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Lydia Chin & Bill Smith #8
Blood Ties
Some crimes strike too close to home...Private detective Bill Smith is hurtled headlong into the most provocative - and personal - case of his career when he receives a chilling late night telephone call from the NYPD. They're holding his fifteen-year-old nephew Gary. But before he can find out what's going on, Gary escapes Bill's custody and disappears into the dark and unfamiliar streets...With his partner, Lydia Chin, Bill tries to find the missing teen and uncover what it is that has led him so far from home. Their search takes them to Gary's family in a small town in New Jersey, where they discover that one of Gary's classmates was murdered. Bill and Lydia delve into the crime-only to find it eerily similar to a decades-old murder-suicide...Please this novel is published in the US as WINTER AND NIGHT.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2002
27 people are currently reading
568 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Rozan
127 books384 followersSJ Rozan, a native New Yorker, is the author of the Bill Smith and Lydia Chin detective series as well as several stand-alone novels. She has won the the Edgar, Nero, Macavity, Shamus and Anthony awards for Best Novel and the Edgar award for Best Short Story. She is a former Mystery Writers of America National Board member, a current Sisters in Crime National Board member, and President of the Private Eye Writers of America. In January 2003 she was an invited speaker at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In February 2005 she will be Guest of Honor at the Left Coast Crime convention in El Paso, Texas. A former architect in a practice that focussed on police stations, firehouses, and zoos, SJ Rozan was born and raised in the Bronx. She currently lives in Greenwich Village, New York. (from the author's website)"
S.J. Rozan has a B.A. from Oberlin College and M.Arch from SUNY/Buffalo
S.J. Rozan has a B.A. from Oberlin College and M.Arch from SUNY/Buffalo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
September 10, 2014
It was hard to chose between a three and a four. This book was dark, and from Bill's point of view instead of Lydia. The plot was fine but the theme was too dark for me.
December 16, 2015
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader, to read more like this -- drop by and make yourself at home.
---
On the whole, I enjoy the Lydia Chin novels in this series more than the Bill Smith ones, while I'd say the Bill Smith novels are better novels. Winter and Night was the best of both worlds -- it was probably the best written in the series, and I really enjoyed it.
Bill gets a call in the middle of the night to come help a teen that the NYPD has taken into custody. He does brings the kid, Gary, home with him and hears a vague sob story about how Gary's just trying to help, trying to do the right thing. And then he runs away. Bill gets Lydia to start looking for Gary in NYC while he goes to check out the kid's hometown.
There's more wrong in the small town Gary ran from than just a missing kid. This little town is football-crazy, I'm talking Texas football crazy, the kind of thing you think King of the Hill and Friday Night Lights is making too much of, but start to wonder if they're not. Then there's a dead high schooler. And seemingly every person in the town is telling Bill not to think that this had anything to do with a rape and murder over 20 years ago. Which, just gets him wondering, naturally.
This case gets under Bill's skin, hitting close to home, and worse. Lydia compares him to a patched-up furnace that's about to explode. He gets pretty close a couple of times, actually. Making this a rougher, more raw, more violent story (not that Bill's books are absent violence). Because this is so close to him, he makes some really dumb mistakes -- Bill, Lydia and the police spend a few chapters trying to prevent a crime that's just not going to happen, and I spent far too much time annoyed with them from not seeing things are clearly as I could.
How does Rozan do it? Seriously, you get the same two characters in two different novels or four different always know each taking the lead and is like it's two different series. You know, there's a certain feel when you read a Robert Crais book -- Elvis Cole book or a Joe Pike book, the books are different, and the two protagonists/narrative voiced are different. But you can tell they're by the same writer. Not the case here -- at all -- it's not even close. If you told me the two different people writing the series I'd absolutely believe you.
For my money, this is the best in the series (so far). Thoughtful, suspenseful, moody . . . everything you want in a P. I. novel.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader, to read more like this -- drop by and make yourself at home.
---
On the whole, I enjoy the Lydia Chin novels in this series more than the Bill Smith ones, while I'd say the Bill Smith novels are better novels. Winter and Night was the best of both worlds -- it was probably the best written in the series, and I really enjoyed it.
Bill gets a call in the middle of the night to come help a teen that the NYPD has taken into custody. He does brings the kid, Gary, home with him and hears a vague sob story about how Gary's just trying to help, trying to do the right thing. And then he runs away. Bill gets Lydia to start looking for Gary in NYC while he goes to check out the kid's hometown.
There's more wrong in the small town Gary ran from than just a missing kid. This little town is football-crazy, I'm talking Texas football crazy, the kind of thing you think King of the Hill and Friday Night Lights is making too much of, but start to wonder if they're not. Then there's a dead high schooler. And seemingly every person in the town is telling Bill not to think that this had anything to do with a rape and murder over 20 years ago. Which, just gets him wondering, naturally.
This case gets under Bill's skin, hitting close to home, and worse. Lydia compares him to a patched-up furnace that's about to explode. He gets pretty close a couple of times, actually. Making this a rougher, more raw, more violent story (not that Bill's books are absent violence). Because this is so close to him, he makes some really dumb mistakes -- Bill, Lydia and the police spend a few chapters trying to prevent a crime that's just not going to happen, and I spent far too much time annoyed with them from not seeing things are clearly as I could.
How does Rozan do it? Seriously, you get the same two characters in two different novels or four different always know each taking the lead and is like it's two different series. You know, there's a certain feel when you read a Robert Crais book -- Elvis Cole book or a Joe Pike book, the books are different, and the two protagonists/narrative voiced are different. But you can tell they're by the same writer. Not the case here -- at all -- it's not even close. If you told me the two different people writing the series I'd absolutely believe you.
For my money, this is the best in the series (so far). Thoughtful, suspenseful, moody . . . everything you want in a P. I. novel.
March 8, 2016
I am interviewing S. J. Rozan on Saturday, so I am reading all of her books. Because of snafus at two libraries, I fell behind and an now having to scramble to read the end of the series before Saturday. I was really nervous about this. I am a very fast reader, but I have work and animals, but man, if they keep being like this book, I have nothing to worry about. It was like being in a speeding car, uncertain as to whether I would survive. Man, this book was exciting and upsetting and aggravating all at the same time. This was a Bill book, and the revelations about his family secrets explains a lot. I also like the evolution of his relationship with Lydia. Terrific series.
January 11, 2022
Riveting & heartbreaking! Another worthy episode in an excellent series. This story was told from Bill's point of view & provides insight into Bill's dysfunctional family & hurtful past. The mystery highlights the poignant struggle of outsider kids (creatives, nerds, freaks) in a high school & town that pander to athlete superstars with no moral compass. The tone is dark & moody, like Bill, with touches of humor & support from Lydia. I especially enjoyed the girl reporter, a savvy high school newspaper editor with dreams of winning a pulitzer. I binge-listened & the story went by too soon :)
December 2, 2010
This was my first S.J. Rozan and I am hooked. Her main characters Bill Smith and Lydia Chin work well as partners lending each other strength, wisdom, experience and the ability to analyze and solve complicated mysteries. The main villian of the book is football. Or at least the overwhelming influence of football victories on the lives of the average citizen besides, players, coaches and parents. Evil, evil football.
February 27, 2021
My First S/J.Rozan experience. And wow, did I ever enjoy it.
It's a page-turner as you keep trying to figure out the multiple mysteries. What got me was the detailed, inside the scenes American Male's obsession with the game of football. Why? Because, well, Rozan wrote about it from a first person's narrative as Bill Smith - and Rozan's a gal! Just shows how great writers can write from the perspective of any gender they want.
My only time complaint was there were too many characters to keep track of. Don't think she needed that many to tell this fascinating story.
All in all, I was very impressed. Loved the inner workings of the small town, Stacie the news reporter, Bill and Lydia Smith ( great team), Sullivan, Hamlin, Ryder, such great character development.
I have already ordered my second S.J.Rozan book of this Smith and Chin series which I will read next,
It's a page-turner as you keep trying to figure out the multiple mysteries. What got me was the detailed, inside the scenes American Male's obsession with the game of football. Why? Because, well, Rozan wrote about it from a first person's narrative as Bill Smith - and Rozan's a gal! Just shows how great writers can write from the perspective of any gender they want.
My only time complaint was there were too many characters to keep track of. Don't think she needed that many to tell this fascinating story.
All in all, I was very impressed. Loved the inner workings of the small town, Stacie the news reporter, Bill and Lydia Smith ( great team), Sullivan, Hamlin, Ryder, such great character development.
I have already ordered my second S.J.Rozan book of this Smith and Chin series which I will read next,
September 12, 2020
Winter and Night was a big surprise for me. I had forgotten about this series. Actually no, I haven’t forgotten about this series I thought it had ended so color me surprised when I tripped upon it when I was scrolling around looking for something new to read. I remember it being very entertaining and I loved the protagonists. Guess what? I still do. This is had the feel of a real detective story. I got a charge from the banter between Lydia & Bill and anything that came out of Stacy’s mouth. The mystery was classic. I was satisfied.
July 27, 2021
Solid, very solid. Bill Smith/ Lydia Chin book number eight is incredibly hard to put down. A more Smith than Chin read, a sizzling plot with some colorful supporting characters delivers from page one through it's conclusion. This is the third Smith/ Chin book I've now read. (found them quite by accident in a used book store). A series I would very much like to get more into. Curiously I don't see available via Kindle. This series is a must pick up. Check it out.
January 5, 2018
The title Winter and Night comes from a poem by William Blake. It doesn't appear to have much to do with this book but Google gives a reference that in this poem, the phrase "winter and night" means death.
"Your spring and your day, are wasted in play. And your winter and night in disguise" Spring and Day are used as metaphor for life, and winter and night a metaphor for death, when people return to the Earth, but are lost to other people.
Winter and Night is the eighth entry in S. J. Rozan's series of Bill Smith/Lydia Chin mysteries. The plot is quite far-fetched, especially the subsidiary matter of the football camp. However, Rozan is such a good writer that it really didn't bother me.
Chin and Smith are both fine characters. The semi-romance between them never gets in the way of the story. Of the other characters, my favorite is the high-school "girl reporter," Stacie Phillips.
Usually when one of the volumes of a mystery series wins a "Best Novel" Edgar Award, as Winter and Night did, I don't think that the winner is the best book in the series. This is true of Winter and Night as well. This is a good book but not, I think, a truly outstanding one.
"Your spring and your day, are wasted in play. And your winter and night in disguise" Spring and Day are used as metaphor for life, and winter and night a metaphor for death, when people return to the Earth, but are lost to other people.
Winter and Night is the eighth entry in S. J. Rozan's series of Bill Smith/Lydia Chin mysteries. The plot is quite far-fetched, especially the subsidiary matter of the football camp. However, Rozan is such a good writer that it really didn't bother me.
Chin and Smith are both fine characters. The semi-romance between them never gets in the way of the story. Of the other characters, my favorite is the high-school "girl reporter," Stacie Phillips.
Usually when one of the volumes of a mystery series wins a "Best Novel" Edgar Award, as Winter and Night did, I don't think that the winner is the best book in the series. This is true of Winter and Night as well. This is a good book but not, I think, a truly outstanding one.
January 29, 2009
What an amazing book! I read it before, when it came out in 2002, but forgot what an intense read it was. This book is told from Bill Smith's point-of-view, and is the story of his nephew who wants to do the right thing, but is first picked up by the police, then given into Bill's custody; Gary runs away from Bill in order to finish what he started. It takes Bill, and his partner Lydia Chin, down quite a long path to find Gary; through Bill's past, his relationships with his father and his sister, and through the past of the town where Gary is living. Bill's brother-in-law moved the family to Warrenstown, the place where he grew up, so that Gary could participate in the football program at the high school. Warrenstown is a place that lives, breathes and dies by its winning high school football team, and the team players can do no wrong--neither in the past or the present. Gary, despite being on the "right" side of the equation, has a sense of fairness in him that makes him realize that being a jock and looking down on the rest of his peers is not what he really wants, despite being new, and on his way to being accepted. A past criminal situation emerges that involved football players 23 years ago, even as a new situation evolves in the present day. It takes everything that Bill and Lydia have to figure out where the path is leading, and to race against time to prevent a terrible occurrance.
I love this series, and these characters--Rozan's newest book in this series is Shanghai Moon, due out in the next few weeks. If you haven't already read this series, I strongly suggest that you do so!
An aside: a friend of mine bid in a charity auction to have his name used in the book, and prior to its publication, Ms. Rozan told him his name is "all over the book". And it is, quite cleverly--my friend is Gary Warren Niebuhr. Gary is the name of Bill Smith's nephew, Warrenstown is where much of the story plays out, and Niebuhr is the name of another main character. I loved this!
I love this series, and these characters--Rozan's newest book in this series is Shanghai Moon, due out in the next few weeks. If you haven't already read this series, I strongly suggest that you do so!
An aside: a friend of mine bid in a charity auction to have his name used in the book, and prior to its publication, Ms. Rozan told him his name is "all over the book". And it is, quite cleverly--my friend is Gary Warren Niebuhr. Gary is the name of Bill Smith's nephew, Warrenstown is where much of the story plays out, and Niebuhr is the name of another main character. I loved this!
November 4, 2019
I really liked some of the writing early on. Page 2: Great scene in a taxicab in NYC where the narrator describes the little stories he/she glimpses as “he” rides through the city. Fascinating.
He/she? I never believed the voice was male, even though it is first-person and the lead character is a man. Sounds too feminine. On Page 19 is the line: “I dropped myself on the couch, suddenly drained, exhausted.” Men don’t think like this. This is a woman's line.
Bill, the PI, smokes, which is disgusting, and he seems enthralled by his own addiction. Turns me off. Makes Bill less interesting and less sympathetic.
I finally gave up on Page 110. Turns into a shaggy-dog story. I got tired of Uncle Bill chasing after his nephew from place to place. Felt like a dog chasing its own tail in circles.
The portraits or profiles of toxic masculinity in football programs and the big training camp are mildly interesting and true probably, but I couldn’t see the relevance to the mission: find Gary.
I just didn’t care if Uncle Bill ever found Gary or not.
In short, instead of energizing me to keep me reading, the narrative left me “suddenly drained, exhausted.”
He/she? I never believed the voice was male, even though it is first-person and the lead character is a man. Sounds too feminine. On Page 19 is the line: “I dropped myself on the couch, suddenly drained, exhausted.” Men don’t think like this. This is a woman's line.
Bill, the PI, smokes, which is disgusting, and he seems enthralled by his own addiction. Turns me off. Makes Bill less interesting and less sympathetic.
I finally gave up on Page 110. Turns into a shaggy-dog story. I got tired of Uncle Bill chasing after his nephew from place to place. Felt like a dog chasing its own tail in circles.
The portraits or profiles of toxic masculinity in football programs and the big training camp are mildly interesting and true probably, but I couldn’t see the relevance to the mission: find Gary.
I just didn’t care if Uncle Bill ever found Gary or not.
In short, instead of energizing me to keep me reading, the narrative left me “suddenly drained, exhausted.”
June 15, 2016
Really liked this one. Protagonist Bill Smith, a maker's-mark-swigging-Bach-listening Private Investigator, deals with some salty characters in this novel. He is contacted by his nephew who is picked up by local police. His nephew, Gary, is released to him, however escapes before Uncle Bill can obtain an answer from Gary about an explanation for his escapades. Uncle Bill goes after him delving into the past lives of those he encounters. The trail of evidence leads him from a small town in New Jersey, back to Metropolitan New York, and beyond to Long Island. Lydia Chin, his partner, accompanies him to keep him true. The climatic ending is somewhat predictable. The denouement is enjoyable. I recommend it.
October 6, 2012
I raced through this book, loving the tight writing and subtle messaging/plotting and great character development, assuming this would be a "5" experience without a doubt. And then... and then... the whole damn train nearly fell off the track near the end and wound up clacking ineffectively into whatever station it thought it was headed to. What a huge disappointment this book turned out to be -- so much so that it made me angry as I finished. I'd give it a "2" if I hadn't enjoyed the journey so much before the train wreck.
July 13, 2012
Setting: Warrenstown, New Jersey; New Yor
Theme: family, dysfunctional families, anger, lies, high school angst
Characters:
Bill Smith – Bill’s point of view – we get another glimpse into his tough past… the family moved around a lot as they followed their father’s military assignments – and his father physically abused him, his mother, and his sister… when he was 15 (and getting into a lot of trouble) Mom finally decided to stand up to dad and returned to New York to stay with her brother the policeman – and dad couldn’t join them for 2 months – the best 2 months of Bill’s life… but dad showed up, beatings began, sister ran away – calling in once in a while… dad went crazy and beat Bill repeatedly, convinced he knew something about where sister was (breaking rib, arm, skull, etc. – almost killing him) – in the hospital, he refused to see his mother or father, only Uncle Dave – and he requests that Dave help him bring charges against his father – he does so with the hope of his sister returning, but the one time his sister called him it was to ask him to stop the suit… he didn’t, his dad spent 3 years in jail… his sister did not come home… he is angry at his sister, he is angry at his parents, he is guilty about his dad.
Bill gets to confront his past when his 15 year old nephew is arrested, and he is called to claim him… but his nephew leaves his apartment within an hour – and Bill spends the rest of the book trying to locate him, uncovering an old crime in Warrenstown and investigating new crimes in Warrenstown.
Warrenstown – has a distinctive personality… high school football is the be all and end all, and for 3 decades (at least) the football team has terrorized the non football, nerdy students. Too many people turn a blind eye to their doings, giving them carte blanche.
Dave McGuire – Bill’s uncle, highly regarded police detective, took Bill in at 15 and weathered his rebellions; Bill still afforded some good will from the police who remember Dave.
Gary Russell – Bill’s 15 year old nephew. Bill had very little contact with him (dad forbad contact with him). At 15, the family moved back to Scott’s hometown of Warrenstown. Over the summer he makes friends with Paul and Tory – but when school starts, he tries out for the football team, and is impressive… so he’s taken in by the team, and drops contact with Paul and Tory who are not cool (though he did bring Paul’s skateboard back when a few guys on the team had stolen it)… when Paul warns him to stay away from the Senior vs rest of team game in a week, Gary thinks he knows what he’s planning and heads to New York to stop him – remembering his dad teaching him that ratting out a friend is the worst, but needing to do something to stop him. He is unable to tell Bill the truth, giving what his father taught him. Gary also recognizes his wrongness in turning his back on non football students/friends. Gary is more sensitive and proactive than his dad.
Helen Russell – Bill’s sister – passive, obedient to her husband, worried for her son… never offers any explanation or apology or thanks to Bill.
Scott Russell - Bill’s brother in law – a bit too much like Bill’s dad – controlling, moving around, perhaps too physical. He strongly dislikes Bill – in part because he agreed with Bill’s sister that he should not have pressed charges against his dad, and in part because at the same age, he had given in to peer pressure and lied about seeing the football captain arguing with a student who was raped that night in trade for starting in the homecoming game – and he justified it by not being a snitch, but feels short in comparison to Bill’s standing up to his dad… and when Bill starts to look for Gary, he repeatedly warns him off – not just because he doesn’t like him, but also because Macphearson (whom he covered for in high school) threatens him.
Tory – summer friend of Gary, wants so badly to be accepted… she promised Ecstasy, but her connection didn’t come through - to she goes to the coach (who is supplying steroids to the team) and thinks she’s being subtle, tells him she knows the truth about him, so he should get her the drugs. He thinks she is talking about his part in covering up the rape of a student 20+ years earlier… and when Gary disappears, and Bill starts investigating, makes some think they are the real target- another can of worms.
Paul Niebuhr / Premador – Paul keeps warning Tory it is fruitless, as Tory desperately works toward acceptance, and starts getting drugs for the football team… she invites them to her house when parent’s gone with promise of Ecstasy but did not have it… he was waiting outside, and after the party, he goes into the house and finds Tory maybe raped (at least lots of sex), and dead. He takes off (to buy guns, to him – as Gary was not quite like the rest of the team. His screen name is Premador – a Japanese magna character – a good mutant that turns bad when everyone messes with his head.
Lydia Chin – the voice (and touch) of reason as Bill struggles with his almost unmanageable emotions… she listens to him, she pushes him to share, she helps him with the case, she accept him, she stops him when he loses his temper (though the last time, we weren’t sure he would stop) with his brother in law (father baggage)… she poses as a reporter to talk with the kids at the park…
Stacie Phillips – school reporter – her enthusiasm and persistence and help impress Bill. She is beat up pretty badly, with the attacker asking her ‘what do you know’ over and over.
Al Macpherson – 20 years ago he raped a girl after a party, and with the coach’s assistance and manipulation of Scott, they railroad a ‘geek’ – and the team terrorizes the geek until with the threat of jail and the abuse, he commits suicide, not giving them the victory… He’s now a lawyer, and still rules the town. His son is on the football team.
Detective Sullivan – Warrenstown police – solid – investigating… honest with Bill, but wants Bill to keep away from his town.
Coach Ryder – aggressive, mean, steroid pushing, winning is all, immoral, power hungry, foul mouthed
Tom Hamlin / Nick Dalton – 20 years ago, Nick was the nerdy friend of the student accused of rape and who committed suicide. Before his friend took his life, he deputized Nick with the task of revenge. Nick went into the armed services for 3 years, honorable discharge, and disappeared… and Tom Hamlin appeared – spent 5 years bulking up, working out, working at a football camp, saving money – and then he opened Hamlin’s Football camp, just outside of Warrenstown… and over the years has become the premier place to train football players. After the football season, he runs a week where the Seniors from schools (especially Warrenstown) come to a camp in prep for college (no contact with anyone during that week), and at week’s end with them playing the Juniors from Warrenstown… and Hamlin runs the camp like Ryder times ten, making men of boys… and he is quite proud of the money he gets from the parents to mistreat their sons, and of ex Hamlin grads such as the one who became Senator and was involved with an underage woman… etc.
Summary:
Lydia and Bill put together the clues that indicate that Paul and maybe Gary are planning a ‘Columbine’ on Warrenstown school… and unfortunately as Bill’s investigation includes the events of 20 years ago, those involved 20 years ago react, making it all a disaster (the beating up of Stacie, and the shooting of Paul)…
At not being able to protect Paul, and Gary’s being shot in the knee and maybe not being able to walk again, Bill goes into 12 hours of mindless despair… and the only light comes at the end when Sullivan calls him and pushes him to give Stacie the information she needs to write incredible articles about the truth of the people involved, and salvage things to some degree.
Overall, a depressing book – people acting and reacting without a sense of honor, and to not so good pasts never dealt with.
Theme: family, dysfunctional families, anger, lies, high school angst
Characters:
Bill Smith – Bill’s point of view – we get another glimpse into his tough past… the family moved around a lot as they followed their father’s military assignments – and his father physically abused him, his mother, and his sister… when he was 15 (and getting into a lot of trouble) Mom finally decided to stand up to dad and returned to New York to stay with her brother the policeman – and dad couldn’t join them for 2 months – the best 2 months of Bill’s life… but dad showed up, beatings began, sister ran away – calling in once in a while… dad went crazy and beat Bill repeatedly, convinced he knew something about where sister was (breaking rib, arm, skull, etc. – almost killing him) – in the hospital, he refused to see his mother or father, only Uncle Dave – and he requests that Dave help him bring charges against his father – he does so with the hope of his sister returning, but the one time his sister called him it was to ask him to stop the suit… he didn’t, his dad spent 3 years in jail… his sister did not come home… he is angry at his sister, he is angry at his parents, he is guilty about his dad.
Bill gets to confront his past when his 15 year old nephew is arrested, and he is called to claim him… but his nephew leaves his apartment within an hour – and Bill spends the rest of the book trying to locate him, uncovering an old crime in Warrenstown and investigating new crimes in Warrenstown.
Warrenstown – has a distinctive personality… high school football is the be all and end all, and for 3 decades (at least) the football team has terrorized the non football, nerdy students. Too many people turn a blind eye to their doings, giving them carte blanche.
Dave McGuire – Bill’s uncle, highly regarded police detective, took Bill in at 15 and weathered his rebellions; Bill still afforded some good will from the police who remember Dave.
Gary Russell – Bill’s 15 year old nephew. Bill had very little contact with him (dad forbad contact with him). At 15, the family moved back to Scott’s hometown of Warrenstown. Over the summer he makes friends with Paul and Tory – but when school starts, he tries out for the football team, and is impressive… so he’s taken in by the team, and drops contact with Paul and Tory who are not cool (though he did bring Paul’s skateboard back when a few guys on the team had stolen it)… when Paul warns him to stay away from the Senior vs rest of team game in a week, Gary thinks he knows what he’s planning and heads to New York to stop him – remembering his dad teaching him that ratting out a friend is the worst, but needing to do something to stop him. He is unable to tell Bill the truth, giving what his father taught him. Gary also recognizes his wrongness in turning his back on non football students/friends. Gary is more sensitive and proactive than his dad.
Helen Russell – Bill’s sister – passive, obedient to her husband, worried for her son… never offers any explanation or apology or thanks to Bill.
Scott Russell - Bill’s brother in law – a bit too much like Bill’s dad – controlling, moving around, perhaps too physical. He strongly dislikes Bill – in part because he agreed with Bill’s sister that he should not have pressed charges against his dad, and in part because at the same age, he had given in to peer pressure and lied about seeing the football captain arguing with a student who was raped that night in trade for starting in the homecoming game – and he justified it by not being a snitch, but feels short in comparison to Bill’s standing up to his dad… and when Bill starts to look for Gary, he repeatedly warns him off – not just because he doesn’t like him, but also because Macphearson (whom he covered for in high school) threatens him.
Tory – summer friend of Gary, wants so badly to be accepted… she promised Ecstasy, but her connection didn’t come through - to she goes to the coach (who is supplying steroids to the team) and thinks she’s being subtle, tells him she knows the truth about him, so he should get her the drugs. He thinks she is talking about his part in covering up the rape of a student 20+ years earlier… and when Gary disappears, and Bill starts investigating, makes some think they are the real target- another can of worms.
Paul Niebuhr / Premador – Paul keeps warning Tory it is fruitless, as Tory desperately works toward acceptance, and starts getting drugs for the football team… she invites them to her house when parent’s gone with promise of Ecstasy but did not have it… he was waiting outside, and after the party, he goes into the house and finds Tory maybe raped (at least lots of sex), and dead. He takes off (to buy guns, to him – as Gary was not quite like the rest of the team. His screen name is Premador – a Japanese magna character – a good mutant that turns bad when everyone messes with his head.
Lydia Chin – the voice (and touch) of reason as Bill struggles with his almost unmanageable emotions… she listens to him, she pushes him to share, she helps him with the case, she accept him, she stops him when he loses his temper (though the last time, we weren’t sure he would stop) with his brother in law (father baggage)… she poses as a reporter to talk with the kids at the park…
Stacie Phillips – school reporter – her enthusiasm and persistence and help impress Bill. She is beat up pretty badly, with the attacker asking her ‘what do you know’ over and over.
Al Macpherson – 20 years ago he raped a girl after a party, and with the coach’s assistance and manipulation of Scott, they railroad a ‘geek’ – and the team terrorizes the geek until with the threat of jail and the abuse, he commits suicide, not giving them the victory… He’s now a lawyer, and still rules the town. His son is on the football team.
Detective Sullivan – Warrenstown police – solid – investigating… honest with Bill, but wants Bill to keep away from his town.
Coach Ryder – aggressive, mean, steroid pushing, winning is all, immoral, power hungry, foul mouthed
Tom Hamlin / Nick Dalton – 20 years ago, Nick was the nerdy friend of the student accused of rape and who committed suicide. Before his friend took his life, he deputized Nick with the task of revenge. Nick went into the armed services for 3 years, honorable discharge, and disappeared… and Tom Hamlin appeared – spent 5 years bulking up, working out, working at a football camp, saving money – and then he opened Hamlin’s Football camp, just outside of Warrenstown… and over the years has become the premier place to train football players. After the football season, he runs a week where the Seniors from schools (especially Warrenstown) come to a camp in prep for college (no contact with anyone during that week), and at week’s end with them playing the Juniors from Warrenstown… and Hamlin runs the camp like Ryder times ten, making men of boys… and he is quite proud of the money he gets from the parents to mistreat their sons, and of ex Hamlin grads such as the one who became Senator and was involved with an underage woman… etc.
Summary:
Lydia and Bill put together the clues that indicate that Paul and maybe Gary are planning a ‘Columbine’ on Warrenstown school… and unfortunately as Bill’s investigation includes the events of 20 years ago, those involved 20 years ago react, making it all a disaster (the beating up of Stacie, and the shooting of Paul)…
At not being able to protect Paul, and Gary’s being shot in the knee and maybe not being able to walk again, Bill goes into 12 hours of mindless despair… and the only light comes at the end when Sullivan calls him and pushes him to give Stacie the information she needs to write incredible articles about the truth of the people involved, and salvage things to some degree.
Overall, a depressing book – people acting and reacting without a sense of honor, and to not so good pasts never dealt with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2023
This won the Macavity and Edgar awards for best novel in 2003. I can see why they chose this. I could not put it down. I literally locked my iPad in a desk drawer and put the key in my wife’s safekeeping until after a Microsoft Teams staff meeting. Thank Heaven undisciplined wretches such as I have a support network to fall back on that allows me to at least pretend to assimilate the overall characteristics of adulthood. (Not that you care, but the staff meeting bored me in ways I can’t appropriately describe here, and I was never more thrilled than when lunchtime came, and I could rescue the iPad from its forlorn drawer.)
This entire series has been a joy to read, and I’m not yet done with it. If you’ve not considered delving into the series about a middle-aged sadly thoughtful sometimes-cynical white guy and his youthful female Chinese partner, you’re missing out on some excellent mystery reading.
Gary Russell has fled his house in New Jersey and made his way to New York City. That’s where Bill Smith and Lydia Chin live—she with her traditional Chinese mother, he with his many demons. Bill Smith is Gary’s uncle, but they’ve not had contact since the boy was small. He’s now a teenager as the book opens.
There’s a reason Gary ran from home, and it connects to a rape and suicide that happened in his town decades earlier. If you read this, the connection will become clear. Gary’s life is in danger, and a young friend of his wants to pull off something more spectacular than Columbine. The clock is ticking, it’s a race in which emotions run way high, especially bill Smith’s. He nearly falls apart solving this case, and Lydia’s courage and good sense is the only thing that keeps him from shattering.
This is not a cozy mystery. It’s dark, and it’s oh, so memorable! The supporting characters are worth reading about—especially the teenage girl who wants to win a Pulitzer as rapidly as she can. She is as tenacious a reporter as many adults who have been at it for a long time.
I also appreciate the direction the relationship between Smith and Chin seems to be going. This entry in the series deserves every award it got, and I’m looking forward to the next book in a few months.
This entire series has been a joy to read, and I’m not yet done with it. If you’ve not considered delving into the series about a middle-aged sadly thoughtful sometimes-cynical white guy and his youthful female Chinese partner, you’re missing out on some excellent mystery reading.
Gary Russell has fled his house in New Jersey and made his way to New York City. That’s where Bill Smith and Lydia Chin live—she with her traditional Chinese mother, he with his many demons. Bill Smith is Gary’s uncle, but they’ve not had contact since the boy was small. He’s now a teenager as the book opens.
There’s a reason Gary ran from home, and it connects to a rape and suicide that happened in his town decades earlier. If you read this, the connection will become clear. Gary’s life is in danger, and a young friend of his wants to pull off something more spectacular than Columbine. The clock is ticking, it’s a race in which emotions run way high, especially bill Smith’s. He nearly falls apart solving this case, and Lydia’s courage and good sense is the only thing that keeps him from shattering.
This is not a cozy mystery. It’s dark, and it’s oh, so memorable! The supporting characters are worth reading about—especially the teenage girl who wants to win a Pulitzer as rapidly as she can. She is as tenacious a reporter as many adults who have been at it for a long time.
I also appreciate the direction the relationship between Smith and Chin seems to be going. This entry in the series deserves every award it got, and I’m looking forward to the next book in a few months.
August 28, 2018
I moaned and griped about the constant, and truly, I mean constant swearing.
But there were 10 disks and although I was still aware of that, the story became very interesting and really good. A well thought out story, and very satisfying.
And one more thought.... it came to me this also is a story about the underdogs, the little guys, or girls, who are not part of the jock crowd. The ones who get ignored or picked on shamelessly. It happens everywhere. The little skinny kids, who go through school as quietly as possible not to be noticed and so not to be the victim of bullying. This town was so involved in their jocks and their football, many things, murder included was ignored and covered up. Shameful. Despicable. Sad. Sad. Sad.
But there were 10 disks and although I was still aware of that, the story became very interesting and really good. A well thought out story, and very satisfying.
And one more thought.... it came to me this also is a story about the underdogs, the little guys, or girls, who are not part of the jock crowd. The ones who get ignored or picked on shamelessly. It happens everywhere. The little skinny kids, who go through school as quietly as possible not to be noticed and so not to be the victim of bullying. This town was so involved in their jocks and their football, many things, murder included was ignored and covered up. Shameful. Despicable. Sad. Sad. Sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2020
Ah, high school sports! I thought this type of football fervor only existed in Texas. (Sorry Peggy).
I liked the character development in the book, but the writing was more interesting. A very "noir" feeling. The descriptions all seemed to be shades of gray - not much color. It could have used a little bit more editing, for example, pg 8 "two flights to my place"; pg 12 "we're three floors up". Pg 13 "lowered himself out, dropped to the alley." Not sure if there is a difference between flight and floor. Either way, it seemed a long way for a kid to drop! One of my favorite characters was the young reporter, Stacie. She was a wheeler dealer and made me laugh. I might pick up the first in the series to get a little more background on Smith and Chin.
I liked the character development in the book, but the writing was more interesting. A very "noir" feeling. The descriptions all seemed to be shades of gray - not much color. It could have used a little bit more editing, for example, pg 8 "two flights to my place"; pg 12 "we're three floors up". Pg 13 "lowered himself out, dropped to the alley." Not sure if there is a difference between flight and floor. Either way, it seemed a long way for a kid to drop! One of my favorite characters was the young reporter, Stacie. She was a wheeler dealer and made me laugh. I might pick up the first in the series to get a little more background on Smith and Chin.
September 25, 2017
This is the first of this series I have read but I plan to read more----I was drawn in by a comment on the back of the book saying "this woman can write!!!" and I certainly agree. Bill's nephew is picked up by the police and they call Bill but he soon disappears. Bill has been estranged from his sister and her family for many years and he's determined to find out what the nephew is up to---and this leads to a small town in New Jersey where football and the "jocks" rule not only the high school but as they grow up, the town. Soon a girl is found dead, which recalls a similar event 23 years ago.
February 16, 2020
Bill gets a call from his nephew, asking for help. He at the police station. Bill takes him to his house, bit he leaves, dropping 3 floors, out the window. Bill has to tell his sister that he had found her son, but let him get away. Her husband blames Bill. Bill goes back to his hometown, trying to discover why he had run away. In the town, football, is everything. The football players rule the school, and the town. Bill goes to talk to a girl that his nephew dated a few times. He finds her dead, the house wrecked. Everything goes back to a rape and murder that happened 20 years ago.
April 5, 2021
This was the first book I had read by this author. I received the Audible title as recompense for a class action lawsuit and listened over a period of weeks. I was not particularly interested in the sports-themed subject matter, but I liked the protagonists, and the plot played well, although I was not familiar with the backstory of Bill's family problems, which were referenced in the book many times but never detailed.
The narrator was excellent in every way. I really enjoyed his reading, and he expertly brought the characters to life for me. There was lots of gratuitous blue language, so if that offends you I would pass on this one.
The narrator was excellent in every way. I really enjoyed his reading, and he expertly brought the characters to life for me. There was lots of gratuitous blue language, so if that offends you I would pass on this one.
March 2, 2020
From the Lydia Chin / Bill Smith detective series, this one is narrated by Bill. We learn a lot more of his interesting backstory when he comes to the aid of his nephew, a jock whose family recently moved to the father’s childhood town. Much like Bill’s brother-in-law, Scott, it’s a corrupt, football-first town that has secrets to hide.
Only the middle part of the novel has the humor and witty banter that I enjoy in the series, but it’s still a solid detective story and we see Lydia and Bill grow increasingly close. If only her mother would approve....
Only the middle part of the novel has the humor and witty banter that I enjoy in the series, but it’s still a solid detective story and we see Lydia and Bill grow increasingly close. If only her mother would approve....
April 22, 2020
I jumped into this book after I read a Sidney Sheldon's The Best Laid Plan.
Do not read this after reading Sidney Sheldon.
An investigation into the murder of a young girl, Tory, in Warrenstown reveals the small town's past and how it affects the present.
Blood Ties started out great, was a little slow in the middle and the end was okay. Although I had thought it would have ended better. The writing is fantastic. Her level of detail and thought-process puts you in the scene easily and she focuses on the protagonists as it should be.
Do not read this after reading Sidney Sheldon.
An investigation into the murder of a young girl, Tory, in Warrenstown reveals the small town's past and how it affects the present.
Blood Ties started out great, was a little slow in the middle and the end was okay. Although I had thought it would have ended better. The writing is fantastic. Her level of detail and thought-process puts you in the scene easily and she focuses on the protagonists as it should be.
August 4, 2017
This was a well written book and interesting story. My volunteer, Barbara, loaned me the book. The story is about 2 PI's, both of whom are related to other characters in the story. It was written similar to the old hard boiled detective stories with a lot of side commentary with an edge. The story was similar to Columbine with the tensions between HS kids and some wanting to even the odds. I recommend this book.
July 8, 2019
This is my first sampling of the Lydia Chin and Bill Smith series (though I read a standalone novel by Rozan and liked it). It's the kind of mystery I do like -- there are many kinds I don't. It's all about personalities and relationships and consequences, with no body count or red herring clues. Having enjoyed this quite a bit, I'm going to start at the beginning of the series and find out the history of the two detectives.
March 18, 2021
A Bill and Lydia mystery involving their hunt for Bill’s high school nephew. Bill’s estrangement from his sister makes for an explosive reaction from her husband who resents Bill’s interference in their family crisis.
The status of football players in his nephew’s high school and the community makes for cover-ups and past secrets that still influence the balance of power in the community.
A fascinating read and real life issues make this a mystery that stays with you.
The status of football players in his nephew’s high school and the community makes for cover-ups and past secrets that still influence the balance of power in the community.
A fascinating read and real life issues make this a mystery that stays with you.
April 16, 2023
After a decades-long absence I finally returned to this much loved series with the previous book, Reflecting the Sky, which takes place in Hong Kong. Back in NYC, Bill Smith receives a call from his nephew who has managed to get picked up by the NYPD. Shortly after his release he disappears, and Bill and Lydia set off on a course to find him, made more difficult by the antipathy of Bill’s sister and her husband. A satisfying listen, well-read by William Dufris.
January 29, 2017
This is #8 in the Lydia Chin-Bill Smith series, but the first I've read. It was entertaining and fast moving, but the portrayal of the football-mad small town that excused any sin as long as the high school team won was a little over the top. The interplay between Smith and Chin makes this worth the read; I want to try some of the earlier works in the series.
August 3, 2019
This series is reliably excellent, and this installment is no exception. The adult, complicated relationship Rozan has built between her main characters is wonderful; that, combined with their complicated, mature internal lives is what makes the series so special.
So yeah: they're great, and she's great. Read them.
So yeah: they're great, and she's great. Read them.
May 17, 2021
With an intriguing beginning, this book fell flat on it's spine. The men should be swinging from trees. The usual main character Lydia Chin is read with a tiny girl voice that is instantly offensive.
Not to compete, the plot meanders into not being enough to finish the book.
Not up to the usual standards of S. J. Rozan.
Not to compete, the plot meanders into not being enough to finish the book.
Not up to the usual standards of S. J. Rozan.
October 13, 2022
a rereading of one in her series of her compelling and well-written stories involving the private detective and his friend, whose quirky relationship works well to solve very interesting mysteries. both they and all supporting characters are so rounded out and settings are described so well and the issues they resolve are so easy to read, in spite of being quite complex.
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