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McCabe & Savage Thriller #3
Darkness First
The mutilated body of a young woman. The town doctor lying comatose in the road. A hundred and fifty tablets of Canadian OxyContin. This is the havoc that a merciless killer has wreaked on a sleepy Maine seaport.
As detectives Maggie Savage and Michael McCabe investigate, they realize the man they are after does not exist. Nobody knows his real name. Nobody has seen his face. But everybody fears his blade.
The only one who may know the murderer's true identity is an eleven-year-old girl—who has vanished into thin air.
Taut, twisting, and starring two unforgettable heroes, Darkness First will thrill fans of John Sandford and C. J. Box.
As detectives Maggie Savage and Michael McCabe investigate, they realize the man they are after does not exist. Nobody knows his real name. Nobody has seen his face. But everybody fears his blade.
The only one who may know the murderer's true identity is an eleven-year-old girl—who has vanished into thin air.
Taut, twisting, and starring two unforgettable heroes, Darkness First will thrill fans of John Sandford and C. J. Box.
489 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2013
321 people are currently reading
1220 people want to read
About the author
James Hayman
13 books373 followersLike one of the heroes of my thrillers, Detective Sergeant Mike McCabe, I’m a native New Yorker. McCabe was born in the Bronx. I was born in Brooklyn. And we both grew up and spent much of our working lives in the New York City before eventually moving to Portland, Maine. However that’s where the similarities end.
McCabe, after spending a couple of years at NYU Film School, dropped out and decided to join the family business and become a cop first for the NYPD and then for the Portland PD.
For my part, I graduated from Brown University without having any idea whatsoever of what I wanted to do. All I knew was that the one salable skill I thought I possessed was the ability of dreaming things up and writing them down. After looking around I realized the only companies I could think of that would pay me to do both were on Madison Avenue. I joined a major New York advertising agency as a cub copywriter. Over the next few years I drifted to a couple of other agencies and finally settled in as a senior creative director at the agency I considered the best of the lot.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ad business and was good at it. I was well paid and spent my days dreaming up sometimes weird, sometimes funny, sometimes dopey ideas for mostly TV ad campaigns.
But before I knew it, more than 30 years had passed, my hair had turned from dark brown to silvery gray and I began to realize that Madison Avenue, like the Texas/Mexico border in Cormac McCarthy’s great thriller, was No Country for Old Men. My wife and I decided to pull up stakes and move full-time to a house we’d built right on the ocean on an island a mile and a half from the city of Portland.
Up in Maine I spent a couple of years writing freelance marketing pieces. But in 2005 I decided that if I didn’t start writing the suspense thriller I’d been itching to write for years, I probably never would. My first effort which I called The Cutting told the tale of an villainous surgeon who killed people to steal their hearts for use in illegal transplants. It took me nearly two years to write. But I stuck with it and when I’d finally finished with writing, polishing, editing and reediting I started looking for an agent. Wanting to shoot for the stars, I sent the manuscript and a cover letter to one of the top agents in the business, Meg Ruley of the Jane Rotrosen Agency in New York. Meg represented such top best selling thriller writers as Tess Gerritsen, Lisa Gardner and Michael Palmer among others. Sending the book to Meg first was kind of a Hail Mary play on my part.
Hail Mary’s rarely work so a little more than a week later I was stunned when Meg called me in the UK where my wife and I were vacationing and after telling me she how much she liked the book, she asked “Have you sent this to any other agents?”
“Nope. None,” I replied. “You were the first.”
“Well don’t send it anyone else,” she said. “I’d like to represent you. That is if you’re interested.”
I’m not sure how I kept my cool but after no more than a few stutters and stammers, I did manage to let her know that yes, indeed, I was very interested in having her represent me.
Meg quickly sold The Cutting to major publishers in the both the US and seven other countries and I was off and running. Over the next seven years, I followed up on the success of that first book by writing five more McCabe/Savage thrillers: The Chill of Night, Darkness First, The Girl in the Glass, and The Girl on the Bridge, which collectively sold over half a million copies and made a bunch of best seller lists including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and my home town paper, the Portland Press Herald. My latest McCabe/Savage thriller, A Fatal Obsession, is the first of the series set outside of Maine, partly in New York City, partly in rural Connecticut. My publisher, Harper Collins, is bringing it out on August 21st both in paperback and e-book form.
McCabe, after spending a couple of years at NYU Film School, dropped out and decided to join the family business and become a cop first for the NYPD and then for the Portland PD.
For my part, I graduated from Brown University without having any idea whatsoever of what I wanted to do. All I knew was that the one salable skill I thought I possessed was the ability of dreaming things up and writing them down. After looking around I realized the only companies I could think of that would pay me to do both were on Madison Avenue. I joined a major New York advertising agency as a cub copywriter. Over the next few years I drifted to a couple of other agencies and finally settled in as a senior creative director at the agency I considered the best of the lot.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ad business and was good at it. I was well paid and spent my days dreaming up sometimes weird, sometimes funny, sometimes dopey ideas for mostly TV ad campaigns.
But before I knew it, more than 30 years had passed, my hair had turned from dark brown to silvery gray and I began to realize that Madison Avenue, like the Texas/Mexico border in Cormac McCarthy’s great thriller, was No Country for Old Men. My wife and I decided to pull up stakes and move full-time to a house we’d built right on the ocean on an island a mile and a half from the city of Portland.
Up in Maine I spent a couple of years writing freelance marketing pieces. But in 2005 I decided that if I didn’t start writing the suspense thriller I’d been itching to write for years, I probably never would. My first effort which I called The Cutting told the tale of an villainous surgeon who killed people to steal their hearts for use in illegal transplants. It took me nearly two years to write. But I stuck with it and when I’d finally finished with writing, polishing, editing and reediting I started looking for an agent. Wanting to shoot for the stars, I sent the manuscript and a cover letter to one of the top agents in the business, Meg Ruley of the Jane Rotrosen Agency in New York. Meg represented such top best selling thriller writers as Tess Gerritsen, Lisa Gardner and Michael Palmer among others. Sending the book to Meg first was kind of a Hail Mary play on my part.
Hail Mary’s rarely work so a little more than a week later I was stunned when Meg called me in the UK where my wife and I were vacationing and after telling me she how much she liked the book, she asked “Have you sent this to any other agents?”
“Nope. None,” I replied. “You were the first.”
“Well don’t send it anyone else,” she said. “I’d like to represent you. That is if you’re interested.”
I’m not sure how I kept my cool but after no more than a few stutters and stammers, I did manage to let her know that yes, indeed, I was very interested in having her represent me.
Meg quickly sold The Cutting to major publishers in the both the US and seven other countries and I was off and running. Over the next seven years, I followed up on the success of that first book by writing five more McCabe/Savage thrillers: The Chill of Night, Darkness First, The Girl in the Glass, and The Girl on the Bridge, which collectively sold over half a million copies and made a bunch of best seller lists including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and my home town paper, the Portland Press Herald. My latest McCabe/Savage thriller, A Fatal Obsession, is the first of the series set outside of Maine, partly in New York City, partly in rural Connecticut. My publisher, Harper Collins, is bringing it out on August 21st both in paperback and e-book form.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
July 7, 2021
Michael McCabe and Maggie Savage are drawn into another bizarre and savage murder mystery.
Dr. Emily Kaplan, is savagely attacked, shortly after this a young girl...a stranger...arrives at her clinic but then flees in fear. Emily follows her in an attempt to help her. The girl is brutally murdered, and Emily is almost killed. thus, begins a story that revolves around the drug Oxycontin. There were multiple blind alleys as the story unfolded and you just can’t help exploring each one looking for the t answer to the mystery. A good one...and well worth the time to spend with McCabe and Savage.
Dr. Emily Kaplan, is savagely attacked, shortly after this a young girl...a stranger...arrives at her clinic but then flees in fear. Emily follows her in an attempt to help her. The girl is brutally murdered, and Emily is almost killed. thus, begins a story that revolves around the drug Oxycontin. There were multiple blind alleys as the story unfolded and you just can’t help exploring each one looking for the t answer to the mystery. A good one...and well worth the time to spend with McCabe and Savage.
December 21, 2013
This outstanding mystery/thriller is the third book in a police procedural series taking place in various locations in the state of Maine. The first two were evidently published in paperback only, while "Darkness First" is the first e book published by B&N and retailed for $.99! The wonderful retail price belies the old saying about getting what you paid - it's a tightly drawn, fast paced mystery with a memorable bad guy pursued by the most intriguingly dynamic female detective I've ever read. While we all prefer to read mystery/crime series in order of publication, this third book works well as a stand alone that stands up and makes a big impression. James Hayman has created a group of Portland Maine based detectives, their families and associates that I like very much and hope to see again in a long running series. I don't know what the Kindle price is for this book but it's value far exceeds $.99.
I'd also like to extend to all my Goodreads friends my most sincere wish for a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year for you and your families..............Ed
I'd also like to extend to all my Goodreads friends my most sincere wish for a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year for you and your families..............Ed
August 8, 2015
I don't think I enjoyed this third in the series as much as the first two. The setting has changed a bit - from Portland to the Eastport/Machias area. The main protagonist changes from McCabe to his sidekick, Maggie, but McCabe puts in a brief appearance near the end. Characters travel from one place to another quickly, which is a bit off-putting, because the distance between, say, Machias and Augusta isn't just a hop, skip, and jump like the plot implies. The whodunit part was cleared up early on (as far as I was concerned), which was a bit of a let-down. However, because the setting was so real to me, it was still a fairly decent mystery, and I don't hate the characters (though there's a bit of an interesting, though unsettling twist, in this one) I'll happily look forward to a fourth installment.
July 24, 2018
Hands down, the best one in this series.
December 14, 2018
I really enjoyed the plot of this and liked that Maggie was the key investigator. With Maggie as the main character she is developed more than in previous books. We get to know Maggie's family a little bit and her brother Harlan whom was an interesting character. Although there are a couple of red herrings, it's pretty obvious from early on who the guilty party was. I still liked how Maggie investigated the murders and how the plot came together.
What didn't work for me was Maggie and McCabe cheating on Kyra. With all McCabe's feelings on his ex-wife and her cheating and then he's the one that cheats on Kyra. No remorse by either. I want to like the main characters in my series and having them fall into this cliche role was irritating. I had hoped for better. It's spoiled the series for me.
I looked at reviews of future books and I guess cheating is rewarded as a reviewer for book #6 refers to Maggie as McCabe's fiancé. I guess Kyra got kicked to the curb or left because she discovered their dishonesty.
What didn't work for me was Maggie and McCabe cheating on Kyra. With all McCabe's feelings on his ex-wife and her cheating and then he's the one that cheats on Kyra. No remorse by either. I want to like the main characters in my series and having them fall into this cliche role was irritating. I had hoped for better. It's spoiled the series for me.
I looked at reviews of future books and I guess cheating is rewarded as a reviewer for book #6 refers to Maggie as McCabe's fiancé. I guess Kyra got kicked to the curb or left because she discovered their dishonesty.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2021
Darkness First is book three in the McCabe and Savage series by James Hayman. One night, Maggie Savage received a call from her father to come home her childhood friend is in hospital. On arrival, Maggie found out that her friend had hundred and fifty tablets of Canadian OxyContin in her pocket. Maggie decided to investigate with the help of Mike McCabe to find answers. The readers of Darkness First will follow Maggie and McCabe investigation to find out what happens.
Darkness First is another fantastic addition to this excellent series. I engaged with the plot of Darkness First from the first page and became glued to my chair until the end. I love James Hayman's portrayal of his characters and how they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Darkness First is well written and researched by James Hayman. I like how James Hayman describes his settings of Darkness First that allowed me to feel that I am part of the book's plot.
The readers of Darkness First will understand the consequences of using street kids to distributed drugs in rural communities. Also, the readers of Darkness First will learn about Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and the importance of catching cancer early.
I recommend this book.
Darkness First is another fantastic addition to this excellent series. I engaged with the plot of Darkness First from the first page and became glued to my chair until the end. I love James Hayman's portrayal of his characters and how they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Darkness First is well written and researched by James Hayman. I like how James Hayman describes his settings of Darkness First that allowed me to feel that I am part of the book's plot.
The readers of Darkness First will understand the consequences of using street kids to distributed drugs in rural communities. Also, the readers of Darkness First will learn about Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and the importance of catching cancer early.
I recommend this book.
October 10, 2022
Another real winner from this author. Be aware the subject matter is difficult to read, but if you can get past the horrible crime the plot is so very good. Definitely worth 5 stars for me. Added bonus is that it takes place in Downeast Maine, one of my most favorite places!
October 13, 2013
This is, surprisingly enough for me, an e-book. E-readers have become so ubiquitous that even I have been pulled into the web; not that I like them, but too often that's the only way I can get a title I want. So, my Kindle is becoming a constant companion.
Darkness First was well worth reading this way. It is set in Machiasport, Maine, a major factor in my choosing this book. My husband is from southern Maine and I lived there for several years. Although this is set in northern Maine, we traveled and camped in various parts of the state so I know the area fairly well.
I'm happy to report that only once was Hayman unable to resist the corny old jokes about people from Maine answering questions with absolute minimum effort, and their accent (ayuh, that too). An old codger questioned on a boat at the dock is the stereotypical Downeaster. On the other hand, our heroine's father, Sheriff Savage, is the real thing. Look to him for what a real Maine man is like. Hayman, who lives in Portland, gets it just right.
The story is one of Hayman's McCabe and Savage thrillers, part of the new Witness Imprint from HarperCollins.
The sheriff's daughter has followed him into law enforcement, currently working in Portland at the Crimes Against People unit. She grew up in Machiasport though and hasn't been home to see her dad in too long. When she gets a middle-of-the-night call from him that her lifelong best friend, Dr. Emily Kaplan, has been run over by a car and is severely injured, Maggie Savage immediately heads north.
The villain has not only injured Emily, he has gruesomely murdered a young woman. Going by the alias Conor Riordan, he is one of the scariest bad guys I've come across in a long time. He is a sexual pervert and killing is one outlet for him; this guy gets off on torturing women. I spent a good deal of the book worrying myself silly for Maggie and Emily. There is a credible alternate suspect, but it didn't take me long at all to figure out who Mr. Evil was. As I've said before, I'm not really good at that normally. It didn't detract from the story at all; getting the goods on him and cornering him were still to come.
As you read this book, you get a feeling for the various types of people who have been born in northern Maine or have settled there. Hayman has obviously spent some time with these people who are among the most individualistic in the country. I enjoyed his depiction of that part of that vast and vastly interesting part of our country.
Maggie's younger brother is involved in this story and he too is well drawn as a veteran of the Iraq war with PTSD. Their loyalty to each other despite his mental problems is invaluable to the investigation and the denouement.
I can't tell much more of the story without spoilers, so I will just recommend this book. Even though there is violence and the villain may keep you up a night or two, the writing and the plot are excellent. If you like character-driven thrillers, this is for you.
Source: Publisher via Partners in Crime Book Tours
Darkness First was well worth reading this way. It is set in Machiasport, Maine, a major factor in my choosing this book. My husband is from southern Maine and I lived there for several years. Although this is set in northern Maine, we traveled and camped in various parts of the state so I know the area fairly well.
I'm happy to report that only once was Hayman unable to resist the corny old jokes about people from Maine answering questions with absolute minimum effort, and their accent (ayuh, that too). An old codger questioned on a boat at the dock is the stereotypical Downeaster. On the other hand, our heroine's father, Sheriff Savage, is the real thing. Look to him for what a real Maine man is like. Hayman, who lives in Portland, gets it just right.
The story is one of Hayman's McCabe and Savage thrillers, part of the new Witness Imprint from HarperCollins.
The sheriff's daughter has followed him into law enforcement, currently working in Portland at the Crimes Against People unit. She grew up in Machiasport though and hasn't been home to see her dad in too long. When she gets a middle-of-the-night call from him that her lifelong best friend, Dr. Emily Kaplan, has been run over by a car and is severely injured, Maggie Savage immediately heads north.
The villain has not only injured Emily, he has gruesomely murdered a young woman. Going by the alias Conor Riordan, he is one of the scariest bad guys I've come across in a long time. He is a sexual pervert and killing is one outlet for him; this guy gets off on torturing women. I spent a good deal of the book worrying myself silly for Maggie and Emily. There is a credible alternate suspect, but it didn't take me long at all to figure out who Mr. Evil was. As I've said before, I'm not really good at that normally. It didn't detract from the story at all; getting the goods on him and cornering him were still to come.
As you read this book, you get a feeling for the various types of people who have been born in northern Maine or have settled there. Hayman has obviously spent some time with these people who are among the most individualistic in the country. I enjoyed his depiction of that part of that vast and vastly interesting part of our country.
Maggie's younger brother is involved in this story and he too is well drawn as a veteran of the Iraq war with PTSD. Their loyalty to each other despite his mental problems is invaluable to the investigation and the denouement.
I can't tell much more of the story without spoilers, so I will just recommend this book. Even though there is violence and the villain may keep you up a night or two, the writing and the plot are excellent. If you like character-driven thrillers, this is for you.
Source: Publisher via Partners in Crime Book Tours
October 31, 2013
The rating is somewhere between a three and a four.
Darkness First is an entertaining read. The plot picks up right from the prologue and hurls you straight into a gruesome mystery involving a bunch of gory murders and drug thefts committed by an intelligent, merciless villain. The book has everything it needs to be a popular whodunit: a badass heroine with a unique name, a mostly attractive cast (one of them looks like McNulty, except with blue eyes), partners with that sexual tension and a swift pace. I like how the book develops quickly, but there aren't too many action scenes and entirely unexpected plot turns. It makes a rare combination of fast and realistic. The story is pretty much straightforward but there is never a dull moment, either. Unfortunately, that means the red herrings are easy to spot and the climax isn't quite as climactic as one would hope. And I suppose the book could have done without the crimes from the killer's point of view: they are far too sadistic for my taste and don't really tell anything that we don't find out from the crime scene descriptions.
Can there be well written stereotypes? Because that is what these characters are. Their lives, though predictable, are very engaging, I have to admit. I liked Maggie Savage. McCabe, who apparently has a series in his name, didn't make much of an impression on me. He is clearly an all-round good guy, but I can make out little about him from this book. It is only when it comes to the rapport between Maggie and McCabe that I realize I'm missing something: the book doesn't work as a standalone if you focus on these two. The rest of the series might tell me more about them. I like Harlan Savage too, and I am curious about his character in the rest of the Maggie Savage-series. My favourite, most wonderfully portrayed character from Darkness First is Tabitha, the determined little girl who is so much more innocent than she lets on.
I appreciate that the book doesn't end abruptly, right after the mystery is solved. The clarifications and follow-ups in the final chapter, which you'd call the denouement if you were pretentious and boring, work well. They certainly give you more to think about than the rest of the book. But the fact is, there is no real message to the book, nothing seems to have left a lasting impression on me. It's great, not amazing. It is an engrossing read, but I am not going to rush off to buy more. Read this if you love mysteries unconditionally!
Darkness First is an entertaining read. The plot picks up right from the prologue and hurls you straight into a gruesome mystery involving a bunch of gory murders and drug thefts committed by an intelligent, merciless villain. The book has everything it needs to be a popular whodunit: a badass heroine with a unique name, a mostly attractive cast (one of them looks like McNulty, except with blue eyes), partners with that sexual tension and a swift pace. I like how the book develops quickly, but there aren't too many action scenes and entirely unexpected plot turns. It makes a rare combination of fast and realistic. The story is pretty much straightforward but there is never a dull moment, either. Unfortunately, that means the red herrings are easy to spot and the climax isn't quite as climactic as one would hope. And I suppose the book could have done without the crimes from the killer's point of view: they are far too sadistic for my taste and don't really tell anything that we don't find out from the crime scene descriptions.
Can there be well written stereotypes? Because that is what these characters are. Their lives, though predictable, are very engaging, I have to admit. I liked Maggie Savage. McCabe, who apparently has a series in his name, didn't make much of an impression on me. He is clearly an all-round good guy, but I can make out little about him from this book. It is only when it comes to the rapport between Maggie and McCabe that I realize I'm missing something: the book doesn't work as a standalone if you focus on these two. The rest of the series might tell me more about them. I like Harlan Savage too, and I am curious about his character in the rest of the Maggie Savage-series. My favourite, most wonderfully portrayed character from Darkness First is Tabitha, the determined little girl who is so much more innocent than she lets on.
I appreciate that the book doesn't end abruptly, right after the mystery is solved. The clarifications and follow-ups in the final chapter, which you'd call the denouement if you were pretentious and boring, work well. They certainly give you more to think about than the rest of the book. But the fact is, there is no real message to the book, nothing seems to have left a lasting impression on me. It's great, not amazing. It is an engrossing read, but I am not going to rush off to buy more. Read this if you love mysteries unconditionally!
June 21, 2018
Excellent mystery
The characters are absolutely wonderful. I really had a hard time taking a break. The story has twists and an excellent unexpected ending. I totally think you'll love this book.
The characters are absolutely wonderful. I really had a hard time taking a break. The story has twists and an excellent unexpected ending. I totally think you'll love this book.
October 21, 2013
A drug dealer and killer is on the loose in a small Maine town. Detective Maggie Savage is called in by her father, the local sheriff to assist. Detective Savage later calls in her partner, Detective McCabe, for backup.
Though told primarily following/from Detective Savage's point of view, when there are other points of view, the shifts are done effortlessly.
The writing style and narrative are crisp, action packed, and descriptive without being overly verbose.
Vivid and varied characters fill various scenes and areas of life the detectives visit throughout their elusive and winding investigation.
Overall, a thrilling read!
Though told primarily following/from Detective Savage's point of view, when there are other points of view, the shifts are done effortlessly.
The writing style and narrative are crisp, action packed, and descriptive without being overly verbose.
Vivid and varied characters fill various scenes and areas of life the detectives visit throughout their elusive and winding investigation.
Overall, a thrilling read!
March 28, 2018
I totally enjoyed this book. while a bit different from his first two books, was still a very good read.
It is the first in the series where the majority of the book is from Maggie Savage's perspective. So that was an interesting twist. He also revealed a lot more of Maggie introducing her father and a long time friend of hers, Dr. emily Kaplan.
the story was good, the plot above average. It was suspenseful, and I think the characters interactions add a level to the book. In ways it reminded me of the characters of the first few Dennis Lehane books--the push pull between the characters.
I will continue to read his books. I enjoy them and highly recommend them.
It is the first in the series where the majority of the book is from Maggie Savage's perspective. So that was an interesting twist. He also revealed a lot more of Maggie introducing her father and a long time friend of hers, Dr. emily Kaplan.
the story was good, the plot above average. It was suspenseful, and I think the characters interactions add a level to the book. In ways it reminded me of the characters of the first few Dennis Lehane books--the push pull between the characters.
I will continue to read his books. I enjoy them and highly recommend them.
March 26, 2016
Another well-written thriller starring Portland ME detectives Michael McCabe and Maggie Savage in an interesting plot that kept me guessing until the end. In the first two books in this series, I more or less figured out who the "bad guy" might be about half way through the novel, but not so in this one. In this book, we meet Maggie's dad, brother, and her childhood friend as well as some additional law enforcement officers and other good and not-so-good Maine citizens, all with distinct and believable personalities. I enjoyed this book and recommend it.
May 9, 2016
Great story!
Well, all I can say is I'm delighted that I took one of the reviewers suggestion to read this book. I couldn't put it down! The relationship between Maggie and McCabe showed the trust and security they both felt about each other. I enjoyed Tabitha and Harlan's relationship too because it showed me how special and smart Tabby was (not weird) and how protective and loyal Harlan really was in spite of the troubles he and his father shared. I would definitely refer this book to all suspense thriller lovers.
Well, all I can say is I'm delighted that I took one of the reviewers suggestion to read this book. I couldn't put it down! The relationship between Maggie and McCabe showed the trust and security they both felt about each other. I enjoyed Tabitha and Harlan's relationship too because it showed me how special and smart Tabby was (not weird) and how protective and loyal Harlan really was in spite of the troubles he and his father shared. I would definitely refer this book to all suspense thriller lovers.
December 26, 2013
Savage and McCabe pair well
This is a well-done, suspenseful murder mystery. It is very American. The characters are straight-forward. You can picture them in your mind's eye. The author is action focused, leaving the psychological aspects of the characters to your imagination, if you so choose to indulge. And action there is, solid and non-fantastical, but guaranteed to satisfy.
And Ed is so right! The price is the best. Nothing like getting satisfaction on sale!
December 24, 2016
Now I have read 3 and....
What I like the most is the permanent characters surrounding the murder and mayhem. In this one names of too many characters offstage would pop up at one odd time and there I am in the midst of the story asking and who is that....maybe a cheat sheet of the caste would work....this book was particularly grizzly and yet it worked....but what happened to Susan Marsh?
What I like the most is the permanent characters surrounding the murder and mayhem. In this one names of too many characters offstage would pop up at one odd time and there I am in the midst of the story asking and who is that....maybe a cheat sheet of the caste would work....this book was particularly grizzly and yet it worked....but what happened to Susan Marsh?
January 22, 2015
thriller #3
I think this is my favorite of the three I have read. It was fast paced and I didn't want to stop reading.
I think this is my favorite of the three I have read. It was fast paced and I didn't want to stop reading.
April 27, 2019
I’m enjoying this exciting thriller series by James Hayman. Book three, Darkness First: A McCabe and Savage Thriller, did not disappoint. Once again Michael McCabe and Maggie Savage are drawn into a bizarre murder mystery.
This time it’s personal for Maggie and she returns to her roots in Washington County, DownEast Maine. An old friend of Maggie’s, Dr. Emily Kaplan, is savagely attacked. Shortly after a young stranger arrives at her clinic and then flees in fear, Emily follows her in an attempt to help her. The girl is brutally murdered, and Emily is almost killed. Thus, begins a story that revolves around the drug Oxycontin, an issue that is currently a problem. Maggie’s father is the sheriff and when he calls her to inform her of what’s happened, she hurries to Machias Soon Maggie’s brother becomes a suspect in the murder of the stranger.
This story has wonderful twists and turns. The characters are very well-developed and even seemingly insignificant players stand out. I particularly liked the 11-year old girl, sister of the murder victim, who may know who the killer is. Hayman does a wonderful job of following her actions and inner thoughts; a precocious young girl who has experienced sadness and is somewhat removed from other kids her age.
As usual, the crimes are vicious, and Maggie calls Michael for help. There is a growing sense of interdependence between these two. It’s obvious they are attracted to one another, but they resist temptation due to Michael’s involvement with another woman and the fact that he is her superior.
With Maine State Police in charge of the investigation, Maggie is relegated to the back burner. However, her friend was attacked, her brother is a suspect, and she is familiar with the area. Maggie is not one to walk away. And Michael is not one to let her take on the challenge of solving a major violent crime without his help.
There are plenty of suspects and I was pretty far into the story before I focused on my prime suspect. Even then I had moments of indecision. The conclusion of this book was so intense I was almost biting my acrylic nails. The villain is so reprehensible I couldn’t wait for justice to be served.
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and am already mourning its end. Please, Mr.Hayman, don’t stop writing about McCabe and Savage!
This time it’s personal for Maggie and she returns to her roots in Washington County, DownEast Maine. An old friend of Maggie’s, Dr. Emily Kaplan, is savagely attacked. Shortly after a young stranger arrives at her clinic and then flees in fear, Emily follows her in an attempt to help her. The girl is brutally murdered, and Emily is almost killed. Thus, begins a story that revolves around the drug Oxycontin, an issue that is currently a problem. Maggie’s father is the sheriff and when he calls her to inform her of what’s happened, she hurries to Machias Soon Maggie’s brother becomes a suspect in the murder of the stranger.
This story has wonderful twists and turns. The characters are very well-developed and even seemingly insignificant players stand out. I particularly liked the 11-year old girl, sister of the murder victim, who may know who the killer is. Hayman does a wonderful job of following her actions and inner thoughts; a precocious young girl who has experienced sadness and is somewhat removed from other kids her age.
As usual, the crimes are vicious, and Maggie calls Michael for help. There is a growing sense of interdependence between these two. It’s obvious they are attracted to one another, but they resist temptation due to Michael’s involvement with another woman and the fact that he is her superior.
With Maine State Police in charge of the investigation, Maggie is relegated to the back burner. However, her friend was attacked, her brother is a suspect, and she is familiar with the area. Maggie is not one to walk away. And Michael is not one to let her take on the challenge of solving a major violent crime without his help.
There are plenty of suspects and I was pretty far into the story before I focused on my prime suspect. Even then I had moments of indecision. The conclusion of this book was so intense I was almost biting my acrylic nails. The villain is so reprehensible I couldn’t wait for justice to be served.
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and am already mourning its end. Please, Mr.Hayman, don’t stop writing about McCabe and Savage!
August 18, 2018
In this third book of the McCabe and Savage series, Maggie Savage goes home to Washington County when her best friend is attacked when she is witness to a murder. The murdered girl was a dealer of Oxycontin, a scourge in northern Maine, and seems to be part of a larger team that stole a large number of pills from Canada and is selling them in Maine. Maggie joins the local and State Police in trying to find the killer.
I've read several of this series, all out of order not that it makes much difference as this can be read as stand-alone novels. I love the Portland-based books, but it was nice to move the setting to DownEast. I also liked that Maggie had the starring role in this book; usually, McCabe is the primary character but he only had a minor but important role here.
The plot moves along pretty fast and I think it was the tightest of all the M&S books I've read. I kept suspecting different people and even at the end, there was a twist that almost threw me. Another very enjoyable read by Mr. Hayman.
I've read several of this series, all out of order not that it makes much difference as this can be read as stand-alone novels. I love the Portland-based books, but it was nice to move the setting to DownEast. I also liked that Maggie had the starring role in this book; usually, McCabe is the primary character but he only had a minor but important role here.
The plot moves along pretty fast and I think it was the tightest of all the M&S books I've read. I kept suspecting different people and even at the end, there was a twist that almost threw me. Another very enjoyable read by Mr. Hayman.
January 25, 2024
Darkness First, the third volume in this series, and also the third novel this writer has published, is a fast-paced and reasonably well-written thriller set, for the most part, in Machias, Maine. Detective Maggie Savage takes the lead in this novel as she sets out to investigate the murder of a young woman and the attempted murder on her best friend. The hero from the first two books, her partner and boss Michael McCabe, takes a backseat in this one. Nonetheless, he still gets to shine.
The book is entertaining but predictable. It’s easy to figure out who the bad guy is. Also, the book would have benefited from a stronger editor as the plot is a little weak here and there. The language is a little unimaginative from time to time, and there are some sloppy mistakes that detract from the overall reading pleasure. I would rate the book 3,5 stars out of five, but since that’s not an option here, I land on 3.
Regardless, I’m looking forward to reading the next volume in this series. I really like the characters, and I cannot wait to find out what happens to them.
The book is entertaining but predictable. It’s easy to figure out who the bad guy is. Also, the book would have benefited from a stronger editor as the plot is a little weak here and there. The language is a little unimaginative from time to time, and there are some sloppy mistakes that detract from the overall reading pleasure. I would rate the book 3,5 stars out of five, but since that’s not an option here, I land on 3.
Regardless, I’m looking forward to reading the next volume in this series. I really like the characters, and I cannot wait to find out what happens to them.
May 9, 2023
Plot. Police procedural series based in Providence, Rhode Island. The cases are who-done-it murder mysteries with twists, some obvious, some surprising.
Liked. Clever plots, no explicit sex, no offensive language. These are murder mysteries, and some scenes are a bit grizzly but nothing gratuitous. There are five novels as of this writing, giving a nice long listen of nearly 50 hours. But, each book has a beginning-middle-end. Start with The Cutting for character continuity.
Not so hot. Narration is a bit stilted and unnatural, but listenable. No trouble discerning who is speaking to whom. Bumped the speed to 1.5.
Written by James Hayman and narrated by Stephen Mendel. All novels in the area of 10 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format, released from 2015 through 2017 by HarperAudio.
Liked. Clever plots, no explicit sex, no offensive language. These are murder mysteries, and some scenes are a bit grizzly but nothing gratuitous. There are five novels as of this writing, giving a nice long listen of nearly 50 hours. But, each book has a beginning-middle-end. Start with The Cutting for character continuity.
Not so hot. Narration is a bit stilted and unnatural, but listenable. No trouble discerning who is speaking to whom. Bumped the speed to 1.5.
Written by James Hayman and narrated by Stephen Mendel. All novels in the area of 10 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format, released from 2015 through 2017 by HarperAudio.
May 15, 2017
Really well written book. The plot is well thought out and Maggie and McCabe are great characters.
Maggie is called to her home town by her father, sheriff of the town, when a woman is murdered and Maggie's best friend, Emily, is seriously injured. Maggie is determined to help out in the investigation, whether Sean Carroll, the hot shot detective in charge wants her to or not.
There is a connection between the murdered woman, Tiff, and a recent heist of Canadian OxyContin. And Tiff has a connection to Harlan, Maggie's yongest brother.
The Savage family dynamics play a part in this drama. Also, Maggie and McCabe's relationship undergoes a twist.
Can't wait to read the next in the series.
Maggie is called to her home town by her father, sheriff of the town, when a woman is murdered and Maggie's best friend, Emily, is seriously injured. Maggie is determined to help out in the investigation, whether Sean Carroll, the hot shot detective in charge wants her to or not.
There is a connection between the murdered woman, Tiff, and a recent heist of Canadian OxyContin. And Tiff has a connection to Harlan, Maggie's yongest brother.
The Savage family dynamics play a part in this drama. Also, Maggie and McCabe's relationship undergoes a twist.
Can't wait to read the next in the series.
August 29, 2019
Why does Goodreads always insist that I am reading the Kindle edition?! I have the ISBN and everything, and it is the Nook edition (or equivalent)! This is #3 in the McCabe & Savage series. After reading a book later in the series, I liked it well enough to start from the beginning.
This is the fourth book I've read, and I still find them fascinating. I haven't seen anything about a 5th book, but I hope he writes some more in this series. This one focuses mainly on Maggie Savage, although McCabe shows up later to help. Maggie's brother is a suspect in a series of murders and she gets herself onto the investigating team as a consultant to try to find the real killer. The relationship between her brother and the little girl is kind of sweet and fun to read. Very hard to put down!
This is the fourth book I've read, and I still find them fascinating. I haven't seen anything about a 5th book, but I hope he writes some more in this series. This one focuses mainly on Maggie Savage, although McCabe shows up later to help. Maggie's brother is a suspect in a series of murders and she gets herself onto the investigating team as a consultant to try to find the real killer. The relationship between her brother and the little girl is kind of sweet and fun to read. Very hard to put down!
September 29, 2019
Maine August
The author's subject is the lure of the Oxy culture and the greed of a small town. Savage goes home and becomes involved in an investigation which places her PTSD brother in the cross hairs. McCabe helps his friend and faces his emotional connections. It is an easy read. The subject content is a good reflection of the current social issues in less populated nature settings. The author does empower Savage.
A Amazon recommendation. Thanks
The author's subject is the lure of the Oxy culture and the greed of a small town. Savage goes home and becomes involved in an investigation which places her PTSD brother in the cross hairs. McCabe helps his friend and faces his emotional connections. It is an easy read. The subject content is a good reflection of the current social issues in less populated nature settings. The author does empower Savage.
A Amazon recommendation. Thanks
July 8, 2020
Loving the developing relationship between McCabe and Maggie (Savage by name but not necessarily by nature!). And along the way they get to investigate a string of murders and thwart the evildoer (that sounds so good and corny).
The actual criminal was fairly obvious early on but the tale of how they got to him was well worth the read. Taking a break to read some other must reads but I will be back.
The actual criminal was fairly obvious early on but the tale of how they got to him was well worth the read. Taking a break to read some other must reads but I will be back.
December 5, 2016
I didn't enjoy this installment as much as the first two but it was still an okay read. In the previous two books Michael McCabe was clearly the lead with Maggie Savage taking a decidedly supporting role. In Darkness First Maggie is clearly the main protagonist with McCabe bringing up the rear. We will see how the next one goes.
August 2, 2017
The 3rd book in the McCabe & Savage series. This one focuses more on Maggie Savage, her family, friends and upbringing. We learn more about her. She goes back to her home town of Mathias, Maine. This one does not take place in Portland. Her best friend is severely injured after she witnesses a murder. Maggie joins the State Police to help find the killer. This book will stand alone if you haven't read the other two. There are a couple of twists in this one. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
December 17, 2017
Excellent
I've come to enjoy the books by Mfr. )yt? F2f f2f'm
I've come to enjoy Mr. Hayman's writing and with this book he has proud
I have come to enjoy Mr. Hayman's writing. This book has exceeded my expectations. I recommend his books to my friends and he now has some new fans.
I've come to enjoy the books by Mfr. )yt? F2f f2f'm
I've come to enjoy Mr. Hayman's writing and with this book he has proud
I have come to enjoy Mr. Hayman's writing. This book has exceeded my expectations. I recommend his books to my friends and he now has some new fans.
April 12, 2018
I liked this book (#3) the best so far of the McCabe-Savage series. Very happy to have less gore in this one, but still plenty of twists and turns, and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. This book is centered around the woman in the detective duo, Maggie Savage. I enjoyed getting to know her better and find out about her history. Well done, thank you!
May 16, 2020
I enjoyed this book in the series. Not sure I loved the new location and all the familiar faces for Savage. Also didn't love the first half where Savage was working alone. Additionally not a fan of the love triangle aspect. Seems like it is going to add something in future that I am not as interested in. but overall still a very good thriller.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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