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Gabe Quinn #1

Killing Hope

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One man stands in the way of countless deaths ...
One man will try to stop him ...
Only one will succeed ...

"Celebrity Cop" Gabe Quinn is back working Robbery-Homicide after a personal tragedy has left him emotionally bare.

He's raw, but resolved to catch a serial killer stalking the streets of two major cities.

With cryptic clues left at each crime scene, Gabe is faced with the seemingly impossible task of piecing together the bizarre puzzle - following signs that point toward a killer whose motive questions everything he believes in ...

'If you could save a million lives by taking one ... would you?'

518 pages, ebook

First published January 13, 2011

1771 people are currently reading
1804 people want to read

About the author

Keith Houghton

21 books278 followers

MILLION SELLING AUTHOR of the Kindle bestselling Gabe Quinn Thriller Series and the Maggie Novak Thrillers, including Kindle Store #1 books KILLING HOPE and DON'T EVEN BREATHE, as well as psychological standalone thrillers CRASH, NO COMING BACK and BEFORE YOU LEAP - roller-coaster reads with totally unexpected twists and turns - published by Thomas & Mercer.

More than ONE MILLION Crime Thrillers Sold.
100,000+ Audiobooks Sold on Amazon and Audible.
12,000+ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five-Star Reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and Audible.
13 Kindle Store Number Ones and more than 140 individual category bestsellers.

Latest novel TOLEDO BEND is out NOW!

Visit keithhoughton.com and join his no-spam Murder Club list to qualify for exclusive reader competitions, such as free advance copies, signed paperbacks, and Your Name As A Character in a future novel.

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5 stars
883 (28%)
4 stars
1,124 (36%)
3 stars
746 (24%)
2 stars
228 (7%)
1 star
99 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
Profile Image for Jemma Thompson.
48 reviews
November 24, 2013
This book has loads of positive reviews so i'm aware i may be in the minority but i hated it. I've given it 2 stars because i didn't hate it enough to not finish it, but it was treading a fine line at times.

I disliked the main character, Gabriel Quin with his ridiculous uh-oh radar which put me in mind of the telly-tubbies every-time it went off. Despite naming his internal warning system like a 3 year old we are still meant to believe he is a gritty old-timer who is dangerously obsessed with his work life and has an issue with authority. On that note some of his maverick behavior is just stupid, he is forever going around with undeclared evidence bags in his pockets and wandering off to dangerous situations without telling anyone. Basically he is just not a very good cop.

The book is supposed to be the first of Gabe's adventures, but spends the whole book referencing past cases and incidents. Quinn even goes to the house of an old suspect of a different case for no apparent reason and nothing comes of that visit. The writer drip-feeds teasers to the past in almost every chapter but a lot of it has no relevance to the current story. It does turn out that the end motive is closely connected to this 'off-page' action but that just made me feel more cheated at the end of the book.

The writing style is repetitive and overwritten, i hate when a writer has a favorite phrase or description and overuses it in their writing. That is a hang-up of mine that might not be fair to all writers but this book was ridiculous. Every time we get a chapter from the killer's POV we are reminder that he is 'the killer known as the undertaker', Gabe Quinn never seems to forget mentioning his dislike for his 'celebrity cop moniker', the chapters are literally a couple of pages long so it's never more than 10 pages since this was last mentioned. I don't need reminding of who people are that often, no one needs reminding that often! Even though the chapters are short, which should mean the story is fast paced they are bogged down with unnecessary detail. Quinn won't so much as knock on someone's door without describing the paint and woodwork, reminiscing on a past case and noticing a woman walking a dog that has no later relevance to the plot.

For me the ending was another let down, there were no clues, even looking back once i'd finished of the killer's identity. It just felt cheap, to be honest the writer could have made anyone the killer at the end and it wouldn't have effected the rest of the book.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
51 reviews2 followers
November 26, 2012
The author must be doing something right here, as despite finding quite a few issues with this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's a serial killer thriller with a number of inconsequential threads and loose ends, an over the top kill count & questionable detective work, all of which adds up to a pretty improbable tale.

The reader is irritatingly in the dark about the history of Detective Gabe Quinn despite there being a lot of references to his previous high profile case as well as the significance of various items seemingly left for him at crime scenes. And added to all of that, the short, punchy style of writing can be a bit off-putting....

However, it's a very entertaining story, and when the already fast pace quickens in the second half of the book, all that was forgotten and I just couldn't put it down. Very enjoyable!
Profile Image for Alan McDermott.
Author 31 books772 followers
March 23, 2015
It’s very rare that I come across a real talent in the self-publishing world, but this author is certainly one of them. From the very beginning, I was hooked on both the story and the style of writing. Short, clipped prose that made me feel a real connection with the main character. It was as if I was living the story through him.

There are a lot of characters to follow, but each is drawn well enough that you remember who they are when you come across them again later in the book. I won’t go into detail about the plot, except to say it involves a detective hunting a serial killer. The bodies pile up as the tension mounts, and reaching the end was a bittersweet moment.

I normally just read when I’m settling down in bed, but I found myself picking this one up whenever I got the opportunity. I’ve been back to download the rest of the series on Kindle and can’t wait to get stuck into them.
Profile Image for Simon Salt.
Author 8 books28 followers
May 1, 2012
I bought this book based on a couple of reviews I had read of it. From the first chapter this book sucks you in. The characters are believable and for the most part so are the situations they find themselves in, though I think the main character took one too many blows to the head! The thing that got me most about this book is that by 2/3rds of the way through I "Knew" who the bad guy was. I was confident in my ability to out think the detective character and I had this case sown up, I just wanted to see how the author wrapped up the final threads. Without giving anything away - I WAS WRONG - in fact I was so wrong the final chapters left me spinning. Awesome twists, fantastic way to leave the reader wanting more and demanding book two appear very soon! Overall if you like your crime fiction heavy on the action, but cerebral at the same time then look no further. You have found what you are looking for.
Profile Image for 💚 Mandi 💚.
15 reviews14 followers
January 22, 2012
Well, I think I'm alone in this, but I didn't like it.
I felt like Houghton put in too many POV's, and they not only became annoying because they didn't tie in for ages, but some of them never resolved (ie: the car wreck Stacey showed the cop, the serial killer who killed Clergy men, how Jamie figured out the killer's wife, why the killer murdered the man in the hospital, etc.).
Also, I don't feel like going into the killer's POV was helpful in the least. His memories didn't in any way include Quinn, even though it was obvious that they were connected somehow. There was no hint toward his identity, and when it was revealed, there wasn't any real explanation as to how Quinn felt, or how he justified any feelings about the killer or how he could have influenced the killer in the past.
Super disappointed, but glad it was a free book and I didn't waste my money on it.
Profile Image for Jackmeister.
33 reviews
June 16, 2012
Killing Hope is the best book I've read in some time! The writing style is different to what I'm probably used to, but I loved it, punchy and to the point, short chapters with endings leaving you hanging and desperate for more. I love Gabe Quinn and can't wait to read more of him. Do yourselves a favor people, read this book!
Profile Image for David Highton.
3,748 reviews32 followers
September 7, 2018
the first Quinn novel, but he is 50 years old and seems to have a lot of back story, some of which is revealed as this serial killer plot plays out. Set principally in LA and Las Vegas, Quinn chases The Undertaker, a vicious but very clever killer. Big twist at the end.
Profile Image for Lynn.
3 reviews
April 15, 2012
I don't normally read crime thrillers, so I took a chance with this novel after having read the author's science ficiton e-book 'Uth', which I enjoyed immensely (see my review). So I'm pleased to report that I think I've been converted!

'Killing Hope' is very different from 'Uth', being that it is set in modern-day America, and following a worn-down Police Detective as he chases a psychopathic serial killer from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The story is gripping. It kept me hooked from the first page, with plenty of surprises and tidbits of clues to keep me guessing at the killer's identity and what connected the murders together. Needless to say, the author had me running round in circles before hitting me with what he calls his 'killer twist' at the end, which it certainly was! I didn't see it coming. As with 'Uth', the plot is masterfully worked out, with lots of red herrings and posed questions, all of which add to the story's intrigue.

I also liked the author's switch to short, punchy chanpters. This makes 'Killing Hope' read like a movie, pushing the story from one scene to the next. Each chapter is left on a kind of a cliffhanger too, forcing the reader to want more. The author's style is much more edgy than it was in his previous novel, giving the story a much quicker pace, ideal for page-turning. As with 'Uth', the characters are plentiful, three-dimensional and all have clever dialogue. And the chapters following the killer had me drooling for more! This author's imagination is amazing!

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed 'Killing Hope'. I can't recommend it enough. It looks like this author is getting better and better with each novel, so his next book is definitely on my radar, I just don't want to wait too long for it!
33 reviews6 followers
February 22, 2012
This was the first book I’ve read by this author; I greatly enjoyed his writing style after I overcame the initial jolt and became more accustomed to it. Sentences are concise and punchy so, particularly when coupled with the short chapters, make it feel fast paced and easy to read.

I believe it’s the first in a planned series featuring Senior Detective Gabriel (Gabe) Quinn of LAPD’s Homicide Division. Gabe’s a maverick, celebrity cop returning to duty after the murder of his wife; an emotional mess, he’s not a betting man and doesn’t believe in happenstance/coincidences. A serial killer is targeting him, probably thinking Gabe is going to be his fast track to ‘stardom’ as he craves recognition. The Killer’s a neat freak to the point of being obsessive compulsive.

The story starts as Gabe attends a crime scene where a child’s body has been discovered and the tale unfolds from there. It’s difficult to give much of a synopsis without giving too much away and spoiling the many twists and turns the plot takes!

Although it starts slowly as the author gradually establishes Quinn’s character and background, as you get further into the tale it really builds momentum, so stick with it.

It’s completely unpredictable, so my best advice is to buy it and read it for yourself, it’s an excellent introduction to a new Detective character.
Profile Image for Marilou George.
186 reviews53 followers
April 12, 2012
Los Angeles Detective Gabe Quinn is back on the job tracking down a serial killer dubbed “The Undertaker”. Detective Quinn is a very troubled man personally but is determined to do whatever it takes to bring this killer in.

I found the main character Detective Quinn to be so artfully crafted and multi-dimensional that I was a fan of his right from the start. His frustration, fears and emotional upheaval will grip you and fill you with empathy. I found the supporting characters to be striking and well-defined as they each had a significant impact on the story.

The story is extremely fast paced filled with mystery and exciting twists and turns that will keep you totally absorbed in the story. Keith Houghton’s writing is clear, concise and pulls you into the story with ease. He holds your attention hostage as you become totally absorbed and hooked until the last page is read.

I highly recommend this book to all murder/thrillers lovers as well as anyone who loves a story that will draw you in and keep you wanting more.
Profile Image for Bill.
3 reviews
December 26, 2011
Another solid and satisfying read from this author. As mentioned in previous reviews the pace is page turning and the scene by scene structure is punchy. Very movielike. Right from the start this book is hard to put down. I instantly connected with Gabe's character. I really felt for him as his world slowly crumbled as the story pulled him from pillar to post. Extremely well written with twists I didn't see coming. The ending as mentioned by other reviewers blew me away. A complete shock. I particularly liked the way the author increased the action and tension in the last third of the book, culminating in the explosive finale. Very well done! There are a lot of clues and misdirections in the story (some I didn't get at the time of reading) so I'm looking forward to reading the book again at some point to see if I can fathom them all out.

All in all another big recommend by this author. As my title says: "UNPUTDOWNABLE!" Hurry up and write the next one, Mr Houghton!
Profile Image for Bill.
3 reviews
April 15, 2012
Another solid and satisfying read from this author. As mentioned in previous reviews the pace is page turning and the scene by scene structure is punchy. Very movielike. Right from the start this book is hard to put down. I instantly connected with Gabe's character. I really felt for him as his world slowly crumbled as the story pulled him from pillar to post. Extremely well written with twists I didn't see coming. The ending as mentioned by other reviewers blew me away. A complete shock. I particularly liked the way the author increased the action and tension in the last third of the book, culminating in the explosive finale. Very well done! There are a lot of clues and misdirections in the story (some I didn't get at the time of reading) so I'm looking forward to reading the book again at some point to see if I can fathom them all out.

All in all another big recommend by this author. As my title says: "UNPUTDOWNABLE!" Hurry up and write the next one, Mr Houghton!
Profile Image for Adam Teague.
27 reviews1 follower
April 15, 2019
I came across this book while trawling on amazon looking for a title / cover that grabbed my attention. Boy am I glad that I stumbled across this little gem. The writing style, in my opinion is excellent, with short, fast paced chapters that make you want to keep reading and doesn't get too bogged down with long winded nonsense. The main character is flawed, but very likeable and the supporting cast also manage to hold their own. The body count is huge and plot manages to twist and turn right up until the end. I am very much looking forward to another stint with the Celebrity Cop.
Profile Image for Sam.
3 reviews
April 15, 2012
Wow! I will be first in line waiting for Keith Houghton's next book! What a shock that this guy hasn't been heard of before now. I thouroughly enjoyed the read from start to finish. I couldn't put it down! Dark undertones, unexpected twists and turns, excellently written, gripping characters and a mesmerizing plot....what more could you want?! I would recommend everyone to give 'Killing Hope' a read!
Profile Image for April.
91 reviews
March 2, 2012
This book almost had 5 stars out of me but there were a few unanswered questions at the end, and I did figure out the identity of the killer before the reveal.

I also liked the writing style and didn't find the changes in the point of view to be confusing at all. I look forward to future offerings from this author.
Profile Image for Joyce.
1,801 reviews18 followers
December 24, 2012
The plot was improbable, the characters questionable and I enjoyed every minute of it. I can and do normally walk away from novels when responsibilities come into play...this time I didn't. When I was home I was involved with Quinn and his cohorts. I did figure out who the culprit was, but was so enmeshed by that time it didn't matter. I will be reading more Gabe Quinn stories.
Profile Image for Iain.
Author 2 books12 followers
September 23, 2013
Takes me ages to read stuff on Kindle... I picked this up as a freebie, I think, and selected it randomly to read. Pleasantly surprised and a good story. Well told, interesting, plenty of characters but not overly-complicated.

Just a good detective thriller with plenty going on. Nice short chapters as well, which makes for easy bedtime reading and "just a few more pages"-ness.
Profile Image for Queenie.
4 reviews1 follower
October 30, 2015
Good God this was truly awful. Didn't think it was ever going to end and only persevered as I paid for it, if I'd got it free I would have given up long ago. Badly written, boring, cliched, ridiculous ending, terrible story and plot overly long, scrappy sentences, chapters and dialogue. I just cannot fathom the positive reviews, were they reading something else?!
Profile Image for Lori.
63 reviews
February 8, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast-paced, suspenseful and with a shocking ending. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series. The author reminds me of James Patterson's, Alex Cross series.
Profile Image for Lorna.
3 reviews
March 7, 2013
This is a fantastic new author.(Well to me he is) I do not often give 5stars, but this book grabs you and never lets go until the end. Looking forward to the next one. I may just have to buy the paper version for my shelf.
Profile Image for Angel.
765 reviews36 followers
June 14, 2013
Compulsively readable thriller. I loved the Patterson-esque short chapters, and shifting viewpoints. The only thing that could have made it better was the killer POV being more fleshed out. Read in one day because I serially (ha!) could not put it down. Will read more by this author.
Profile Image for Phyllis.
251 reviews
January 29, 2012
It was a great book. I read it so fast that I think I missed a few things. I have to go back and re read some parts. I would definitely recommend this book
Profile Image for Don.
3 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2012
Good book and kept you interested.
8 reviews2 followers
March 23, 2012
Gabe Quinn is right there with Alex Cross as one of those unforgetable cops in fiction. A great mystery and real page turner
Profile Image for Theweebarrell.
386 reviews9 followers
June 13, 2012
really enjoyed this book and had me from the first page
Profile Image for Dana Cosgrove.
14 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2013
This was a great "who done it". I love the character of Gabe Quinn. I read the next one in the series right away and it was just as good.
Profile Image for Janet Duffield.
28 reviews3 followers
May 3, 2013
I could not put this book down, it moves fast with surprises throughout the whole book.
Profile Image for Aparna Dubey.
53 reviews5 followers
January 6, 2018
A good on the move travel read. Some brilliantly scripted quotes in there, and a fast paced crime thriller.
Profile Image for John Davis.
Author 31 books69 followers
September 23, 2012
Six months ago I would never have believed that an indie author could have written something this developed. Intrigue, mystery and chaos collide in every chapter of this fast moving epic that was an absolute joy from the first page to the last.

In this, Keith Houghton's debut in the genre, our hero, and accomplices, embarks on a lofty quest to track down the man responsible for a series of heinous and gruesome crimes. Behind every murder is a motive, and from every murder there, of course, exists a trail. Following the trail is our hero, LAPD cop Gabe Quinn. Seasoned pro Quinn has seen it, done it and succeeded: in fact, so much so his exploits have made him something of a celebrity. But fame and catching crime rarely match. And in this, Quinn's toughest quest yet, his resilience is put to the ultimate test. This is not simply about stopping crime. The world is watching - and judging.

Without question, Keith Houghton has written his heart out in this enthralling thriller where the ordinary and the extraordinary merge and the furore of a high-profile nationwide murder mystery is undermined by the protagonist's personal vendetta against the internal and external demons that haunt his past. Houghton's ability to establish such a tight connection between his protagonist and readership is nothing short of commendable that, coupled with his extensive effort to ensure his background is all spot on, makes it extremely simple to live and breathe every aspect of Gabe's predicament as if you were there.

Written in a style somewhere in between a James Patterson thriller and a unique internal monologue Scorsese would be proud of, Houghton delivers a thrilling narrative, beautifully presented against the backdrop of vibrant settings, fully-rounded characters, and described in fascinating detail and impeccable accuracy. The standard cat and mouse scenarios, although thrilling, are largely preferred by an intriguing exploration of the physical and mental limitation of the key characters, and thanks to the author's skill in juxtaposing all the key areas with the rigours of the LAPD, insight into the ancient mysteries of Christianity and the horrifying effects that can arise through the devastating skill of personal vendetta carried out by the mind of a twisted killer, the result is nothing short of mouth-watering.

Killing Hope is an absorbing read for cop lovers, mystery lovers, thriller junkies and, quite simply, anyone who enjoys a read that makes the pulse race. This was a fast-paced, rollercoaster of a novel throughout. And I could not get enough of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews

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