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Jane Perry #1
Protector
When the killer makes a bold attempt on Emily's life, Jane is chosen as the child's sole protector. However, Jane's disturbing visions continue and seem to portend a tragic end to the child's life. In order to solve this horrific crime, Jane must come face-to-face with her greatest fear in order to save Emily.
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2007
137 people are currently reading
1548 people want to read
About the author
Laurel Dewey
23 books53 followersLaurel Dewey’s writing career has been anything but predictable. Born in Glendale, California, Dewey began her career working in public relations. Her writing talents quickly took her into other entertainment avenues. As an assistant editor at BOP Magazine in the late 1980's, Dewey helped launch the blockbuster career of teen pop groups, including The New Kids on The Block. During this time, she wrote a string of successful mystery radio plays for Los Angeles public radio networks.
Not satisfied to write in only one genre, Dewey went on to pen a western novella “In the Name of the Land” which was nominated for a Silver Spur Fiction Award. A collection of short stories followed, as did a successful stint writing and producing radio ads and promos.
In the early 1990’s, Dewey relocated to rural Colorado. But her eclectic writing forte continued as she pursued work as a freelance investigative journalist, advertising/marketing promoter and newspaper columnist. In the mid and late 1990’s, two of her books on plant medicine were published, along with 10 booklets and hundreds of articles on alternative health. During this time, she appeared as a featured guest on hundreds of national radio and television programs and lectured extensively across the United States and Canada.
But then the pages turned...literally. In 2007, Dewey released her first fiction novel, PROTECTOR, a gritty, mystical crime thriller that follows the rocky life of damaged Denver homicide detective Jane Perry. In preparation for writing the book, Dewey immersed herself in detailed research, interviewing Colorado homicide detectives and traveling on "ride-a-longs" with street cops. The intricate research helped Dewey create a debut novel that is powerful, compelling, controversial and utterly original.
The sequel to PROTECTOR, REDEMPTION, was released in June of 2009. The third book, REVELATIONS, released in June, 2011. A series of short stories and novellas featuring Detective Jane Perry were published throughout 2011, starting with "An Unfinished Death" which is a prequel to PROTECTOR.
The fourth Jane Perry novel will be published in late 2012.
In keeping with Dewey's ability to push the envelope, she's written a standalone novel, "Betty's (Little Basement) Garden," that is set for release on June 12, 2012. This controversial book will certainly spark many conversations and hopefully enlighten readers at the same time.
Dewey lives with her husband and two orange cats in rural Colorado.
Not satisfied to write in only one genre, Dewey went on to pen a western novella “In the Name of the Land” which was nominated for a Silver Spur Fiction Award. A collection of short stories followed, as did a successful stint writing and producing radio ads and promos.
In the early 1990’s, Dewey relocated to rural Colorado. But her eclectic writing forte continued as she pursued work as a freelance investigative journalist, advertising/marketing promoter and newspaper columnist. In the mid and late 1990’s, two of her books on plant medicine were published, along with 10 booklets and hundreds of articles on alternative health. During this time, she appeared as a featured guest on hundreds of national radio and television programs and lectured extensively across the United States and Canada.
But then the pages turned...literally. In 2007, Dewey released her first fiction novel, PROTECTOR, a gritty, mystical crime thriller that follows the rocky life of damaged Denver homicide detective Jane Perry. In preparation for writing the book, Dewey immersed herself in detailed research, interviewing Colorado homicide detectives and traveling on "ride-a-longs" with street cops. The intricate research helped Dewey create a debut novel that is powerful, compelling, controversial and utterly original.
The sequel to PROTECTOR, REDEMPTION, was released in June of 2009. The third book, REVELATIONS, released in June, 2011. A series of short stories and novellas featuring Detective Jane Perry were published throughout 2011, starting with "An Unfinished Death" which is a prequel to PROTECTOR.
The fourth Jane Perry novel will be published in late 2012.
In keeping with Dewey's ability to push the envelope, she's written a standalone novel, "Betty's (Little Basement) Garden," that is set for release on June 12, 2012. This controversial book will certainly spark many conversations and hopefully enlighten readers at the same time.
Dewey lives with her husband and two orange cats in rural Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
January 3, 2013
I got this for free in one of the Barnes and Noble Free Friday giveaways so I guess I can't complain too much.
The story's not bad and the writing's not terrible but, if you're looking for an original storyline, this isn't it. Detective Jane Perry, like every other character in the book, is a walking cliche. This women is a hard drinking, chain smoking, foulmouthed genius who has no problem dashing a mile when the situation calls for it despite the fact that we never see her exercise or eat anything besides junk food. Jane's got issues because her last job went bad and a child died. Now there's a new case; a double homicide with a 9 year old girl who witnessed the murder of her parents.
A series of ridiculous events sends Jane (who has no maternal skills at all) and Emily into hiding in a small town in Colorado. Jane is given no backup and no support. Her chief tells her not to call in unless there's an emergency and he won't be calling her. As for treatment for the traumatized child, that will just have to wait. This didn't strike me as remotely believable and the story got less so as it went on. (Jane allows Emily to have a sleepover which is something you don't do when you're in hiding).
Apparently this the first book in a series. Whatever, I won't be reading the rest of them.
The story's not bad and the writing's not terrible but, if you're looking for an original storyline, this isn't it. Detective Jane Perry, like every other character in the book, is a walking cliche. This women is a hard drinking, chain smoking, foulmouthed genius who has no problem dashing a mile when the situation calls for it despite the fact that we never see her exercise or eat anything besides junk food. Jane's got issues because her last job went bad and a child died. Now there's a new case; a double homicide with a 9 year old girl who witnessed the murder of her parents.
A series of ridiculous events sends Jane (who has no maternal skills at all) and Emily into hiding in a small town in Colorado. Jane is given no backup and no support. Her chief tells her not to call in unless there's an emergency and he won't be calling her. As for treatment for the traumatized child, that will just have to wait. This didn't strike me as remotely believable and the story got less so as it went on. (Jane allows Emily to have a sleepover which is something you don't do when you're in hiding).
Apparently this the first book in a series. Whatever, I won't be reading the rest of them.
September 23, 2011
Protector is the first of the Jane Perry series, and it is not a cozy, armchair read, but a book that will alternately keep you on the edge of your seat and disgust you. At times you want to shout at the character's refusal to overcome the horrible abuse of her past, and at other times, you feel her pain and are moved to tears.
Jane Perry walks a razor-edge of sanity, and sometimes she slips just for a moment and acts reprehensibly before recovering. She's a complete and utter mess and sees no redemption in sight. She's deeply flawed and has nothing in her life except an equally-flawed brother and her job as a cop, a job at which she excels. She has something else, but that's something she tries very hard to pretend doesn't exist. I won't tell you what that is, but it adds another dimension to the story.
I'm a radical non-smoker thanks to a childhood lived with smoking parents so this book was tough going for me. The author is so good at setting and description that I could almost smell the stale cigarette smoke that inhabits Jane's world and smell the stale booze from the empty bottles and cans that litter her home like refuse in the gutter.
This was not an easy book to read, but it was so compelling that I couldn't put it down once I'd started. Now that I've finished, I find myself thinking about Jane and hoping that she finds some peace in her turmoil of a life. In fact, I think I must buy the next books in the series to see if Jane finds redemption. If anyone deserves a bit of serenity, it's Jane Perry.
Well-written with finely-drawn characters, realistic setting, tight plotting, and taut suspense. If you're looking for a different kind of suspense thriller, Protector is it.
Jane Perry walks a razor-edge of sanity, and sometimes she slips just for a moment and acts reprehensibly before recovering. She's a complete and utter mess and sees no redemption in sight. She's deeply flawed and has nothing in her life except an equally-flawed brother and her job as a cop, a job at which she excels. She has something else, but that's something she tries very hard to pretend doesn't exist. I won't tell you what that is, but it adds another dimension to the story.
I'm a radical non-smoker thanks to a childhood lived with smoking parents so this book was tough going for me. The author is so good at setting and description that I could almost smell the stale cigarette smoke that inhabits Jane's world and smell the stale booze from the empty bottles and cans that litter her home like refuse in the gutter.
This was not an easy book to read, but it was so compelling that I couldn't put it down once I'd started. Now that I've finished, I find myself thinking about Jane and hoping that she finds some peace in her turmoil of a life. In fact, I think I must buy the next books in the series to see if Jane finds redemption. If anyone deserves a bit of serenity, it's Jane Perry.
Well-written with finely-drawn characters, realistic setting, tight plotting, and taut suspense. If you're looking for a different kind of suspense thriller, Protector is it.
May 31, 2012
I’m a wee bit indecisive when choosing books. I put this on my to-read list a while ago and, in a moment of frustration because I was adding more “to-reads” to my list because I couldn’t decide what to read, told my husband to look through my list and pick my next one and I’d read it – no questions asked.
He had no idea what he started until he woke up at 2 a.m. and asked, “Are you STILL reading?”
What? It was a good book! Seriously, though. I couldn’t put it down.
Detective Jane Perry is a cut-to-the-chase homicide investigator. She’s also vulgar, an alcoholic, a chain smoker, unstable, victim of abuse and self-abuser. But she’s a damn good detective and that (and her understanding sergeant) has saved her butt from getting suspended. She’s still obsessing about the murder of a family on her and her partner’s watch when she’s forced onto another case protecting a girl whose parents were viciously murdered.
Jane should be so unlikable, but I couldn’t help but cheer her on. She kicked butt and you could see a glimmer of hope in her.
I noticed that some people commented about the amount of vulgar language in this book, but it fit the character. Jane is rough. What should she say? “Oh gee golly wiz!”?
He had no idea what he started until he woke up at 2 a.m. and asked, “Are you STILL reading?”
What? It was a good book! Seriously, though. I couldn’t put it down.
Detective Jane Perry is a cut-to-the-chase homicide investigator. She’s also vulgar, an alcoholic, a chain smoker, unstable, victim of abuse and self-abuser. But she’s a damn good detective and that (and her understanding sergeant) has saved her butt from getting suspended. She’s still obsessing about the murder of a family on her and her partner’s watch when she’s forced onto another case protecting a girl whose parents were viciously murdered.
Jane should be so unlikable, but I couldn’t help but cheer her on. She kicked butt and you could see a glimmer of hope in her.
I noticed that some people commented about the amount of vulgar language in this book, but it fit the character. Jane is rough. What should she say? “Oh gee golly wiz!”?
March 8, 2011
Ugh this read like "Saving Grace" fanfiction with no beta help. The main character was unsympathetic and swore like a sailor, even in her own head and in front of children. She was basically white trash with a good job that she would have been fired from in the real world. There are a few moments of decent writing, but overall the dialogue was robotic and the voice confusing and it needed a really good editor.
July 26, 2022
Emily Lawrence witnessed at least some part of her parents' murder. But what did she see? She is only nine years old and has blocked out the memory. Homicide detective Jane Perry is assigned to find out what happened. But Jane is a mess--an alcoholic, chain-smoking, swearing, formerly abused child who can't control herself much less help a child.
This is really good mystery with a main character for whom I couldn't find a shred of sympathy or even like a little bit. But the book is very interesting so I kept on with it anyway.
This is really good mystery with a main character for whom I couldn't find a shred of sympathy or even like a little bit. But the book is very interesting so I kept on with it anyway.
April 15, 2013
I had heard good things about this author and the Jane Perry series.
I was not real impressed.
It was a good story, but I just never felt comfortable with the main character.
Jane's mother died when she was around 10. Her father is a retired Denver cop. He was abusive to her and her younger brother, at one point almost beating her to death. As a result of her upbringing she started smoking and drinking around the age of 14. She's unfeeling, hard, and really has an "I don't care" attitude. Yet she is smart.
She and her partner Chris, are working a homicide of a couple and their young daughter. Jane becomes obsessed with solving this case after watching the child die in a burning car. She dreams about it, she has "visions" pointing her in the right direction, and knows the answers are right in front of her. (They are right in front of the reader too if you pay attention to the details she gives, over and over again. Not really much of a mystery).
When she refuses to see the department psychologist after the deaths in her current case she is put on suspension. Her partner is given a new murder case where a mother and father are brutally murdered while their young daughter is upstairs hiding in her bedroom closet.
The child, Emily, sees Jane on a chance meeting at police head quarters and makes an instant connection with her and refuses to speak to anyone but her.
Threats have been made on Emily's life and the decision is made to have Jane and Emily leave town and hide out until the case is solved.
Jane is the least motherly person I've ever seen, She can't cook, cusses at the child, has no patience for her, is condescending towards Emily, and chain smokes, yet the child covers for her every time she does something really not ok. Chasing the child and trying to punch her in the face is not ok. Yet Emily continues to trust her? And only wants Jane near her. Really?
The story is not bad, I just really disliked the main character. And the author really loves the exclamation point on her keyboard! It's used several times during each conversation. Not to mention the use of bad language. I don't mind the language, but it was a bit overdone in this book.
I didn't enjoy this book.
I was not real impressed.
It was a good story, but I just never felt comfortable with the main character.
Jane's mother died when she was around 10. Her father is a retired Denver cop. He was abusive to her and her younger brother, at one point almost beating her to death. As a result of her upbringing she started smoking and drinking around the age of 14. She's unfeeling, hard, and really has an "I don't care" attitude. Yet she is smart.
She and her partner Chris, are working a homicide of a couple and their young daughter. Jane becomes obsessed with solving this case after watching the child die in a burning car. She dreams about it, she has "visions" pointing her in the right direction, and knows the answers are right in front of her. (They are right in front of the reader too if you pay attention to the details she gives, over and over again. Not really much of a mystery).
When she refuses to see the department psychologist after the deaths in her current case she is put on suspension. Her partner is given a new murder case where a mother and father are brutally murdered while their young daughter is upstairs hiding in her bedroom closet.
The child, Emily, sees Jane on a chance meeting at police head quarters and makes an instant connection with her and refuses to speak to anyone but her.
Threats have been made on Emily's life and the decision is made to have Jane and Emily leave town and hide out until the case is solved.
Jane is the least motherly person I've ever seen, She can't cook, cusses at the child, has no patience for her, is condescending towards Emily, and chain smokes, yet the child covers for her every time she does something really not ok. Chasing the child and trying to punch her in the face is not ok. Yet Emily continues to trust her? And only wants Jane near her. Really?
The story is not bad, I just really disliked the main character. And the author really loves the exclamation point on her keyboard! It's used several times during each conversation. Not to mention the use of bad language. I don't mind the language, but it was a bit overdone in this book.
I didn't enjoy this book.
April 12, 2011
I read this last year and it's why I'm totally hooked on Laurel Dewey's books.
PROTECTOR is a powerful, deeply emotional story about a damaged female detective, Jane Perry, who is forced by circumstance to protect a 9-year-old who witnessed the brutal murder of her parents and cannot remember any of it. Together, they share a powerful connection that neither is aware of until the end of the book. It's not just a "murder mystery." In fact, IMO, that part of the book is second to the compelling personal story of Jane Perry and the heartbreaking relationship she and the child, Emily Lawrence, share.
Yes, the language is rough and crude. But honestly, it's what makes this story so real and gritty. I cannot for the life of me understand some of the reviews I've read that give this book one star and call it "garbage" or "filth." If you've ever known someone who has fought demons in their life (as Jane Perry has), then you know the fear, regret and courage it takes to emerge from that pain. I truly feel that Laurel Dewey has a gift for allowing us to see into the life of someone like Jane Perry who has suffered such tremendous abuse and still emerged as someone who can come to the aid of a shattered child. To disregard PROTECTOR because of the language in the story is ridiculous. When you get to know Detective Jane Perry, you root for her with all the gusto you can gather.
It is truly one of the best reads and most memorable writers I've come across in years.
PROTECTOR is a powerful, deeply emotional story about a damaged female detective, Jane Perry, who is forced by circumstance to protect a 9-year-old who witnessed the brutal murder of her parents and cannot remember any of it. Together, they share a powerful connection that neither is aware of until the end of the book. It's not just a "murder mystery." In fact, IMO, that part of the book is second to the compelling personal story of Jane Perry and the heartbreaking relationship she and the child, Emily Lawrence, share.
Yes, the language is rough and crude. But honestly, it's what makes this story so real and gritty. I cannot for the life of me understand some of the reviews I've read that give this book one star and call it "garbage" or "filth." If you've ever known someone who has fought demons in their life (as Jane Perry has), then you know the fear, regret and courage it takes to emerge from that pain. I truly feel that Laurel Dewey has a gift for allowing us to see into the life of someone like Jane Perry who has suffered such tremendous abuse and still emerged as someone who can come to the aid of a shattered child. To disregard PROTECTOR because of the language in the story is ridiculous. When you get to know Detective Jane Perry, you root for her with all the gusto you can gather.
It is truly one of the best reads and most memorable writers I've come across in years.
February 19, 2017
I love the main character Jane Perry. She is so my hero. She drinks too much, she smokes too much, she swears too much, she carries a glock and she is excellent at her job as a Denver police detective. All of the characters are well developed and the story seems so real. Yes I will read more of Janes adventures.
May 23, 2012
I wouldn't really call this a mystery. The majority of the book is about the evolution of the main character as she interacts and "protects" the child that she has been ordered to hide out with in a small town in Colorado. I didn't really like the main character. Jane is kind of a jerk. Yes, yes. She had an abusive childhood but does that mean she can threaten a 10 year old girl with bodily harm just because the kid is spoiled and bratty? I kept reading hoping that the double homicide case-remember that? The double homicide?-would move forward. Finally! At the very end of the book, the killer is revealed! After over 400 pages of no crime investigation. Yeesh. In addition, it's very obvious this is Dewey's first novel. A LOT of editing was needed. I kept stumbling over her writing style (too many extraneous descriptive terms that a lot of new authors suffer from using and she uses way too many exclamation points. In one short chapter she uses over 85 exclamation points. I know because I was overwhelmed with them and counted). I dislike when I get thrown out of a story by getting hung up on writing/editing problems. Overall, I think I would have enjoyed this book more had it been billed as just a fiction novel instead of a mystery.
February 23, 2013
While I eventually got sucked into the "who-done-it" of this book (although I had it figured out) by the end, I will not read another book by this author. I didn't like Jane Perry, the lead character, very much. She was abused by her father as a child and has huge emotional issues as a grown up. She's a nearly-out-of-control alcoholic, confrontational and just plain crude and rude. She's assigned to work with/protect a 9-year-old child, Emily, who witnessed her parents' murder and while I have a vocabulary that would make a long shoreman blush, I cringed when Jane yelled obscenities at the poor girl. The book was way too long - the plot could have been trimmed by at least 50+ pages. I hated the fact that once I believed in the redemptive relationship between Jane and Emily, that Jane gave Emily up to relatives who barely knew her. And, maybe this is unfair to the author, but, the e-book included a preview of the next book and we see Jane drunk again in the opening scene. So, while I came to almost like Jane, I was disappointed in the backslide.
August 11, 2011
Laurel Dewey weaves an interesting storyline in her novel Protector. Jane Perry is a hard-working detective who has problems of her own. She is dealing with the murder cases of what seems to be average, everyday family members. But as the plot gets more involved, so does Jane's role. Her character is well-developed, and I like how Dewey used little Emily to actually help Jane see more about herself and her own shortfalls. The language used is harsh at times but not surprising for the characters in the story. Like it or not...it seemed to be a part of them.
All in all I enjoyed this book and the rollercoaster ride I was on while I read it. Dewey did a great job at making me want to get my own revenge on a few of the characters in the story. You must read the book yourself to find out who...I'm sure you'll want to plot your revenge for them too!
Lisa Tortorello - author of My Hero, My Ding
All in all I enjoyed this book and the rollercoaster ride I was on while I read it. Dewey did a great job at making me want to get my own revenge on a few of the characters in the story. You must read the book yourself to find out who...I'm sure you'll want to plot your revenge for them too!
Lisa Tortorello - author of My Hero, My Ding
January 17, 2017
I read book number two some time ago. I forgot how much I liked the Jane Perry series book until I read this one. Jane Perry is an officer of the law with some deep demons from her past that cause her to have a hard time not only with relationships, but also with alcohol. And her demeanor is not much to be said for. She also has a special sense of what some may call seeing the future or deja'vu . In order for Jane to hang on to her career which is on the brink due to her behavior and drinking, she must become the guardian of a little girl who may have seen who killed her parents. While its not known for sure at first, it is thought to involve the Texan mafia. While she is caring for this girl, and trying to solve the case she must face some of her own demons, and in some ways she also starts to heal or come to an inner peace. This book has some nice twists and while it was a bit predictable in the whodunit aspect, is a definite page turner. Well written!!
December 17, 2012
This starts out as a police procedural but morphs into a coming of age/finding oneself type story. The main character is a very conflicted woman with many foibles (heavy drinking, etc.) due to a troubled/abusive childhood. It doesn't help that she seems to be a bit physic which makes her think she is going insane.
She turns out to be a very good police detective with a strong sense of responsibility.
Some great twists and turns in the story, a good ending, more than human characters.
I will be reading the next in the series.
She turns out to be a very good police detective with a strong sense of responsibility.
Some great twists and turns in the story, a good ending, more than human characters.
I will be reading the next in the series.
November 5, 2011
I really wanted to love this book, and in some ways, I did. However, the main character, Jane Perry, is completely unbelievable as a person. Due to abuse issues in her past, Jane's a very flawed individual, which should serve to illustrate her humanity (aren't we all very flawed?). Yet I felt like Jane was overdone. She was always about half a second away from a complete breakdown, and I just don't believe she'd be able to function in any capacity if she was as manic as the author portrays.
April 3, 2011
Awesome book! I am already scoping out the next one in the series. I have a gift card on the way so should be able to get it soon. Several exciting - can't put the book down - parts in the story. A little graphic on the bloody parts, but that is a small part of the story. Couple of sub-stories that are interesting and weave their way into the main plot. Similar in style to Patterson.
May 20, 2013
Really engrossing mystery, lots of twists, I wasn't sure I had it figured out til the end. The only complaint I had was the language. It is possible to tell a story, even a good story without pages and pages of profanity... Even still, I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series.
February 27, 2011
Loved it! I'll have to read more of her books. This was the best suspense book I've read in a long time!
August 17, 2011
Excellent!!! Hard boiled gutsy main character. Could hardly put it down. Loaded up the next book by Laurel Dewey already!!!!
December 18, 2019
This ebook has been in my Nook library since 2012 when Barnes and Noble offered a free download of the ebook.
The author managed to show growth for our protagonist and drive the suspense of the story.
Some readers might be uncomfortable with Jane's use of the F word, but it seems to fit her character.
The author managed to show growth for our protagonist and drive the suspense of the story.
Some readers might be uncomfortable with Jane's use of the F word, but it seems to fit her character.
August 27, 2017
Wow, what a great story
I did not want to stop reading this story, but life required me to take a break from it a few times. When I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it, my sign it's a great story. Recommend to anyone that likes to read.
I did not want to stop reading this story, but life required me to take a break from it a few times. When I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it, my sign it's a great story. Recommend to anyone that likes to read.
February 10, 2019
Predictable, but fun thriller
March 24, 2020
Excellent read!
Kept me up reading at night. I will read more books by this author. A totally different, flawed, human heroine.
Kept me up reading at night. I will read more books by this author. A totally different, flawed, human heroine.
September 6, 2020
Kept you guessing.
January 24, 2022
Ended with so much up in the air, it distracted from the finish.
April 17, 2021
For a detective, Jane certainly misses a lot of obvious signs. Overall, this was a decent book but didn't leave me rushing to read book 2.
January 2, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I got it as a free selection on Free Friday from BN.com for Nook devices. This is the first book by author Laurel Dewey.
The protagonist--Jane Perry--is a gritty, seasoned, alcoholic homicide detective for the Denver (Colorado) Police Department. She had a rough childhood as the oldest of two children. She and her younger brother had to live with their alcoholic father, who is a respected homicide detective, after their mother dies.
The book starts with Perry at home recuperating from an in-the line injury of severe burns she received while attempting to save a young girl from a burning car. The car, owned by her father was to appear in court the following morning to testify against the Texas Mafia. While entering their home, their car explodes, ultimately killing the father, mother and small child.
The story continues with the brutal killing of another young couple leaving another young girl as the sole witness to the murders. The young girl, Emily, is immediately drawn to Perry and sees her as "her protector". After an attempt is made on the girl's life, Perry is reassigned to take the girl to another town and "lay low".
Throughout the entire book, the reader will love all the positive attributes and skills Perry has and completely detest her faults from yelling and cussing the the young girl, to drinking on the job and constantly smoking. In the end, our heroine returns from battle after killing the murderer, a confused yet motivated new person. She is has seen her own demons and realizes she must now confront them on a daily basis and strive to be the person others believe she is.
This is a great book and the first of series. If you like your heroines with a bit of a rough edge, this is a series you will enjoy.
The protagonist--Jane Perry--is a gritty, seasoned, alcoholic homicide detective for the Denver (Colorado) Police Department. She had a rough childhood as the oldest of two children. She and her younger brother had to live with their alcoholic father, who is a respected homicide detective, after their mother dies.
The book starts with Perry at home recuperating from an in-the line injury of severe burns she received while attempting to save a young girl from a burning car. The car, owned by her father was to appear in court the following morning to testify against the Texas Mafia. While entering their home, their car explodes, ultimately killing the father, mother and small child.
The story continues with the brutal killing of another young couple leaving another young girl as the sole witness to the murders. The young girl, Emily, is immediately drawn to Perry and sees her as "her protector". After an attempt is made on the girl's life, Perry is reassigned to take the girl to another town and "lay low".
Throughout the entire book, the reader will love all the positive attributes and skills Perry has and completely detest her faults from yelling and cussing the the young girl, to drinking on the job and constantly smoking. In the end, our heroine returns from battle after killing the murderer, a confused yet motivated new person. She is has seen her own demons and realizes she must now confront them on a daily basis and strive to be the person others believe she is.
This is a great book and the first of series. If you like your heroines with a bit of a rough edge, this is a series you will enjoy.
December 20, 2012
"35 years of barely holding it together, she feared she might be unraveling" writes Laurel Dewey in her description of Denver homicide detective Jane Perry in "Protector". Detective Perry is a screwed up mess - she smokes constantly, cusses like a drunken sailor, and drinks a lot. And I mean A LOT! The digital version of this book was offered by B&N for free, so I figured I had nothing to lose by downloading it to my e-reader. I guess I enjoyed the book, but I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series. It seemed that every dialogue sentence ended with an exclamation mark. Detective Perry yells a lot, too!
There are two different storylines going on, but I figured out early on that they would somehow connect before the climax. And I was right. There's a murder of a prominent Denver businessman - along with his wife and daughter - who has links to some mysterious syndicate called the "Texas Mafia". There's another murder of a well-to-do husband and wife and Jane is put in charge of taking care of their young daughter since she seems to be the only "witness" to the heinous crime. Jane and the young girl are put into some sort of witness protection program in a very small Colorado town and things quickly unravel almost as soon as they hit town. The eventual reveal of the killer came as kind of a surprise and the ending was heart-wrenching as Jane and the girl had to part ways forever.
"Protector" is a decent police procedural and a lot of mystery lovers would certainly enjoy it. I'm not exactly sure if Jane Perry is the kind of character I want to hang out with too often.
There are two different storylines going on, but I figured out early on that they would somehow connect before the climax. And I was right. There's a murder of a prominent Denver businessman - along with his wife and daughter - who has links to some mysterious syndicate called the "Texas Mafia". There's another murder of a well-to-do husband and wife and Jane is put in charge of taking care of their young daughter since she seems to be the only "witness" to the heinous crime. Jane and the young girl are put into some sort of witness protection program in a very small Colorado town and things quickly unravel almost as soon as they hit town. The eventual reveal of the killer came as kind of a surprise and the ending was heart-wrenching as Jane and the girl had to part ways forever.
"Protector" is a decent police procedural and a lot of mystery lovers would certainly enjoy it. I'm not exactly sure if Jane Perry is the kind of character I want to hang out with too often.
March 17, 2013
As many of the other reviewers have said, I received "The Protector" by Laurel Dewey as a Free Friday selection. I typically enjoy the mystery genre and trying out new authors. Sorry to say, I did not enjoy this book.
The main character, Detective Jane Perry, is a charicature of the driven, damaged police detective. She has it all: an alcoholic, chain smoking woman whose father physically and mentally abused her as a child and continues to verbally beat her up as an adult. He also was a cop and she will never be able to measure up to his standards. Her mother dumped a load of guilt and responsibility on Jane just before she died. Her detective partner is demeaning and abusive to her, but they have a sexual relationship anyway. He brags that she likes it "rough". Jane is described as a "human lie detector", extremely intellegent, and respected by her boss. But she refuses to believe in herself and feels too much for every victim. Wow, couldn't Laurel have cut her a little slack?
The plot isn't any better. I had figured out who the murderer had to be before the half way mark, but Jane, the human lie detector, doesn't figure it out. She literally has it dumped in her lap by the unlikley personage of a private detective who is her brother's girl friend's brother.
But it all works out, more or less, in the end.
I wish Laurel Dewey well. I know this is a first effort and I hope she gets better at character development and plot with time. My favorite mystery author is James Lee Burke. But if the first book I read of his was one of his first ("Half of Paradise"), I might not have read another. It was unrelentless bleak.
The main character, Detective Jane Perry, is a charicature of the driven, damaged police detective. She has it all: an alcoholic, chain smoking woman whose father physically and mentally abused her as a child and continues to verbally beat her up as an adult. He also was a cop and she will never be able to measure up to his standards. Her mother dumped a load of guilt and responsibility on Jane just before she died. Her detective partner is demeaning and abusive to her, but they have a sexual relationship anyway. He brags that she likes it "rough". Jane is described as a "human lie detector", extremely intellegent, and respected by her boss. But she refuses to believe in herself and feels too much for every victim. Wow, couldn't Laurel have cut her a little slack?
The plot isn't any better. I had figured out who the murderer had to be before the half way mark, but Jane, the human lie detector, doesn't figure it out. She literally has it dumped in her lap by the unlikley personage of a private detective who is her brother's girl friend's brother.
But it all works out, more or less, in the end.
I wish Laurel Dewey well. I know this is a first effort and I hope she gets better at character development and plot with time. My favorite mystery author is James Lee Burke. But if the first book I read of his was one of his first ("Half of Paradise"), I might not have read another. It was unrelentless bleak.
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