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Peyton Brooks' Mystery #4
Murder on Alcatraz
When a serial killer strikes in the City, Peyton confronts an adversary who is always one step ahead of her. And as the body count rises, Peyton faces a future where her one constant, her partner, may be taken away from her.
For eight years, Peyton and Marco have been an unstoppable team; however, one ill-fated trip to Alcatraz may change that relationship forever.
For eight years, Peyton and Marco have been an unstoppable team; however, one ill-fated trip to Alcatraz may change that relationship forever.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2013
54 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Hamilton
116 books423 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
June 5, 2013
Good series! Hope it continues!
April 5, 2018
This is my review of the audio version as posted on Audible:
This is the fourth part of the series and - which I liked a lot - it has some awesome surprises waiting for you. The biggest one is that this time, although it starts with a murder, it's not so much about the murder itself as about the relationship between Peyton and Marco...
But first things first... The book starts with a shooting going wrong, and there are some serious consequences, the biggest one - Marco is temporarily on leave and Peyton hasn't got her partner to back her up. What's even worse, both of them have to undergo a psychological evaluation... And this is where the story gets really interesting, engaging and unputdownable... and a bit irritating, thanks to the psychologist whom you are willing to kill after his first two meetings with Marco and Peyton:) (but probably all psychiatrists/psychologists are like him, judging from books and films I've seen so far:)) Peyton's and Marco's daily visits to the shrink allow us to find out more about how their partnership was developing over the 8 years they've worked together. We get the insight into their beginnings as homicide detectives, their first cases together, we get to know why Marco is so protective of Peyton... I loved that part of the story.
The criminal plot is also exciting. It starts with a murder in Alcatraz which at first seems to be a random crime, but then turns out to be a part of a series of murders that were already mentioned in earlier instalments of Peyton's adventures. So now we finally have Peyton working against a serial killer - and she cannot count on Marco's help... Will she manage without him? Will she be able to overcome the feeling of guilt and concentrate on her job? And how will the other cops, Abe and Jake fill in the gap Marco's absence has left? These are the questions that the book answers for you...
The pace of the story is quite fast, even with the visits to the psychologist which serve as a kind of intervals in between the action scenes. The new character, the psychologist who is to evaluate Marco and Peyton, is fantastically drawn - he's unnerving, irritating, self-assured, arrogant in his feeling of superiority... I hated him as a person, but loved as a literary character:)
As for the narration, I found it really good, though this time I liked it a little less than some other in the same series. Ms Hazen is without a doubt a talented narrator,but sometimes, as I have already mentioned a few times, not all of her "male voices" are to my taste... This was the case here. Generally, though, it's a satisfying interpretation of the book, with the right pace and good acting skills at work.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This is the fourth part of the series and - which I liked a lot - it has some awesome surprises waiting for you. The biggest one is that this time, although it starts with a murder, it's not so much about the murder itself as about the relationship between Peyton and Marco...
But first things first... The book starts with a shooting going wrong, and there are some serious consequences, the biggest one - Marco is temporarily on leave and Peyton hasn't got her partner to back her up. What's even worse, both of them have to undergo a psychological evaluation... And this is where the story gets really interesting, engaging and unputdownable... and a bit irritating, thanks to the psychologist whom you are willing to kill after his first two meetings with Marco and Peyton:) (but probably all psychiatrists/psychologists are like him, judging from books and films I've seen so far:)) Peyton's and Marco's daily visits to the shrink allow us to find out more about how their partnership was developing over the 8 years they've worked together. We get the insight into their beginnings as homicide detectives, their first cases together, we get to know why Marco is so protective of Peyton... I loved that part of the story.
The criminal plot is also exciting. It starts with a murder in Alcatraz which at first seems to be a random crime, but then turns out to be a part of a series of murders that were already mentioned in earlier instalments of Peyton's adventures. So now we finally have Peyton working against a serial killer - and she cannot count on Marco's help... Will she manage without him? Will she be able to overcome the feeling of guilt and concentrate on her job? And how will the other cops, Abe and Jake fill in the gap Marco's absence has left? These are the questions that the book answers for you...
The pace of the story is quite fast, even with the visits to the psychologist which serve as a kind of intervals in between the action scenes. The new character, the psychologist who is to evaluate Marco and Peyton, is fantastically drawn - he's unnerving, irritating, self-assured, arrogant in his feeling of superiority... I hated him as a person, but loved as a literary character:)
As for the narration, I found it really good, though this time I liked it a little less than some other in the same series. Ms Hazen is without a doubt a talented narrator,but sometimes, as I have already mentioned a few times, not all of her "male voices" are to my taste... This was the case here. Generally, though, it's a satisfying interpretation of the book, with the right pace and good acting skills at work.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
March 2, 2024
How does ML Hamilton keep coming up with these unique and riveting plot lines? I’m so hooked on the Peyton Brooks series now that it’s one after the other with a quick pause for an MC Beaton palate cleanser in between!
The greatest stunner of this particular book is that THEY DON’T SOLVE THE CASE!
What you get is a continuation of a previous plot line that has been plaguing investigators Chen and the other guy since the series started. Someone is murdering seemingly unrelated people and leaving a card on the body that reads simply “The Cleanup Crew”
Our story begins with a murder on Alcatraz that involves a priest who is taking his youth group on a field trip to the decommissioned prison.
Brooks and Marko are called in to help investigate and Marko has to shoot the priest who is shooting at Peyton.
This opens up a whole can of worms and both investigators are put on temporary leave until they can be counciled and determined fit for duty.
Wonderful! Because now we get to sit in on the counciling sessions and get all kinds of juicy backstory on Peyton and Marco’s early days and how they got to be so tight. More juicy backstory on Brooks father’s killing (which is detailed in the Tenderloin Murder but elaborated on more here) and her estrangement from her mother over her career path and her mother having the gall to be dating a racist who doesn’t like the fact that Peyton is mixed race.
Lots of relationships are developed and explored in this book, nothing is resolved and we’re left to speculate on the serial killer (who the press have dubbed “The Janitor, much to his chagrin) who is almost caught in a very exciting sting at the Embarcadero, but he slips away. Questions? How did the serial killer know that Jake works in the crime lab? How did he know inside info about Marco and Peyton? Why did his voice sound so familiar to Jake? I have a feeling I know who he is but I’m not telling! I’m already reading the next book!
The greatest stunner of this particular book is that THEY DON’T SOLVE THE CASE!
What you get is a continuation of a previous plot line that has been plaguing investigators Chen and the other guy since the series started. Someone is murdering seemingly unrelated people and leaving a card on the body that reads simply “The Cleanup Crew”
Our story begins with a murder on Alcatraz that involves a priest who is taking his youth group on a field trip to the decommissioned prison.
Brooks and Marko are called in to help investigate and Marko has to shoot the priest who is shooting at Peyton.
This opens up a whole can of worms and both investigators are put on temporary leave until they can be counciled and determined fit for duty.
Wonderful! Because now we get to sit in on the counciling sessions and get all kinds of juicy backstory on Peyton and Marco’s early days and how they got to be so tight. More juicy backstory on Brooks father’s killing (which is detailed in the Tenderloin Murder but elaborated on more here) and her estrangement from her mother over her career path and her mother having the gall to be dating a racist who doesn’t like the fact that Peyton is mixed race.
Lots of relationships are developed and explored in this book, nothing is resolved and we’re left to speculate on the serial killer (who the press have dubbed “The Janitor, much to his chagrin) who is almost caught in a very exciting sting at the Embarcadero, but he slips away. Questions? How did the serial killer know that Jake works in the crime lab? How did he know inside info about Marco and Peyton? Why did his voice sound so familiar to Jake? I have a feeling I know who he is but I’m not telling! I’m already reading the next book!
July 31, 2021
Having been involved in a police related shooting, the team is not at full strength as Peyton and Marco are to undergo mandatory evaluations. Peyton is still on the job, but Marco’s future as an Inspector is uncertain. All the while, there’s a serial killer on the loose.
M. L. Hamilton has chosen an interesting way to provide us with the history of how Peyton and Marco formed the relationship they have. Hearing about how they became partners and their earlier cases really makes these characters real.
What can I say... Kelley Hazen nailed it again. I was so caught up in the story and her performance, that I lost track of time. I love how she maintains each of the characters unique voices and personalities across all the books in the series.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
M. L. Hamilton has chosen an interesting way to provide us with the history of how Peyton and Marco formed the relationship they have. Hearing about how they became partners and their earlier cases really makes these characters real.
What can I say... Kelley Hazen nailed it again. I was so caught up in the story and her performance, that I lost track of time. I love how she maintains each of the characters unique voices and personalities across all the books in the series.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
July 5, 2020
Not my favorite. Too much talk, although it provided wonderful background into how Peyton and Marco became partners and why they are inseparable even off the clock. The main plot, besides the sessions with the psychologist you'll probably dislike as much as I did, was a serial killer who, in the end, eludes them. It was disappointing, but it's realistic. The police don't always get the bad guy, and even when they do it sometimes takes a while.
I felt the strain between Peyton and Marco was realistic, but way overblown. Seriously, just talking to each other the way they usually do would have resolved most of this pretty quickly, so as a plot device it felt really forced. There was no reason for it to put that much distance between them for so long.
I felt the strain between Peyton and Marco was realistic, but way overblown. Seriously, just talking to each other the way they usually do would have resolved most of this pretty quickly, so as a plot device it felt really forced. There was no reason for it to put that much distance between them for so long.
February 22, 2019
Peyton and Marco respond to a shooting on Alcatraz and when Peyton slips as a gunman is taking a shot Marco fires and kills him. As a result both Peyton and Marco must undergo counseling with the police psycharist, which neither of them is too happy about. Marco is put on leave till he is cleared and relations between Peyton and Marco become strained. It turns out that the man killed was a priest and the Cleanup Crew killer has struck again. There is much more going on besides this as the whole crew surrounding Peyton and Marco appear and interact.l I have 3 more to go in this Kindle box set, and have enjoyed all so far.
September 26, 2020
Volume 4 of 0 - 7 Volume Set I am reading I won from Goodreads Giveaway on Amazon Kindle. This Volume says a lot about Peyton & Marco. It explains some of their cases because of the shooting. I was not a fan of confession until I spoke to a neighbor once, who was so sweet, I asked her why she spoke to a Priest instead of speaking directly to the Lord. She said it makes me feel better. If that is what it took to make her feel better, I am all for it. I enjoy reading about Marco's family and look forward to finding out more about Peyton's mother. These books, 5 I have read so far, are such a joy to read. This writer has GOT IT!
June 23, 2021
#4 in the hard nose, caustic Peyton Brooks and her partner Marco D’Angelo San Francisco Police detectives mystery series.
A serial killer who is carried over from the past novel is upping his killings and staying one step ahead of Brooks and the police. It opens with a murder and D'Angelo shooting a person who was shooting at Brooks. The story then continues on two fronts: pursuit of he serial killer and Brooks and D'Angelo having to see the police psychiatrist to evaluate their fitness for duty. Brooks is kept on duty while D'Angelo is put on leave. There is a bit of cliff hanging ending as the serial killer continues to elude them while D'Angelo's status is left hanging.
A serial killer who is carried over from the past novel is upping his killings and staying one step ahead of Brooks and the police. It opens with a murder and D'Angelo shooting a person who was shooting at Brooks. The story then continues on two fronts: pursuit of he serial killer and Brooks and D'Angelo having to see the police psychiatrist to evaluate their fitness for duty. Brooks is kept on duty while D'Angelo is put on leave. There is a bit of cliff hanging ending as the serial killer continues to elude them while D'Angelo's status is left hanging.
December 12, 2021
This gives us back story on the beginning of Peyton and Marco. At least half is stories of their early years as told to the police psychologist after a shooting on Alcatraz. Almost none of this story is actually about Alcatraz...
Despite the serial killer on the loose, we see him but he remains on the loose at the end. Not a very satisfying mystery in that regard.
When we are not watching the psychologist monopolize the story, we do get to see the mental acuity of the team as they determine where the killer will strike next.
The audio continues to annoy, especially Maria and DeAngelo's mother. Since I bought the whole series, I will continue to China Town.
Despite the serial killer on the loose, we see him but he remains on the loose at the end. Not a very satisfying mystery in that regard.
When we are not watching the psychologist monopolize the story, we do get to see the mental acuity of the team as they determine where the killer will strike next.
The audio continues to annoy, especially Maria and DeAngelo's mother. Since I bought the whole series, I will continue to China Town.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2018
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the narrator and found it very interesting and enjoyable. I really enjoy this series. Macro is put on leave after he shoots a suspect to save Peyton. But the suspect was actually a hostage and a serial killer used Macro as his weapon to kill him. One event turns Peyton's and Macro's lives upside down as they try to trap this serial killer. The suspense and fast plot will keep you listening and looking forward to the next book.
June 10, 2021
Murder on Alcatraz (Peyton Brooks’ Mystery #4) was a great read by M.L. Hamilton. A serial killer stakes in the city and the killer seems to always be one step ahead of Peyton. The body counts rise as her partner may be taken away from her. The trip to Alcatraz may change their eight year friendship forever. I really loved the life that Kelley Hazen’s narrations brought to the characters. I cant wait to read more in this series.
August 19, 2023
The saga continues but this one was a strange one that focuses on a serial vigilante killer and the psychoanalysis of two main characters that reveals their deep dark secrets. Ends abruptly with a clear intent to continue the story in another book.
February 27, 2019
The series started getting good, then this one jumped in and absolutely dragged. So much stuff included that isn’t needed and a flat ending. Hopefully the next one picks back up.
June 29, 2023
I find these just keep getting better. I have a theory who the serial killer is. I shall keep that to myself. On to the next one.
December 27, 2021
Mais uma narrativa tensa, na qual os detetives Brooks e D’Angelo são forçados a rever suas ações e seus sentimentos enquanto buscam por um serial killer. Muito bom.
June 20, 2014
Book #4. OMG. Serial killer. Psychiatric evaluation. Partner separation. A cliff hanger in more ways than one. You won't be able to stop listening. And you won't be able to stand it until Book #5 is released. At least this is what our reviewers are telling us!
Listen to this...
https://soundcloud.com/bruce-kelley-3...
Then listen on...!
Listen to this...
https://soundcloud.com/bruce-kelley-3...
Then listen on...!
February 10, 2015
This is a fast-moving very good series. I am stumped by the end of this but I hope that clarifies in the next one. I recommend the series to all that love a little bit of a romantic but yet police fiction type book
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April 14, 2016Not as good as Murder on Potero Hill
This one was disappointing. I felt there was too much digression in all the sessions with the psychiatrist -- Also, it was a little graphic.
This one was disappointing. I felt there was too much digression in all the sessions with the psychiatrist -- Also, it was a little graphic.
June 23, 2016
love the all too human characters and the plots. lots of back story on the two main characters. hated the psychiatrist..preconceived notions.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews