—yeah, they still binge Sherlock, etc. They probably spend too much time playing FIFA even in this novella. But they’re stumbling into maturity.

Adam’s business is growing, and his relationship with his mother is much better than it was in the first novella. Colin’s still doing well at his job—and is even able to use his position to their advantage in this investigation—he’s again the one putting his health and well-being on the line while Adam’s off trying to learn something through questioning.

So, what did I think about Meat is Murder?

‘I don’t think I could handle any more excitement,’ Adam said.

‘I don’t think Stonebridge has any more to throw at us.’

‘You say that, but…

I continue to really enjoy this series—it’s a highlight of 2021 for me. And Meat is Murder is a great example of it.

Despite what Colin predicts—Stonebridge has more to throw at them. This is the most dangerous case these two have yet taken on, but that doesn’t stop it from being a little silly, a little fun, and very enjoyable.

It’s a quick, clever, and fun read that’ll keep you turning pages and make you regret that it’s over quite so soon. You should grab this one—and the other two if you haven’t yet—and join me in eagerly awaiting the next.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

My thanks to Red Dog Press for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including a copy of the novella) provided.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Meat is Murder (Stonebridge #3) by Chris McDonald

By HCNewton

On June 15, 2021

In Book Tour, Chris McDonald/Frost, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, The Stonebridge Mysteries

I’m excited to welcome the Book Tour for the third installment in The Stonebridge Mysteries, Meat is Murder by Chris McDonald this morning. Check back next hour for my take on the novella, but for now, let’s start by learning a little about this book, okay?

Meat is Murder Tour Banner

Book Details:

Book Title: Meat is Murder by Chris McDonald
Series: The Stonebridge Mysteries
Publisher: Red Dog Press
Release date: June 8, 2021
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Ebook
Length: 142 pages

Book Blurb:

McNulty’s Meats, one of Stonebridge’s oldest businesses, is about to be taken over in a lucrative deal that would make brothers Ron and Kevin very rich men indeed. Unfortunately for them, local activist Tyler Love has other ideas. Convinced that the deal would be bad for the town, he burns the place to the ground and inadvertently kills himself in the process.

At least, that’s what the police think.

Tyler’s mum disagrees and pleads with amateur sleuths Adam and Colin to investigate. Although, going up against the psychopathic McNulty brothers, a rival businessman, a group of hippies, and a girlfriend with secrets of her own might not be such a good idea… Someone has something to hide, and will go to great lengths to keep that secret buried.

Meat is Murder is the third book in The Stonebridge Mysteries series of Cosy Crime novellas.

About the Series:

Stonebridge is a small town on the north coast of Northern Ireland. Most of its inhabitants are friendly, happy people. Most of them… Because bad things happen even in the happiest of places. It’s a good thing, then, that Adam Whyte and Colin McLaughlin call Stonebridge home.

Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of detective shows, a misplaced sense of confidence, and a keen desire to see justice done, these two are the closest thing the town has to saviors. Which isn’t that reassuring…

About Chris McDonald:

Originally hailing from the north coast of Northern Ireland and now residing in South Manchester, Chris McDonald has always been a reader. At primary school, The Hardy Boys inspired his love of adventure before his reading world was opened up by Chuck Palahniuk and the gritty world of crime. A Wash of Black is his first attempt at writing a book. He came up with the initial idea whilst feeding his baby in the middle of the night, which may not be the best thing to admit, considering the content. He is a fan of 5-a-side football, heavy metal and dogs. Whispers in the Dark is the second installment in the DI Erika Piper series, and Chris is currently working on his latest series, The Stonebridge Mysteries, published by Red Dog Press in 2021.

Purchase Links:

Amazon ~ Kobo ~ Google ~ Red Dog Press

My thanks to Red Dog Press for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

Morte Point by Rob Parker: Things Go From Worse to Worse to Much Worse for Bracken

By HCNewton

On June 7, 2021

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Morte Point

by Rob Parker
Series: Ben Braken, #2

Kindle Edition, 218 pg.
Lume Books, 2020

Read: May 21-25, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

I’m…enjoying myself.

Some people like collecting beer mats. Some like keeping tabs on birds, bugs, animals… whatever. Some like walking, running, going to the gym. We all get our kicks from somewhere. I’m open enough to enjoy all the above. But I’m never happier, nor more focused, than when I am getting shit done while the chips are down. Now, floating between the shallow rocks off the Atlantic, using my wits, guts and training to elude a mysterious force, I am in my element; my absolute, unrelenting element.

What’s Morte Point About?

Something is about to happen at Morte Point, he can’t get into details with Ben, but his police contact and his entire agency have been waved off from it by a higher power. Which just means it’s time for something unofficial to happen—enter Ben Bracken, the former soldier, escaped convict, and patriot on his one-man crusade to take on the criminals that England’s justice system can’t handle.

With only a couple of details given to him, Bracken finds his way to the North Devon coast just in time, retrieves the item he was sent for—and then has to spend the next few days eluding armed men of various skill levels, government officials with differing priorities and ethics, and nature red in tooth and claw—and a few other hazards.

Can he survive long enough to do the right thing with what he retrieved? Is there a right thing to do with it? Is Ben on his own enough, or will he have to find allies to get the job done?

Does Parker Have Something Against Ben?

The number of things that go wrong for Ben in the first 40% of this novel is pretty astounding. And by “go wrong,” I generally mean “inflict some sort of injury” to him. He’s being hunted by a group with numbers, resources, and determination; he cannot make contact with anyone he can trust; and he’s injured repeatedly (to varying degrees of seriousness). It’s bad enough that if you didn’t know there were two more books published (with one imminent), you’d start to wonder if the last half of the book was going to get a different narrator. It’s like Parker was angry about something and took it out on Ben.

Things to lighten up for him—which isn’t to say that the rest of the book is easy, the problems continue, just less frequently (but they’re of a higher degree of seriousness).

A Step too Far?

I sleep the sleep of a man who knows he has done wrong. I sleep a sleep that is deep, yet forced, unbroken yet tormented, as my subconscious pretends that what I did hasn’t happened at all. And if it did somehow happen, surely it is not time yet to wake and face it.

Not long after the physical hazards lighten up, the moral and psychological ones become more pronounced. Ben has certain ideas about what kind of person he is—so does the audience at this point. Ben takes a couple of actions that are truly disturbing, and may (should) haunt him. It certainly looks as if they will.

A lot of this kind of “wandering one-man army” type characters don’t seem to think much about their acts of violence for very long, and it seems like Ben might be an exception to the rule—and I think we need more like him. One of these morally questionable acts is fairly justifiable for a fictional action hero, but the other (the one prior to this tormented sleep)…I don’t know He has a hard time letting himself off the hook for it, and I’m pretty much with him on that one. I’m curious to see if later books see him shying away from that kind of thing.

So, what did I think about Morte Point?

Parker’s writing is crisper; while outlandish, the plot seems more grounded; on the whole, the action scenes are more convincing and exciting (although the destruction of the floating nightclub in A Wanted Man tops anything here); the characters are better fleshed out—and, when applicable, more chilling. Generally speaking, Parker took what he did in the previous novel and improved it—exactly as one would hope to see. Parker barely establishes a status quo before he proves that he’s willing to blow it all up—a gutsy move this early in a series.

However…

I can’t quite put my finger on it but something about this didn’t work as well as A Wanted Man. I think objectively, it’s probably a better novel, but subjectively, I’m not as enthused about it. I’m still diving into the next one in a day or two—I want more Ben Braken, I just also want a bit more out of the books. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a thrill ride full of action, adrenaline, and morally complicated choices? Morte Point will deliver.

3 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

PUB DAY BOOK BLITZ: Division [The Crows Over Cross Hill] by John Bowie

By HCNewton

On June 1, 2021

In Book Tour, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

This morning I’m pleased to host a Book Blitz for John Bowie’s Division [The Crows Over Cross Hill]–the third book in the Black Vicking Thriller series–to celebrate its publication today.

Book Details:

Book Title: Division [The Crows Over Cross Hill] by John Bowie
Publisher: Red Dog Press
Release date: June 1, 2021
Format: Ebook/Paperback
Length: 197 pages

Book Blurb:

Darkness Follows Wherever He Goes

John Black returns to Northern England for a family funeral, having left the woman he loves to protect her from his past.

His solace is broken as the sands shift, crows and gulls circle overhead, and children run on the beach where John used to play as a child… and where a body is found in the dunes by Cross Hill — the body of a woman John once knew.

With a set of coordinates left for him in a haunted pub, the body count grows, and the police are made fully aware of John’s connection.

As he drives the ancient coastal and rural landscapes, from Alnwick Castle, Hadrian’s Wall, Cragside to Kielder, racing to confront the killers, John wrestles the pain of bringing the evils of his past to his homelands and to all who know him.

Will Death Ever Leave Him?

Purchase Links:

The Red Dog Shop ~ Amazon ~ Kobo ~ Google Play

About the Author:

John writes articles, poetry, reviews, short stories and novels. His fiction is a semi-autobiographical mix of dirty realism, crime fiction and noir. Ghostly references to a heritage that includes the Vikings, Scotland, Ireland and the North, flavour the words throughout. Often with a dark but humoured edge.

John’s writing has appeared online and in print for the likes of Bristol Noir, Storgy Magazine, Litro Magazine, Punk Noir Magazine, Necro Magazine and Deadman’s Tome.

He grew up on the coast in rural Northumberland, a region steeped with a history of battles, Vikings, wars and struggles. These tales and myths fascinated him as a child, and then as an adult. In the mid to late nineties, he studied in Salford enjoying the bands, music, clubs and general urban industrial-ness of Greater Manchester, including the club scene and the infamous Hacienda. He was also there when the IRA bomb went off in 1996.

John has been partly inspired by 50s pulp hard-boiled detective fiction and the beat generation authors and poets. John aims to celebrate his female characters from his real-life through his writing, whilst retaining the hard-drinking, cynical honesty and the accessible writing style of these genres.

John lives in Bristol with his wife and daughters, where he has been since the late nineties. He is a professional designer, artist and writer as well as a proud husband, father, brother and son.

My thanks to Red Dog Press for the invitation to participate in this blitz and the materials they provided.

The Friday 56 for 5/28/21: The Bounty by Janet Evanovich with Steve Hamilton

By HCNewton

On May 28, 2021

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it

from Page 56 of:
The Bounty

The Bounty by Janet Evanovich with Steve Hamilton

“Took you long enough,” Nick said.

Quentin gave him back the tools Nick had slipped into Quentin’s hand when he had reached through the bars to say goodbye. “Do you always carry lock picks with you?”

“Like I said, it’s a long story. ”

“Well, next time bring me a good old-fashioned hook pick instead. And a tension bar with actual tension on it.”

“Noted,” Nick said. “Now let’s get off the street.”

Cover Reveal: The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly

By HCNewton

On May 28, 2021

In Fiction, Harry Bosch, Michael Connelly, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Renée Ballard

I’m excited to take part in the UK Cover Reveal for the new Harry Bosch/Rene Ballard thriller, The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly this morning. Before we get to the cover, let’s talk a bit about the book, okay?

Book Blurb

Has a killer lain dormant for years only to strike again on New Year’s Eve? LAPD Detective Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch team up to find justice for an innocent victim in the new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly.

There’s chaos in Hollywood on New Year’s Eve. Working her graveyard shift, LAPD Detective Renée Ballard seeks shelter at the end of the countdown to wait out the traditional rain of lead as hundreds of revelers shoot their guns into the air. As reports start to roll in of shattered windshields and other damage, Ballard is called to a scene where a hardworking auto shop owner has been fatally hit by a bullet in the middle of a crowded street party.

It doesn’t take long for Ballard to determine that the deadly bullet could not have fallen from the sky. Ballard’s investigation leads her to look into another unsolved murder-a case at one time worked by Detective Harry Bosch.

Ballard and Bosch team up once again to find out where the old and new cases intersect. All the while they must look over their shoulders. The killer who has stayed undetected for so long knows they are coming after him.

Book Details:

Book Title: The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly
Publisher: Orion (UK)/Little, Brown and Company (US)
Release date: November 9, 2021
Format: Hardcover/Ebook/Audiobook
Length: 416 pages

And now…

The Cover

The Dark Hours UK
If that doesn’t grab your eyes, call your optometrist/ophthalmologist, there’s something wrong with them.

My thanks to The Orion Publishing Group for the invitation to participate in this reveal.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other…

By HCNewton

On May 27, 2021

In Books, Currently Reading, Fiction, Fox and O'Hare, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, News/Misc.

I frequently find myself surprised at the strength of some of my opinions when it comes to the Fox and O’Hare series, starting with one of the prequel short stories—Pros and Cons and going up through 2019’s The Big Kahuna (Book 7). At its best, the series is a great combination of action, comedy, with a dash of will-they-won’t-they flirtatious fun.

As I’ve been reading the latest installment, The Bounty, one thought in the back of my mind is: this doesn’t look like a Fox and O’Hare book. And, like with some of the books, I find myself thinking about this more than than I’d expect to.

Books 1-6

Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 Book 5 Book 6

Book 7

It just doesn’t look right, does it? The other covers (to me) capture the flavor of the books, the bright colors and the silhouettes speak to me of action-comedy. The Bounty looks like a cable/streaming drama. Like, a merger of CB Strike or Jack Ryan thumbnails.

Does it matter that much? That’s a good question—but I’m not sure if I was trying the series with The Bounty that I’d be getting what I expected.

Sure, it might just be a change, and like Garth Algar, I’m not a fan of change. But it’s a branding thing, and why mess with one that’s working?