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Empty Places
The year is 1987. America is clawing its way out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Washington pursues illegal and unpopular wars in Central America. In the wealthy desert playground of Palm Springs, storefronts that once catered to the rich sit empty and shuttered. Crowds of bored rich teenagers in designer clothing entertain themselves with expensive cars and cheap drugs, while those less fortunate haunt darkened street corners, offering themselves for sale.
This is the country to which war correspondent Peter Brandt returns. Physically and mentally scarred by the horrors he’s covered, Peter comes home to bury his ex-wife, TV reporter Robin Anderson, only to discover she had been brutally murdered. With the local police unwilling to investigate her death, Peter sets out with retired cop Matt Banyon to expose Robin’s killer. They uncover a shadowy world of anti-communists, drug smugglers, and corrupt politicians, and lay bare old wounds—including Peter’s deep guilt over his failed marriage. In a final, cliff-hanging struggle, Peter faces his own fears—and death in a dark and empty place. A modern noir classic.
This is the country to which war correspondent Peter Brandt returns. Physically and mentally scarred by the horrors he’s covered, Peter comes home to bury his ex-wife, TV reporter Robin Anderson, only to discover she had been brutally murdered. With the local police unwilling to investigate her death, Peter sets out with retired cop Matt Banyon to expose Robin’s killer. They uncover a shadowy world of anti-communists, drug smugglers, and corrupt politicians, and lay bare old wounds—including Peter’s deep guilt over his failed marriage. In a final, cliff-hanging struggle, Peter faces his own fears—and death in a dark and empty place. A modern noir classic.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2013
20 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Martin Roy Hill
32 books87 followersMartin Roy Hill has led an eclectic life. Soldier, sailor, journalist . . . well, not a spy, but he has written about them.
Martin joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve when he was 19, the same year he sold his first published piece to Reader's Digest. He spent a total of 13 years as a Coastguardsman, in two tours, involved in small boat search and rescue, emergency medical response, port security, and maritime law enforcement.
In between those tours, he served in a counter-insurgency unit in the U.S. Navy Reserve. After a final stint of Coast Guard active duty following the 9/11 attacks, Martin was offered a commission as a medical service corps officer in a component of the California National Guard, where he trained combat medics for Iraq and Afghanistan. Later, Martin converted to the military police, retiring in 2016 as a major and executive officer of an MP unit.
Martin also served as a wilderness medic and operations sergeant with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Wilderness Search and Rescue Detail, where he was cross trained as a tactical (SWAT) medic. Martin also spent several years as a medic and security specialist with a federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team.
Martin received a bachelor's degree in journalism from CSU Dominguez Hills, and spent more than 20 years as a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines. His investigative reporting earned him numerous journalism honors, including two William Allen White Awards. His stories were included in three of the Investigative Reporters and Editors' annual compilations of the best investigative reporting. He also worked as a freelance correspondent for LIFE and Newsweek.
After serving on active duty following the 9/11 attacks, Martin switched careers, becoming a U.S. Navy analyst in combat casualty care. He left that position after 16 years and became a full-time writer and freelance editor.
Between his military, public safety, and journalism careers, Martin experienced many adventures. In the Coast Guard, he participated in dozens of rescues, chased Russian spy ships and smugglers, protected dignitaries, and once was nearly lost at sea in a storm. In the Navy, he was assigned to liaison with a USCG patrol boat during war games, and ended up participating in what at the time was the largest drug bust in U.S. history.
He's been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, and once followed a migrant trail from the U.S. into Mexico (at that country's request) to locate the remains of a woman who died along the trail so the smuggler leading her group could be prosecuted for her death. As a journalist, he covered disasters, air crashes, wild fires, as well as national and international leaders.
Martin's freelance credits include Reader's Digest, LIFE, Newsweek, Omni, American History, Writer’s Digest, Coast Guard Magazine, Retired Officer Magazine, The Compass, Aviation History, Mother Jones, the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times Sunday Opinion, and Travel sections, and many more. He was a lead contributor to the 1995 WWII anthology, "From Pearl Harbor to Nagasaki: America at War," published by the Retired Officer Association, and a contributor to the 2013 American Civil War anthology "Gettysburg: Three Days that Saved the United States," published by I-5 Publishing.
Martin's background plays a significant role in his writing, which many reviewers have noted has a sense of realism not often found in fiction. His first book, DUTY, a collection of short stories centered around national service, was named the 2012 Best Short Story Anthology/Collection by the San Diego Book Awards Association. His Linus Schag, NCIS, thriller, The Butcher's Bill, received the 2017 Best Mystery/Suspense Award from the Best Independent Book Awards, the 2017 Clue Award for Best Suspense Thriller, the 2018 Silver Medal for Thrillers from the Readers Favorite Book Awards, and the 2018 Adult Fiction Award from the California Author Project.
Besides
Martin joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve when he was 19, the same year he sold his first published piece to Reader's Digest. He spent a total of 13 years as a Coastguardsman, in two tours, involved in small boat search and rescue, emergency medical response, port security, and maritime law enforcement.
In between those tours, he served in a counter-insurgency unit in the U.S. Navy Reserve. After a final stint of Coast Guard active duty following the 9/11 attacks, Martin was offered a commission as a medical service corps officer in a component of the California National Guard, where he trained combat medics for Iraq and Afghanistan. Later, Martin converted to the military police, retiring in 2016 as a major and executive officer of an MP unit.
Martin also served as a wilderness medic and operations sergeant with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Wilderness Search and Rescue Detail, where he was cross trained as a tactical (SWAT) medic. Martin also spent several years as a medic and security specialist with a federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team.
Martin received a bachelor's degree in journalism from CSU Dominguez Hills, and spent more than 20 years as a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines. His investigative reporting earned him numerous journalism honors, including two William Allen White Awards. His stories were included in three of the Investigative Reporters and Editors' annual compilations of the best investigative reporting. He also worked as a freelance correspondent for LIFE and Newsweek.
After serving on active duty following the 9/11 attacks, Martin switched careers, becoming a U.S. Navy analyst in combat casualty care. He left that position after 16 years and became a full-time writer and freelance editor.
Between his military, public safety, and journalism careers, Martin experienced many adventures. In the Coast Guard, he participated in dozens of rescues, chased Russian spy ships and smugglers, protected dignitaries, and once was nearly lost at sea in a storm. In the Navy, he was assigned to liaison with a USCG patrol boat during war games, and ended up participating in what at the time was the largest drug bust in U.S. history.
He's been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, and once followed a migrant trail from the U.S. into Mexico (at that country's request) to locate the remains of a woman who died along the trail so the smuggler leading her group could be prosecuted for her death. As a journalist, he covered disasters, air crashes, wild fires, as well as national and international leaders.
Martin's freelance credits include Reader's Digest, LIFE, Newsweek, Omni, American History, Writer’s Digest, Coast Guard Magazine, Retired Officer Magazine, The Compass, Aviation History, Mother Jones, the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times Sunday Opinion, and Travel sections, and many more. He was a lead contributor to the 1995 WWII anthology, "From Pearl Harbor to Nagasaki: America at War," published by the Retired Officer Association, and a contributor to the 2013 American Civil War anthology "Gettysburg: Three Days that Saved the United States," published by I-5 Publishing.
Martin's background plays a significant role in his writing, which many reviewers have noted has a sense of realism not often found in fiction. His first book, DUTY, a collection of short stories centered around national service, was named the 2012 Best Short Story Anthology/Collection by the San Diego Book Awards Association. His Linus Schag, NCIS, thriller, The Butcher's Bill, received the 2017 Best Mystery/Suspense Award from the Best Independent Book Awards, the 2017 Clue Award for Best Suspense Thriller, the 2018 Silver Medal for Thrillers from the Readers Favorite Book Awards, and the 2018 Adult Fiction Award from the California Author Project.
Besides
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 24, 2014
Review also on www.jolasbookshelf.wordpress.com
This was a fantastic action thriller! I enjoyed every page, there never was a dull moment. The mystery was well thought out, with many twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. It was so layered and I liked that the person behind the murder wasn't the obvious one.
The characters were very likable and realistically written, I found myself captivated by their stories.
I recommend this book to every mystery and thriller fans!
Thanks to Martin Roy Hill for sending me a free copy of this book.
This was a fantastic action thriller! I enjoyed every page, there never was a dull moment. The mystery was well thought out, with many twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. It was so layered and I liked that the person behind the murder wasn't the obvious one.
The characters were very likable and realistically written, I found myself captivated by their stories.
I recommend this book to every mystery and thriller fans!
Thanks to Martin Roy Hill for sending me a free copy of this book.
December 24, 2013
I was provided with a copy of Empty Places by the author through the GoodReads “Reviews Initiative” group in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Robin Anderson, a journalist and aspiring news anchor, had been warned never to meet a contact in an out of the way place. But, defying better judgment, Robin agrees to a rendezvous in the desert dunes, a desolate location lit only by a three-quarter blue-white moon. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that, shortly thereafter, her body is found. We then learn that Robin left behind more than just her ex-husband, Peter Brandt, who, stationed as a journalist south of the border, is notified by wire to go to Robin’s funeral. Robin also left behind a tape—a tape that becomes sought after by both the murderers and by Peter as he tries to unravel Robin’s last days.
Martin Hill has, in Empty Places, created a brisk paced mystery that will keep readers engaged from beginning to end. My favorite of the characters is Peter’s friend, Matt Banyon, who helps Peter to try to unravel events. I found him to be the most “fleshed out” of the characters and I “liked” him. Peter also is well drawn; he becomes more real as his guilt for having failed in his relationship with Robin grows (though his moodiness was a bit annoying at times—such as when he and Laurie stop at Zelda’s for a drink). My least favorite character and relationship—by far—was Laurie Hall and her relationship with Peter. I found Laurie to be sophomoric—which I believe Hill intended though, unfortunately, this left the story without a single strong, intelligent female figure. However, I found Peter to be sophomoric in his belief that Laurie was genuinely interested in him. For this reader, Laurie was too much, too fast, too—false. I would have expected Peter to have seen through her. Indeed, the “missing point” in my rating of this story is due to this “relationship” between Peter and Laurie.
Empty Places is filled with unexpected events and discoveries. Who is the mastermind behind Robin’s murder? What does it have to do with events of years past? Why are the police so contrary to Peter and Matt’s investigation? What role does the wealthy Carlos Tinnerman play? These and other questions will keep readers turning the pages of Empty Places until they reach the satisfying conclusion to this mystery.
Robin Anderson, a journalist and aspiring news anchor, had been warned never to meet a contact in an out of the way place. But, defying better judgment, Robin agrees to a rendezvous in the desert dunes, a desolate location lit only by a three-quarter blue-white moon. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that, shortly thereafter, her body is found. We then learn that Robin left behind more than just her ex-husband, Peter Brandt, who, stationed as a journalist south of the border, is notified by wire to go to Robin’s funeral. Robin also left behind a tape—a tape that becomes sought after by both the murderers and by Peter as he tries to unravel Robin’s last days.
Martin Hill has, in Empty Places, created a brisk paced mystery that will keep readers engaged from beginning to end. My favorite of the characters is Peter’s friend, Matt Banyon, who helps Peter to try to unravel events. I found him to be the most “fleshed out” of the characters and I “liked” him. Peter also is well drawn; he becomes more real as his guilt for having failed in his relationship with Robin grows (though his moodiness was a bit annoying at times—such as when he and Laurie stop at Zelda’s for a drink). My least favorite character and relationship—by far—was Laurie Hall and her relationship with Peter. I found Laurie to be sophomoric—which I believe Hill intended though, unfortunately, this left the story without a single strong, intelligent female figure. However, I found Peter to be sophomoric in his belief that Laurie was genuinely interested in him. For this reader, Laurie was too much, too fast, too—false. I would have expected Peter to have seen through her. Indeed, the “missing point” in my rating of this story is due to this “relationship” between Peter and Laurie.
Empty Places is filled with unexpected events and discoveries. Who is the mastermind behind Robin’s murder? What does it have to do with events of years past? Why are the police so contrary to Peter and Matt’s investigation? What role does the wealthy Carlos Tinnerman play? These and other questions will keep readers turning the pages of Empty Places until they reach the satisfying conclusion to this mystery.
August 6, 2014
War correspondent Peter Brandt is back in Palm Springs to attend to the funeral of his ex-wife. He meets up with old friend Matt Banyon, retired cop turned private investigator. Peter is reluctant to get involved in the murder of his ex-wife until Matt explains to him that it was more than simply a date gone wrong. Robin’s death had all the marks of a planned hit. As they investigate they realise that Robin was onto something big and they don’t know who they can trust anymore.
It was very easy to connect with Peter. He had a very matter of fact attitude. He had upset a lot of people in the past and he didn’t really care that he was genuinely disliked my many influential people. Even though Robin was murdered in the Prologue, Peter’s reflections on their time together lets the reader understand her and feel some sort of empathy for her.
There is so much going on with each character that anything I say about the characters, their development or the plot will be a spoiler.
” I swear you’re either the bravest man I ever met, or the dumbest”
OH MY GOSH what was Brandt thinking doing that interview in the plane!!
I think he was a whole lot of brave and a little bit of crazy.
There is such a build up as the plot slowly develops. Then the whole story that comes crashing out at the end is much more than what I was expecting.
Some great teasers towards the end and I had to hold myself back from skipping pages because I couldn’t take the suspense.
This novel had me hooked very early and didn’t disappoint.
November 21, 2013
...enjoyable, well-crafted, crime thriller... great read...
...a cracking mixture of angst, anger, and regrets for a lost relationship compose the main character, Pete Brandt, a jaded sometime investigative journalist who carries the physical and emotional marks of a life that could have been better lived... when his ex-wife is murdered, a message from a former pal brings him back to clear up her personal effects... the good and bad guys loom large across the pages, and it's a tease trying to solve who's at the nub of all the criminality... the dialogue is entertainingly droll... throw in a web of politics, cops and ex-cops operating on and over the edge of legality and Hill serves up a great crime story... the tension is well-handled... the denouement is particularly satisfying... enjoyable, excellently crafted novel..well done, Mister Hill...
...a cracking mixture of angst, anger, and regrets for a lost relationship compose the main character, Pete Brandt, a jaded sometime investigative journalist who carries the physical and emotional marks of a life that could have been better lived... when his ex-wife is murdered, a message from a former pal brings him back to clear up her personal effects... the good and bad guys loom large across the pages, and it's a tease trying to solve who's at the nub of all the criminality... the dialogue is entertainingly droll... throw in a web of politics, cops and ex-cops operating on and over the edge of legality and Hill serves up a great crime story... the tension is well-handled... the denouement is particularly satisfying... enjoyable, excellently crafted novel..well done, Mister Hill...
November 25, 2013
Crime writing at its best.
Every so often you come across an author whose work you just connect with—Martin Roy Hill is one such author.
Empty Places is Hill’s second full length novel, his first, The Killing Depths, was published in 2012. On this occasion Hill has chosen to write in the first person, and his prose is excellent. His sentences flow naturally, his dialogue is compelling, and he has an easy style that ensures that the writing doesn’t get in the way of the story.
It’s 1987, and Peter Brandt, an investigative reporter with an international news agency, returns to his former home in the desert city of Palm Springs, to bury his ex-wife, television reporter Robin Anderson. What Brandt discovers upon his return is that Anderson has been brutally murdered, and that the local cops are less than enthusiastic about investigating the crime. Teaming up with his old friend, retired cop, Matt Banyon, Brandt sets about conducting his own investigation, and soon the two of them are drawn into a complex web of violence, lies, and corruption. The twists and turns are many, and Hill cleverly keeps you guessing until the very end.
Martin Roy Hill has done a fantastic job of telling this well-crafted and very compelling story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves good crime fiction.
Every so often you come across an author whose work you just connect with—Martin Roy Hill is one such author.
Empty Places is Hill’s second full length novel, his first, The Killing Depths, was published in 2012. On this occasion Hill has chosen to write in the first person, and his prose is excellent. His sentences flow naturally, his dialogue is compelling, and he has an easy style that ensures that the writing doesn’t get in the way of the story.
It’s 1987, and Peter Brandt, an investigative reporter with an international news agency, returns to his former home in the desert city of Palm Springs, to bury his ex-wife, television reporter Robin Anderson. What Brandt discovers upon his return is that Anderson has been brutally murdered, and that the local cops are less than enthusiastic about investigating the crime. Teaming up with his old friend, retired cop, Matt Banyon, Brandt sets about conducting his own investigation, and soon the two of them are drawn into a complex web of violence, lies, and corruption. The twists and turns are many, and Hill cleverly keeps you guessing until the very end.
Martin Roy Hill has done a fantastic job of telling this well-crafted and very compelling story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves good crime fiction.
August 31, 2017
Empty Places is by Martin Roy Hill. As I read the prologue, I got goosebumps. The language he used and the illusion he created made it clear that something terrible was going to happen to the lady waiting in the dark desert. You soon find out she is Robin Anderson, a reporter who is trying to get a story. It was so eerie that I almost didn’t continue reading the book. The first paragraph simply scared me to death. However, I continued to read and it didn’t take long before the book drew me in. The Prologue is in third person and the rest of the book is in first person as told by Peter, Robin’s ex-husband and a reporter.
Reporter Robin Anderson made a fatal mistake. She met someone in a lonely place and on her own. She had been warned by her ex-husband not to do that; but she trusted the person she was meeting. She just needed confirmation before she could file her story. She didn’t count on the drive of the person she was meeting with. The result was her death.
Peter Bryant is called back for the funeral of his ex-wife. Along with his friend and an ex-cop, Matt Banyon, he began searching for the person or persons who murdered Robin. Neither one realized just how deep the conspiracy went. Would they figure it out before they were killed?
July 9, 2019
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.
Here, Peter Brandt is a reporter currently living in Central America. He receives a message that his ex-wife Robin, also a reporter, has been murdered and he needs to return to Palm Springs, CA. Soon after returning to his old stomping grounds, it is clear that Robin's murder is not what it seems but the Sheriff seems ready to close the case. Peter, with the help of some old friends, begins to look into Robin's death and the more he looks the more dangerous it becomes.
This is a taut well-written thriller which grabs you from the first page. The characters are well-developed and realistic. Peter Brandt, MC, is scarred both inside and out. The tension grows as the mystery has so many layers and slowly but deftly each piece is revealed. Once I started this book - I could not stop as I was completely drawn in.
I listened to this book- the narrator did a great job in pacing and ratcheting up the tension through his vocal skills.
Here, Peter Brandt is a reporter currently living in Central America. He receives a message that his ex-wife Robin, also a reporter, has been murdered and he needs to return to Palm Springs, CA. Soon after returning to his old stomping grounds, it is clear that Robin's murder is not what it seems but the Sheriff seems ready to close the case. Peter, with the help of some old friends, begins to look into Robin's death and the more he looks the more dangerous it becomes.
This is a taut well-written thriller which grabs you from the first page. The characters are well-developed and realistic. Peter Brandt, MC, is scarred both inside and out. The tension grows as the mystery has so many layers and slowly but deftly each piece is revealed. Once I started this book - I could not stop as I was completely drawn in.
I listened to this book- the narrator did a great job in pacing and ratcheting up the tension through his vocal skills.
April 11, 2022
Martin Roy Hill has written a very convoluted mystery, which held my interest. The characters were complicated and intense. Peter Brandt returned home for his ex-wife's funeral, but no one in authority seemed interested in finding out who murdered her. Peter, along with his friend, decided to figure out who killed her; however, the perpetrators don't want to be discovered. This story was intricate and entertaining. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Tim Danko's narration was fine, and his voice was pleasant. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily posted this review.
July 27, 2020
Although the story was written well without obvious flaws, it just fell flat for me. The characters were cliche, and I found the women in the story annoying and weak. It was missing that spark that made the story interesting and that drew me in. I couldn't get into it. It was just two dimensional as the print on the page.....
"I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
"I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
January 14, 2025
Empty Places (The Peter Brandt Mysteries Book 1), my sixth read from author Martin Roy Hill, 4 242-page private investigator mystery, an entertaining & enjoyable read. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author with The Last Refuge (The Peter Brandt Mysteries Book 2) high on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
July 24, 2020
( Format : Audiobook )
"The rich get richer and the poor get babies."
Review follows
"The rich get richer and the poor get babies."
Review follows
May 13, 2022
Peter Brandt at his finest. Thrilling novel.
May 3, 2014
A TV reporter goes to a lonely place in the Palm Springs area. She is to meet a person she thinks could be the source of a story that could make her career. However when the car drives up to the meeting place, a man gets out and kills her.
We learn that this is a work of fiction combined with historical facts taking place in 1987.
The TV reporter, Robin, was divorced. Her former husband, Peter Brandt, is a war correspondent working in Honduras. He returns to California for Robin's funeral.
Peter is a strong character and when he returns to the area, he learns that the local police aren't giving the murder much effort. He works with an old friend, Matt Banyon, former cop and now PI, and they search for Robin's killer.
We learn that Robin had been looking into the background of a wealthy Cuban exile. She finds the man has many government officials in his pocket. She was looking into the man's work with Nicaraguan Contas.
The author has a gift for pacing and the action moves at a rapid pace followed by segments of needed background information.
I enjoyed the story and recommend it but found it annoying when every time someone would refer to Robin as Peter's wife, he would correct them saying, ex-wife. Saying this a few times would be OK but it happened so many times that I think in life, Peter would have just overlooked it.
We learn that this is a work of fiction combined with historical facts taking place in 1987.
The TV reporter, Robin, was divorced. Her former husband, Peter Brandt, is a war correspondent working in Honduras. He returns to California for Robin's funeral.
Peter is a strong character and when he returns to the area, he learns that the local police aren't giving the murder much effort. He works with an old friend, Matt Banyon, former cop and now PI, and they search for Robin's killer.
We learn that Robin had been looking into the background of a wealthy Cuban exile. She finds the man has many government officials in his pocket. She was looking into the man's work with Nicaraguan Contas.
The author has a gift for pacing and the action moves at a rapid pace followed by segments of needed background information.
I enjoyed the story and recommend it but found it annoying when every time someone would refer to Robin as Peter's wife, he would correct them saying, ex-wife. Saying this a few times would be OK but it happened so many times that I think in life, Peter would have just overlooked it.
November 19, 2013
I start with the title: it has two meanings. In the beginning of the book Robin Anderson is killed in a deserted place, alone. The other empty places aren't that obvious, they are hidden in the souls. Inside Peter, the ex-husband, who has seen brutal things leaving marks on him figuratively and literally. And inside men, who sold their humanity for money and power.
I like the voice of the author, his style is smooth, I enjoyed reading the story.
The characters are well drawn, not only the hero, but the smaller ones too. Some of them showed really interesting traits, for example Laurie, who... wait, I don't want to spoil it, better if you read it yourself.
Unfortunately I could guess the main villain, even if the author made an attempt to divert me from it. Besides that there were quite a few surprises, for example the identity of the killer. And did I tell you what Laurie did? You won't believe it. There was even a turn after I thought it was over, the killer got what he deserved.
If you want a good read, Empty Places is the right choice.
I like the voice of the author, his style is smooth, I enjoyed reading the story.
The characters are well drawn, not only the hero, but the smaller ones too. Some of them showed really interesting traits, for example Laurie, who... wait, I don't want to spoil it, better if you read it yourself.
Unfortunately I could guess the main villain, even if the author made an attempt to divert me from it. Besides that there were quite a few surprises, for example the identity of the killer. And did I tell you what Laurie did? You won't believe it. There was even a turn after I thought it was over, the killer got what he deserved.
If you want a good read, Empty Places is the right choice.
December 31, 2013
'Empty Places', is masterfully written, with tension on every page. Hill has an amazing ability make us feel like we’ve been magically dropped into a place and time, whether it’s the stifling closeness of the interior of a nuclear sub in ‘The Killing Depths’ or the surreal emptiness of the desert in ‘Empty Places’.
In 1987, world-weary journalist Peter Brandt returns from a devastating assignment in Central America to his old beat in Palm Springs, to attend the funeral of his ex-wife, Robin. When the police stonewall his inquiries into her brutal murder, he finds himself drawn into his own investigation. In the process he crosses swords with the super-rich, corrupt cops and politicians, and a wealthy Cuban ultra-patriot whose past is suspect.
The novel has some great characters, both big and small, some poignant insights into relationships, and enough twists and turns to keep us guessing until the last page. A great read.
In 1987, world-weary journalist Peter Brandt returns from a devastating assignment in Central America to his old beat in Palm Springs, to attend the funeral of his ex-wife, Robin. When the police stonewall his inquiries into her brutal murder, he finds himself drawn into his own investigation. In the process he crosses swords with the super-rich, corrupt cops and politicians, and a wealthy Cuban ultra-patriot whose past is suspect.
The novel has some great characters, both big and small, some poignant insights into relationships, and enough twists and turns to keep us guessing until the last page. A great read.
December 28, 2014
This is a perfect title for this book. This book is about the "empty places" inside ourselves that we go to when we have no choice. What would you do to survive? What would you do to get money? This book is for adults and it really made me think about the difficult choices that people are forced to make. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review through The Book Review Buzz, however all opinions are my own.
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- See more at: http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/2...
October 13, 2013
I was given this book by the author for review and enjoyed it.
Within the darkened world we follow Peter Brandt, already weary of the human condition, who must investigate his ex-wife's death, he the only one its seems that takes it seriously.
I don't give spoilers so will say that this story is fast-paced, gritty (if somewhat despondent about the lives we lead and the powers that take advantage) and well written.
Worth reading if you enjoy crime novels with extra dimension.
Within the darkened world we follow Peter Brandt, already weary of the human condition, who must investigate his ex-wife's death, he the only one its seems that takes it seriously.
I don't give spoilers so will say that this story is fast-paced, gritty (if somewhat despondent about the lives we lead and the powers that take advantage) and well written.
Worth reading if you enjoy crime novels with extra dimension.
October 23, 2013
Following peter as he tries to solve who killed his ex-wife is an exciting trip through a dark world. This book was wrote exceptionally well. If you love crime novels it's a recommended read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews