Her name is Grace. She's eight years old. And she's missing in the Florida Everglades. Can Louis Kincaid find her in time to save her -- and himself?
Louis is desperate to wear a badge again and redeem himself in the eyes of his lover Joe Frye. He's cleaning up his credit and getting in shape. But there's one big obstacle in his way—his old nemesis Sheriff Lance Mobley. He's willing to give Louis a shot but only if he proves himself on one of the weirdest cases Louis has ever worked. If he can find a missing endangered Florida panther in the steamy Everglades maybe he can claw his way back to his dream and his identity as a man.
A new original Louis Kincaid thriller! Read it now as a special prequel to HEART OF ICE (February/March 2013)
P.J. Parrish is the New York Times bestselling author of ten Louis Kincaid and Joe Frye thrillers. The author is actually two sisters, Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols. Their books have appeared on both the New York Times and USA Today best seller lists. The series has garnered 11 major crime-fiction awards, and an Edgar® nomination. Parrish has won two Shamus awards, one Anthony and one International Thriller competition. Her books have been published throughout Europe and Asia.
Parrish's short stories have also appeared in many anthologies, including two published by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Harlan Coben and the late Stuart Kaminsky. Their stories have also appeared in Akashic Books acclaimed Detroit Noir, and in Ellery Queen Magazine. Most recently, they contributed an essay to a special edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works edited by Michael Connelly.
P.J. Parrish as children Before turning to writing full time, Kristy Montee was a newspaper editor and dance critic for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Nichols previously was a blackjack dealer and then a human resources specialist in the casino industry. Kris in Tallahassee FL and Traverse City MI and Kelly resides in Traverse City as well.
The sisters were writers as kids, albeit with different styles: Kelly's first attempt at fiction at age 11 was titled The Kill. Kristy's at 13 was The Cat Who Understood. Not much has changed: Kelly now tends to handle the gory stuff and Kristy the character development. But the collaboration is a smooth one, thanks to lots of ego suppression, good wine, and marathon phone calls via Skype.
The first eleven books in the series, in order, are: Dark of the Moon, Dead of Winter, Paint it Black, Thicker than Water, Island of Bones, A Killing Rain, An Unquiet Grave, A Thousand Bones, South of Hell, The Little Death and Heart of Ice. They also wrote three stand-alone thrillers: A Thousand Bones, The Killing Song and She's Not There.
A short little mystery with a sweet ending. This one has Louis still in Florida but trying to make the transition from PI back to cop while helping out the Fish and Wildlife folks track down a missing panther. It is also a lead-in to the final book in the series.
Claw Back is a Louis Kincaid novella and a warmup for the upcoming Heart of Ice novel. This is a 2013 release. Louis is at a transitional place in his life. He's in Florida, but he and Joe are estranged and he is struggling with the information that he is a father. His career is also at a crossroads. Kincaid wants to wear a badge again and applies for a job with the Sheriff's office. At first he is flat out refused, but then a case involving the poaching of panthers has the sherriff wanting to pass the case off, so Kincaid gets a temp job. The case turns out to be a learning experience for Kincaid as he learns about Seminole Clans and all about endangered panthers. Although, this job seems promising, Kincaid still has unfinished business to attend to up north.
A solid story that raises awareness about panthers. This story bridges the gap between the last novel and the upcoming book. This one wasn't as moody or dark as some of the others in this series. But, the excerpts for the upcoming release promises to take us into darker territory again. I'm looking forward to it. Overall- this one gets a B. Also, there are some cute videos included of panther kittens.
I didn't really care for this book. I have read all the books in the Louis Kincaid series and this was by far my least favorite. There wasn't any murders, no real exciting characters even though Katy was new she was very dull. The case was a joke to me Louis trying to find a missing panther. It didn't stick well with me and it really didn't grab my attention. It was a very dull and non exciting read. The only thing I enjoyed was that Louis got a chance to be a cop again when Lance Mobley gave him that chance. The book was very short and I was disappointed, I'm on to read the last book in the series so I hope it far better than this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Novella First paragraphs He hadn’t been inside in a long time. It was as dark as he remembered, and it smelled as bad. O’Sullivan’s was a cop bar. Located a block from the Fort Myers police station, it had the feel of a married guy’s den. Stale smoky air, cigarette burns on the tables, rows of trophies, a floor of crushed peanut shells and a big-screen TV permanently tuned to ESPN. Like all primitive habitats, it had a pecking order. City detectives had staked out the back of the bar; county detectives, out of legendary necessity, owned the tables by the men’s room so they could piss and moan more conveniently; the round tables in the middle belonged to the rank and file uniforms. And in the back, by the juke box, sat Lance Mobley. Arms spread across the back of the booth, perched under a Happy Birthday banner, he looked like a king on a red leather throne.
I was a disappointed in this book. I love Louis Kincaid and eagerly look forward to each new release. In Claw Back, however, I was halfway through the book and still waiting for something exciting to happen. I've eagerly devoured each previous novel featuring Louis, finding each more remarkable than the last. The Little Death, the prior release from P.J. Parrish was my favorite, so perhaps that's why this felt a bit like a letdown.
The last half of the book definitely picks up, but it took too long in getting there. Also, there were multiple formatting issues in the copy and one (short) section that could have benefited from a much cleaner edit. Overall, not up to the standard I'm accustomed to from P.J. Parrish or for a Louis Kincaid novel. That said, I am looking forward to reading Heart of Ice, and fully expect Louis to be back in regular form. I am still a fan for life!
This novella whet my whistle for the new Louis Kincaid book coming out next month, but it didn't quench my thirst. The storyline was different from anything I had read in his character before and was more based on the sisters MASTERFULLY partnering a cause that is close to their hearts with a ROCKIN' series. Typical awesome writing that had me hooked immediately. It has been way too long since fans of the series have gotten their Louis fix, but let's bring on the new book.
P.J. Parrish does it again! Great suspense buildup and terrific climax! Every page brings more mystery and intrigue. I love the personality of Louis Kincaid and his search for the truth and justice. It doesn't matter whether he is wearing a police officers uniform or working as a private investigator Kincaid is a dedicated professional who lives his life with integrity. Don't miss these wonderful mystery novels by P.J. Parrish!
I really enjoyed this book. The detective story was interesting and there were many twists and surprises. The main character was easy to like and sympathetic. The information about the endangered Florida panther, the Seminole people:) and the Great Cypress Swamp was an extra bonus. This is a fun quick read I highly recommend.
Its a short story, so by the time you're really into it..its over! PJ Parrish authors (sister team) are one of my favorites. The Louis Kincaid character is one of the better protagonists out there in the criminal/cop story world. I look forward to the book that this one leads to...."Heart of Ice."