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Detective Jacob Hayden #2
Behind the Closed Door
In his sophomore novel, Detective Jacob Hayden is back. When Jack Smith doesn’t come home from a business trip, his wife, Erin Smith becomes concerned. Before she has a chance to call police, Detective Jacob Hayden and his new partner, Patricia Jennings, show up at the house and Erin immediately knows that something terrible has happened. Days later a body is found in the woods without its head or fingers and it’s determined that the body is that of Jack Smith. Erin Smith becomes the primary suspect. After her arraignment Erin posts bail and without anyone knowing, flees the city.
A man named Max leads a group through a string of bank robberies. Each bank robbery leaves the branch manager and their families murdered. FBI Agent Jadyn Davis and Detective Hayden have to find out who’s committing these robberies before more families are murdered. But what they don’t realize is that the bank robberies are only a small part of a larger plot that Max has planned.
Behind the Closed Door will keep you guessing until the very end.
A man named Max leads a group through a string of bank robberies. Each bank robbery leaves the branch manager and their families murdered. FBI Agent Jadyn Davis and Detective Hayden have to find out who’s committing these robberies before more families are murdered. But what they don’t realize is that the bank robberies are only a small part of a larger plot that Max has planned.
Behind the Closed Door will keep you guessing until the very end.
- GenresMystery
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2013
About the author
Charles Prandy
15 books15 followersI’ve always been drawn to stories that pull you in so completely, the world around you fades to black. Writing, for me is about creating that feeling—the slow build of tension, the heartbeat of uncertainty, the thrill of not knowing what’s coming next. I live for those moments when a reader says, “You had me on the edge of my seat—I couldn’t stop turning the pages.” That’s the kind of experience I chase with every story I write: atmospheric, gripping, and impossible to walk away from.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 11, 2014
I have to say I really enjoyed the first of Charles Prandy’s books in this series featuring DI Jacob Hayden. I was really looking forward to getting stuck into book 2 to see how he was faring after the trauma in the first book. I mentioned in the first book that there are certain similarities between this series and a certain other Washington DC cop, although I must say that this is a really good contender! Hayden is back and this time he is involved in a complex missing persons/murder case.
The story itself was so easy to fall into, and even if you haven’t read the first book there is enough background and history you don’t feel lost. Jack Smith is the person who goes missing and when Hayden meets the wife Erin Smith, she seems like a typical grieving wife concerned about her husband not returning home. Hayden has a new partner Pat Jennings and they make a good match, although I’m keen to see more of her in the next book. Together they have to revisit Erin Smith upon the discovery of a body and at that point everything changes.
In addition to this storyline we meet a man named Max who is committing bank robberies with particular brutality. Jacob feels like his return to work has now thrown him in at the deep end and I was completely absorbed by the numerous storylines going on. Towards the halfway mark, things ratchet up a notch and we see numerous plot threads begin to interweave making it much more exciting.
Overall I really liked this book, much the same as the first. Numerous people on Amazon have made complaints about the editing, but as I understand it this has now been rectified and I try not to let that affect my opinion on a book too much. I think that people who start reading this series will soon become attached to it and automatically want to read more; I know I do. It may be nothing new in terms of originality but in my opinion a solid book, with likeable characters and a series that I think will definitely improve with time. I’m now really looking forward to the next one.
The story itself was so easy to fall into, and even if you haven’t read the first book there is enough background and history you don’t feel lost. Jack Smith is the person who goes missing and when Hayden meets the wife Erin Smith, she seems like a typical grieving wife concerned about her husband not returning home. Hayden has a new partner Pat Jennings and they make a good match, although I’m keen to see more of her in the next book. Together they have to revisit Erin Smith upon the discovery of a body and at that point everything changes.
In addition to this storyline we meet a man named Max who is committing bank robberies with particular brutality. Jacob feels like his return to work has now thrown him in at the deep end and I was completely absorbed by the numerous storylines going on. Towards the halfway mark, things ratchet up a notch and we see numerous plot threads begin to interweave making it much more exciting.
Overall I really liked this book, much the same as the first. Numerous people on Amazon have made complaints about the editing, but as I understand it this has now been rectified and I try not to let that affect my opinion on a book too much. I think that people who start reading this series will soon become attached to it and automatically want to read more; I know I do. It may be nothing new in terms of originality but in my opinion a solid book, with likeable characters and a series that I think will definitely improve with time. I’m now really looking forward to the next one.
September 25, 2025
Loved the storytelling in the book
August 31, 2016
OMG! Is this author 12? This novel would be an acceptable first draft of a novel written by a teenager. I don't believe that the author or any co-worker even glanced at the draft to check for clarity or correctness. I read about 1/4 of the book and marked more than 50 incidences of extremely sophomoric writing. (1) "..as best a time as any.."(2)"...to my wife and I" (this was only one of 20 or more wrong-case pronouns) (3)"...didn't wait for me to MORN my loss..." (4)"I put an ASTERISKS..." (5)He would need to do reconnaissance DRIVE-BYE'S." (misspelled AND mispunctuated) (6)"You're idea of morning..." (Your idea of mourning) (7)"The shirt had two long TARES along its back." (8)"...cover his TRACTS." (This word was misused at least 3 times.) (9) The phrase Mitachondrial DNA was written as "mitachondria DNA" several times. (10) "... the severity of her husband's murder." (11)"A house her size..." (12) "...gave the bank a once look over..." (13)"...with balding hair." (14) "She showed genuine REMORSE when she found out that Jack was missing." (14) "A bullet WHOLE..." (15)"The windows...were...IN TACKED." (this error was made more than once too.) (16) "...blows a WHOLE in your theory." (17) "...the glare of the sun SHOWN over the...."
The author routinely misplaced modifiers, which made for some humorous sentences: Example: ".. a container in his neighbor's bedroom that was tucked in the back of a closet." I don't believe I've ever seen a bedroom tucked in the back of a closet before. "I had spoken with her a few hours earlier before she conducted the autopsy about my curiosities." An autopsy about someone's "curiosities?" "She stood up and steadied herself on the counter." She didn't actually stand on the counter.
There were dozens of paragraphs that made no sense at all: "..he could miss something which could be the result of him living or dying" What the heck does that mean? And what about this one? "He threw the CPU in the fire along with the broken phone. He instructed the person on the other end of the phone call to do the same." I wonder how he delivered those instructions since he had already destroyed the phone? "Max didn't hear a beeping noise that's usually accustomed to security systems." Huh? "Was she here out of her will?" What does that mean? "Familiarity would be an obvious assumption that she'd travel north."
The most distracting part of the inept writing style was the total lack of understanding of verb tenses. The writer not only jumped back and forth from present to past tense, he also constantly confused the reader by completely misusing the perfect and progressive tenses.
Lest you think that my criticism is too complete or too severe, I have not mentioned the astounding number of distracting punctuation errors or the many transitive verbs that had no objects, or the literally hundreds of sentence fragments the the small percentage of the book that I read before abandoning the book.
I also have not detailed the extent to which the characters were not developed. They were entirely cardboard cutouts who exchanged stilted and unrealistic dialogue.
Oh the folly of self-publishing!
The author routinely misplaced modifiers, which made for some humorous sentences: Example: ".. a container in his neighbor's bedroom that was tucked in the back of a closet." I don't believe I've ever seen a bedroom tucked in the back of a closet before. "I had spoken with her a few hours earlier before she conducted the autopsy about my curiosities." An autopsy about someone's "curiosities?" "She stood up and steadied herself on the counter." She didn't actually stand on the counter.
There were dozens of paragraphs that made no sense at all: "..he could miss something which could be the result of him living or dying" What the heck does that mean? And what about this one? "He threw the CPU in the fire along with the broken phone. He instructed the person on the other end of the phone call to do the same." I wonder how he delivered those instructions since he had already destroyed the phone? "Max didn't hear a beeping noise that's usually accustomed to security systems." Huh? "Was she here out of her will?" What does that mean? "Familiarity would be an obvious assumption that she'd travel north."
The most distracting part of the inept writing style was the total lack of understanding of verb tenses. The writer not only jumped back and forth from present to past tense, he also constantly confused the reader by completely misusing the perfect and progressive tenses.
Lest you think that my criticism is too complete or too severe, I have not mentioned the astounding number of distracting punctuation errors or the many transitive verbs that had no objects, or the literally hundreds of sentence fragments the the small percentage of the book that I read before abandoning the book.
I also have not detailed the extent to which the characters were not developed. They were entirely cardboard cutouts who exchanged stilted and unrealistic dialogue.
Oh the folly of self-publishing!
October 5, 2013
This book is a detective series with a lead character that gets ingrained into your psyche and keeps you wanting more. The author knows how to create and develop great characters but also a story that you don't see coming, and can't get enough of. I loved the book. He's done it again. Big intrigue, surprising story, great read.
You know when you open a sequel or even second book of an author, you are expecting as good a read as the first time, and intensely hope for just that scenario. Let me assure you, Charles Prandy delivers, precisely and convincingly from the beginning to the very end. He has a different style of writing which I chalk up the portrayal of the lead character. I may be wrong, but it doesn't matter, it is a great story and one I know others will enjoy.
This book was just as intriguing, moving, thought provoking and surprising as the first book. The pace was fast, keeping you on the move and not wanting to stop at any chapter until you reached the end.
Charles's main character Jacob Hayden still talked like he did in the first book, but due to what happened in the first book, he seemed just a little more reserved, not quite as brazen which fit perfectly. You wouldn't expect any less considering his situation, and that made him real like your next door neighbor. It kept him in your 'character to root for' column, and tied your heart up with emotional strings.
Stories that move at a quick pace need to pack pictures and emotions in your mind to help you move, understand and fully see what is happening. If it doesn't, you find yourself having to go back and figure something out or you lose interest. Don't worry you won't wonder about anything except what is going to happen next, as you try and piece together the clues to what is happening, what the connections are and what it all means. Just what a good story always does. Oh, and the surprises are a sweet treat for your mind.
Without a doubt I have to say so many stories are pretty easily figured out. That's one of the reasons I really like Charles's books. There was only one time during the entire story that I actually was right on my assumptions. One time out of the many situations in the story, and I have read a whole lot of books so I am usually figuring the storyline out pretty well, is an amazing feat. That admirable distinction made me really enjoy the whole book and will make me fondly remember it too.
In the last review I did for Charles I had asked him to let me read the sequel when it was done. He graciously did just that. Thank goodness he didn't put any less brilliance into this novel than the last. I would have hated to say less than great things about his sequel. And as the book before, he set it up for another sequel which I am officially requesting again. By the way, you will be just as surprised, just as intrigued and just as impatient about waiting for him to finish the next one as you were at the end of the first one.
Great and amazing work again Charles Prandy. Thanks for letting me read it.
You know when you open a sequel or even second book of an author, you are expecting as good a read as the first time, and intensely hope for just that scenario. Let me assure you, Charles Prandy delivers, precisely and convincingly from the beginning to the very end. He has a different style of writing which I chalk up the portrayal of the lead character. I may be wrong, but it doesn't matter, it is a great story and one I know others will enjoy.
This book was just as intriguing, moving, thought provoking and surprising as the first book. The pace was fast, keeping you on the move and not wanting to stop at any chapter until you reached the end.
Charles's main character Jacob Hayden still talked like he did in the first book, but due to what happened in the first book, he seemed just a little more reserved, not quite as brazen which fit perfectly. You wouldn't expect any less considering his situation, and that made him real like your next door neighbor. It kept him in your 'character to root for' column, and tied your heart up with emotional strings.
Stories that move at a quick pace need to pack pictures and emotions in your mind to help you move, understand and fully see what is happening. If it doesn't, you find yourself having to go back and figure something out or you lose interest. Don't worry you won't wonder about anything except what is going to happen next, as you try and piece together the clues to what is happening, what the connections are and what it all means. Just what a good story always does. Oh, and the surprises are a sweet treat for your mind.
Without a doubt I have to say so many stories are pretty easily figured out. That's one of the reasons I really like Charles's books. There was only one time during the entire story that I actually was right on my assumptions. One time out of the many situations in the story, and I have read a whole lot of books so I am usually figuring the storyline out pretty well, is an amazing feat. That admirable distinction made me really enjoy the whole book and will make me fondly remember it too.
In the last review I did for Charles I had asked him to let me read the sequel when it was done. He graciously did just that. Thank goodness he didn't put any less brilliance into this novel than the last. I would have hated to say less than great things about his sequel. And as the book before, he set it up for another sequel which I am officially requesting again. By the way, you will be just as surprised, just as intrigued and just as impatient about waiting for him to finish the next one as you were at the end of the first one.
Great and amazing work again Charles Prandy. Thanks for letting me read it.
February 4, 2014
I am always a little reluctant to read second and third books in a series unless I have read the first book as nine times out of ten they are a direct follow on and there is a lot of presumption of knowledge. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to leap straight into Behind The Closed Door because the action starts straight away and this is a brand new case for the incredibly sexy and grieving Detective Jacob Hayden. The author is also very clever at drip feeding vital information about the character from book one that anyone picking up his books for the first time might have missed. There are also hooks a plenty leading into the third book in the series and I will definitely be looking out for it.
There are bank robberies and brutal murders galore, and some very strong and compelling characters. The plot is fast paced and sufficiently layered to keep readers guessing right up until the very end and while I figured out early on who the bad guy was, I had absolutely no idea about his motive until the author reveals it. There is also a great twist right at the end that had me chuckling.
My only issue with this book is the viewpoint which I think the author needs to go back and do some work on as some chapters are written in first person from the viewpoint of Detective Hayden and others are written in third person. I guess the author has done this so that people get the full picture from all angles however this is at times really confusing and looks clumsy. You can't have your cake and eat it when writing a novel. You either write the whole thing from one person's viewpoint (which wouldn't work in a book like this) or you write it third person (which would have meant losing some of the inside the head moments with Detective Hayden) OR you go for an omniscient narrator throughout.
It is however a testament to the author's storytelling skills and the strong male lead that I was completely hooked throughout in spite of the issues with viewpoint. I will definitely be reading more in this series as Detective Jacob Hayden has managed to get under my skin!
There are bank robberies and brutal murders galore, and some very strong and compelling characters. The plot is fast paced and sufficiently layered to keep readers guessing right up until the very end and while I figured out early on who the bad guy was, I had absolutely no idea about his motive until the author reveals it. There is also a great twist right at the end that had me chuckling.
My only issue with this book is the viewpoint which I think the author needs to go back and do some work on as some chapters are written in first person from the viewpoint of Detective Hayden and others are written in third person. I guess the author has done this so that people get the full picture from all angles however this is at times really confusing and looks clumsy. You can't have your cake and eat it when writing a novel. You either write the whole thing from one person's viewpoint (which wouldn't work in a book like this) or you write it third person (which would have meant losing some of the inside the head moments with Detective Hayden) OR you go for an omniscient narrator throughout.
It is however a testament to the author's storytelling skills and the strong male lead that I was completely hooked throughout in spite of the issues with viewpoint. I will definitely be reading more in this series as Detective Jacob Hayden has managed to get under my skin!
October 30, 2013
I just love stories that have a moment that just touches your heart. The relationship between Jacob and his family in law, although brief in moments really made you feel for them.
What an intriguing, intense, sad, but compelling crime suspense story this was. This author has blown me away with the spell bounding images of each scene in this story. From who committed the crimes, to why the crimes were committed, to who the victims... Just flowed and connected together perfectly.
Wow! Now I have to read the first book in this series. I'm completely hooked.
What an intriguing, intense, sad, but compelling crime suspense story this was. This author has blown me away with the spell bounding images of each scene in this story. From who committed the crimes, to why the crimes were committed, to who the victims... Just flowed and connected together perfectly.
Wow! Now I have to read the first book in this series. I'm completely hooked.
May 31, 2016
When Jack Smith fails to arrive home from a conference, she becomes worried when the police arrive at her door. A few days later his body turns up but there are anomalies and so Detective Hayden becomes suspicious.
Parallel to this are a series of robberies headed by a man named Max. Where will all this lead to and why.
Really enjoyed this
Parallel to this are a series of robberies headed by a man named Max. Where will all this lead to and why.
Really enjoyed this
February 19, 2015
Another good one
I am impressed. Book 2 is even better. The plots, the twists, the characters. Hats off to Mr. Brandy. Constant movement. Nothing seems dragged out. Again, highly recommended.
I am impressed. Book 2 is even better. The plots, the twists, the characters. Hats off to Mr. Brandy. Constant movement. Nothing seems dragged out. Again, highly recommended.
December 26, 2015
Behind the Closed Door
This is the second book in this series. It is as good as the first one . It is worth reading. I recommend this suspense thriller. Really is a very good story . I am about to read book three. Hope it is as good
This is the second book in this series. It is as good as the first one . It is worth reading. I recommend this suspense thriller. Really is a very good story . I am about to read book three. Hope it is as good
December 22, 2013
One sit reading
This book was a quick read full of tense action and nice plot twists. Highly recommended.I am looking forward to the next installment coming March 2014.
This book was a quick read full of tense action and nice plot twists. Highly recommended.I am looking forward to the next installment coming March 2014.
May 3, 2015
Very good
This book had many twists and turns that I never saw coming. I couldn't put it down. I would definitely recommend it.
This book had many twists and turns that I never saw coming. I couldn't put it down. I would definitely recommend it.
February 5, 2016
Thriller!
Great read: action packed and quick and easy; read the book in two hours and ready to read the next book in the series.
Great read: action packed and quick and easy; read the book in two hours and ready to read the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews