The Dating App Assaults

by M.L. Hamilton

After her maternity leave, Peyton reluctantly returns to her job as the lead for the Hate Crimes Division. Taking this job was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. It meant staying home with her growing family and being there for all of her baby’s firsts, but this team is not like her last one and personality conflicts are inevitable. To complicate things further, the nature of the crimes she must now solve is heartbreaking. Hate Crimes are a particularly heinous set of cases, involving marginalized people in horrifying predicaments, and her first case is no exception. When gay men are being assaulted for using a popular dating app, Peyton and her team must discover the perpetrators as quickly as they can, before another young man winds up injured, or worse, dead. But can she hold her team together in order to solve this case? And will the demands of a new leadership role put unnecessary strain on her family? With each swipe left, another innocent victim may be in the crosshairs of an assailant who has no mercy.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller

386 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2023

About the author

ML Hamilton taught high school English and journalism in Central California for 32 years.

Teaching students to appreciate literature made her career rewarding; however, she always dreamed of publishing her own novel.

In 2010, the dream came true. Her first novel, Emerald, was published by Wild Wolf Publishing. The sequel to Emerald, The Heirs of Eldon, followed the next year.

In addition to teaching and writing, she has three sons, two daughters-in-law, two dogs, and three amazing grandbabies.

Sign up for her newsletter at www.authormlhamilton.net for free offers and the latest book information.

Reviews

[c boyd]

I need next book please hurry!!!!!!! I live in Florida and my sister is in California. I got her to read your books we have our own book club. We talk about your Peyton brooks series, buy now I am finished. We grew up in San Francisco and really love the character s and storyline. Carol and Wanda

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the narrator and enjoyed it very much. The first book in the new series is here and it is delightful. All the familiar characters for the previous series are here along with a few new ones, including Piper Peyton's and Marco's 7 month old daughter. Peyton has her first case in the Hate Crimes division with a team that's not quite in sync. Marco has his crew look at a 13 year old missing person case. The story maybe new, but it's the same great writing and narrating that has provided hours of listening pleasure with unique characters and intriguing plots. Looking forward to the next one.

[Antigone Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Domestic Drivel

I found this book the most disappointing of the whole series. Peyton and her unit investigate a gay bashing case. Marco opens a cold case and hunts a killer of a young man who followed a Grateful Dead style band. But the crime takes a backseat to all the domestic drivel and friendly banter. It just gets so annoying. No suspense and the cases are boring. Hope the next book is better.

[Kim Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family & friends

This was worth waiting for. It was funny & full of suspense. I really enjoyed getting back in touch with the characters. They are such a mismatched group of people who are fun to get to know. The storylines are full of suspense that keep me reading well into the night. I have loved this series from the very start & can't wait for the next book.

[Pat Daab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book.

I have read every Peyton Brooks book in order. I love the stories as well as the characters who seem like old friends. As soon as one is finished I am looking forward to the next one.

[Kelley Hazen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad Peyton Brooks is back! The fourth series begins for this well-loved 'homicide detective turned FBI special agent' created by M.L. Hamilton. And if The Dating App Assaults is any indication of what's to come for this Hate Crimes Division - Fans, consider yourselves blessed! I know I do.
Dating back to 2013 and Murder on Potrero Hill - the very first story of The Peyton Brooks' Mysteries Box Set - and also the first audiobook I recorded with M.L., I knew Peyton Brooks was something special. But even I didn't realize how special. Now ten years, 75 audiobooks, and 45,000 (and counting) digital downloads later, I can only say how lucky and elated I am that Hamilton chose to listen to her readers and listeners, post-Pirates in Las Vegas - the final story in The Peyton Brooks, FBI Box Set: Volume One: Books 1-5 and The Peyton Brooks, FBI Box Set: Volume Two: Books 6-11. And Hamilton extends the life of this enigmatic, compassionate, flawed and fabulous woman not only in the present day. The slick and straightforward police procedural PEYTON BROOKS : The Early Cases takes a look back. This third series features Brooks and her partner Marco DeAngelo in their early days with the San Francisco homicide division with A Sour Grape and All Hallows,. The next in series VELVET SAPPHIRE is due for release this fall.
The Dating App Assaults is the perfect 'first book' to launch this series centering Peyton as the head of a new squad in the City by the Bay's FBI branch. Like only Hamilton can, the crime intertwines with Peyton's struggle to understand her role as a mother, as well as the leader of this island of law enforcement 'misfit toys'. Unforgettable family, friends, and colleagues return. New challenges await. A fresh tone is set. But the underpinnings that have made 'Peyton Brooks' an international bestseller across continents continue.
All this and set at Christmastime, too.
How do you like that? I most emphatically do, and I think you will too.

[Catrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a beyond thrilled to see that there is a new Peyton Brooks series!

There are two great cases to keep you guessing: one investigated by the FBI Hate Crimes division, led by Peyton, and the other tackled by the SFPD, led by Marco. ML Hamilton doesn’t disappoint as she unveils the storyline. A satisfying resolution, but always leaving me wanting more.

There are so many great characters that have been introduced in the prior series and they are back, but prepare to meet some new characters too. Kelley Hazen brings a great consistency as she voices all of the characters, both old and new. It’s wonderful to hit play, sit back with my eyes closed and just enjoy the performance.

I was given a free review copy of this audiobook and I have voluntarily left this review.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dating App Assaults (Peyton Brooks, FBI: Hate Crimes Division: Book 1) was a great read by M.L. Hamilton. Peyton reluctantly returns to her job as the lead for the Hate Crimes Division after her maternity leave. This new team is much different than her last and there are personality conflicts. This time the nature of the crimes are heartbreaking. In her first case, gay men are being assaulted for using a popular dating app. The team must discover the perpetrators as quickly as possible. I loved listening to the life that Kelley Hazen brought to the characters and cant wait to read more by the author.

[Amanda Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure

Really wasn't particularly hard hitting cases, and it didn't really feel like Peyton was particularly that important to anything... now Shana, the very odd,duck woman, really provided all the key information, so it made me question what does Peyton actually do?

It wasn't her research, she barely interviewed anyone with her "magical interview skills" and she didn't exactly do anything to resolve the issues with Jennifer... I don't believe that an FBI agent would be so tactless to confront a cop in the way she did... seems off the boil...

[Sue Ruhl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Yet!!

This book follows Peyton Brooks, FBI Special Agent, as she and her team round up the "bad guys" they have been after for several years! There is something for everyone in this book and if you're a fan of M.L. Hamilton, you will want to read every book you can that features Peyton and Marco, cleaning up the San Francisco area of California!! Each book is a "can't put it down" thriller and you won't be sorry for forgetting to make the by bed, doing the dishes, etc. Let the housework go and read, read, read!!!

[Tracy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Should have been a 5

Honestly, the book is good, really good as far as most things go. However, I'm just tired of every single author playing into politics. Just write a good book without pushing any agenda, whether left-leaning or right, period. Is that too much to ask these days?

[Edna Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Book Series

I'm an avid reader of many genres but this is the first time that a book series has captured all my attention. Please keep us in Brooks and D'Angelo's lives with many books to come. To those that does not know these characters go ahead an read all these series books because you will love them as many of us already do.

[Karen Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for bringing Peyton and gang back!

Thank you for letting us go on another adventure with Peyton and Marco and their crazy teams. I have missed them all and thoroughly enjoyed their latest cases. Thanks also for addressing societal issues that plague people who are just trying to be true to themselves.

[Sabrina Washington · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad that Peyton and team are back!

I love this next chapter of life for Peyton, especially because it’s very relevant and timely to highlight marginalized groups as well as the serious issues surrounding the opioid/fentanyl epidemic.

[Bryan Costello · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just plain boring, the “new team” has no depth or personality and the cases were just tired old tropes, and hacky at times. I loved the FBI series, and was excited to listen to this one but was disappointed.

[barbara evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've already said it all.

This is a must read series by a wonderful author. Kudos to M. L Hamilton for an exceptional author and I recommend her to all book lovers.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addictive!

It started with one free book! Actually, not even really my kind of book...
So I read all of the books in four days and can't wait for the next!

[Lynne Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.

This book was fast moving and fun. The characters are good! The cases were interesting and a bit crazy.
I'm looking forward to reading another in this series

[Ashley Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book and nice ending. I did feel like there was a lot of unnecessary descriptions of things (the GTO), but overall a pretty good book.

[margaret bradbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grest

I'm glad this book came at last i don't know if this is the last one for Payton and Marco but I really enjoyed it as much as all the others in there story