Dead by Dawn by Paul Doiron

 Dead by Dawn by Paul Doiron

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary: Mike Bowditch return as a Maine game warden investigator in this long running fabulous series. Mike receives a letter from a well off women from up state Maine to look into her father in laws death that was assumed a accidental death. Reluctantly Mike stars asking questions and soon finds a old foe and family.

Comments: Unlike past books Dorian does two new things. He keeps the story mainly in a short timeframe and geographical area and he goes back and forth in time. This creates a page turner I could not stop reading. Great work. Highly recommended series. Doiron knows his firearms very well.  

https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Dawn-Novel-Bowditch-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B08FZ8Y7HM

A Long Way Down by Randall Silvis

 

A Long Way Down by Randall Silvis

Rating: 5 stars

Summary: A couple of consultants  detectives and couple, are asked to look into a bizarre killings in Youngstown Ohio. Dealing with past memories and current distress the two dig in and form some interesting theories.

Comments: Some side notes: I’ve read the third book in the series first. Bad habit of mine. Also I am not normally a serial killer book reader. I much prefer a heist with double and triple crosses. But........let me tell you. This is a great book and happens to feature a suspected series killer. In reality it’s much deeper and dark then chasing a killer. Tight bonds and relationships form a great read. Highly recommended to start at the first book.

https://www.amazon.com/Long-Down-Ryan-DeMarco-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07MZHBVGQ

Country Dark by Chris Offutt

 

Country Dark by Chris Offutt

Rating: Starred Review

Summary: A young man and special forces vet from Korean War returns home to nothing. As he makes his way home he witnessed a man attempted rape of a young girl who he saves using his skills. He marries her and finds a job as a bootlegger for a local gangster. His family is threatened by social services and he takes a deal spend a short time in prison for a bootlegging. When he gets out he must settle some depts in a most violent manner. 

Comments: A fabulous violent country noir. Must read. One sitting is doable.

https://www.amazon.com/Country-Dark-Chris-Offutt-ebook/dp/B075VDL891

The Killing Hills by Chris Offutt

 

The Killing Hills by Chris Offutt

Rating: Starred review

Summary: A active duty CID officer is called home to help his Sheriff sister with a local murder. While home helping he must also decide how to deal with his wife pregnant and ready to give birth to a child that might not be his. As he navigates the deep hollers of northern Kentucky he looks for a killer of a women and deals with deep family roots. 

Comments: Offutt is an incredible talent of country noir. Precise fast clipped writing. Offutt wastes no time digging into his plot. He takes the mantle of giant Woodrell. We want more soon. Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Hills-Chris-Offutt-ebook/dp/B08TF1VTGX

The Sacrifice of Lester Yates by Robin Yocum

 

The Sacrifice of Lester Yates by Robin Yates

Rating: Stared Review 

Summary: Yocum revives a character, Hutchison Van Buren now adult, from his fantastic book, Favorite Sons,  as the attorney general for the state of Ohio. Hutch is asked by a prison guard to look into a death row inmates case who he believes is innocent. 

Comments: Yocum doesn’t really hide the plot is a deep dive mystery and you might easily see the direction it’s going, but don’t discount the brilliance of Yocum’s work. He’s a terrific storyteller that clips his plots right along. If you like political thrillers much like Grisham then you’ll absolutely make this a page turner for yourself. Yocum might be the best author you never heard of. He does not disappoint. Highly recommended. 

https://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Lester-Yates-Novel-ebook/dp/B08P29FNZD

The Survivors by Jane Harper

 

The Survivors by Jane Harper

Rating: 2 stars

Summary: When Kiaran returns home to his sick father to help move them to a safer facility he becomes involved in a murder of a local women found on the beech. The murder opens old wounds from a disaster the town had a decade before. 

Comments: A very plain Jane crime novel. Many aspects of a crime novel are missing.

https://www.amazon.com/Survivors-Novel-Jane-Harper-ebook/dp/B087ZY8NXX

What’s Done in Darkness by Laura McHugh

 

What’s Done in Darkness by Laura McHugh

Rating: 5stars

Summary: A teenage girl living under strict religious family beliefs after her fathers indiscretion, and moved them to a rural farm is abducted at the family’s food stand. She is freed and set free from her family and as she begins her new life she is asked by a state police officer for help looking for similarities is two missing girls. This helps her unravel her own abduction and begin a life.

Comments: McHugh writes a taught rural noir with great efficiency.  The story moves a clipped pace and she does a nice job avoiding getting bogged down anywhere in the novel. I was very excited to be able to receive and early copy and review it. Highly recommended. McHugh might be the best rural noir writing currently. The Weight of Blood is phenomenal. 

https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Done-Darkness-Laura-McHugh-ebook/dp/B08HLB8P1K

Robert B Parker’s Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins

 Robert B Parker’s Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary: Spenser and Hawk along with a possible new PI Mattie are on the trail of a high finance Uber rich man accused of abusing young girls. Set mostly in Boston with a few out of town settings Spenser is on the case. Think Epstein. 

Comments: Ace Atkins does this series in a fine way. Fast reading, great whit, and modern storylines. Good fun reading.

https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Parkers-Someone-Watch-Spenser-ebook/dp/B0852PG66H