Kevin G. ChapmanReseñas

I really enjoyed this book. The authors know how the police work when working a murder case and was very detailed and portrayed what they have to go through to catch a murderer and how the department sometimes gets in the way. This showed a racial basis in how people perceived others. You have two murders in the same night, it doesn’t appear to be the same murderer so it is treated differently, one is given full coverage by the news and the police and the other is not really looked at. I really liked how the author has each person involved looking inside themselves and their basis’s. A really good read that I would recommend. I received a free book and my views and opinions are my own.

The story is set in NYC following the murder of a female college student. We witness the aftermath of the police investigation (as in a usual crime novel) but the book goes a step further and we see how the media deals with the information, and the subsequent public response to it. It is an interesting look at how the media influences public opinion, but also how public opinion drives what is (and what isn’t) covered by the media. Naturally racism comes into play here. A related side story deals with police brutality. The book feels very topical. I found it interesting and well-written.
I was provided with an ARC (thanks to the author & publisher!) and I am voluntarily posting my honest review.

This book is thrilling, captivating, and gives a lot of insight into how much one event can shape and connect the lives of many different people. This book provides a much more complete and well-rounded perspective than the average mystery novel which I greatly appreciate! While it was a tad bit confusing to try to sort out who was who at first, it was absolutely worth it for the depth of the two murders in the book. (At least seven different characters all get the spotlight put on their perspective throughout the book). There were a few moments that were startlingly in the modern present which took me out of the case for a brief moment so do keep in mind this book does briefly discuss the pandemic.

The Other Murder by Kevin G. Chapman is an excellent police/journalism procedural novel. One team of police investigators, Dru and Mariana, and another team of investigative journalists, Paulo and Hannah, set out to solve a double murder one night in Washington Square Park in New York City. The two murders involve very different victims (Angelica and Javier) in terms of racial and socioeconomic characteristics. Initial assumptions about the crimes are made by the teams using these assumptions. Both teams are interested in details that will help solve the murders. The cops focus on carrying out the procedural orders of their law enforcement and political leaders. The journalists are more interested in following the direction of their editors to get the news out to the public via television and print media. Interaction of personality characteristics of the teams, their bosses, the victims, and the perpetrators determine priorities of investigations and actions. The novel is very well-written for good character development and exciting action.

Review of eBook

Basketball player Javier Estrada, on his way home after a pick-up game, hears a scream. He looks around; hearing a second scream, he turns and heads toward whoever it is that is in need of help.

Retired from the New York Police Department, Joe Malone, a security guard at New York University, heard the bang and decided to investigate. He knew the sound of a gunshot. Hearing a second gunshot, he called the local police precinct before heading out of the guard shack. At the clearing around the Hangman’s Elm, he found the girl.

Hannah Hawthorne, covering the story of the young girl’s shooting, finds herself in the midst of heightened media coverage and hopes her work will redeem her from the disastrous results of a previous story. At the same time, reporter Paulo Richardson, covering the story of the young basketball player’s death, soon finds himself teamed up with Hannah as they both search for a killer . . . and for the truth.

Will they be able to find the truth of what happened, of who murdered Angelica Monroe? And will their investigation reveal the reason for Javier’s murder?

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Anchored by a strong sense of place and nuanced, believable characters, the compelling narrative pulls the reader into the telling of the tale from the outset. The swift pace keeps the tension building as the plot takes some unexpected turns; they keep interest high as each of the characters exposes new information as the media story evolves.

Police investigations, story proposals, dark secrets, and surprising revelations change everything the readers think they know about the murders. The writing is first-rate; the danger, palpable. Readers will find it difficult to set this one aside before turning the final page.

Readers who enjoy thrillers will find much to appreciate here as the narrative races toward a denouement readers will find immensely satisfying.

Highly recommended.

Also included are thoughtful questions for book club discussions.

I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a fast-paced police drama pitting the investigative work of the police force against two young journalists, anxious for a story. I enjoyed the pace of the novel and how the storylines, while already intertwined, came together in the end. I wish there had been a more clear ending but sometimes it just cannot be. I loved the ending with epilogues for all the main characters, and also the book club questions.

I am grateful to the author and publisher for providing me with an advance copy of the book to read and review. The level of suspense was great and kept me interested in reading and finding out what transpired. I identified with the characters in this book. They were likeable, and I enjoyed watching them struggle to balance acting on impulse, looking at the big picture, and making the best choice considering the situation. The book was very detailed, and I felt like I was right there with the characters. This was a nice element, but at times the details were a bit drawn out. The book club discussion questions at the end of the book are a chef’s kiss! Overall, this book is the perfect police procedural read!

This book involved themes of how media shapes events and how even law enforcement panders to the politics of the time. Two journalists approached reporting in different ways. Hannah was more involved in respecting the hierarchy at the media based companies she worked for while Paulo saw journalism as a reflection of the community he lived in. The only criticism I have is the repetition by the characters in discussing socio economic matters. Overall interesting read

The Other Murder was well thought out and after a slow beginning the pace picked up and had me on the edge of my seat. There were a lot of characters, but each one was interesting and well written. There might have been too much editorializing about race in media and law enforcement, but it was still secondary to the story. Fans of mysteries that make you think will love this on.

A wild ride on a cruise ship draws two couples into crime solving. Fast-pacing, snappy dialogue, and distinctive characters drew me into the story through twists and turns to the exciting conclusion.

This award-winning novel will appeal to fans of Patterson as the body count grows and the vacationing detectives forgo their vacation plans.

Terrific murder mystery! Very well written. Great characters!

A must for Detective Stoneman Fans

I’m new to the Mike Stoneman novels having only read the latest one Perilous Gambit.

Usually if I read short stories they are of the one-off stand alone type where an interesting setup followed by a decent twist are the order of the day.

With this one the twist is obvious from the start but this isn’t the point of the story.

This is designed to show a weakness and a vulnerable side to Detective Stoneman and this serves to make him more human and ultimately a deeper richer character in the longer novels.

This is my first experience of a Mike Stoneman Thriller and I was impressed with the writing style and the pace of the book.

The book deals with the dark criminal underbelly of the city that never sleeps and highlights the racism and homophobia that still exists in the supposedly most civilised country in the world. At the same time it blends this with the fun reasons to visit Vegas

I liked the characters especially the supporting cast of Drag Queens, Mobsters, Lawyers & Vegas detectives.

With its easy to read style and its page turner pace this one kept me up until 1am in order to get some uninterrupted sleep without worrying what was going to happen.

Fun & Thrilling in equal measure.

Whoo this book was a ride. I don't often hear an author narrating their own book, but I have to admit Chapman did an amazing job! It was easy to follow the different characters, and I got sucked into the story before I knew what was happening. I'm sure most, (if not all), of us are familiar with recent-ish events in pro sports that have caused a lot of controversy. This was an interesting look at...what if. What if circumstances were a little different? What if it all ended in a horrific murder? I have to admit I was trying to guess who the murderer was right up until the big reveal. Just when I thought I had an idea where the story was going, another twist was thrown in. Cannot recommend enough for mystery and thriller lovers alike!

Sometimes you have to ask for forgiveness

When a twenty-year-old woman with a record for drugs and solicitation is found floating in the East River, everyone is ready to attribute her death to an accidental overdose. Everyone, that is, except Medical Examiner Michelle McNeill. She conveys her suspicions to her romantic interest, Detective Mike Stoneman. Since he’s rehabbing from injuries sustained in his last case and is not on active duty, Stoneman launches an investigation that’s part official, but mostly not. It’s driven by his and McNeill’s strong sense of right and wrong, with Stoneman’s partner, Jason Dickson, joining the cause. In addition to the overdose case, Dickson is working with a new, temporary partner, Ray McMillian, on a high-profile murder connected with a drugs and money laundering scheme. That case, too, erupts in violence, leaving Dickson juggling competing demands on his time and fighting office politics.

Together, these cases keep the action moving and the pages of Deadly Enterprise turning at a steady pace. Readers have insight behind the scenes, revealing a twisted world of corruption, murder, drugs, prostitution, and politics. The tension is palpable, as you’ll find yourself wondering how, when, or if Stoneman and Dickson can solve these cases while walking a tightrope between an official investigation and doing what’s right. Additionally, the romance between McNeill and Stoneman, started in the first book of the series, continues to develop, giving readers a chance to catch their breath in an enjoyable side story filled with the sights and sounds of New York City.

For me, part of the book’s draw comes from where on the continuum from do-right-by-the-victim to do-it-by-the-book Stoneman will fall. Initially, he’s pulled into the overdose investigation largely by McNeill’s concerns; he shares her suspicions but entertains other possibilities as well. As the story unfolds, demons from Dr. McNeill’s past keep her digging, with Stoneman becoming more and more immersed in acts that are certainly in a gray area of the law, if not illegal. How far will he go to make sure the guilty are caught? Far enough that he’s going to have to ask for forgiveness because he’ll never get permission for what he must do.

Overall, Deadly Enterprise is a taut, fast-paced crime thriller with plenty to think about after the last page is turned.

A Familiar Crime-Thriller Plot Implemented with Some Gruesome Action

Righteous Assassin features a dinosaur of a police detective (Detective Mike Stoneman) who has seen it all. He’s partnered with a young, ambitious rookie. Over the course of the story, he develops a romantic interest in an intelligent, attractive woman. And of course, he has a brilliant, psychotic, serial killer to chase. Sound familiar? If you’re a reader of crime thrillers, these threads should be. And so, the question becomes, how effectively are they implemented by the specifics of this book? For the most part, I’m happy to say, quite well with one ‘it depends’ on the list. That last factor is the author’s use of violence to provide much of the tension. You only need look at the first three sentences of the book’s synopsis to know that rather bizarre deaths play an important role in the story. The descriptions of those assassinations are often explicit, which may make the violence over-the-top for some readers. Be forewarned.

There are many factors, however, where I don’t need to equivocate. The writing is excellent, with a good mix of believable dialog and descriptive storytelling. The main characters – Stoneman, Detective Jason Dickson (the partner), and Dr. Michelle McNeill (the love interest and Medical Examiner) – are well developed, although the times Dr. McNeill ‘giggled’ seemed a bit out of place. The pacing was excellent. As the killer planned his murders for the last Saturday of the month, there was always a countdown to make the detectives sweat and to keep our stomachs in a knot. And there was even some humor that I enjoyed, such as Dickson trying to help Stoneman with his budding relationship with McNeill. But other quips, particularly some of the stationhouse humor, seemed a bit juvenile and crass.

Of the factors that could have used attention, a lack of realism in police procedure would be the top of my list. For example, knowing the killer had planned three escape routes from one assassination site, the four detectives and two building security officers covered exactly one entrance … and then, let the door slam. Of course, the killer escaped. Or in another place, the detectives knew the killer had been in the Army and they had a sample of his blood and yet, they never checked the military’s DNA database. Many of the leads they pursued, on the other hand, seemed destined to failure from the start – like tracing a name that was surely an alias. And finally, some of their breakthroughs seemed a bit too convenient, the connection to the Plagues of Egypt being an example. Even so, these limitations didn’t outweigh a very dynamic, gut-wrenching story.

Overall, Righteous Assassin is a somewhat prototypical, crime thriller that sets itself apart with excellent writing, good character development, edge-of-your-seat pacing, and significant, sometimes explicit violence. With greater attention to police procedure, its appeal could have been increased even further.

Chapman spins a good yarn about New York City private investigator Rick LaBlonde (in the first of presumably a series of detective novels). LaBlonde fits the mold of a Dashell Hammet / Ian Fleming hero, yet does not have the unflappable perfection of Sam Spade or James Bond, best exemplified when LaBlonde goes to a pick-up basketball game at the YMCA covered in protective gear. Yet, he does have an eye for ogling attractive young women and many make there way into his life. The plot’s a bit convoluted and becomes a bit ridiculous with the mob operating a “white slavery” ring by capturing young, single women in Bermuda. Yet the details and characterization help one overlook that and make for a fun read. Not great literature but an interesting page turner all the same (and certainly less ridiculous than say Angels & Demons).