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DC Laura McGanity #1
Fallen Idols
Everyone would kill for their fifteen minutes of fame…
A Premiership footballer is shot dead in cold blood on a busy London street, and a country is gripped by terror. Who is behind this apparently motiveless killing – and who’s next in the firing line?
Jack Garrett is determined to find out. A small-time journalist who's left behind his Lancashire roots for the glitz and glamour – and seediness and squalor – of the capital, he's convinced this is no celebrity stalker.
Aided and abetted by DC Laura McGanity, desperately trying to juggle police life with motherhood and her feelings for Jack, the trail takes them back to Jack's home town of Turner's Fold – and his past.
What's the connection between the recent murder and the death of a young girl 10 years before?
Conspiracy, revenge and the high price of fame all combine in this stunning debut from a dazzling new voice in crime fiction.
A Premiership footballer is shot dead in cold blood on a busy London street, and a country is gripped by terror. Who is behind this apparently motiveless killing – and who’s next in the firing line?
Jack Garrett is determined to find out. A small-time journalist who's left behind his Lancashire roots for the glitz and glamour – and seediness and squalor – of the capital, he's convinced this is no celebrity stalker.
Aided and abetted by DC Laura McGanity, desperately trying to juggle police life with motherhood and her feelings for Jack, the trail takes them back to Jack's home town of Turner's Fold – and his past.
What's the connection between the recent murder and the death of a young girl 10 years before?
Conspiracy, revenge and the high price of fame all combine in this stunning debut from a dazzling new voice in crime fiction.
531 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
49 people are currently reading
961 people want to read
About the author
Neil White
36 books152 followersNeil White (b. 1965) is a British freelance criminal lawyer and a full-time crime writer.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
August 23, 2015
This book was a little slow in the beginning and I wasn't taken with it at first. There were a couple of times I needed to go back to check some facts. When the action started, and questions were raised, I needed to know the answers. I like the journalist/cop relationship; it's an added dimension to the typical crime story. I think the relationship between Jack Garrett and his father was very well written, but their earlier distance was only mentioned and not explained.
December 4, 2014
This is the first of Neil White's that I have read and I will be reading more.
What starts off as what I thought would be a good whodunnit turned into an action packed thriller with whodunnit elements and a good revelation at the end, which I should have seen, and didn't!!! Doh!
Basically we have Jack Garrett, a freelance crime reporter hailing from rural Lancashire but now living in London. And we have Laura McGanity a DC who knows Jack well, sometimes helping each other out, passing information on etc. The story begins with premiership footballers being shot for what seems like no apparent reason. Enter stage left David Watts, a top English footballer at the top of his game and career who begins to receive spooky phone calls from the shooter telling him to confess to crimes he supposedly got away with in the past. Initially, I thought it was going to be a straightforward who is the shooter and that's it. Whilst some of it is that, it becomes a whole lot more. What follows is an action filled paced thriller that leaves London and heads to Jack's hometown, Turners Fold, where events rapidly take on unexpected twists all over the place. We have assassinations, a scary ruthless hitman, people keeping secrets and dodgy police officers. It's one heck of a roller coaster that doesn't let up. Some terrific descriptiveness of rolling countryside, (clearly the author knows that part of the world), coupled with some memorable and likable characters. A love story that actually unfolds in a sweet and not cringey way and several perpetrators, some deserving what they get, others you think, hhhmmmm understandable. I daren't say much more without giving too much away!!
Suffice to say I enjoyed this, it's a great debut to a series that I will definitely be following up on. Will be downloading book two shortly!!
So glad it was recommended to me, admittedly a long time ago. I'm late to the party, but better late than never!!
Happy reading!
What starts off as what I thought would be a good whodunnit turned into an action packed thriller with whodunnit elements and a good revelation at the end, which I should have seen, and didn't!!! Doh!
Basically we have Jack Garrett, a freelance crime reporter hailing from rural Lancashire but now living in London. And we have Laura McGanity a DC who knows Jack well, sometimes helping each other out, passing information on etc. The story begins with premiership footballers being shot for what seems like no apparent reason. Enter stage left David Watts, a top English footballer at the top of his game and career who begins to receive spooky phone calls from the shooter telling him to confess to crimes he supposedly got away with in the past. Initially, I thought it was going to be a straightforward who is the shooter and that's it. Whilst some of it is that, it becomes a whole lot more. What follows is an action filled paced thriller that leaves London and heads to Jack's hometown, Turners Fold, where events rapidly take on unexpected twists all over the place. We have assassinations, a scary ruthless hitman, people keeping secrets and dodgy police officers. It's one heck of a roller coaster that doesn't let up. Some terrific descriptiveness of rolling countryside, (clearly the author knows that part of the world), coupled with some memorable and likable characters. A love story that actually unfolds in a sweet and not cringey way and several perpetrators, some deserving what they get, others you think, hhhmmmm understandable. I daren't say much more without giving too much away!!
Suffice to say I enjoyed this, it's a great debut to a series that I will definitely be following up on. Will be downloading book two shortly!!
So glad it was recommended to me, admittedly a long time ago. I'm late to the party, but better late than never!!
Happy reading!
August 11, 2018
I’ve been mulling things over after finishing Fallen Idols. I think I have to give it a 3 star rating despite the convoluted plot involving a journalist, a detective, a premier league footballer and a shooter! I also wondered why this book is deemed Laura McGanity #1 when the plot was so much about Jack Garrett, the journalist, his father Bob and the small northern town where the roots of the mystery began. I did find it to be an intense page turner and I’m going to start book two in the series right now!
April 14, 2015
Fallen Idols is a fast-paced, impossible to put down, roller coaster of a ride thriller. I was thoroughly entertained and look forward to reading more from Neil White in the future.
April 19, 2018
This is my second Neil White book I have read and I was not disappointed.
The plot was easy to follow even though crimes years apart were connected. The characters were easily identifiable and some even likeable.
It is definitely a page turner and the ending, although not a complete surprise was well written and not too rushed which can usually leave the reader with a bit of an anti-climax.
The plot was easy to follow even though crimes years apart were connected. The characters were easily identifiable and some even likeable.
It is definitely a page turner and the ending, although not a complete surprise was well written and not too rushed which can usually leave the reader with a bit of an anti-climax.
July 29, 2015
A professional footballer is shot down in the middle of a busy street. Two real estate agents are murdered in a nearby flat. A second footballer is murdered. And yet a third one receives a phone call ... from a woman who has been dead 10 years. Ten years ago, she had been raped and murdered, but never made to pay for his crime. She wants to make him pay .. now.
What he does in order to save his own skin leads to several more murders ... one of them is Jack Garrett's father, a policeman who had accused David Watts of the murder. Jack is determined to find out the truth about what happened .. with the help of DC McGanity.
The book is touted as the first in a series featuring Laura McGanity, but while she is active in this book, it is more the story of Jack Garrett. The reader learns a lot about the relationship between father and son and why there has been a disconnect. And when his father is killed, he becomes a dog with a bone and will not stop until the whole truth is uncovered.
I've been collecting this series for awhile, having never read the author, but the covers and back blurbs had me salivating. I was just a tad disappointed. I like the character a lot, but McGanity doesn't come across as a homicide detective until late in the book. Jack Garrett is the hero, the one walking into danger, the one who finds the old police reports, the one who connects with sources to find out who said and did what all those years ago.
The ending is absolutely stunning ... never in the world saw it coming. That in itself made the book as good as what I had hoped for.
What he does in order to save his own skin leads to several more murders ... one of them is Jack Garrett's father, a policeman who had accused David Watts of the murder. Jack is determined to find out the truth about what happened .. with the help of DC McGanity.
The book is touted as the first in a series featuring Laura McGanity, but while she is active in this book, it is more the story of Jack Garrett. The reader learns a lot about the relationship between father and son and why there has been a disconnect. And when his father is killed, he becomes a dog with a bone and will not stop until the whole truth is uncovered.
I've been collecting this series for awhile, having never read the author, but the covers and back blurbs had me salivating. I was just a tad disappointed. I like the character a lot, but McGanity doesn't come across as a homicide detective until late in the book. Jack Garrett is the hero, the one walking into danger, the one who finds the old police reports, the one who connects with sources to find out who said and did what all those years ago.
The ending is absolutely stunning ... never in the world saw it coming. That in itself made the book as good as what I had hoped for.
September 4, 2013
My sister has been working through the Jack Garrett series of books; and with each one exclaims that I am missing out. After her last time of telling me I caved and pushed Neil White up to the top of the pile. Jack Garrett is a journalist who although originally from Lancashire is now living in the heart of London. The book starts out with a bang when a Premiership footballer gets shot dead in the street. DC Laura McGanty is put on the case and immediately knows that the murder is more than it first appears.
It was easy to fall into both characters lives and I immediately liked both Jack and Laura. Laura is a single mum and we see her try to juggle both her career and home life. Jack is also an easy guy to read and like as he is pretty laid back apart from when it comes to a story. It’s clear from the outset that both Jack and Laura have feelings for each other but this is put on the back burner in favour of a very fast paced read.
Before I knew it I was over halfway with the book and there was all sorts of mayhem going on. Jack is convinced that the murder is nothing to do with the fact that the victim is a celebrity. While Laura investigates, Jack decides to go back to his hometown of Turners Fold which is where the victim grew up. We get to meet Jack’s dad who I immediately liked. As Jack delves into the goings-on in Turners Fold, he gets dragged right into the middle of it. I found myself reading larger and larger chunks each time I picked it up, and in the end resigned myself to finishing it in one sitting.
I wouldn’t say this was the best book I have read recently but is certainly one that hooks you on to the series. I found myself getting nearer and nearer to the end and wondering if I should just go straight onto book 2. Sadly my to read list is huge, so book 2 will have to wait. It was a solid debut novel and am really looking forward to getting stuck into the next book.
It was easy to fall into both characters lives and I immediately liked both Jack and Laura. Laura is a single mum and we see her try to juggle both her career and home life. Jack is also an easy guy to read and like as he is pretty laid back apart from when it comes to a story. It’s clear from the outset that both Jack and Laura have feelings for each other but this is put on the back burner in favour of a very fast paced read.
Before I knew it I was over halfway with the book and there was all sorts of mayhem going on. Jack is convinced that the murder is nothing to do with the fact that the victim is a celebrity. While Laura investigates, Jack decides to go back to his hometown of Turners Fold which is where the victim grew up. We get to meet Jack’s dad who I immediately liked. As Jack delves into the goings-on in Turners Fold, he gets dragged right into the middle of it. I found myself reading larger and larger chunks each time I picked it up, and in the end resigned myself to finishing it in one sitting.
I wouldn’t say this was the best book I have read recently but is certainly one that hooks you on to the series. I found myself getting nearer and nearer to the end and wondering if I should just go straight onto book 2. Sadly my to read list is huge, so book 2 will have to wait. It was a solid debut novel and am really looking forward to getting stuck into the next book.
May 15, 2021
“Fallen Idols”, the first novel of the “Jack Garrett and Laura McGnaity” series as well as of the author, was a dynamic debut done by Neil White. With this piece only, I have become his fan.
—–—
Synopsis : There is a killer who is eliminating Premiership footballers of England one by one in broad daylight through sniper gun. Terror increases everyday. The killer is in front of you in the entire story but still you won't be able to guess till the end.
—–—
I found it so good that I strongly desire a cinematic adaptation of it.
I will give it 4.5 out of 5.
Difficult to put down till the end: Close your eyes and go for it.
—–—
Synopsis : There is a killer who is eliminating Premiership footballers of England one by one in broad daylight through sniper gun. Terror increases everyday. The killer is in front of you in the entire story but still you won't be able to guess till the end.
—–—
I found it so good that I strongly desire a cinematic adaptation of it.
I will give it 4.5 out of 5.
Difficult to put down till the end: Close your eyes and go for it.
December 16, 2015
This was a cheap Kindle book for £1.99 and a new author to me. It features a police lady and her reporter boyfriend who are both involved in the case of Premiership football players getting shot in broad daylight. It is set in London and also Lancashire and was very well written and gripping reading which kept me interested and had plenty of twists and turns too. This one was written in 2008 and luckily there are more to follow featuring the main 2 characters which I'll be getting soon.
May 11, 2022
Fallon Idols - Neil White
🌟🌟🌟🌟
A very good debut novel from Neil White.
It follows the story of Jack Garrett reporter and DC Laura Mcganity as they try to solve the recent murders of premiership footballers and also finding the link to a historic rape and murder case from 10 years ago that's been buried under the carpet.
The story is a crime thriller and has just the right amount of gore without being dramatically over the top.
I enjoyed the relationship of the characters and the developing love story of the 2 main characters without it being too spoilt by unnecessary loveness.
I did guess what the twist would be early on but that didn't distract from the overall story. The story is very fast paced and keeps you on your toes until the end and the ending is also not rushed like a lot of books can be.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see what happens next with the main characters.
#reading #metime #readinggoals #bookworm #books #readingchallenge #dexterbookreads
🌟🌟🌟🌟
A very good debut novel from Neil White.
It follows the story of Jack Garrett reporter and DC Laura Mcganity as they try to solve the recent murders of premiership footballers and also finding the link to a historic rape and murder case from 10 years ago that's been buried under the carpet.
The story is a crime thriller and has just the right amount of gore without being dramatically over the top.
I enjoyed the relationship of the characters and the developing love story of the 2 main characters without it being too spoilt by unnecessary loveness.
I did guess what the twist would be early on but that didn't distract from the overall story. The story is very fast paced and keeps you on your toes until the end and the ending is also not rushed like a lot of books can be.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see what happens next with the main characters.
#reading #metime #readinggoals #bookworm #books #readingchallenge #dexterbookreads
November 28, 2018
I read this out of order so maybe that was why it lost some of its impetus.
Laura McGanity is a cop in London. While involved in a case about the shooting of a Premier League football player she meets Jack Garrett, a reporter. Then another player is shot.
Jack goes back to his home town to find background information on a star of British football, David Watts. David has become the go to person for interviews related to the shootings.
While back home Jack discovers a long buried secret that rocks his world.
As the case becomes bigger, Laura is relieved of her role in the case as Scotland Yard detectives take over. While off shift, she learns that Jack’s father, a police man back in Jack’s home town, has been killed. She goes there to support Jack.
While there, the long buried secret, the shootings, and his father’s death all lead Jack and Laura into a story that has deep roots.
Laura McGanity is a cop in London. While involved in a case about the shooting of a Premier League football player she meets Jack Garrett, a reporter. Then another player is shot.
Jack goes back to his home town to find background information on a star of British football, David Watts. David has become the go to person for interviews related to the shootings.
While back home Jack discovers a long buried secret that rocks his world.
As the case becomes bigger, Laura is relieved of her role in the case as Scotland Yard detectives take over. While off shift, she learns that Jack’s father, a police man back in Jack’s home town, has been killed. She goes there to support Jack.
While there, the long buried secret, the shootings, and his father’s death all lead Jack and Laura into a story that has deep roots.
September 1, 2020
A decent thriller but no more. The premise is interesting: a London journalist on the trail of a serial killer who is shooting footballers. The key to the case is an English star who just happens to come from the same Lancashire town as journalist Jack Garrett. Just the first of too many coincidences.
The pace is mostly fast, although the identity of the killer is revealed much too early, making the conclusion of the story rather predictable. But ultimately this is worth a read.
This is billed as the first of the Laura McGanity series, but she is really a supporting character here and not a particularly convincing one. Two other oddities: the Scotland Yard officers who seem only to be known by first names, and are never given ranks. And the two key characters who seem to come from songs by The Jam!
The pace is mostly fast, although the identity of the killer is revealed much too early, making the conclusion of the story rather predictable. But ultimately this is worth a read.
This is billed as the first of the Laura McGanity series, but she is really a supporting character here and not a particularly convincing one. Two other oddities: the Scotland Yard officers who seem only to be known by first names, and are never given ranks. And the two key characters who seem to come from songs by The Jam!
March 17, 2020
Eh, this was very much on the 'alright' side of a thriller. Nothing exceptional and loaded with those weird allusions to the female characters in the story and their bodies, this covers the mystery of who is killing football players across the UK. The twist was reasonably predictable, and I had it in the bag around page 150-200. It just wasn't anything special. The lead character's thing for the sister of the girl he lost his virginity to was an especially weird little bit, and it did feel like it was a bit rushed toward the end with no tangible conclusion. Just nothing special.
January 25, 2021
Fast paced, full of action and reasonably well written. A real adrenaline fuelled thriller. Sadly however, despite being a quick and easy read I couldn’t cope with the sheer number of bodies that piled up in the course of the book. I also struggled with the moral premise of the main character chasing a newspaper story rather than trying to prevent more lives being lost. This was a departure from my normal reading material so I will accept that it’s probably a good book for those who enjoy grizzly murders and over the top action scenes. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
May 25, 2018
I don’t read a lot of crime fiction but it seems to be creeping in to my reading list. This was a good story, fast-paced, believable scenario and I liked the 2 main characters. I already have the second in the series ‘Lost Souls’ on my Kindle waiting to be read. In fact, I got that one first either as a freebie or a 99p deal, but thought I might as well start with the first one.
July 16, 2019
Yes I enjoyed Fallen Idols, it's the first book I've read by Neil White and will be reading the second book in this series very soon. This is a very easy book to read although there is still lots going on and plenty to think about from the beginning. I never saw the twist at the end coming which always is a bonus.
If you enjoy police procedure/crime/ mystery they go buy this book!
If you enjoy police procedure/crime/ mystery they go buy this book!
February 21, 2021
Love, love, love Neil White as an author. His books have me hooked usually from page one and this one was no different. I would recommend any of his books to anyone that loves crime and thriller novels.
June 24, 2017
A good read
This was a very easy read with a credible storyline and characters you could relate to. Will buy book two.
This was a very easy read with a credible storyline and characters you could relate to. Will buy book two.
August 20, 2017
Slow start but then got very gripping and had to keep reading till I got to the end . Start of a good series
June 27, 2019
Loved it! Nice little twist.
January 13, 2021
Did not finish
December 21, 2023
Certainly a page turner but I felt that that it was about 50 pages too long, with the action pieces at the end so dragged out.
March 4, 2024
I actually started this one last year and only just finished. It did not really appeal to me.
March 8, 2025
Barely passed the one-star rating.
June 14, 2025
Got another star purely for the American losing his head and the Beatles fan in the lift. Hilarious.
July 20, 2014
This is my first shot at English author Neil White and I am very, very impressed.
I am also confused why he does not have more readers.
I think I spent two weeks on this book but that doesn't say anything. I usually read books within 1-7 days. That's if I'm not busy and harried by school works. Well this time, I was, so the book is not to be blamed. For one thing, it's incredible. It has a pretty fast pace, very interesting plot and well-defined characters.
Let's dissect characters first. Jack Garret is the hero of the story. He is a freelance crime reporter in the city of London. He grew up in Turners Fold, a small Lancashire town. He is your typical journalist: always ready, always eager, always hungry for a story. He doesn't have reservations, and I like that about him. He does everything to keep his story, he lies to cops, to his friends, even to his lover!
Now, this confused me just a little. Detective Constable Laura McGanity is the title of the series, but here in Fallen Idols, she is only a supporting figure. She did not appear much, so I didn't get to know her more. She is a favoured cop in her department, and she is as good as it gets. Divorced and with a son Bobby, she balances her time with these two roles. From the little I've seen of her, she is strong-willed and good-natured, but she is also tough as nails, and that's what we like about our crime heroines.
---SPOILER ALERT---
Now, our lovely villain Liza Radley has my highest respect. She's vicious, relentless, strong, tough, she handles rifles and saws very well, and she's Schizophrenic! What else are you looking for!
---SPOLIER DONE, I THINK---
David Watts is a famous football star who happens to be the center of it all. Something he buried in his past has come back to haunt him, and soon we learn that the football shootings are all connected to an event in his life ten years ago.
Let's talk about the excellent plot of this novel. Footballers are being shot dead. They seem connected. The one connection is football superstar David Watts. This goes back to a story ten years ago, a murder in the town of Turners Fold, and now the past has come back to haunt him. Jack Garret travels back to his hometown and uncovers a secret long buried.
I don't want to spoil your reading, but I have a few things to share that may hook your interest more. The leads point to a female serial killer. We have an American hitman confusing things a little. We have romance that develops between our two leads but nothing too cheesy to make you want to throw up. If at all, it adds to the spice of the story. Plus, we have a Saw-movie kind of death!
Let's get to the bottom. This novel is fast paced, but it won't make you feel dizzy like Patterson or Koontz or Deaver suspense. White knows how to make easy thrillers. And the MO of our serial killer is lots impressive. And be careful, the climax may just blow you away. I was blown away. I didn't see it coming. The story has mysteries throughout that you wouldn't realize until the answers are revealed in front of you. Repeat: the climax is pretty good.
So I thought I was going to give it four stars, but that climax changed it all. Very very good novel, and I recommend it to all of you out there who likes mind-blowing mystery thrillers.
I am also confused why he does not have more readers.
I think I spent two weeks on this book but that doesn't say anything. I usually read books within 1-7 days. That's if I'm not busy and harried by school works. Well this time, I was, so the book is not to be blamed. For one thing, it's incredible. It has a pretty fast pace, very interesting plot and well-defined characters.
Let's dissect characters first. Jack Garret is the hero of the story. He is a freelance crime reporter in the city of London. He grew up in Turners Fold, a small Lancashire town. He is your typical journalist: always ready, always eager, always hungry for a story. He doesn't have reservations, and I like that about him. He does everything to keep his story, he lies to cops, to his friends, even to his lover!
Now, this confused me just a little. Detective Constable Laura McGanity is the title of the series, but here in Fallen Idols, she is only a supporting figure. She did not appear much, so I didn't get to know her more. She is a favoured cop in her department, and she is as good as it gets. Divorced and with a son Bobby, she balances her time with these two roles. From the little I've seen of her, she is strong-willed and good-natured, but she is also tough as nails, and that's what we like about our crime heroines.
---SPOILER ALERT---
Now, our lovely villain Liza Radley has my highest respect. She's vicious, relentless, strong, tough, she handles rifles and saws very well, and she's Schizophrenic! What else are you looking for!
---SPOLIER DONE, I THINK---
David Watts is a famous football star who happens to be the center of it all. Something he buried in his past has come back to haunt him, and soon we learn that the football shootings are all connected to an event in his life ten years ago.
Let's talk about the excellent plot of this novel. Footballers are being shot dead. They seem connected. The one connection is football superstar David Watts. This goes back to a story ten years ago, a murder in the town of Turners Fold, and now the past has come back to haunt him. Jack Garret travels back to his hometown and uncovers a secret long buried.
I don't want to spoil your reading, but I have a few things to share that may hook your interest more. The leads point to a female serial killer. We have an American hitman confusing things a little. We have romance that develops between our two leads but nothing too cheesy to make you want to throw up. If at all, it adds to the spice of the story. Plus, we have a Saw-movie kind of death!
Let's get to the bottom. This novel is fast paced, but it won't make you feel dizzy like Patterson or Koontz or Deaver suspense. White knows how to make easy thrillers. And the MO of our serial killer is lots impressive. And be careful, the climax may just blow you away. I was blown away. I didn't see it coming. The story has mysteries throughout that you wouldn't realize until the answers are revealed in front of you. Repeat: the climax is pretty good.
So I thought I was going to give it four stars, but that climax changed it all. Very very good novel, and I recommend it to all of you out there who likes mind-blowing mystery thrillers.
February 11, 2024
Yes,enjoyed this one.Fairly fast paced thriller,from almost start to finish.Definitely makes you want to turn the pages.
Recommended.
Recommended.
December 19, 2015
‘Fallen Idols’ is about a serial killer that targets well-known football players. The book begins with the death of two estate agents and a football player. Then another famous player, David Watts receives a call from the killer.
The case itself was interesting. Many things aren’t what they seem and you find yourself questioning the details of a crime that was committed years ago, in which a girl was raped and subsequently murdered. There were no witnesses and David was the last person to have seen her alive. As David recounts what happened on the victim’s last night, what other characters mention contradict his words. The lead character Jack is a reporter and his father Bob is a policeman who was involved in that case. Bob claimed to have seen a figure running in the dark and he’s absolutely sure that it’s David. Meanwhile, David is threatened by the killer to confess to a crime that he says he didn’t commit. Therefore, there’s plenty of suspense and mystery to be unravelled.
The involvement of a hitman, only known as The American was my favourite part of the book. He was incredibly smart, manipulative, charming and ruthless. Despite how interesting the case was, I really didn’t warm to the lead characters, Jack and policewoman Laura McGanity. I don’t see the point of having her name next to the title of the book as she played a very minor role in the case. If anything, Jack was more of the main character than she was. I also found the two of them to be dull, especially Jack as I found the parts narrated by him using first-person to be boring. The romance between them was also unbelievable. There was nothing convincing as they had no chemistry and couldn’t even pass off as friends.
The story is told alternating between different characters: Jack, David, Bob, Glen, The American, the killer etc. I didn’t find this to be effective as there were too many switches. It would have been better to limit it to Jack, The American and the killer. It was also distracting because sometimes the switch in narrative happens just when things are getting interesting. There were some ‘slow’ moments in the book such as the time spent with Jack and Laura together. However, there was some fantastic action that happened towards the last third of the book that helped to keep the story alive.
The twist was somewhat unexpected and it definitely made an impact on the story. I just didn’t like that . That sent out the wrong message, in my opinion and I would have preferred the characters to either remain neutral and not emotionally involved. Certain things weren’t quite explained such as how .
Overall, it was a good book though it’s not exactly investigative.
The case itself was interesting. Many things aren’t what they seem and you find yourself questioning the details of a crime that was committed years ago, in which a girl was raped and subsequently murdered. There were no witnesses and David was the last person to have seen her alive. As David recounts what happened on the victim’s last night, what other characters mention contradict his words. The lead character Jack is a reporter and his father Bob is a policeman who was involved in that case. Bob claimed to have seen a figure running in the dark and he’s absolutely sure that it’s David. Meanwhile, David is threatened by the killer to confess to a crime that he says he didn’t commit. Therefore, there’s plenty of suspense and mystery to be unravelled.
The involvement of a hitman, only known as The American was my favourite part of the book. He was incredibly smart, manipulative, charming and ruthless. Despite how interesting the case was, I really didn’t warm to the lead characters, Jack and policewoman Laura McGanity. I don’t see the point of having her name next to the title of the book as she played a very minor role in the case. If anything, Jack was more of the main character than she was. I also found the two of them to be dull, especially Jack as I found the parts narrated by him using first-person to be boring. The romance between them was also unbelievable. There was nothing convincing as they had no chemistry and couldn’t even pass off as friends.
The story is told alternating between different characters: Jack, David, Bob, Glen, The American, the killer etc. I didn’t find this to be effective as there were too many switches. It would have been better to limit it to Jack, The American and the killer. It was also distracting because sometimes the switch in narrative happens just when things are getting interesting. There were some ‘slow’ moments in the book such as the time spent with Jack and Laura together. However, there was some fantastic action that happened towards the last third of the book that helped to keep the story alive.
The twist was somewhat unexpected and it definitely made an impact on the story. I just didn’t like that . That sent out the wrong message, in my opinion and I would have preferred the characters to either remain neutral and not emotionally involved. Certain things weren’t quite explained such as how .
Overall, it was a good book though it’s not exactly investigative.
June 12, 2011
The whole time I was reading this book there was this nagging feeling itching at the back of my mind that I knew the two main characters but I was certain I had not read the book before. The feeling was so strong it distracted me from concentrated on this story. At the very end of this edition there is the first chapter of the next story and that's when I realised I had read book 2 several years ago and Jack and Laura had made a big enough impression on me for me to recognise them again even after several years and in a different story.
Jack Garrett is a reporter and Laura McGanity a police detective both trying to solve the case of apparently random shootings of football superheros. The trail leads them back to Jack's hometown and an apparently solved murder that took place over ten years previously.
I was extremely irritated by the blurb on the front of this book which made it sound as though the killer was after their own moment in the spotlight, which would have been a completely different story. I would also have liked more background explaining how the killer acquired their skills and their weaponry.
One of the scenes towards the end of the book involving the shooter, another bad guy and the two main characters was worthy of any horror novel I've read and the images it provoked will stay with me for a long time afterwards. I'm always concerned about the potential lethalness of power tools and now I'm never going to be able to see a circular saw without images from this story popping into my head.
I enjoyed reading this book put it didn't grab me and make me want to find out what happened next. I won't actively search out the rest of the books in this series but if I spot them in the library I will be picking them up and adding them to the reading pile.
Jack Garrett is a reporter and Laura McGanity a police detective both trying to solve the case of apparently random shootings of football superheros. The trail leads them back to Jack's hometown and an apparently solved murder that took place over ten years previously.
I was extremely irritated by the blurb on the front of this book which made it sound as though the killer was after their own moment in the spotlight, which would have been a completely different story. I would also have liked more background explaining how the killer acquired their skills and their weaponry.
One of the scenes towards the end of the book involving the shooter, another bad guy and the two main characters was worthy of any horror novel I've read and the images it provoked will stay with me for a long time afterwards. I'm always concerned about the potential lethalness of power tools and now I'm never going to be able to see a circular saw without images from this story popping into my head.
I enjoyed reading this book put it didn't grab me and make me want to find out what happened next. I won't actively search out the rest of the books in this series but if I spot them in the library I will be picking them up and adding them to the reading pile.
January 14, 2012
Holes! I don’t like falling down them and I don’t like seeing them in books. Unfortunately this book is a Swiss cheese of holes. I was initially excited about this book and although the build up was a tad slow once it got going I was hooked. Then the plot went all wonky for a time. There are so many ‘buts’ and ‘Huh’s’ that it was distracting me from the story.
Example one: Ballistics would’ve have spotted that the gun had been wiped and the angle of the bullet would’ve shown that it wasn’t suicide.
Example two: American comes to a small sleepy northern town and no one bats an eyelid.
Example three: Dead bodies are turning up all over the place and yet everyone’s okay with that.
Example Four: There’s an actually detective in town who knows what’s going on and does nothing!
It was frustrating and a bit disappointing. Having said that, the built up was intense and the scene with Ross at his desk and Tony confronting him with two detectives observing was fantastic. There’s nothing like the slimy weasel getting his comeuppance. The twist at the end was a complete surprise and I was left stunned by the Liza/Emma moment. All in all it was a good read, very intense highly charged and a satisfying ending.
Example one: Ballistics would’ve have spotted that the gun had been wiped and the angle of the bullet would’ve shown that it wasn’t suicide.
Example two: American comes to a small sleepy northern town and no one bats an eyelid.
Example three: Dead bodies are turning up all over the place and yet everyone’s okay with that.
Example Four: There’s an actually detective in town who knows what’s going on and does nothing!
It was frustrating and a bit disappointing. Having said that, the built up was intense and the scene with Ross at his desk and Tony confronting him with two detectives observing was fantastic. There’s nothing like the slimy weasel getting his comeuppance. The twist at the end was a complete surprise and I was left stunned by the Liza/Emma moment. All in all it was a good read, very intense highly charged and a satisfying ending.
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