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Parker City Mystery #1
Now & Then
A Fatal Error
In the spring of 1981, rookie Maryland police detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason are assigned their first high-profile murder case. A well-known local woman was found strangled in the city’s historic district, and the powers that be make it clear that if Ben and Tommy can't catch the killer, their first case could be their last. Two more women are murdered, and fear of the Spring Strangler rocks the close-knit community until the police announce the case has been successfully closed.
Decades later, Ben and Tommy are on the eve of retirement after distinguished careers in law enforcement. But in their final days on the job, a fresh look at the evidence casts doubt on their initial conclusions. And then a killer strikes again. Did they get it wrong all those years ago? Has the Spring Strangler returned to Parker City? Or did he never leave?
In the spring of 1981, rookie Maryland police detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason are assigned their first high-profile murder case. A well-known local woman was found strangled in the city’s historic district, and the powers that be make it clear that if Ben and Tommy can't catch the killer, their first case could be their last. Two more women are murdered, and fear of the Spring Strangler rocks the close-knit community until the police announce the case has been successfully closed.
Decades later, Ben and Tommy are on the eve of retirement after distinguished careers in law enforcement. But in their final days on the job, a fresh look at the evidence casts doubt on their initial conclusions. And then a killer strikes again. Did they get it wrong all those years ago? Has the Spring Strangler returned to Parker City? Or did he never leave?
- GenresMystery
358 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2023
13 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Justin M. Kiska
7 books75 followersWhen not sitting in his library devising new and clever ways to kill people (for his mysteries), Justin can usually be found at The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, outside of Washington, DC, where he is one of the owners and producers. In addition to writing the Parker City Mysteries Series, he is also the mastermind behind Marquee Mysteries, a series of interactive mystery events he has been writing and producing for over fifteen years. Justin and his wife, Jessica, live along Lake Linganore outside of Frederick, Maryland.
Learn more about Justin by visiting www.JustinKiska.com.
Learn more about Justin by visiting www.JustinKiska.com.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 2, 2022
I got this one at the library in prep of reading the second book as an ARC. I always enjoy a police procedural which this sort of was. There was a split timeline - now and then - between when Tom & Ben started as young detectives and now when they are retiring. It had good detail and plenty of small town weirdness. But I didn't feel much emotional punch. So it engaged my mind but not really my heart. I liked it though. I'm looking forward to see who is in the next book, if it is any of the same characters.
September 6, 2021
This expertly paced tale of a resurgent serial killer and his seasoned adversary delivers multiple shockers that fans won’t soon forget.
First-time novelist Justin M. Kiska puts a delicious spin on the “one last job” trope as small town police chief Ben Winters is thrust into a career-defining nightmare just before retirement. Forty years earlier, then-rookie detective Ben and his partner, Tommy, had entered the apartment belonging to high school English teacher Joseph Miles, intending to arrest him on suspicion of committing three murders. They found Miles hanging from an exposed beam.
There was plenty of reason to believe a serial killer had opted to end his own life before the police could take him into custody. Evidence tied him to the homicides, and his death seemed to put an end to the string of homicides. But on the eve of retirement, Tommy utters a prophetic sentence that rocks Ben’s world: “I came across some old papers that got me thinking.”
Kiska then delivers a shocking twist that propels the plot to a new level. Has the killer in fact been on the loose all these years? Among the suspects is reporter Roger Benedict, who always seemed to have inside information. He even invented the now infamous moniker, “Spring Strangler.”
Now & Then is an expertly paced police procedural that builds to a crescendo by alternating between the 1980s timeline and the present. While Kiska takes his time establishing this Maryland town-turned-metropolis and the relationships between its key inhabitants, the payoff is well worth the wait. Kiska delivers multiple surprises well into the third act in what is a very promising debut.
First-time novelist Justin M. Kiska puts a delicious spin on the “one last job” trope as small town police chief Ben Winters is thrust into a career-defining nightmare just before retirement. Forty years earlier, then-rookie detective Ben and his partner, Tommy, had entered the apartment belonging to high school English teacher Joseph Miles, intending to arrest him on suspicion of committing three murders. They found Miles hanging from an exposed beam.
There was plenty of reason to believe a serial killer had opted to end his own life before the police could take him into custody. Evidence tied him to the homicides, and his death seemed to put an end to the string of homicides. But on the eve of retirement, Tommy utters a prophetic sentence that rocks Ben’s world: “I came across some old papers that got me thinking.”
Kiska then delivers a shocking twist that propels the plot to a new level. Has the killer in fact been on the loose all these years? Among the suspects is reporter Roger Benedict, who always seemed to have inside information. He even invented the now infamous moniker, “Spring Strangler.”
Now & Then is an expertly paced police procedural that builds to a crescendo by alternating between the 1980s timeline and the present. While Kiska takes his time establishing this Maryland town-turned-metropolis and the relationships between its key inhabitants, the payoff is well worth the wait. Kiska delivers multiple surprises well into the third act in what is a very promising debut.
January 25, 2022
This book starts off with bang!
Follow along through the thoughts of the killer and the police detective working the murders.
A very intriguing story that will keep you reading.
Highly recommended for Antoine’s who wants a story with killer POV and police procedural.
Follow along through the thoughts of the killer and the police detective working the murders.
A very intriguing story that will keep you reading.
Highly recommended for Antoine’s who wants a story with killer POV and police procedural.
March 10, 2021
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
That was one hefty read..
I liked how the author described Parker city, he gave an immaculate description of the city's history, it made me feel as if I'm reading a real historical book.
And don't get me started on the cliff hangers the author ends every chapter with, it was absolutely amazing.
I was really engrossed throughout the book that i felt sad when it ended.
That was one hefty read..
I liked how the author described Parker city, he gave an immaculate description of the city's history, it made me feel as if I'm reading a real historical book.
And don't get me started on the cliff hangers the author ends every chapter with, it was absolutely amazing.
I was really engrossed throughout the book that i felt sad when it ended.
June 8, 2021
Oh my gosh!!! What a roller coaster ride!! I love how the author sectioned the book into "Now" and Then" chapters. Each section of "Now" and "Then" left one with a cliffhanger. I was constantly trying to figure out who had committed the murders. I couldn't put this book down. Great writing and awesome detail. I visualized it all. I love the main characters and I look forward to reading more from this author. Fantastic read!!!!
April 27, 2021
I'm an avid reader, but I don't normally read mysteries. That being said, I really enjoyed reading this one. The plot was captivating - I couldn't put it down. The characters were well constructed and relatable. The locality backdrop added a dimension to the depth of the story. I can't wait for the next in the series.
December 24, 2025
A Chilling Dual-Timeline Mystery That Lingers Long After the Final Page
Now & Then, the first installment in Justin M. Kiska’s Parker City Mystery series, is a gripping and emotionally layered crime novel that explores how the past never truly stays buried.
Set against the quiet façade of a close-knit town, the story unfolds across two timelines: Parker City in 1981, during a shocking series of murders that fracture the community’s sense of safety, and decades later, as the detectives who led the original investigation approach retirement. Kiska skillfully weaves these timelines together, allowing the reader to experience both the urgency of a young investigation and the heavy weight of unanswered questions carried for a lifetime.
Detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason are compelling protagonists human, fallible, and deeply affected by the consequences of their first major case. What begins as a hunt for the “Spring Strangler” evolves into something far more unsettling: a meditation on doubt, memory, and the haunting possibility of justice delayed or denied.
The novel excels in atmosphere and pacing. The procedural elements feel authentic, while the emotional undercurrent adds depth beyond a standard whodunit. Kiska resists easy answers, instead inviting readers to wrestle with moral ambiguity and the cost of decisions made under pressure.
For fans of character-driven crime fiction, cold-case mysteries, and stories that examine the long shadows cast by unresolved violence, Now & Then is an impressive and promising series opener. It leaves readers not only eager for the next installment, but also reflecting on how time changes everything and sometimes, nothing at all.
Now & Then, the first installment in Justin M. Kiska’s Parker City Mystery series, is a gripping and emotionally layered crime novel that explores how the past never truly stays buried.
Set against the quiet façade of a close-knit town, the story unfolds across two timelines: Parker City in 1981, during a shocking series of murders that fracture the community’s sense of safety, and decades later, as the detectives who led the original investigation approach retirement. Kiska skillfully weaves these timelines together, allowing the reader to experience both the urgency of a young investigation and the heavy weight of unanswered questions carried for a lifetime.
Detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason are compelling protagonists human, fallible, and deeply affected by the consequences of their first major case. What begins as a hunt for the “Spring Strangler” evolves into something far more unsettling: a meditation on doubt, memory, and the haunting possibility of justice delayed or denied.
The novel excels in atmosphere and pacing. The procedural elements feel authentic, while the emotional undercurrent adds depth beyond a standard whodunit. Kiska resists easy answers, instead inviting readers to wrestle with moral ambiguity and the cost of decisions made under pressure.
For fans of character-driven crime fiction, cold-case mysteries, and stories that examine the long shadows cast by unresolved violence, Now & Then is an impressive and promising series opener. It leaves readers not only eager for the next installment, but also reflecting on how time changes everything and sometimes, nothing at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2023
First in the Parker City Mystery series, and am I ever glad it's the first of many. I was not familiar with this author, but I couldn't put this mystery down, even though I usually dislike the going back and forth between different times. Now and then, then and now--but each move from one time to the other simply amped up the mystery and forced me to keep reading!
If you're not inclined to want to read more than planned, do NOT pick up this story. I have a feeling you won't be able to stop at just a couple of chapters at a time. I certainly couldn't. Here's hoping the next in this series arrives soon. I for one can't wait!
If you're not inclined to want to read more than planned, do NOT pick up this story. I have a feeling you won't be able to stop at just a couple of chapters at a time. I certainly couldn't. Here's hoping the next in this series arrives soon. I for one can't wait!
July 1, 2021
This was an okay read for my flight from Montana. I rated it low because all of the grammatical and spelling errors annoyed me. This author needs to have someone check his work before it goes to print! I had figured out that the fictional town depicted was based on Frederick, MD before I read it in the author’s notes. The murderer was fairly easy to guess.
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September 9, 2022Captivating read.
It held my attention from the beginning. Not often do I read a book in 2 days. I thought I had it figured out but the twist at the end was great!
It held my attention from the beginning. Not often do I read a book in 2 days. I thought I had it figured out but the twist at the end was great!
August 11, 2023
This mystery pulled me in right from the start. I'll be keeping an eye out for more books by this author for sure.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews