What do you think?
Rate this book
Abby Kane FBI Thriller #1
Corktown
They locked him up seven years ago. He’s still killing.
Executives from Detroit’s automakers are being mutilated, and all signs point to a serial killer known as the Doctor. But there’s a problem with that. Detroit Police put him away a long time ago.
Fiery FBI agent Abby Kane is tasked with figuring out how this madman can kill again. When she visits the Doctor behind bars, he swears he’s innocent and not the psychopath everyone thinks he is. Oddly enough, Abby believes him.
To prove the Doctor’s innocence, Abby investigates the case that put him behind bars and discovers evidence of a cover-up. She soon finds herself marked as enemy number one by the city’s power players. Even the executives who are being targeted by the killer want her silenced. The pressure only intensifies when Abby believes the real killer is connected to the automakers.
Can Abby untangle the web of lies before she’s silenced for good?
Perfect for fans of Patterson’s pacing, Freida’s twists, and Ruth Ware’s creeping tension. Abby Kane is your next obsession.
Meet Abby Kane She spent her early career putting sickos, psychopaths, and ruthless killers behind bars. After her husband's mysterious death, Abby moved her family to San Francisco, hoping for a fresh start and healing. What she got instead was a job with the FBI and a directive to solve their most baffling cases.
What readers are saying:
★★★★★ Corktown is a great start to a captivating series of Abby Kane thrillers.
★★★★★ Hutchinson is a runner up to Patterson for fast-paced and smooth running plots.
★★★★★ Great storyline. Memorable cast. And a few curveballs.
★★★★★ I truly enjoy the character of Abby Kane.
★★★★★ The best book I have read in a long time. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
★★★★★ The city of Detroit, the FBI, and Abby make for a powerful triad of a novel.
★★★★★ This is the first novel of Ty's that I've read, and it won't be the last.
★★★★★ I had to put the book down for a few minutes just to take a breath.
Corktown is book one in the Abby Kane series from USA Today bestselling author Ty Hutchinson. A page-turning thriller that dives headfirst into the grit of Detroit.
Executives from Detroit’s automakers are being mutilated, and all signs point to a serial killer known as the Doctor. But there’s a problem with that. Detroit Police put him away a long time ago.
Fiery FBI agent Abby Kane is tasked with figuring out how this madman can kill again. When she visits the Doctor behind bars, he swears he’s innocent and not the psychopath everyone thinks he is. Oddly enough, Abby believes him.
To prove the Doctor’s innocence, Abby investigates the case that put him behind bars and discovers evidence of a cover-up. She soon finds herself marked as enemy number one by the city’s power players. Even the executives who are being targeted by the killer want her silenced. The pressure only intensifies when Abby believes the real killer is connected to the automakers.
Can Abby untangle the web of lies before she’s silenced for good?
Perfect for fans of Patterson’s pacing, Freida’s twists, and Ruth Ware’s creeping tension. Abby Kane is your next obsession.
Meet Abby Kane She spent her early career putting sickos, psychopaths, and ruthless killers behind bars. After her husband's mysterious death, Abby moved her family to San Francisco, hoping for a fresh start and healing. What she got instead was a job with the FBI and a directive to solve their most baffling cases.
What readers are saying:
★★★★★ Corktown is a great start to a captivating series of Abby Kane thrillers.
★★★★★ Hutchinson is a runner up to Patterson for fast-paced and smooth running plots.
★★★★★ Great storyline. Memorable cast. And a few curveballs.
★★★★★ I truly enjoy the character of Abby Kane.
★★★★★ The best book I have read in a long time. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
★★★★★ The city of Detroit, the FBI, and Abby make for a powerful triad of a novel.
★★★★★ This is the first novel of Ty's that I've read, and it won't be the last.
★★★★★ I had to put the book down for a few minutes just to take a breath.
Corktown is book one in the Abby Kane series from USA Today bestselling author Ty Hutchinson. A page-turning thriller that dives headfirst into the grit of Detroit.
360 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
2287 people are currently reading
3605 people want to read
About the author
Ty Hutchinson
73 books661 followersTy Hutchinson is a USA Today bestselling author who writes dark, high-concept thrillers that punch hard and don't let up.
A full-time nomad since 2013, he blends real-world detail with twisted imagination to deliver binge-worthy stories—where the rules are bent, the stakes are high, and the exits are never marked.
Living everywhere and nowhere, he's drawn to strange things and peculiar people—almost always leading to one question: what if?
A full-time nomad since 2013, he blends real-world detail with twisted imagination to deliver binge-worthy stories—where the rules are bent, the stakes are high, and the exits are never marked.
Living everywhere and nowhere, he's drawn to strange things and peculiar people—almost always leading to one question: what if?
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
June 14, 2017
I think "I didn't mind chest bumping with my partner. Hopefully he would high-five my butt. I pushed his head down and introduced his warm mouth to my tatas. Lick it. Lick it good." perfectly sums up the writing in this book.
August 22, 2022
Book Blog | Bookstagram
This novel is an exercise in a lead female character being very obviously written by a man. What description there was of Kane was needlessly sexual a majority of the time. For instance, when Abby walked into an air-conditioned police station she notes that her nipples become hard because "That's me, I'm a pointer." Are you fucking kidding me? There's not a woman alive who would put that on a list of things people should know about her.
It's a quick entertaining read, just needed less male gaze.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
This novel is an exercise in a lead female character being very obviously written by a man. What description there was of Kane was needlessly sexual a majority of the time. For instance, when Abby walked into an air-conditioned police station she notes that her nipples become hard because "That's me, I'm a pointer." Are you fucking kidding me? There's not a woman alive who would put that on a list of things people should know about her.
It's a quick entertaining read, just needed less male gaze.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
August 15, 2013
I am impressed with this novel Corktown written by Ty Hutchinson. I'm most impressed with the star Abby Kane. Abby Kane is a wise-cracking, tough as nails, and fiesty FBI agent who's called in to assist the Detroit PD with a string of murders that has plagued the town. The reason she's called in is because she's good at her job and the murderer may be copying an imprisoned serial killer dubbed The Doctor. Suffice it to say, these heinous murders are reason enough to get this nut off the streets as soon as possible.
Before long, Abby realizes that there's something that stinks of corruption with this case. The man who's sentenced for The Doctor's crimes tells her he isn't the guy and she believes him. Her brilliance leads her to believe that the copycat may actually be the true killer. She doesn't have much support with the Detroit PD, but that doesn't change Abby's mission to get the guy.
What I liked most about this novel and attributes to my giving it a 4/5 star score is Abby. Corktown shifts points of view between Abby and other peripheral characters. The secondary characters never come to be as full or any less caricature throughout the novel. I don't mind this so much because I love the chapters where Abby is narrating and we get inside her head. She hails from Hong Kong and was the youngest woman to graduate from their police academy. A woman like that in such a male dominated society has got to have a pair of balls.
Abby isn't all guts and no depth. She also suffers from the guilt of not being able to spend as much time as she would like with the two children her late husband left her with. The struggle between the call of duty and being plain old mom is relatable to many women who may read this novel.
Another plus about this novel is that the plot really ties into the plight that is Detroit. A city that has primarily experienced a mass exodus as well as massive layoffs is the perfect backdrop for Corktown. The idea of corruption and scandal at the highest levels make this novel more believeable than had it just been placed in some no-name town.
Corktown by Ty Hutchinson is definitely a fast read. It's leading lady Abby Kane is sure to excite readers. I know fans of Hutchinson will want to read this crime thriller. I look forward to seeing how Abby Kane develops in future novels.
Before long, Abby realizes that there's something that stinks of corruption with this case. The man who's sentenced for The Doctor's crimes tells her he isn't the guy and she believes him. Her brilliance leads her to believe that the copycat may actually be the true killer. She doesn't have much support with the Detroit PD, but that doesn't change Abby's mission to get the guy.
What I liked most about this novel and attributes to my giving it a 4/5 star score is Abby. Corktown shifts points of view between Abby and other peripheral characters. The secondary characters never come to be as full or any less caricature throughout the novel. I don't mind this so much because I love the chapters where Abby is narrating and we get inside her head. She hails from Hong Kong and was the youngest woman to graduate from their police academy. A woman like that in such a male dominated society has got to have a pair of balls.
Abby isn't all guts and no depth. She also suffers from the guilt of not being able to spend as much time as she would like with the two children her late husband left her with. The struggle between the call of duty and being plain old mom is relatable to many women who may read this novel.
Another plus about this novel is that the plot really ties into the plight that is Detroit. A city that has primarily experienced a mass exodus as well as massive layoffs is the perfect backdrop for Corktown. The idea of corruption and scandal at the highest levels make this novel more believeable than had it just been placed in some no-name town.
Corktown by Ty Hutchinson is definitely a fast read. It's leading lady Abby Kane is sure to excite readers. I know fans of Hutchinson will want to read this crime thriller. I look forward to seeing how Abby Kane develops in future novels.
February 23, 2016
Ugh. I couldn't finish it. Too many strikes against this author for complete impossibility. I don't believe his character or his story. Just not a book I could take seriously enough to invest myself in. I didn't find it funny or interesting or compelling in anyway. I tried this book last year and I didn't like it then, I gave it another shot thanks to the help of audio, but didn't make it to the halfway point.
September 18, 2013
This is clearly a woman written from the point of view of a man. One dimensional, mostly because the author doesn't care to flesh out the character as more than an over-sexed lady. Her mothering is over the telephone and the fact that she slept with her partner in the front seat of a car during a stake out absurdly stupid. Trite, ridiculously male stereotyped leading lady.
September 11, 2013
Ty Hutchinson is one of my favorite authors that not enough people know about!
This book is sort of a continuation of a short story called The Perfect Plan.
Someone is killing executives that work for the Big 3. FBI Agent Abby Kane has the task of coming to Detroit and solving the case. She sure has her hands full. The layers are many and deep to find out how and why these powerful people are ending up dead. Abby just can't let things be and digs deeper until she finds a handhold. Why are the local police withholding information from the past? Leave it to the tenacious Abby Kane to find out why.
Absolutely will continue with the Abby Kane series and the Darby Stansfield series.
This book is sort of a continuation of a short story called The Perfect Plan.
Someone is killing executives that work for the Big 3. FBI Agent Abby Kane has the task of coming to Detroit and solving the case. She sure has her hands full. The layers are many and deep to find out how and why these powerful people are ending up dead. Abby just can't let things be and digs deeper until she finds a handhold. Why are the local police withholding information from the past? Leave it to the tenacious Abby Kane to find out why.
Absolutely will continue with the Abby Kane series and the Darby Stansfield series.
February 9, 2015
FBI Agent Abby Kane and partner Trey "Wilky" Wilkinson head to Detroit to help the locals find and stop a serial killer known as "The Doctor". The murders are too similar to murders that had occurred some 15 years ago. The original Killer named Michael "Blade" Garrison has been locked up for the past 15 years. The local detectives are not happy the FBI has gotten involved. Abby and "Wilky" begin to make progress. The novel really embarks off into several story lines that tie up the reader. What is with the hierarchy of the Detroit PD that they do not actually want these cases cleaned up ? . It seems from Lt. to Chief of Police, and even the Mayor do not want this investigation to get very involved. Abby in order to make progress on this case must overcome some terrible heartache, and the agony of her small children back at home in San Francisco with her Mother in law. Unable to really connect with her kids, Abby struggles with a wide scope of emotions. On the job and back home Abby struggles with painful crisis after painful crisis. I really enjoyed reading the book. The characters were very colorful and emotional as well. Some excellent dialog makes the characters very credible to be believed. This looks like a pretty good series to start reading into. Author TY Hutchinson has created a strong emotional and well liked protagonist. Abby Kane is not your typical FBI Agent. Her background is very unique. I'd highly recommend "Corktown" for any mystery thriller fan. The book packs a nice punch. Has a nicely deigned plot, and interesting characters to read. Please do yourself a favor and get in on this series with book 1 "Corktown". 5 stars out of a possible 5 stars.
January 7, 2019
Unlike several reviewers, I enjoyed this book. The female lead is strong, but struggles balancing work and personal life. The story line was a little predictable in spots and I felt she should have caught on to the serial killers earlier in the story. Overall, an enjoyable read, but greater plot twists would have been a plus.
August 31, 2015
Don't waste your time
August 6, 2025
Setting: Detroit, USA; modern day.
This is the first book in a series featuring FBI agent Abby Kane, known for her earlier exploits in Hong Kong against the Triads.
When she and her fellow agent are sent to Detroit to help local law enforcement catch a serial killer, they arrive just as another body has been found. The M.O. of the murderer is similar to that of a man who has already been caught and jailed - but as their enquiries progress, Abby becomes more and more convinced that the killers are one and the same. Yet any attempt to pursue this line of enquiry is met with strong resistance by the Mayor and his underlings....
This was a great introduction to what I hope will be an enjoyable series but, be warned, it is quite gruesome at times. Interestingly, we are introduced to the killer/s at an early stage as they go about their work and their motives for it eventually become clear. Some quite shocking and unexpected twists and turns enhanced my enjoyment and I am looking forward to reading more of the Abby Kane series - 9/10.
This is the first book in a series featuring FBI agent Abby Kane, known for her earlier exploits in Hong Kong against the Triads.
When she and her fellow agent are sent to Detroit to help local law enforcement catch a serial killer, they arrive just as another body has been found. The M.O. of the murderer is similar to that of a man who has already been caught and jailed - but as their enquiries progress, Abby becomes more and more convinced that the killers are one and the same. Yet any attempt to pursue this line of enquiry is met with strong resistance by the Mayor and his underlings....
This was a great introduction to what I hope will be an enjoyable series but, be warned, it is quite gruesome at times. Interestingly, we are introduced to the killer/s at an early stage as they go about their work and their motives for it eventually become clear. Some quite shocking and unexpected twists and turns enhanced my enjoyment and I am looking forward to reading more of the Abby Kane series - 9/10.
May 20, 2025
This is my fourth Abby Kane book and I've enjoyed them all. They are page turners. Abby has insecurities and is trying to find her best path forward. She's feisty and smart but not overly so. The stories are sometimes a bit far fetched but still reasonably so, making the story exciting and interesting.
There was one scene in this book that was frivolous from the author's side. It could (and should) have been left out completely. It was gratuitous sex for no purpose whatsoever. It brought nothing to the story and showed an unprofessional side that is inconsistent anywhere else (in all the four books I've read). I'm not a prude but make it fit the story if it's to be included. (minus one star)
I look forward to reading another Abby Kane book one day.
There was one scene in this book that was frivolous from the author's side. It could (and should) have been left out completely. It was gratuitous sex for no purpose whatsoever. It brought nothing to the story and showed an unprofessional side that is inconsistent anywhere else (in all the four books I've read). I'm not a prude but make it fit the story if it's to be included. (minus one star)
I look forward to reading another Abby Kane book one day.
December 3, 2018
FBI agent made stupid errors (like not putting the security lock on her hotel room door? Give me a break). Too many plot contrivances used to make the plot work. Too much unnecessary detail on perverted sex scenes and gory murder scenes. Too bad, because I actually liked the protagonist.
January 22, 2019
A real thrilling page turner. Murder, sex, intrigue and an easy to follow plot. The witty protagonist Abby Kane is smart, sarcastic and an action hero. Before it’s over the body count piles up amid corruption and conspiracy on the Corktown area streets of Detroit.
September 4, 2024
Story is about a serial murderer who was so depraved that I couldn't finish the book. I otherwise liked the character and the writing, so I might try another one but this one was just too brutal for me. I read to be entertained - not to have my gut wrenched.
September 6, 2021
A good start to a new series.
December 27, 2012
Article first published as Book Review:Cork Town by Ty Hutchinson on Blogcritics.
We often hear of cover-ups in crime and politics, but what happens when the two coincide. When innocent lives become the fallout of corruption, who really wins? Who is there to unveil the truth?
In Cork Town by Ty Hutchinson, we are introduced to the darkness and depravity of a cover-up that seems to be rooted in the past. When a serial killer begins copycat killings in Detroit, Agent Abby Kane is dispatched with her partner, from their home office in California. Known for her ability to find the truth, she is nevertheless confused. Everyone in the precinct seems to shy away from talking about the first crime spree, the one that is being copied. When trying to find answers, she runs up against a solid front of denial. Finally allowed to visit with the original killer in prison, she only learns that he is guilty of murder and bank robbery, but even he insists that he didn’t do any cutting. Yet many of his victims were cut, including his girlfriend. Her visit only adds further questions, leading her back to some form of cover-up and a swift move to justice. But why?
When the original perpetrator is found dead in his cell, and executives of the auto industry begin turning up dead, she is at her wits end. Like being in a pinball machine, she hits bumpers in every direction she turns, spinning her off into other tangents. Trying to keep her home life separate, she finds herself trying to deal with both, but with little success.
Can she find the answer to the darkness that buries the truth before other lives are lost? Is the secret too entrenched to discover. As bodies continue to turn up, she races against the clock in an effort the stop the madness. Who can she trust when the house of cards begins to tumble and all avenues are a dead end?
Hutchinson has brought us another hero, a short of stature, but long of brass female agent. She is fun and feisty, fiery and bold, but also just beginning to realize what family means. Endangering herself is not just about her any more, but what it would mean to her children. While a bit absurd, her continued texting in the middle of danger, is cute and just a little distracting. But she seemed unfazed and able to handle the small annoyances it brings.
When she realizes she has fallen for her partner, the story heats up a bit but disappointment and heartache are only a few pages away.
If you enjoy action, and a bit of savagery, you will enjoy Abby Kane, the agent in charge. Cork Town gives us background and a bit of history, along with a seriously disturbed killer. The red herrings are plenty, and the action is continual, keeping you deep in the pages.
This would be a great book for a book club. Abby Kane is a new hero to be watching for. I look forward to her further exploits.
This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
We often hear of cover-ups in crime and politics, but what happens when the two coincide. When innocent lives become the fallout of corruption, who really wins? Who is there to unveil the truth?
In Cork Town by Ty Hutchinson, we are introduced to the darkness and depravity of a cover-up that seems to be rooted in the past. When a serial killer begins copycat killings in Detroit, Agent Abby Kane is dispatched with her partner, from their home office in California. Known for her ability to find the truth, she is nevertheless confused. Everyone in the precinct seems to shy away from talking about the first crime spree, the one that is being copied. When trying to find answers, she runs up against a solid front of denial. Finally allowed to visit with the original killer in prison, she only learns that he is guilty of murder and bank robbery, but even he insists that he didn’t do any cutting. Yet many of his victims were cut, including his girlfriend. Her visit only adds further questions, leading her back to some form of cover-up and a swift move to justice. But why?
When the original perpetrator is found dead in his cell, and executives of the auto industry begin turning up dead, she is at her wits end. Like being in a pinball machine, she hits bumpers in every direction she turns, spinning her off into other tangents. Trying to keep her home life separate, she finds herself trying to deal with both, but with little success.
Can she find the answer to the darkness that buries the truth before other lives are lost? Is the secret too entrenched to discover. As bodies continue to turn up, she races against the clock in an effort the stop the madness. Who can she trust when the house of cards begins to tumble and all avenues are a dead end?
Hutchinson has brought us another hero, a short of stature, but long of brass female agent. She is fun and feisty, fiery and bold, but also just beginning to realize what family means. Endangering herself is not just about her any more, but what it would mean to her children. While a bit absurd, her continued texting in the middle of danger, is cute and just a little distracting. But she seemed unfazed and able to handle the small annoyances it brings.
When she realizes she has fallen for her partner, the story heats up a bit but disappointment and heartache are only a few pages away.
If you enjoy action, and a bit of savagery, you will enjoy Abby Kane, the agent in charge. Cork Town gives us background and a bit of history, along with a seriously disturbed killer. The red herrings are plenty, and the action is continual, keeping you deep in the pages.
This would be a great book for a book club. Abby Kane is a new hero to be watching for. I look forward to her further exploits.
This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
November 16, 2018
Sorry but this isn't for me at all. Firstly, I learnt way more about sex toys, including butt plugs, than I really needed to but I also found the plot I'd read thus far to be a bit juvenile and farfetched.
Why anyone with the surname Poole would name their son Paul is bonkers. Then we're supposed to believe that it takes a woman a while to realise someone is sexually interfering with her as she takes a bath !! Let me tell you, anyone's hand suddenly touching me in my bath and the STREET would know about it immediately !!
I was totally baffled as to how the 2 Birmingham detectives were involved in the murder investigation as the explanation they gave was just perplexing. I must've read it back 20 times, both before and after sleeping, to try and make sense of it but just couldn't. Then we're told of a serial killer who supposedly killed 30 or more yet he was arrested committing a bank heist with his girlfriend !! I think not. The main character, Abby, wasn't really properly introduced to us, either. I was a little confused as to where she was born, for example.....that all seemed too rushed at the beginning. We want to know about her origins at the start of a series at least.
I only got to page 22 of it but I hadn't spotted any mistakes so kudos for that but the story itself is just terrible. The cover is a lovely one, however, and since I spotted no mistakes I gave it an additional star for these points.
Why anyone with the surname Poole would name their son Paul is bonkers. Then we're supposed to believe that it takes a woman a while to realise someone is sexually interfering with her as she takes a bath !! Let me tell you, anyone's hand suddenly touching me in my bath and the STREET would know about it immediately !!
I was totally baffled as to how the 2 Birmingham detectives were involved in the murder investigation as the explanation they gave was just perplexing. I must've read it back 20 times, both before and after sleeping, to try and make sense of it but just couldn't. Then we're told of a serial killer who supposedly killed 30 or more yet he was arrested committing a bank heist with his girlfriend !! I think not. The main character, Abby, wasn't really properly introduced to us, either. I was a little confused as to where she was born, for example.....that all seemed too rushed at the beginning. We want to know about her origins at the start of a series at least.
I only got to page 22 of it but I hadn't spotted any mistakes so kudos for that but the story itself is just terrible. The cover is a lovely one, however, and since I spotted no mistakes I gave it an additional star for these points.
November 11, 2012
confession: i simply could not get into the much loved darby series. i tried, but the character pissed me off, so i gave up.
i'm giving it another try. simply because i LOVED this book so much, i figure there has to be something about the darby series i was missing.
really like the lead here, abby. kick-ass heroines are an easy like for me, though. and she's pretty kick-ass in terms of the environment of her job. but i admit, i wasn't as keen on the softer side. the idea that she feels guilt about not spending time with her kids - admirable. but after awhile, the constant mentions of that guilt started to make ME feel guilty.
will follow this series, absolutely. and after i plow through my current pile of books - i promise to give darby another chance. probably.
i'm giving it another try. simply because i LOVED this book so much, i figure there has to be something about the darby series i was missing.
really like the lead here, abby. kick-ass heroines are an easy like for me, though. and she's pretty kick-ass in terms of the environment of her job. but i admit, i wasn't as keen on the softer side. the idea that she feels guilt about not spending time with her kids - admirable. but after awhile, the constant mentions of that guilt started to make ME feel guilty.
will follow this series, absolutely. and after i plow through my current pile of books - i promise to give darby another chance. probably.
October 13, 2021
this book made me remember why I somewhat uncurious read books primarily written by females. all the characters in this book, especially the women were the very definition of written by a man. Some of the descriptions n stuff were actually foul. eugh. misogyny yay. The actual plotline was decent but I didn't like how we new from the start who the murderers were and were just following as they were discovered. Would have been better off if they were left unnamed even if the bits from their POV remained. The actual writing was kinda shitty, clunky sentences and stuff. Also did some weird swaps from 1st to 3rd person
February 16, 2013
Very interesting read. The main character was great. I liked that we didn't know everything about her past and what we did get came in very small pieces. And it sounds like she has a really interesting past that we may get more of in future books. Great writing style - easy to read. My only criticism would be that once the killer was found I felt like it took too long to tell the rest of the story. I guess I like my mysteries to be solved and then finish up quickly - who knew?
December 30, 2018
Let's see, serial murders with sexual violence, more kinky sex away from the murders, female protagonist written by a man, badly.... unexplained (major) deviations from FBI procedures of all sorts (including hiring)...... What more could anyone want?...
I gave it a 2 because I made it half way through...
I gave it a 2 because I made it half way through...
July 4, 2022
Initially I read book #3, not realizing that it wasn't the first book. I recently went back and read the this (the first one), honestly you could skip this one, it wasn't as polished, and you aren't missing much about Agent Kane by not reading it.
The crime itself is an interesting mystery and story, but it didn't feel true enough, the characters seemed largely too black and white, evil people do evil stuff for fun.
Overall I just wasn't as impressed with the writing, the story is still compelling enough I wanted to finish it, so depending on what you like, it might be worth picking up. If you just want to "complete" the series to make sure you didn't miss anything, I would say it's not necessary.
I am still excited about reading other books by Hutchinson though.
The crime itself is an interesting mystery and story, but it didn't feel true enough, the characters seemed largely too black and white, evil people do evil stuff for fun.
Overall I just wasn't as impressed with the writing, the story is still compelling enough I wanted to finish it, so depending on what you like, it might be worth picking up. If you just want to "complete" the series to make sure you didn't miss anything, I would say it's not necessary.
I am still excited about reading other books by Hutchinson though.
January 6, 2021
Good easy read...but leave out the sex
May 26, 2025
Not what I expected, dexter meets porn meets disgusting book written by a man. Too much graphic sex and killing. Not my cup of tea.
July 9, 2025
I liked it, just a few odd things that a female writer or reader would not think or say.
June 15, 2024
Amazingly good. The action never stopped.
I lost count of how many bodies piled up — mostly bad guys.
I lost count of how many bodies piled up — mostly bad guys.
September 18, 2022
Agent Abby Kane just moved from Hong Kong to the USA, where she now works for the FBI. She is quickly summoned to Detroit to investigate some gruesome murder that took place there. But why is she and her partner Wilkinson assigned to this case, when it seems all cut and dry, when it can be handled by local authorities? It turns out that the local PD may have a copycat on their hands. A few years back, they had just arrested one serial killer by the name of the Doctor. He confessed everything and all the cases were closed. So why is this copycat doing this? For media coverage? Upon a deep diving, shocking things are uncovered. What if the is not a copycat? What if is the serial killer himself? Did they arrest the wrong person? If so, why?
Agent Abby Kane as a character was dull. I have never come across such a pale, uninteresting character like this one. Her characterisation lacked substance. She didn't behave like an FBI agent, or even think like one. There is a scene where she and her partner went to the prison to interview the serial killer who took credit for all the killings. As can be expected, the Doctor was psycho and wasn't easy to interview. He kept asking Agent Abby sex questions about her life, and, surprisingly, she answered him. It all looked unprofessional. When she was questioning people, she made up her mind about them at first meet or glance. She didn't give them a benefit of the doubt. At most times, she came across as bitchy.
Then her relationship with her partner. If that relationship of theirs isn't a proof enough of her unprofessionalism, then I don't know what it is. The romance between them was total unnecessarily and badly executed.
Agent Abby Kane as a character was dull. I have never come across such a pale, uninteresting character like this one. Her characterisation lacked substance. She didn't behave like an FBI agent, or even think like one. There is a scene where she and her partner went to the prison to interview the serial killer who took credit for all the killings. As can be expected, the Doctor was psycho and wasn't easy to interview. He kept asking Agent Abby sex questions about her life, and, surprisingly, she answered him. It all looked unprofessional. When she was questioning people, she made up her mind about them at first meet or glance. She didn't give them a benefit of the doubt. At most times, she came across as bitchy.
Then her relationship with her partner. If that relationship of theirs isn't a proof enough of her unprofessionalism, then I don't know what it is. The romance between them was total unnecessarily and badly executed.
December 16, 2012
I love my library....I can go online at 8:30 pm on a cold, wet night while I'm in my jammies and get books right on my kindle. I have some "real" library books that need reading, but I was tired last night and wanted something a little "lighter" than what was presently sitting on my night stand.
I saw this book was available and remembered it from the Goodreads give-away. Abby seemed to be the intriguing character I was looking for, so I clicked buttons until I had it delivered to my kindle. Then I went to bed, but not to sleep.
No, I was awake until I finished Corktown. Abby is great. She is feisty, she is honest with herself, she has a sense of humor, she's impatient with bureaucracy and she doesn't give up.
I would have appreciated more of her "backstory", but as Corktown is the 1st in this series, I can only hope more will be told in the future books.
The story really moves along. I don't remember ever thinking that "this" would be a good place to put the kindle down so I could put my head on the pillow.....I kept swiping and swiping and swiping. I finished Corktown in about 4 hours (atart-to-finish, but not counting potty breaks for me and the dog). I found Hutchinson's writing style to be eminently readable and relaxed... so much so, that I got his Darby Stansfield series on my kindle and have parked them on the first shelf of "favorites" so they will be the next books to be read.
I saw this book was available and remembered it from the Goodreads give-away. Abby seemed to be the intriguing character I was looking for, so I clicked buttons until I had it delivered to my kindle. Then I went to bed, but not to sleep.
No, I was awake until I finished Corktown. Abby is great. She is feisty, she is honest with herself, she has a sense of humor, she's impatient with bureaucracy and she doesn't give up.
I would have appreciated more of her "backstory", but as Corktown is the 1st in this series, I can only hope more will be told in the future books.
The story really moves along. I don't remember ever thinking that "this" would be a good place to put the kindle down so I could put my head on the pillow.....I kept swiping and swiping and swiping. I finished Corktown in about 4 hours (atart-to-finish, but not counting potty breaks for me and the dog). I found Hutchinson's writing style to be eminently readable and relaxed... so much so, that I got his Darby Stansfield series on my kindle and have parked them on the first shelf of "favorites" so they will be the next books to be read.
March 30, 2013
This is a book for those readers who want a straight-up-no-nonsense suspense thriller with a cold female lead. Corktown is a classic detective-works-the-case plot line with no strange creative surprises. However, I tend to fall into the category of reader that wants the weird twists and desires more character development. Corktown invests very little into the characters, but rather uses them as pieces to move around the mystery board. By the end, I didn't care if any of them got hurt or killed. Really, you could plug in any name and it wouldn't matter much. I have a term for this style of book; I call them airplane reads. You can pick it up, read it and leave it. It does its job to entertain and hold interest, but so does an episode of CSI.
The most disturbing part of this read was the love connection with the partner in the beginning. Ugh! It seriously was one of the worst forced attraction climaxing to a awkward love scene I've had to endure. It was mechanical and lacked chemistry. I would have preferred to have skipped it than be left with the image in my head. The book would have been much better if this whole disastrous attempt at adding tension was cut during editing.
Even though I didn't care for the read, I still in all fairness gave it three stars because I believe the target audience will like the plot driven hunt for the obvious killer.
What I did like? It was set in Detroit.
The most disturbing part of this read was the love connection with the partner in the beginning. Ugh! It seriously was one of the worst forced attraction climaxing to a awkward love scene I've had to endure. It was mechanical and lacked chemistry. I would have preferred to have skipped it than be left with the image in my head. The book would have been much better if this whole disastrous attempt at adding tension was cut during editing.
Even though I didn't care for the read, I still in all fairness gave it three stars because I believe the target audience will like the plot driven hunt for the obvious killer.
What I did like? It was set in Detroit.
May 2, 2023
Very weird take on a crime procedural novel for me. It wasn’t really a mystery, and it wasn’t a thriller, since the author introduced the killer by name and followed them around from their pov almost immediately, yet still managed to drag the entire thing out to 94 ?????? chapters. It was mostly just like watching someone solve a case on a cctv, in the most boring way possible. She made some strange mistakes, like not immediately connecting very obviously last names of married couples and having sex on a stake out????? In a car on a residential street????? Also the writing was so very ‘woman written by a man’ with entirely too many references to the main character’s opinions on her own breasts and the occasional musings about how she wished she had a penis so everyone around her would stop sexually harassing her. Overall, I think the plot actually wasn’t terrible, just the format used to tell it took away….just about everything of value??? All the suspense and the mystery. It was like reading the plot of a movie before you watched it I guess??? You always knew exactly what what happening and I guess maybe some people would like that but for me that’s not the reason I read crime novels I guess???? Anyway, I Sure Did Read This, and the format I purchased it in was a digital boxset of the first six books in the series so I guess I’m going to see if this is just a case of ‘the first book in the series is always questionable’ and see if #2 is any better lol wish me luck
Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews