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Peyton Brooks' Mystery #3
Murder on Russian Hill
When rock star Joshua Ravensong is accused of murder, Peyton must pit her professional reputation against a growing attraction for the legend.
Although the evidence is solid against him, Peyton can’t deny this is one bad boy she wants to save.
Although the evidence is solid against him, Peyton can’t deny this is one bad boy she wants to save.
322 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2012
59 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Hamilton
114 books424 followersML Hamilton taught high school English and journalism in Central California for 32 years.
Teaching students to appreciate literature made her career rewarding; however, she always dreamed of publishing her own novel.
In 2010, the dream came true. Her first novel, Emerald, was published by Wild Wolf Publishing. The sequel to Emerald, The Heirs of Eldon, followed the next year.
In addition to teaching and writing, she has three sons, two daughters-in-law, two dogs, and three amazing grandbabies.
Sign up for her newsletter at www.authormlhamilton.net for free offers and the latest book information.
Teaching students to appreciate literature made her career rewarding; however, she always dreamed of publishing her own novel.
In 2010, the dream came true. Her first novel, Emerald, was published by Wild Wolf Publishing. The sequel to Emerald, The Heirs of Eldon, followed the next year.
In addition to teaching and writing, she has three sons, two daughters-in-law, two dogs, and three amazing grandbabies.
Sign up for her newsletter at www.authormlhamilton.net for free offers and the latest book information.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 15, 2019
Peyton gets another murder to solve when the ex wife of Rock star Joshua Ravensong is found dead in her apartment. Ravensong is the prime suspect but Peyton has her doubts and pushes the investigation to uncover more clues. Meanwhile one of Marco's nephews is involved in a car crash and Peyton and Marco look into that and find evidence leading to an arrest. I have grown to like the core crew of these and am glad that I have 4 more in the box set to read.
February 9, 2018
Spoilers alert:)
The third book in the Peyton Brooks' Mystery series is engaging and generally intriguing, especially in the retrospections into Joshua's life story. There are a lot of background characters this time for Ms Hazen to read, many of them male, but she manages to give each of them a separate voice, though I personally find some of them a bit irritating (no star deduction for it this time as the task was really difficult:)). Besides that the interpretation is wonderful: emotional in places, impartial when it should be, with quite a lot of good acting.
As for the plot, the dual narration - of the present and of the past - adds dynamics and tension to the storyline. The insight into Joshua's fall into addiction is touching and makes the listener as enchanted by him as Peyton seems to be.
The only fault I would pinpoint is that some scenes/situations seem illogical to me, like the fact that Joshua remains the main and - well - only suspect even after none of his fingerprints are found at the crime scene (plus some other facts coming into light, explaining smaller details in his favour) while on the other hand the police are really hesitant about arresting a man whose fingerprints are found not only at the crime scene but also on the murder weapon... This is a trend I have noticed in these otherwise fast-paced, involving books: there is one suspect from the beginning and the police stick to him/her no matter what, even if they come across details, facts or evidence that point in other directions... It goes somehow against the logic of things... But as the characters are in all of the books quite interesting, the crimes intriguing and Peyton generally very likeable, I just choose to overlook those implausibilities and read/listen to the books with quite a lot of pleasure:)
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The third book in the Peyton Brooks' Mystery series is engaging and generally intriguing, especially in the retrospections into Joshua's life story. There are a lot of background characters this time for Ms Hazen to read, many of them male, but she manages to give each of them a separate voice, though I personally find some of them a bit irritating (no star deduction for it this time as the task was really difficult:)). Besides that the interpretation is wonderful: emotional in places, impartial when it should be, with quite a lot of good acting.
As for the plot, the dual narration - of the present and of the past - adds dynamics and tension to the storyline. The insight into Joshua's fall into addiction is touching and makes the listener as enchanted by him as Peyton seems to be.
The only fault I would pinpoint is that some scenes/situations seem illogical to me, like the fact that Joshua remains the main and - well - only suspect even after none of his fingerprints are found at the crime scene (plus some other facts coming into light, explaining smaller details in his favour) while on the other hand the police are really hesitant about arresting a man whose fingerprints are found not only at the crime scene but also on the murder weapon... This is a trend I have noticed in these otherwise fast-paced, involving books: there is one suspect from the beginning and the police stick to him/her no matter what, even if they come across details, facts or evidence that point in other directions... It goes somehow against the logic of things... But as the characters are in all of the books quite interesting, the crimes intriguing and Peyton generally very likeable, I just choose to overlook those implausibilities and read/listen to the books with quite a lot of pleasure:)
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
July 5, 2020
OK, in some ways this one made me laugh. It's almost a complete turn-around from the first volume where Peyton and her friends ruthlessly destroy the life of a suspect who turns out to be innocent (and turns out to be the reason why they eventually discovered what really happened). The only thing missing here is the weapon used to kill the victim. Everything else points directly at Joshua Ravensong, and even Peyton agrees that this is the case. I'm thinking she must have internalized what happened to Jake, because an attraction for Joshua isn't enough to explain her willingness to keep investigating what seems to be an open and shut case.
That said, this was an amazing story. It brought out the best in the main characters, even when they were not behaving their best. The bonds between the main four (Peyton, Marco, Abe, and Jake) are highlighted and reinforced, and many of the minor characters also shine. Peyton even gets some much-needed support from the Captain and the rest of the team when her ex-boyfriend, the ADA, pressures her to turn the case over to him. The flashbacks to scenes from Joshua's life are enlightening and sad in places, but the relationship between him and his older brother is the best part of all of it.
I particularly liked the side plot involving Marco's nephew and his friend. There are lessons to be had on both sides of this incident. A horrifying accident puts both boys in the hospital with serious injuries and cripples the friend. Marco's nephew can't remember what happened and believes it must have been his fault because he was driving. Peyton and Marco find out what really happened right about the time his friend, who does remember what happened, wakes up from his coma. It's not a happy ending, of course, because neither boy will ever be the same, and therein lies part of the lesson.
That said, this was an amazing story. It brought out the best in the main characters, even when they were not behaving their best. The bonds between the main four (Peyton, Marco, Abe, and Jake) are highlighted and reinforced, and many of the minor characters also shine. Peyton even gets some much-needed support from the Captain and the rest of the team when her ex-boyfriend, the ADA, pressures her to turn the case over to him. The flashbacks to scenes from Joshua's life are enlightening and sad in places, but the relationship between him and his older brother is the best part of all of it.
I particularly liked the side plot involving Marco's nephew and his friend. There are lessons to be had on both sides of this incident. A horrifying accident puts both boys in the hospital with serious injuries and cripples the friend. Marco's nephew can't remember what happened and believes it must have been his fault because he was driving. Peyton and Marco find out what really happened right about the time his friend, who does remember what happened, wakes up from his coma. It's not a happy ending, of course, because neither boy will ever be the same, and therein lies part of the lesson.
July 31, 2021
I am definitely a fan of this series and M. L. Hamilton’s writing. There are multiple storylines that are all intertwined. Ms. Hamilton keeps you guessing while providing just the right amount of drama, humor, and action.
Is this book, the main storyline is a murder in San Francisco with a high profile suspect. While at first glance it looks to be an open and shut case, Inspector Peyton Brooks feels there is more to it. Can she uncover the truth before it’s to late?
As this series progresses, the characters continue to blossom and grow. I can’t imagine what these stories would be like with someone other than Kelley Hazen as the narrator. She brings out each characters personality with her unique voices and style. I love the continuity from book to book. There’s no guessing as to which character is speaking.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
Is this book, the main storyline is a murder in San Francisco with a high profile suspect. While at first glance it looks to be an open and shut case, Inspector Peyton Brooks feels there is more to it. Can she uncover the truth before it’s to late?
As this series progresses, the characters continue to blossom and grow. I can’t imagine what these stories would be like with someone other than Kelley Hazen as the narrator. She brings out each characters personality with her unique voices and style. I love the continuity from book to book. There’s no guessing as to which character is speaking.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
June 22, 2021
#3 in the hard nose, caustic Peyton Brooks and her partner Marco D’Angelo San Francisco Police detectives mystery series.
Rock star Joshua Ravensong and feminine heart throb is accused of murdering his ex wife as the evidence is solid against him. The plot follows the same pattern "Murder on Potrero Hill" in which Brooks and D'Angelo are decided that a person is guilty so focus upon proving that while discounting contrary evidence. It takes a while for them to start to consider other possibilities as Brooks increasingly develops feels towards Ravensong. About a third of the story is made up of flashbacks providing the personal story of Ravensong.
Rock star Joshua Ravensong and feminine heart throb is accused of murdering his ex wife as the evidence is solid against him. The plot follows the same pattern "Murder on Potrero Hill" in which Brooks and D'Angelo are decided that a person is guilty so focus upon proving that while discounting contrary evidence. It takes a while for them to start to consider other possibilities as Brooks increasingly develops feels towards Ravensong. About a third of the story is made up of flashbacks providing the personal story of Ravensong.
February 18, 2024
I’m so impressed with ML Hamilton’s ability to come up with completely different plot lines for all her books. So many mystery writers have a formula to which they just add different names and a couple minor details change but every thing else is the same. Not so in this series.
Her protagonist, Peyton Brooks, a San Francisco homicide detective, is appealingly flawed and surrounded by a believable cast of characters at the police department.
In this case Peyton is confronted by a rockstar who had been her teenage crush. This rockstar was found in a heroin induced blackout with his ex-wife’s blood on his hands but Peyton is convinced that he is innocent.
Her protagonist, Peyton Brooks, a San Francisco homicide detective, is appealingly flawed and surrounded by a believable cast of characters at the police department.
In this case Peyton is confronted by a rockstar who had been her teenage crush. This rockstar was found in a heroin induced blackout with his ex-wife’s blood on his hands but Peyton is convinced that he is innocent.
June 14, 2018
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the narrator and found it very entertaining and intriguing. This is the third book in the series and it just keeps getting better. Peyton and Marco head to Russian Hill to solve the murder of a rock star's ex-wife. It should be an open and shut case, except they can't find the murder weapon and too many questions have no answers. As the book progresses, the suspense just keeps building and you'll keep listening to find out what happens next. Looking forward to book four.
February 13, 2021
Murder on Russian Hill (Peyton Brooks' Mystery #3) was a good read by M.L. Hamilton. Rock star Joshua Ravensong is accused of murder but can't remember what happened. Peyton has to pit her professional reputation against her attraction to Ravensong. It seems as though the evidence is stacked against him. Peyton knows that this is one bad boy that she wants save. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more in this series. I enjoyed how Kelley Hazen's narration brought life to the characters.
August 10, 2023
I'm reading the boxed set of these Peyton Brooks' Mysteries. As I continue with each one, I find that I'm having a difficult time with the depictions of the proclivities of the SF Police Department. I don't know if this author has experience with police departments but if this is the way they do business, it's just plain scary.
This is the second book that depicts the police as going for the easy arrest based on circumstantial evidence and that it's only the main character's misguided sentimentality that keeps innocent people from being prosecuted. YIkes.
This is the second book that depicts the police as going for the easy arrest based on circumstantial evidence and that it's only the main character's misguided sentimentality that keeps innocent people from being prosecuted. YIkes.
December 20, 2021
O que pode uma detetive fazer quando seu ídolo é acusado de assassinato? É nesta situação que se encontra a protagonista desta série, a detetive Peyton Brooks, que precisa escolher entre seguir seus instintos ou as evidências. Mas um livro muito bom, com cenas de humor sutis e muita tensão enquanto se soluciona o crime.
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June 16, 2023This one was again pretty decent because you had some emotional connections in this book with Antonio and Bily. However, the dual light cast on religion / the scriptures is disheartening. I wish there weren't so many bad people associated with religion and I wish people would focus more on the good in religion than the bad.
September 26, 2020
Volume 3 of 0 - 7 Volume Set I am reading I won from Goodreads Giveaway on Amazon Kindle. I loved this book, did not want to put it down but I had to sleep! This book was so much fun to read. Loved reading about a rock star, even his problems. I love the way Peyton goes after the TRUTH! And her co-workers are just all so awesome! The murderer was a SURPRISE! No, not who you think but wish was, but then that person gets their comeuppance! THE KISS!
December 8, 2021
This was difficult to follow since it time leaped. There was no verbal notification when the action was in the past.
Plot was interesting and the side plot with Antonio was also well done.
Voices continue to be a problem.
Plot was interesting and the side plot with Antonio was also well done.
Voices continue to be a problem.
March 2, 2018
Enjoying this series.
June 19, 2023
Peyton Brooks' Mysteries are my new guilty pleasure.
March 10, 2019
This was one of the better books in the series. I quite enjoyed this one.
June 20, 2014
Book #3 of The Peyton Brooks Mysteries begins to escalate. The crime is the death of a wealthy socialite. The estranged wife of a rock star beloved by many in another novel of ML Hamilton's RAVENSONG. As we worked on this audiobook, ML shared with me her creation of 'Joshua Ravensong', of how the character revealed himself to her. As I recorded RUSSIAN HILL, I felt that Joshua was right there with me, hovering close, assisting me in making my choices for his audio character. It was thrilling to have a character that carefully drawn by an author that he seems to leap off the page and in to the recording booth. When you listen to RUSSIAN HILL keep that in mind!
The San Fran family of cops continues to roll out before us. Friends, family deepen an already exquisite tapestry. The stories just keep getting better and better, more intricate and more captivating. Happy listening!
The San Fran family of cops continues to roll out before us. Friends, family deepen an already exquisite tapestry. The stories just keep getting better and better, more intricate and more captivating. Happy listening!
May 31, 2016
Murder in Russian Hill
Hamilton's use of first and third person narratives is compelling. Part and present are introduced and continued smoothly. Some cop behavior comes across as juvenile and/or flagrant sexual harassment. Female characters' names could be more varied. Overall a good story leading to another rescued suspect by Peyton but it took the entire precinct to pull off the arrest.
Hamilton's use of first and third person narratives is compelling. Part and present are introduced and continued smoothly. Some cop behavior comes across as juvenile and/or flagrant sexual harassment. Female characters' names could be more varied. Overall a good story leading to another rescued suspect by Peyton but it took the entire precinct to pull off the arrest.
June 1, 2016
Satisfying Read
I love these characters. ML Hamilton doesn't disappoint. The third in this series is just as good as the first two. I am looking forward to finishing the series. Good mystery!
I love these characters. ML Hamilton doesn't disappoint. The third in this series is just as good as the first two. I am looking forward to finishing the series. Good mystery!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews