What do you think?
Rate this book
Brady Coyne #18
Past Tense
Brady Coyne is a middle-aged Boston attorney with a small, select clientele - one that leaves him sufficient time to pursue a personal life. That personal life currently focuses on Evie Banyon, a hospital administrator Brady has been seeing for the past year. While they are on a weekend vacation in Cape Cod, though, a determined stalker from Evie's past turns up to torment her anew. After an unpleasant confrontation with him, Brady and Evie return to their vacation cabin with a dark cloud hanging over them. The next morning, Brady wakes up to the sound of Evie, just outside the cabin, screaming for help. What he finds is the stalker's murdered body lying at Evie's feet, a body she claims to have discovered when she returned from her morning run.
Now both Brady and Evie are considered prime suspects in the murder of a man with deep ties to the local community. Released by the police after intense questioning, they return to Boston, whereupon Evie disappears without word or much of a trace. Realizing just how little he knows about Evie's life, Brady Coyne must now delve into her past if he is to uncover the truth about the dead body in his front yard and find the missing Evie in time.
Now both Brady and Evie are considered prime suspects in the murder of a man with deep ties to the local community. Released by the police after intense questioning, they return to Boston, whereupon Evie disappears without word or much of a trace. Realizing just how little he knows about Evie's life, Brady Coyne must now delve into her past if he is to uncover the truth about the dead body in his front yard and find the missing Evie in time.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 19, 2001
23 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
William G. Tapply
79 books90 followersWilliam G. Tapply (1940–2009) was an American author best known for writing legal thrillers. A lifelong New Englander, he graduated from Amherst and Harvard before going on to teach social studies at Lexington High School. He published his first novel, Death at Charity’s Point, in 1984. A story of death and betrayal among Boston Brahmins, it introduced crusading lawyer Brady Coyne, a fishing enthusiast whom Tapply would follow through twenty-five more novels, including Follow the Sharks, The Vulgar Boatman, and the posthumously published Outwitting Trolls.
Besides writing regular columns for Field and Stream, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and American Angler, Tapply wrote numerous books on fishing, hunting, and life in the outdoors. He was also the author of The Elements of Mystery Fiction, a writer’s guide. He died in 2009, at his home in Hancock, New Hampshire.
Besides writing regular columns for Field and Stream, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and American Angler, Tapply wrote numerous books on fishing, hunting, and life in the outdoors. He was also the author of The Elements of Mystery Fiction, a writer’s guide. He died in 2009, at his home in Hancock, New Hampshire.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 22, 2018
Although Brady Coyne, the protagonist in this series, is a Boston lawyer, these books are not really legal thrillers. Brady almost never sees the inside of a courtroom and actually dispenses very little legal advice. Rather, he seems to spend most of the time attempting to resolve the trouble that one or another of his clients has gotten into, and this almost always seems to involve solving a murder or two. Such is the case here, and in this instance, the case is very personal.
Brady is now dating a woman named Evie and takes her on a weekend vacation to Cape Cod. He's rented a secluded cabin and is planning a very romantic weekend. But on their first night there, Evie gets into physical altercation with a man whom she claims has been stalking her. The next morning, Evie goes out for a run and when Brady gets up a little later, he finds Evie out in the yard, standing over the body of her alleged stalker. The man has been stabbed to death with a knife from the kitchen of the cabin where Brady and Evie are staying. Not surprisingly, the cops tag Evie as their number one suspect in the killing.
Brady insists that, no matter the evidence, Evie could never kill anyone. But Evie doesn't help her situation much when she runs away and disappears. Brady now begins his own hunt for the killer, with the cops shadowing his every move in the hope that he will lead them to his girlfriend. But whether she's guilty or not, it's clear that some very strange things are going on here, and the deeper Brady digs into the case, the more confusing--and dangerous--it becomes.
This is one of the better books in what I think, overall, is a very good regional mystery series. By now the series characters have been well defined, and Tapply continues to demonstrate that he's a master at describing the physical setting. The plot is a good one, and this is a book that should appeal to a lot of readers who enjoy a good traditional mystery.
Brady is now dating a woman named Evie and takes her on a weekend vacation to Cape Cod. He's rented a secluded cabin and is planning a very romantic weekend. But on their first night there, Evie gets into physical altercation with a man whom she claims has been stalking her. The next morning, Evie goes out for a run and when Brady gets up a little later, he finds Evie out in the yard, standing over the body of her alleged stalker. The man has been stabbed to death with a knife from the kitchen of the cabin where Brady and Evie are staying. Not surprisingly, the cops tag Evie as their number one suspect in the killing.
Brady insists that, no matter the evidence, Evie could never kill anyone. But Evie doesn't help her situation much when she runs away and disappears. Brady now begins his own hunt for the killer, with the cops shadowing his every move in the hope that he will lead them to his girlfriend. But whether she's guilty or not, it's clear that some very strange things are going on here, and the deeper Brady digs into the case, the more confusing--and dangerous--it becomes.
This is one of the better books in what I think, overall, is a very good regional mystery series. By now the series characters have been well defined, and Tapply continues to demonstrate that he's a master at describing the physical setting. The plot is a good one, and this is a book that should appeal to a lot of readers who enjoy a good traditional mystery.
April 28, 2018
One of my Goodreads friends is a fan of this series so when he posts a review where the story sounds interesting I'll download a copy. Quick read, interesting characters and good story which kept me guessing with twists and turns. Having lived in Boston for awhile, it is always interesting to revisit the sites as Brady Coyne moves about. Think this is one of the better ones. One thing that caught my interest is how many cigarettes Coyne smokes in a day but I guess 20 years ago many of us did; given the price of smokes currently, glad I left that habit behind quite a while ago!
April 28, 2018
Often the whole "the lawyer will solve the mystery" approach annoys me. At least, though, usually the lawyer has a professional stake in the case, as in, his or her client. Here, no such involvement. The connection to the murder is through the mysterious girlfriend. This one really, truly should have annoyed me. And yet, I enjoyed it. I'm not even sure why. Perhaps it was that the resolution contained a number of surprises, only one of which I had figured out. But then, I almost never figure out "who dunnit;" I don't even try. So I can't tell you what is good about this, only that I will try another to see if I can figure it out.
August 8, 2015
This is the 18th adventure of Brady Coyne. Brady is a very likeable, level headed, middle-aged Boston attorney in private practice, who picks and chooses his clients. He is an avid fisherman and because of his predilections usually spends more time sleuthing than actually practicing law. This is an excellent series and unfortunately we lost a great author when Mr. Tapply passed away in 2009.
In Past Tense the case is personal for Brady. While dining in Cape Cod an altercation develops with his somewhat new girlfriend and a man at the restaurant. The following morning the "combative stranger's" body is found just outside the beach-house where Brady and his lady-friend are vacationing.
As the murder investigation proceeds, Brady - as usual - inserts himself into it. Suspicions fly and our hero soon realizes that he doesn't know much about his romantic partner's past. So Brady being Brady begins his own private investigation - sometimes with the police and sometimes a step ahead of them - to identify who his paramour really is and why this murder was dropped on his and her vacation doorstep.
If there is a fault with this book, Brady, who although not always entirely forthright with the authorities is usually cooperative with them, is atypically belligerent here at times with the police. And in fact, flat-out lies to them - at times unnecessarily so - which is somewhat out of character. Otherwise this is still a very good read and as stated - an excellent series.
In Past Tense the case is personal for Brady. While dining in Cape Cod an altercation develops with his somewhat new girlfriend and a man at the restaurant. The following morning the "combative stranger's" body is found just outside the beach-house where Brady and his lady-friend are vacationing.
As the murder investigation proceeds, Brady - as usual - inserts himself into it. Suspicions fly and our hero soon realizes that he doesn't know much about his romantic partner's past. So Brady being Brady begins his own private investigation - sometimes with the police and sometimes a step ahead of them - to identify who his paramour really is and why this murder was dropped on his and her vacation doorstep.
If there is a fault with this book, Brady, who although not always entirely forthright with the authorities is usually cooperative with them, is atypically belligerent here at times with the police. And in fact, flat-out lies to them - at times unnecessarily so - which is somewhat out of character. Otherwise this is still a very good read and as stated - an excellent series.
April 1, 2009
My favoriter lawyer is at it again. He and Evie are on a weekend holiday at Cape Cod, a trip Brady made against his better instincts, having a horror for weekend traffic out of Boston. But the cabin is nice and secluded and over a two-pound lobster Brady thinks things mught not go to badly after all. Until, Evie suddenly gets jup from her chair, macrhes over to the bar, and delivers a stinging slap to a man standing there. Turnms out his name is Larry Scott, someone she had dated several years before, who just couldnt seem to let go and continued to stalk her and show up at the most incnvenient times.
Brady and Larry have a confrontation outside the restaurant - which Brady loses. The next morning Evie goes for her early morning run (another reason never to exercise) and Brady is awakened from his sleep to the sounds of screaming. He discovers Evie leaning over the body of a very dead and bloody Larry Scott. And a knife missing from the kitchen of the cabin.
Following an intense interrogation Evie and Brady are released to go home. Evie, thinking that perhaps Brady believes she might have killed Scott, is angry with him. Then she disappears. And more murders occur. And now Brady and Evie are both suspects in all of them.
Brady and Larry have a confrontation outside the restaurant - which Brady loses. The next morning Evie goes for her early morning run (another reason never to exercise) and Brady is awakened from his sleep to the sounds of screaming. He discovers Evie leaning over the body of a very dead and bloody Larry Scott. And a knife missing from the kitchen of the cabin.
Following an intense interrogation Evie and Brady are released to go home. Evie, thinking that perhaps Brady believes she might have killed Scott, is angry with him. Then she disappears. And more murders occur. And now Brady and Evie are both suspects in all of them.
September 1, 2014
I have always liked this series featuring Brady Coyne, a Boston lawyer. He also loves fly fishing and would rather do that than most anything else. This time he is on vacation with his girlfriend Evie. There is a confrontation between her and an old acquaintance. He was nothing more than a friend though he always wanted it to be more. Later he turns up dead. Naturally Evie is a suspect and her only alibi is Brady, who might have wanted him dead too. Shortly afterward, Evie disappears, making her appear more guilty. Brady tries to track her down and find out who the real killer is.
I enjoyed the story. It is a quick read with fun characters. And some of your typical small town attitudes and personalities when Brady investigates the small town where the victim lived. I think this writer has a real feel for people. He also did a good job keeping me guessing about who the real killer was. This is one of those light mysteries that is not focused on blood and guts and forensic evidence and computer searches. It is leg work, and reading newspapers, and interviewing people, and going places. My kind of story.
I enjoyed the story. It is a quick read with fun characters. And some of your typical small town attitudes and personalities when Brady investigates the small town where the victim lived. I think this writer has a real feel for people. He also did a good job keeping me guessing about who the real killer was. This is one of those light mysteries that is not focused on blood and guts and forensic evidence and computer searches. It is leg work, and reading newspapers, and interviewing people, and going places. My kind of story.
January 30, 2016
#18 in the Brady Coyne series.
Boston attorney Brady Coyne series - Brady Coyne is a middle-aged Boston attorney with a small, select clientele - one that leaves him sufficient time to pursue a personal life. That personal life currently focuses on Evie Banyon, a hospital administrator Brady has been seeing for the past year. While they are on a weekend vacation in Cape Cod, though, a determined stalker from Evie's past turns up to torment her anew. After an unpleasant confrontation with him, Brady and Evie return to their vacation cabin. The next morning, Brady wakes to the sound of Evie, outside the cabin, screaming for help. He finds the stalker's murdered body lying at Evie's feet, a body she claims to have discovered when she returned from her morning run. Both Brady and Evie are considered suspects in the murder of a man with local ties. Released by the police, they return to Boston, whereupon Evie disappears. Realizing just how little he knows about Evie's life, Brady Coyne must now delve into her past if he is to uncover the truth about the dead body in his front yard and find the missing Evie in time.
Boston attorney Brady Coyne series - Brady Coyne is a middle-aged Boston attorney with a small, select clientele - one that leaves him sufficient time to pursue a personal life. That personal life currently focuses on Evie Banyon, a hospital administrator Brady has been seeing for the past year. While they are on a weekend vacation in Cape Cod, though, a determined stalker from Evie's past turns up to torment her anew. After an unpleasant confrontation with him, Brady and Evie return to their vacation cabin. The next morning, Brady wakes to the sound of Evie, outside the cabin, screaming for help. He finds the stalker's murdered body lying at Evie's feet, a body she claims to have discovered when she returned from her morning run. Both Brady and Evie are considered suspects in the murder of a man with local ties. Released by the police, they return to Boston, whereupon Evie disappears. Realizing just how little he knows about Evie's life, Brady Coyne must now delve into her past if he is to uncover the truth about the dead body in his front yard and find the missing Evie in time.
March 9, 2013
A nice workmanlike who-dunnit with appealing characters. There weren't quite enough clues for us to figure out the murder (which soon becomes murders) ourselves. The story is more an exploration of the main character, lawyer Brady Coyne, who is a nice guy but a bit clueless about what women want so his secretary often has to clue him in. While Brady and his girlfriend Evie are on a romantic weekend, a guy who has been stalking Evie shows up and then is murdered with a steak knife from Brady and Evie's rental cottage on the Cap. Of course the police immediately suspect Brady and Evie, and then when Evie disappears, she stands becomes the main suspect. Since the police are fixated on Evie, Brady goes to the town where Evie first met the stalker to try to figure out the murder on his own. What he discovers is that there is a lot about Evie he didn't know.
June 15, 2011
In this earlier Brady Coyne novel, Brady and Evie go to Cape Cod where Evie is confronted with with Larry Scott, who had stalked her previously and caused her move from Cortland to Boston. The next morning Evie discovers Larry dead at their drive when she returns from her run. The police quickly decide either Brady or Evie are the culprit; Evie goes into hiding, and Brady tries to find her. He goes to Cortland and interviews Evie's past friends with the police following his every move. They are both trying to figure out who killed Larry, and Brady finds connections with the Dr. Evie used to date and makes friends with Larry's mother, an old friend of Evie. Brady finds the clues before the police.
September 23, 2011
It seems like I read this one years ago but read it again.
Coyne is a likeable protaganist.
Unfortunately, it seems to be a forgettable plot line and story.
This means I'll keep reading it, over and over, every few years.
Hope I keep enjoying it.
Next time around, I hope I write the review immediately after reading it..
x
When Boston lawyer Brady Coyne takes his girlfriend Evie up to Cape Cod for a romantic weekend getaway, the last thing he expects to find in the driveway of their secluded cottage is the body of her murdered ex.
But when police declare her a chief suspect in the murder, Evie disappears without a trace, leaving Brady to face skeptical small-town cops.
Coyne is a likeable protaganist.
Unfortunately, it seems to be a forgettable plot line and story.
This means I'll keep reading it, over and over, every few years.
Hope I keep enjoying it.
Next time around, I hope I write the review immediately after reading it..
x
When Boston lawyer Brady Coyne takes his girlfriend Evie up to Cape Cod for a romantic weekend getaway, the last thing he expects to find in the driveway of their secluded cottage is the body of her murdered ex.
But when police declare her a chief suspect in the murder, Evie disappears without a trace, leaving Brady to face skeptical small-town cops.
April 9, 2007
Tapply's writing is your classic simple but effective. A lawyer protaganist with a few interesting quirks, but not too many. An interesting relationship for the lawyer, but not too much focus on the relationship. This is a mystery after all. A plot with just enough twists, and a surprise at the end. Minor characters who are always interesting. He's the kind of writer who would make you think it was easy to write a novel ....
August 16, 2009
Excellent; Continuing character: Brady Coyne; with his girlfriend missing and a suspect in a murder, Coyne travels to the small town she came from to try and unearth the reasons why bodies keep turning up
June 30, 2013
I have enjoyed Brady Coyne mysteries in the past, and Tapply is an excellent writer. This one was solid, but I just didn't care for his girlfriend Evie. Three and a half stars.
March 8, 2017
Another good one in this series. Wish the library had more in ebook format.
January 30, 2022
This 18th in Tapply’s popular Brady Coyne series is somewhat different from the others we’ve now read in order. Private attorney Brady is not a courtroom regular – rather he spends most of his time catering to his wealthy Boston-area clientele, typically serving as his own private eye to solve clever mysteries surrounding them. He meanwhile develops serious relationships with seemingly one woman after another (having been divorced for roughly a decade), one of which takes center stage in “Past Tense”.
Brady and new squeeze Evie are setting out to spend a romantic weekend on Cape Cod when a stalker from her past shows up, and then inconveniently shows up dead the next morning, with Evie in the vicinity and of course the prime suspect. She soon disappears, leading Brady to spend most of the tale trying to find her, mostly set in her original home town where he quizzes the local residents and eats at the same diner virtually every meal. That part grew tiresome although we eventually sniffed out the probable villain, and after some surprising revelations near the end, all turned out well.
Somehow this tale seemed a little off. The interplay between Brady and Evie, his deceptions with the cops, and the developments resolving into the solution were not on par with past performance and hence our expectations. Oh well, one (to us) somewhat of a clunker out of 18 is probably to be expected! {2.5}
Brady and new squeeze Evie are setting out to spend a romantic weekend on Cape Cod when a stalker from her past shows up, and then inconveniently shows up dead the next morning, with Evie in the vicinity and of course the prime suspect. She soon disappears, leading Brady to spend most of the tale trying to find her, mostly set in her original home town where he quizzes the local residents and eats at the same diner virtually every meal. That part grew tiresome although we eventually sniffed out the probable villain, and after some surprising revelations near the end, all turned out well.
Somehow this tale seemed a little off. The interplay between Brady and Evie, his deceptions with the cops, and the developments resolving into the solution were not on par with past performance and hence our expectations. Oh well, one (to us) somewhat of a clunker out of 18 is probably to be expected! {2.5}
February 10, 2022
I have been known to drop into a series rather randomly, and this one is no exception. But I am pretty sure I scored on this one, as Past Tense is a terrific mystery novel. Brady Coyne is a Boston based lawyer who does almost no legal work in this novel (and perhaps in many of the others in this series as well, I suspect) but, rather, spends time trying to solve a murder mystery and locate his girlfriend, Eve Banyon, who has disappeared just after a former lover has been murdered.
Actually, both Evie and Brady are suspects, since the murder apparently occurred just outside a rental cabin in which they were staying on the Cape, and both had means, motive and opportunity. Or at least, that's how it seems to a clever and determined State Police detective. Tapply unwinds this tale largely within a period of two weeks, much of it spent in Cortland, MA, a small town where Brady persists on searching for clues, reasons, and hidden pasts that will lead him to locate Eve and hopefully, fully exonerate the both of them by providing the detective with the actual killer.
Along the way we meet a variety of small town characters and Tapply's writing makes every one of Brady's meals in the local diner (the only restaurant in Cortland) mouth watering (and artery clogging). This is just a well written, enjoyable book featuring a likeable protagonist that leaves me wanting to read more of Brady Coyne soon.
Actually, both Evie and Brady are suspects, since the murder apparently occurred just outside a rental cabin in which they were staying on the Cape, and both had means, motive and opportunity. Or at least, that's how it seems to a clever and determined State Police detective. Tapply unwinds this tale largely within a period of two weeks, much of it spent in Cortland, MA, a small town where Brady persists on searching for clues, reasons, and hidden pasts that will lead him to locate Eve and hopefully, fully exonerate the both of them by providing the detective with the actual killer.
Along the way we meet a variety of small town characters and Tapply's writing makes every one of Brady's meals in the local diner (the only restaurant in Cortland) mouth watering (and artery clogging). This is just a well written, enjoyable book featuring a likeable protagonist that leaves me wanting to read more of Brady Coyne soon.
April 3, 2022
(3). Brady, Brady, Brady. How do you get yourself in these situations. Big surprise, a woman is involved. Only in this case, a woman he really cares about. This story moves right along from the very get go. Instead of an outside sort of hands off involvement, Brady is up to his neck in this one right from the start. I don’t know how many of these I have left in this series, but I will be very sad when they are done. This is one of my favorite ongoing reading experiences. Long live Brady Coyne. Good stuff.
June 26, 2022
I love the Brady Coyne series. Unfortunately, Kindle in the UK only has up to #16 so I have had buy secondhand hardbacks - this one was previously a library book from Danville Illinois. Brady and his partner Evie get caught up in a murder on Cape Cod, with the victim being a stalker of Evie from where she liived previously.
December 16, 2024
I had thought that I had read all of the Brady Coyne books, but if so, this one was not at all familiar. Maybe because i am really not liking the Evie character very much and I didn't in the previous book either. Who needs a romantic partner that suddenly disappears without any explanation. Why does Brady think he loves her? But he does so I'll have to accept that.
October 9, 2025
This is the 24th William Tapply book I've read, all with the greatest pleasure. Actually, the 18th book in the Brady Coyne series, this book is an exceptional example of the best of popular fiction writing. The narrative is fresh and clear, not a wasted word or verbal "padding" of any sort. I would recommend this book to any reader whether they are mystery fans or not.
July 7, 2019
OK, Brady, you can't possibly screw this one up. The "L" word has been spoken freely by both parties, and you showed that you'd actually die trying to help her; what can possibly go wrong? Maybe if you finally met J.W. Jackson in your own book, that would help? Seal the deal, pal!
October 18, 2017
The greatness continues and it never seems to get old.
January 20, 2017
Interesting plot that keeps you turning the pages. The main character Brady Coyne speaks to us in the first person and is well crafted with an engaging sense of humour. Others were not well developed. I would read other novels with Brady Coyne.
September 25, 2012
Enjoyable but not a great challenge.
March 21, 2015
Another great mystery. This series is awesome.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews