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Ethan Brand #1
A Lonesome Place for Dying
Blaine, Washington is a seaside town where on an average day, the most serious police work involves dealing with stray coyotes or ticketing speeders along the I-5. Ethan Brand is reporting for his first day on the job as Blaine, Washington’s newest Chief of Police. Before Ethan can start his first shift, he finds a threat on his porch, along with a gruesome souvenir, a bloody heart.
There are plenty of people who are upset about Ethan stepping into the shoes of the last Chief, but when a body shows up on the railroad tracks, he’s got to focus on the task at hand. With a population of only five thousand, Blaine sees eight million vehicles pass through its Peace Arch crossing every year. It’s the perfect site for drug smuggling, human trafficking, larceny, and murder.
Ethan begins to realize that the sleepy town has a lot more secrets than he originally thought. With no one to trust, his job already on the line, and the threats getting bolder and more reckless, Ethan Brand must find the killers and bring them to justice.
There are plenty of people who are upset about Ethan stepping into the shoes of the last Chief, but when a body shows up on the railroad tracks, he’s got to focus on the task at hand. With a population of only five thousand, Blaine sees eight million vehicles pass through its Peace Arch crossing every year. It’s the perfect site for drug smuggling, human trafficking, larceny, and murder.
Ethan begins to realize that the sleepy town has a lot more secrets than he originally thought. With no one to trust, his job already on the line, and the threats getting bolder and more reckless, Ethan Brand must find the killers and bring them to justice.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2024
31 people are currently reading
5435 people want to read
About the author
Nolan Chase
2 books32 followersNolan Chase lives and works in the Pacific Northwest. A Lonesome Place for Dying is his first book featuring Ethan Brand.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
March 6, 2024
Nolan Chase brings suspense, mystery, some action, and a solid police procedural to his novel,
A Lonesome Place for Dying
. Ethan Brand has worked for the Blaine, Washington police force for fifteen years. The book starts with his first day as Chief of Police. However, his day isn’t starting well. He finds a threat on his porch. Another officer, Brenda Lee Page, wanted the job and he needs to talk with her. Before he can get to the station, a body is found near the railroad tracks.
Ethan received a medical discharge from the Marines when he lost part of a foot. The previous chief of police, Frank Keogh, had convinced him to apply for a job as a police officer. While Ethan is considered by some to lack enthusiasm and determination, he is generally good with people and uses force as a last resort. He’s also not great at the politics that’s required of his new job. Will he learn?
This is more of a police procedural than a crime thriller. Additionally, readers also get a good feeling for the relationships between Ethan and several members of the town. The plot is somewhat twisty and occasionally intense. However, there are some slow spots in the first part of the book. Despite this, it flowed reasonably well as readers gained insight into the thoughts, behaviors, and actions of Ethan and the other characters in the story. Themes include murder, love, family, work relationships, political pressure, domestic violence, living beyond your means, trust, power, and much more.
Overall, this is a complex police procedural that has good characterization and a plot that keeps readers turning the pages to see what will happen next. I hope this the first book in a series featuring Ethan. While the main crimes were solved, there were several items that could be threads for future books.
Crooked Lane Books and Nolan Chase provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 07, 2024.
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My 4.43 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Ethan received a medical discharge from the Marines when he lost part of a foot. The previous chief of police, Frank Keogh, had convinced him to apply for a job as a police officer. While Ethan is considered by some to lack enthusiasm and determination, he is generally good with people and uses force as a last resort. He’s also not great at the politics that’s required of his new job. Will he learn?
This is more of a police procedural than a crime thriller. Additionally, readers also get a good feeling for the relationships between Ethan and several members of the town. The plot is somewhat twisty and occasionally intense. However, there are some slow spots in the first part of the book. Despite this, it flowed reasonably well as readers gained insight into the thoughts, behaviors, and actions of Ethan and the other characters in the story. Themes include murder, love, family, work relationships, political pressure, domestic violence, living beyond your means, trust, power, and much more.
Overall, this is a complex police procedural that has good characterization and a plot that keeps readers turning the pages to see what will happen next. I hope this the first book in a series featuring Ethan. While the main crimes were solved, there were several items that could be threads for future books.
Crooked Lane Books and Nolan Chase provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 07, 2024.
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My 4.43 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
May 5, 2024
Blaine, Washington is a small coastal town that's seen only two murders in the last fifteen years, so it's an unpleasant surprise when the body of a young woman is found along the railroad tracks. Did she fall from a passing train, or was she pushed? Was she a stranger from far away, or a local girl with ties to the community? These questions must be answered by the town's new police chief, Ethan Brand. In addition to solving this ever deepening mystery, Brand must contend with complex personal problems, hostility from his own police force, some of whom were hoping to get his job, and death threats in the form of phone calls, and a heart left on his porch.
This was an intriguing piece of crime fiction that reminded me a bit of Chris Offutt's Mick Hardin books. I certainly hope this becomes a series. I'm definitely interested in reading more about some of the characters introduced in this story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
This was an intriguing piece of crime fiction that reminded me a bit of Chris Offutt's Mick Hardin books. I certainly hope this becomes a series. I'm definitely interested in reading more about some of the characters introduced in this story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
February 2, 2024
I enjoy crime thrillers and murder mysteries around small-town crimes and murders, especially if one of the MC’s is in law enforcement, which is what attracted me to this story. While the book summary indicates that Ethan is a new Sheriff for Blaine WA (a small border town on WA and Canada), what it doesn’t indicate is that he spent 15+yrs serving under the former Sheriff and he now has to work with another officer, Brenda Lee, who also vied for the job and thinks she would have made a better Sheriff than Ethan. He also had an affair with the wife, Steph Sinclair, of one of the city council members, Wray Sinclaire, who knows about Ethan’s and Steph’s affair and subsequently supported Brenda Lee. He is also no friend or fan of the local crime family, the McCandless family who are #1 suspects for pretty much every crime in town. Lastly, Ethan finds a death threat posted to his front door one morning.
On another note, and I’m not sure I would call this a storyline, there is also a coyote that appears to like hanging around Ethan’s house. The coyote is the one who brought the bloody heart (that turns out to be an elk heart) and left it on Ethan’s porch. Kind of like dogs and cats do when they catch and/or kill something and bring it home to their special “hooman” as a gift (if you’re a cat/dog owner, you may know what I mean). The gesture along with the death threat note that someone tacked up to Ethan’s front door added a little macabre to the scene. Not sure why, but Ethan talks to the coyote like a pet and neither of them seem to be afraid of each other. Very odd!!!
Most of the story revolves around investigating the death of a woman, Laura Dill, who was a passenger on the local train from Vancouver to Bellingham, and who was found dead next to the train tracks. She was also connected to the McCandless family. There is also an escalation in the attempts on Ethan’s life and it’s not clear if it’s because of the investigation of Laura Dill or something else. It’s well into the second half that major revelations are dropped and other storylines begin to merge.
This wasn’t the exciting, intense, and scary crime thrillers and murder mysteries I typically read. This was a classic slow (really slow in some spots) build kind of story. Did I like the story? Yes, I did, hence, my 3star rating. Would I read a second installment if it becomes a series? Maybe. I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #ALonesomePlaceforDying
On another note, and I’m not sure I would call this a storyline, there is also a coyote that appears to like hanging around Ethan’s house. The coyote is the one who brought the bloody heart (that turns out to be an elk heart) and left it on Ethan’s porch. Kind of like dogs and cats do when they catch and/or kill something and bring it home to their special “hooman” as a gift (if you’re a cat/dog owner, you may know what I mean). The gesture along with the death threat note that someone tacked up to Ethan’s front door added a little macabre to the scene. Not sure why, but Ethan talks to the coyote like a pet and neither of them seem to be afraid of each other. Very odd!!!
Most of the story revolves around investigating the death of a woman, Laura Dill, who was a passenger on the local train from Vancouver to Bellingham, and who was found dead next to the train tracks. She was also connected to the McCandless family. There is also an escalation in the attempts on Ethan’s life and it’s not clear if it’s because of the investigation of Laura Dill or something else. It’s well into the second half that major revelations are dropped and other storylines begin to merge.
This wasn’t the exciting, intense, and scary crime thrillers and murder mysteries I typically read. This was a classic slow (really slow in some spots) build kind of story. Did I like the story? Yes, I did, hence, my 3star rating. Would I read a second installment if it becomes a series? Maybe. I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #ALonesomePlaceforDying
May 17, 2024
✰ 3.75 stars ✰
“Politics and friendship, family and power. Four subjects that often seemed interconnected.
Day by day, Ethan was learning how little he understood about any of them.”
There may be nothing remotely new about A Lonesome Place for Dying that we haven't seen before in other crime thrillers or police procedurals with a Jane Doe of a murder mystery, let alone one that is slightly on the slower-paced side, as it slowly builds up the character development of its protagonist, newly appointed forty-two-year-old Chief of Police, Ethan Brand, but somehow, the writing style suited my palette in more ways than I would have expected.
“The unpardonable sin is, let me think just how Hawthorne phrased it. ‘The violation of the sanctity of another’s heart.’”
“I’m not sure how that answers my question, Chief.”
“My best guess, it means we’re all a little more fragile than we like to admit.”
I liked how it started; I liked how we got to learn Ethan's background - how after fifteen years of serving under the former Chief Frank Keogh who gave him a piece of advice he took to heart - 'you want to find anything worth looking for, son, you need to look beyond yourself' - he's been recently appointed as his replacement - to the displeasure of certain disgruntled, if not disappointed coworkers who may have been vying for the position, themselves. 😟 We get to learn about his personal life and how he's divorced with two kids that he rarely sees because his ex-wife wanted to give them a better life than the one they have in the small town seclusion of Blaine, Washington, while also hinting that he had been involved in an extra-marital affair of his own - one that could possibly be one of the reasons behind why he's suddenly receiving alarming death threats. These are only just a few of the pressing matters at hand on his first day on the job, when he has his own first case appointed to him - a murdered Jane Doe - discovered way out on the railroad tracks of Vancouver - 'it was a long way from anything, and a lonesome place to die.' 😢
“Wisdom might be the closest, and that was far from the mark. A dying person knew things the living didn’t—maybe that there was nothing left to know.”
Maybe it was the small town vibes that made the surroundings while intimate - also very limited. That it allowed for the tension not to go beyond the scopes of what could be the eventual fallout of what had happened - this sleepy unease of unrest that beckoned the reader closer to speculate which person could be the likely candidate for suspicion. Maybe it was that I genuinely liked Ethan; his feelings, his thoughts - there was a certain frankness to it that resonated well with me. 'Scientifically, taking a life was an easy thing to accomplish. Figuring out how to live, that took daily improvisation.' A kind of ease that allowed him to easily shelter his own personal baggage and the anxiousness and the loneliness he felt all on his own, but still allowed the tender and open-heartedness of him to sneak out. 😟 Maybe it was the well-developed characters who didn't feel as cartoon-ish or caricature-like as I anticipated. How they seamlessly fit into the narrative and built up the mystery in a compelling and intriguing way. Maybe it was the steady pace in which Ethan and his partner, Brenda Lee, worked to figure out the clues behind the victim's identity, finding the patterns in which her murder could have taken place that made it engaging to watch unfold. 🤌🏻🤌🏻
“There were still pieces missing, but the shape of the puzzle was discernible, the edge pieces seemed to form a border.”
I never felt bored at any moment - even when the culprit was revealed, there was still so much happening in Ethan's personal life - from a mysterious coyote shadowing his doorstep, to his job as chief being under scrutiny from the major heads of their community - to the ever-pressing need to prove himself - to himself - it kept me going and interested. The writing was well-balanced between moments of comedic relief, as well as those that had a more somber tone to it, but with traces of cleverness that made me appreciate how they played out. 'No good alternatives, and yet he felt calm settle over him. Danger simplified things. No worries other than those immediately at hand.' I never felt like the plot became overwhelmed with facts or figures - very sharp and focused without meandering, but still carefully and steadily tie all the pieces together. 👏🏻👏🏻 There was a real sincerity to it that made me care about what had happened to Jane Doe and how she met such an unfortunate ending. Even the action scenes were well-described and were easy for me to envision them playing out the way that they did. Ethan was a strong and reliable narrator who had me invested in the path his career and life would take. I think maybe it appealed to me more was that he had heart; he has his faults, his weaknesses, and he's not afraid or ashamed to own up to it, even when it could be the cause of his own downfall. 🥺
The story concludes with the hint of a possibility that this could be the start of a continuing series; of which, I would actually be looking forward to. With the way how certain things were left unresolved makes me curious at how they'll play out in Ethan's future and what other challenges he'll have to face as he slowly builds up his stance and career as Blaine's reputable police chief. ⭐
“Politics and friendship, family and power. Four subjects that often seemed interconnected.
Day by day, Ethan was learning how little he understood about any of them.”
There may be nothing remotely new about A Lonesome Place for Dying that we haven't seen before in other crime thrillers or police procedurals with a Jane Doe of a murder mystery, let alone one that is slightly on the slower-paced side, as it slowly builds up the character development of its protagonist, newly appointed forty-two-year-old Chief of Police, Ethan Brand, but somehow, the writing style suited my palette in more ways than I would have expected.
“The unpardonable sin is, let me think just how Hawthorne phrased it. ‘The violation of the sanctity of another’s heart.’”
“I’m not sure how that answers my question, Chief.”
“My best guess, it means we’re all a little more fragile than we like to admit.”
I liked how it started; I liked how we got to learn Ethan's background - how after fifteen years of serving under the former Chief Frank Keogh who gave him a piece of advice he took to heart - 'you want to find anything worth looking for, son, you need to look beyond yourself' - he's been recently appointed as his replacement - to the displeasure of certain disgruntled, if not disappointed coworkers who may have been vying for the position, themselves. 😟 We get to learn about his personal life and how he's divorced with two kids that he rarely sees because his ex-wife wanted to give them a better life than the one they have in the small town seclusion of Blaine, Washington, while also hinting that he had been involved in an extra-marital affair of his own - one that could possibly be one of the reasons behind why he's suddenly receiving alarming death threats. These are only just a few of the pressing matters at hand on his first day on the job, when he has his own first case appointed to him - a murdered Jane Doe - discovered way out on the railroad tracks of Vancouver - 'it was a long way from anything, and a lonesome place to die.' 😢
“Wisdom might be the closest, and that was far from the mark. A dying person knew things the living didn’t—maybe that there was nothing left to know.”
Maybe it was the small town vibes that made the surroundings while intimate - also very limited. That it allowed for the tension not to go beyond the scopes of what could be the eventual fallout of what had happened - this sleepy unease of unrest that beckoned the reader closer to speculate which person could be the likely candidate for suspicion. Maybe it was that I genuinely liked Ethan; his feelings, his thoughts - there was a certain frankness to it that resonated well with me. 'Scientifically, taking a life was an easy thing to accomplish. Figuring out how to live, that took daily improvisation.' A kind of ease that allowed him to easily shelter his own personal baggage and the anxiousness and the loneliness he felt all on his own, but still allowed the tender and open-heartedness of him to sneak out. 😟 Maybe it was the well-developed characters who didn't feel as cartoon-ish or caricature-like as I anticipated. How they seamlessly fit into the narrative and built up the mystery in a compelling and intriguing way. Maybe it was the steady pace in which Ethan and his partner, Brenda Lee, worked to figure out the clues behind the victim's identity, finding the patterns in which her murder could have taken place that made it engaging to watch unfold. 🤌🏻🤌🏻
“There were still pieces missing, but the shape of the puzzle was discernible, the edge pieces seemed to form a border.”
I never felt bored at any moment - even when the culprit was revealed, there was still so much happening in Ethan's personal life - from a mysterious coyote shadowing his doorstep, to his job as chief being under scrutiny from the major heads of their community - to the ever-pressing need to prove himself - to himself - it kept me going and interested. The writing was well-balanced between moments of comedic relief, as well as those that had a more somber tone to it, but with traces of cleverness that made me appreciate how they played out. 'No good alternatives, and yet he felt calm settle over him. Danger simplified things. No worries other than those immediately at hand.' I never felt like the plot became overwhelmed with facts or figures - very sharp and focused without meandering, but still carefully and steadily tie all the pieces together. 👏🏻👏🏻 There was a real sincerity to it that made me care about what had happened to Jane Doe and how she met such an unfortunate ending. Even the action scenes were well-described and were easy for me to envision them playing out the way that they did. Ethan was a strong and reliable narrator who had me invested in the path his career and life would take. I think maybe it appealed to me more was that he had heart; he has his faults, his weaknesses, and he's not afraid or ashamed to own up to it, even when it could be the cause of his own downfall. 🥺
The story concludes with the hint of a possibility that this could be the start of a continuing series; of which, I would actually be looking forward to. With the way how certain things were left unresolved makes me curious at how they'll play out in Ethan's future and what other challenges he'll have to face as he slowly builds up his stance and career as Blaine's reputable police chief. ⭐
May 17, 2024
A Lonesome Place For Dying is the first book to feature Ethan Brand by award-winning Canadian-born author, Sam Wiebe, writing as Nolan Chase. On the morning he’s due to take over from Police Chief Frank Keogh in the Washington State border town of Blaine, someone has left on Ethan Brand’s doorstep a heart (too large to be human) and a printed note telling him to leave. Ethan is not inclined to leave his home town: he heads off to work.
Before he can even be sworn in by the mayor, he’s out by the railway line near Mo’s scrapyard, examining the body of a young woman. She has been stabbed, but there’s nothing to identify her, nor any sign of how she got there.
There are quite a few candidates potentially responsible for the gory warning (which soon escalates to a death threat), including a disgruntled suspended cop, rivals for the position of chief, criminals whose activities he has curtailed, and a romantic indiscretion, but Ethan has to put that aside to focus on solving the murder (and proving his suitability as chief).
While he has a handful of conscientious and competent officers who between them manage to give the Jane Doe a name and find other evidence, Ethan is frustrated that his two senior officers are squabbling rather than working as a team.
Diligent investigation uncovers an impersonation, another murder and a missing person. As well, there’s a white-suited character in town who looks and acts very much like a hit-man: who is paying him and who might be his target? Ethan is convinced the local drug smugglers, the McCandless family must be involved.
Ethan is an interesting protagonist, a lawman with integrity, insight and intelligence, and a few quirks (his chess game with the diner waitress, his fondness for the blue-eyed coyote, his rapport with various locals, his naivete with the non-binary journalist) that will endear him to the reader.
Chase gives the reader cleverly-plotted crime fiction with a few twists and surprises, a dramatic climax and a very satisfactory resolution. He easily evokes his setting, and Jerry Todd’s cover is striking. Chase has set up the town and its inhabitants with plenty of scope for further books in this location, and more of this cast would be most welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
Before he can even be sworn in by the mayor, he’s out by the railway line near Mo’s scrapyard, examining the body of a young woman. She has been stabbed, but there’s nothing to identify her, nor any sign of how she got there.
There are quite a few candidates potentially responsible for the gory warning (which soon escalates to a death threat), including a disgruntled suspended cop, rivals for the position of chief, criminals whose activities he has curtailed, and a romantic indiscretion, but Ethan has to put that aside to focus on solving the murder (and proving his suitability as chief).
While he has a handful of conscientious and competent officers who between them manage to give the Jane Doe a name and find other evidence, Ethan is frustrated that his two senior officers are squabbling rather than working as a team.
Diligent investigation uncovers an impersonation, another murder and a missing person. As well, there’s a white-suited character in town who looks and acts very much like a hit-man: who is paying him and who might be his target? Ethan is convinced the local drug smugglers, the McCandless family must be involved.
Ethan is an interesting protagonist, a lawman with integrity, insight and intelligence, and a few quirks (his chess game with the diner waitress, his fondness for the blue-eyed coyote, his rapport with various locals, his naivete with the non-binary journalist) that will endear him to the reader.
Chase gives the reader cleverly-plotted crime fiction with a few twists and surprises, a dramatic climax and a very satisfactory resolution. He easily evokes his setting, and Jerry Todd’s cover is striking. Chase has set up the town and its inhabitants with plenty of scope for further books in this location, and more of this cast would be most welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
January 11, 2024
There's something to be said about the load their job brings to the mental state of cops the world over, if all the cliches about divorced and lonesome cops are true. Sure, within the realm of fiction, it's a common trope, whether you're looking at books or series or movies. But all those tropes and cliches tend to ring true at their core - after all, they exist for a reason.
Overworked and underpaid. Would be better the other way around, but what can you do?
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Read this review on the blog - the layout is better 😃.
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Ethan Brand, who is probably setting out to be a new series hero, fulfills this role, including the »former war veteran who has seen too much shit« trope as well. Butt it's not overdone, and it makes for a great character. (Which is good, if the author wants to take him further in the next books.) In fact, character development feels absolutely great, to a point where I wondered if this is really a debut novel. Guess what?
It's not. Nolan Chase is the pen name Sam Wiebe took for this new series, probably because his name is tied to his gritty Vancouver novels, and maybe he thinks as a Canadian, he will have a tough time selling books to an American audience, what with the setting leaving Canada and arriving on American soil. (Although just shy of the Canadian border.)
But never mind that, because Sam is an experienced author of gritty crime novels, and with this start of a new series, he proves that he can bring his wit from the city of Vancouver to a more rural setting, along the Washington sea side.
Ethan won't be easily intimidated, neither by death threats via phone nor by hearts left on his doorstep
Ethan is an instantly likeable character, although he tends to overshadow the rest of the cast a bit. And the characters are what really shines about this book.
Yes, there is a plot here, and it's quite good as mystery plots go. Nice whodunit, although most of the time we are pretty sure who has done it, but the evidence needs to be found. And the motive is a little unclear, with an interesting twist right at the end that promises more to come in future installments.
I'm reminded a little of Elmore Leonard. As with his books, this story is more about the dialogues and the characters than the plot. And it works! I, for one, will follow the story of Ethan Brand. I recommend you do so, too, if you like this kind of story.
Disclaimer: I’ve received a free Advanced Reader’s Copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Overworked and underpaid. Would be better the other way around, but what can you do?
******************************
Read this review on the blog - the layout is better 😃.
******************************
Ethan Brand, who is probably setting out to be a new series hero, fulfills this role, including the »former war veteran who has seen too much shit« trope as well. Butt it's not overdone, and it makes for a great character. (Which is good, if the author wants to take him further in the next books.) In fact, character development feels absolutely great, to a point where I wondered if this is really a debut novel. Guess what?
It's not. Nolan Chase is the pen name Sam Wiebe took for this new series, probably because his name is tied to his gritty Vancouver novels, and maybe he thinks as a Canadian, he will have a tough time selling books to an American audience, what with the setting leaving Canada and arriving on American soil. (Although just shy of the Canadian border.)
I told you I'm not trained to hurt people with my fists. Everything I learned about hand-to-hand combat involves killing.
Ethan, after kicking ass
But never mind that, because Sam is an experienced author of gritty crime novels, and with this start of a new series, he proves that he can bring his wit from the city of Vancouver to a more rural setting, along the Washington sea side.
Ethan won't be easily intimidated, neither by death threats via phone nor by hearts left on his doorstep
Ethan is an instantly likeable character, although he tends to overshadow the rest of the cast a bit. And the characters are what really shines about this book.
Yes, there is a plot here, and it's quite good as mystery plots go. Nice whodunit, although most of the time we are pretty sure who has done it, but the evidence needs to be found. And the motive is a little unclear, with an interesting twist right at the end that promises more to come in future installments.
I'm reminded a little of Elmore Leonard. As with his books, this story is more about the dialogues and the characters than the plot. And it works! I, for one, will follow the story of Ethan Brand. I recommend you do so, too, if you like this kind of story.
Disclaimer: I’ve received a free Advanced Reader’s Copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 11, 2023
Engaging! A Lonesome Place for Dying is a classic small town murder mystery, with a unique Pacific Northwest setting. Add in a slightly reluctant, but very capable, newly appointed Sherriff (Ethan Brand), and an eclectic community, and you have a thoroughly enjoyable novel. The dialogue has so much flavor and authenticity I often found myself chuckling, sometimes at the most inopportune times. While dealing with his own personal baggage at home and on the job, Ethan must also contend with the diverse citizens of Blaine, who themselves have their own baggage, and often their own agenda. On his first day on the job, a woman's body is discovered in a lonely section of town. Ethan is determined to find and arrest the murderer or murderers and give the victim's family justice. As if trying to solve the mystery while dealing with regular happenings in town isn't enough to have on his plate, someone is actively trying to kill him. An awesome debut novel by Nolan Chase, with great series potential. A true page-turner and who done it. Bravo! I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC.
October 13, 2023
I am very glad I picked this book up as it was more than worth the time reading. A new sheriff is in town, and it seems everyone has an angle with him, and many would not like him to succeed. Ethan Brand juggles all of the town's needs and wants that are very diverse all while trying to solve a murder that occurred down at the train tracks that seemingly has left little evidence. It is a very engaging book that makes you want to keep the pages turning. I finished this in a few days as I really wanted to see where the story went. Ethan Brand is a well-developed protagonist with his faults, but his conscience leads the way. I look forward to reading much more from this author.
June 17, 2024
Quick read. I was 3/4 of the way through before I knew it. Backstory of the main character isn’t really flushed out and there is a lot heavy stuff mentioned but not explored. I feel that you can say that about a lot of characters and story lines in the book. Things mentioned but nothing went very deep.
The story was just okay. I felt there is potential here but the author needs to take characters and story a little deeper. Not a lot of suspense built up.
I feel I will forget this story in a week or less.
The story was just okay. I felt there is potential here but the author needs to take characters and story a little deeper. Not a lot of suspense built up.
I feel I will forget this story in a week or less.
December 17, 2024
This book was an easy read. It’s more of a procedural thriller, whereas, the main character, Ethan, has been on the police force in Blaine Washington for 10 years. Blaine is a small town and typical of a small town, everyone knows everyone’s business, power mongers who are rich and control most of the town and then the people who are just trying to get by.
It starts off with a bang, with the discovery of a woman’s body by the railroad tracks stabbed and strangled. On this very day, Ethan is to be sworn in as the new police chief. Ethan and his force, along with other police departments work to solve the murder, which takes some twists and turns that occur in the upper north west of Washington to the Canadian border.
It is well written with great descriptions of people and places. The author accounts for minute details and for me I could picture it as if it was a movie. The book is fairly linear where there are no big events that stand out.
If a reader enjoys a nice quick procedural thriller that doesn’t involve big scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat, this is a great book to read. Oh and there is a cool coyote, with blue eyes, that seems to be Ethan’s spirit animal hanging around his home
It starts off with a bang, with the discovery of a woman’s body by the railroad tracks stabbed and strangled. On this very day, Ethan is to be sworn in as the new police chief. Ethan and his force, along with other police departments work to solve the murder, which takes some twists and turns that occur in the upper north west of Washington to the Canadian border.
It is well written with great descriptions of people and places. The author accounts for minute details and for me I could picture it as if it was a movie. The book is fairly linear where there are no big events that stand out.
If a reader enjoys a nice quick procedural thriller that doesn’t involve big scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat, this is a great book to read. Oh and there is a cool coyote, with blue eyes, that seems to be Ethan’s spirit animal hanging around his home
June 15, 2024
A great police procedural focusing on a small town murder mystery in the Pacific Northwest. The colorful characters and intriguing plot reminded me of the early writings of Elmore Leonard. I’m hoping this will be the beginning of a new series. Highly recommended!
July 24, 2024
This authors debut novel. I really liked these characters. I hope he writes more with this protagonist.
December 9, 2023
A Lonesome Place to Die:
The first day Ethan Brand took over as the local sheriff of the seaside town of Blaine, a dead woman is discovered beside the railroad tracks.
With just enough red herrings to keep you guessing until the incredibly clever conclusion, this is the ideal whodunit.
My only complaint is the reader is drawn into this gripping tale, then the pace is abruptly interrupted by flashbacks to past relationships, relatives, etc.
An independent review thanks to NetGalley / Crooked Lane Books
The first day Ethan Brand took over as the local sheriff of the seaside town of Blaine, a dead woman is discovered beside the railroad tracks.
With just enough red herrings to keep you guessing until the incredibly clever conclusion, this is the ideal whodunit.
My only complaint is the reader is drawn into this gripping tale, then the pace is abruptly interrupted by flashbacks to past relationships, relatives, etc.
An independent review thanks to NetGalley / Crooked Lane Books
October 15, 2023
Set in a small NW town on the Atlantic ocean, a policeman becomes the chief - a job that came with a big bunch of problems, mostly political and personality clashes. In his first week there is a murder, a missing person or two, and death threats to the chief. If you like these kinds of novels you'll prob really like this one. The last chapter was a kicker!
Netgalley provided me with an advanced readers copy, for whom I thank.
Netgalley provided me with an advanced readers copy, for whom I thank.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2024
I think this was a solid start to a series. My personal opinion, I would have rather they spent a little more time on the mystery and a little less time on the chiefs personal life.
March 4, 2024
Begins with a mystery out of the gate and moves along a steady pace. Dropped a twist at the end and a few surprises. I really like Ethan, new Chief in small town Blaine, a vet who lost part of his foot to an IED, laid back with plenty of moxy. A Lonesome Place for Dying was like a slow moving Soap Opera providing a few what moments, as well as cheating, murder and more. I get that cheating happens in real life and that in A Lonesome Place for Dying it plays a part, but it doesn't score points for me. The coyote we meet in the beginning and pops up around was a nice touch. I would definitely read another book by Nolan Chase and would hope Ethan could have his series and maybe get a little more integrity in his personal life like he has on the job. Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #ALonesomePlaceforDying #NolanChase #CrookedLaneBooks #NetGalley
June 1, 2024
Is there such a thing as a languid thriller? If so then Nolan Chase has brought it to life with his dreamy pacing. There is so much going on below the surface in the idyllic Blaine, a small seaside town that is a traveling thoroughfare for the Pacific Northwest to Canada and back. A murder occurred on Ethan Brand’s first day as Police Chief for Blaine. This crime and other threats will only resolve at their speed and not on Ethan’s preferred timetable. Ethan can’t trust friends or foes in this intricately woven novel. This book occupies that same space as Robert Parker’s Jesse Stone novels with dialogue parsed from Elmore Leonard's criminal tales. There is also a killer that brought to mind the portrayal of Frank Nitti in the 1987 film The Untouchables. I was very impressed with Nolan Chase’s writing, especially the conclusion.
March 1, 2024
A Lonesome Place for Dying is a combination of the dynamics of living and working in a small town, excellent character development, thoughtful and provocative dialogue, and a murder where the killers are no surprise but obtaining proof is a real challenge, and an unexpected twist at the end revealed by the persistence and intuition of the main character. Highly recommended for fans of William Kent Kreuger.
July 3, 2024
Good intro to a series. Lots of characters introduced. A mysterious blue-eyed coyote appears multiple times without much explanation. Maybe in a future book.
I'm interested to see if, in a sequel, the main character (1) gets a cat; (2) sees more of the coyote; (3) reconciles with his wife.
I liked the setting and the realities of small town life. I am interested in reading a sequel.
I'm interested to see if, in a sequel, the main character (1) gets a cat; (2) sees more of the coyote; (3) reconciles with his wife.
I liked the setting and the realities of small town life. I am interested in reading a sequel.
July 25, 2025
The book is more of a 3.5 rating. It is an interesting murder mystery that takes place not far from here in Blaine Washington. This made it interesting because I recognized a lot of the place names. There were a few moments where something seemed off with a detail in the story, but overall it was a worthwhile read.
July 7, 2025
Another great read that keeps you guessing and, in this case, to the very last page!
December 11, 2023
EXCELLENT DEBUT—A MYSTERY WHERE EMOTIONS AND MURDER MIX
It’s Ethan Brandt’s first day on the job … well, first day as Chief of Police, anyway. He had been a detective until Chief Frank Keogh decided to retire and appoint Brandt as his replacement. While Brandt is fine with the promotion, someone in town is not. It’s why he awakens to finding an animal’s heart and a death threat on his front porch. But in no longer time than it takes to say, “Take these to forensics and see what they can find,” there’s an even bigger catastrophe. A young woman is found dead near the railroad tracks that accommodate the scummy art of drug and human trafficking. Murdered by someone mistaking the victim’s neck for a piece of pie, the knife seems to have cut through several arteries before leaving her to bleed her way to a very premature death. Suddenly, the easy-peasy town of Blaine, Washington isn’t so temperate, especially when the mayor openly questions if perhaps Brandt is the wrong man for the job. It’s a signal for Brandt to step up his game and hit several game-winning home runs all while healing from the pain caused by a total eclipse of the heart.
The above is the premise of Chase Nolan’s A LONESOME PLACE FOR DYING. The mystery is the author’s debut novel, and I’d say he’s done an excellent job in introducing readers to Ethan Brandt, a very introspective, soul-searching type of lead character. He's the type of man that wears his heart on his sleeve while slogging through clues and personalities that more times than not clash with his own. But being “authoritative” is a process and one that must be earned. And so this first stage in the development of his new persona begins here, with a severe reflection on his loves and losses, and whether they are the items he carries with him to the next step up the ladder or the baggage he tosses away. There’s also the very real decision to be made on how he talks, addresses, and behaves. Does he treat others how the “old” version of himself has historically done? Or does he fashion an improved model that can effectively deal with his new responsibilities and put him on an equal footing with others he used to consider superiors? And throughout this search for what is relevant, there is the science of murder.
The intertwining of the two cases is nicely handled. In terms of the murder investigation, his team of detectives does credible work in discovering solid leads as to who the victim is, and why someone might have a motive to kill her, but “might” kill isn’t “did” kill. It’s why the investigation needs to go deeper … into interpersonal relationships that are slowly unwrapped. Meanwhile, Brandt keeps his own finger on the pulse of what is going on in the search for the person who wants him dead. The twists and turns of both cases add to the complexity of the plot and keep us mentally hopping. It's all very psychologically engaging to find out what paths he chooses and opts out of in keeping his head above water while in the midst of diving into his tragically intimate memories. This type of character study is right up my alley. Loved the fleshing out of grudges that may have triggered the death threat and the murder, and thoroughly enjoyed the looking under rocks and in basements to discover who did what to whom and why. The pace is a stalking one that adds tension and gives us time to think.
So if you’re looking for a new mystery to sink your teeth into and a new author to embrace, I recommend A LONESOME PLACE FOR DYING. It’s retro in feel and has enough grit to stay with you for long after the last word is read. Nolan Chase has the chops to stick around awhile, and I look forward to reading more. Five stars from me. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an ARC copy.
It’s Ethan Brandt’s first day on the job … well, first day as Chief of Police, anyway. He had been a detective until Chief Frank Keogh decided to retire and appoint Brandt as his replacement. While Brandt is fine with the promotion, someone in town is not. It’s why he awakens to finding an animal’s heart and a death threat on his front porch. But in no longer time than it takes to say, “Take these to forensics and see what they can find,” there’s an even bigger catastrophe. A young woman is found dead near the railroad tracks that accommodate the scummy art of drug and human trafficking. Murdered by someone mistaking the victim’s neck for a piece of pie, the knife seems to have cut through several arteries before leaving her to bleed her way to a very premature death. Suddenly, the easy-peasy town of Blaine, Washington isn’t so temperate, especially when the mayor openly questions if perhaps Brandt is the wrong man for the job. It’s a signal for Brandt to step up his game and hit several game-winning home runs all while healing from the pain caused by a total eclipse of the heart.
The above is the premise of Chase Nolan’s A LONESOME PLACE FOR DYING. The mystery is the author’s debut novel, and I’d say he’s done an excellent job in introducing readers to Ethan Brandt, a very introspective, soul-searching type of lead character. He's the type of man that wears his heart on his sleeve while slogging through clues and personalities that more times than not clash with his own. But being “authoritative” is a process and one that must be earned. And so this first stage in the development of his new persona begins here, with a severe reflection on his loves and losses, and whether they are the items he carries with him to the next step up the ladder or the baggage he tosses away. There’s also the very real decision to be made on how he talks, addresses, and behaves. Does he treat others how the “old” version of himself has historically done? Or does he fashion an improved model that can effectively deal with his new responsibilities and put him on an equal footing with others he used to consider superiors? And throughout this search for what is relevant, there is the science of murder.
The intertwining of the two cases is nicely handled. In terms of the murder investigation, his team of detectives does credible work in discovering solid leads as to who the victim is, and why someone might have a motive to kill her, but “might” kill isn’t “did” kill. It’s why the investigation needs to go deeper … into interpersonal relationships that are slowly unwrapped. Meanwhile, Brandt keeps his own finger on the pulse of what is going on in the search for the person who wants him dead. The twists and turns of both cases add to the complexity of the plot and keep us mentally hopping. It's all very psychologically engaging to find out what paths he chooses and opts out of in keeping his head above water while in the midst of diving into his tragically intimate memories. This type of character study is right up my alley. Loved the fleshing out of grudges that may have triggered the death threat and the murder, and thoroughly enjoyed the looking under rocks and in basements to discover who did what to whom and why. The pace is a stalking one that adds tension and gives us time to think.
So if you’re looking for a new mystery to sink your teeth into and a new author to embrace, I recommend A LONESOME PLACE FOR DYING. It’s retro in feel and has enough grit to stay with you for long after the last word is read. Nolan Chase has the chops to stick around awhile, and I look forward to reading more. Five stars from me. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an ARC copy.
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May 24, 2024So-So
After reading a sample, I bought the book. The premise…new Police Chief in a small town seemed promising. The protagonist, a seriously injured veteran overcoming physical and psychological trauma to serve honorably as a Police Officer and then Chief of his hometown police department….also promising. But the book was a disappointment. Perhaps because of my thirty pulse years in law enforcement. The investigation didn’t ring true. And in this genre, authenticity or maybe plausibility is important to me. But, more than that…the plot didn’t flow. The characters weren’t appealing. So, I can’t recommend this book. It’s been done so much better. If the premise is appealing, I would strongly recommend Police Chief by John Ball or Night Passages by Robert Parker.
After reading a sample, I bought the book. The premise…new Police Chief in a small town seemed promising. The protagonist, a seriously injured veteran overcoming physical and psychological trauma to serve honorably as a Police Officer and then Chief of his hometown police department….also promising. But the book was a disappointment. Perhaps because of my thirty pulse years in law enforcement. The investigation didn’t ring true. And in this genre, authenticity or maybe plausibility is important to me. But, more than that…the plot didn’t flow. The characters weren’t appealing. So, I can’t recommend this book. It’s been done so much better. If the premise is appealing, I would strongly recommend Police Chief by John Ball or Night Passages by Robert Parker.
August 1, 2024
Spoiler: if you like your stories replete with legal errors including major violations of constitutional rights, this one is for you. Don't listen to the audio version if you actually know how to pronounce Bellingham and Spokane.
December 31, 2024
You can check out my review of this book via this Mystery Scene magazine link: https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-...
May 30, 2024
Interesting ... I actually live in Blaine, WA, where this book is set. And the Blaine described bears scant resemblance to the Blaine I know.
May 11, 2024
A Lonesome Place for Dying: A Novel by Nolan Chase takes the reader to Blaine, Washington, in this very good police procedural. Veteran Ethan Brand has been through some things. He came home, got off the drugs, got on the local police force, and is now 42 years old. He is also now the new chief of police for the town of just over six thousand. The Canadian Border is just north of town with Bellingham, and 90 miles away, Seattle, to the south.
It is April and so the tourists have yet to descend in mass. Things should be somewhat easy on his first day in the new job as he has been on the force for a number of years now and pretty much knows everybody. It also helps he grew up there.
There have been some strange things happening at his house. There is also the stress of being the new boss. Especially when Officer Brenda Lee Paige was skipped over by the former chief, Frank Keogh, when he recommended to the council they appoint, Ethan Brand. Frank’s son, Mal Keogh, also still works in the department and is clearly not ready to recognize Brand as his boss. Frank has also left him the pollical problem as to what to do Officer Cliff Mooney.
He is trying to smooth things over with Brenda Lee, at least a little bit, when Officer Ruiz calls in over the radio and requests assistance out at MO’s Scrapyard on the southeast side of the town. There is a body about a mile and a quarter from the scrapyard. Officer Ruiz was out at the yard on the vandalism call. The owner had thought it was kids and that they were still around on the nearby train tracks. They went looking to see if they could find the kids, or evidence tied into them, and found the body instead.
The deceased woman appears to be in her late twenties. It appears she was stabbed twice in her right side. It was raining until just after midnight and her clothing is dry. There is also no sign of anything around the body. Brand is left to wonder if she, somehow, came off of the train as it rolled by on the tracks a few feet away, or some other way.
What follows is a complicated police procedural that features a lot of world building. Rich and full small town characters including Brand, and a complicated mystery, are all at work here in A Lonesome Place for Dying. It takes familiar tropes, such as the veteran wounded and back home trying to stay sober, and turns them in new ways that reveal depth and nuance of characters. Those side excursions into backstory don’t slow the forward motion of the tale. Instead, they enhance the read.
Everything combines incredibly well together to create a mighty good read. One that hopefully is the start of a series. A Lonesome Place for Dying: A Novel by Nolan Chase is absolutely strongly recommended.
My reading copy was a digital ARC from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley and was provided with no expectation of a review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2024
It is April and so the tourists have yet to descend in mass. Things should be somewhat easy on his first day in the new job as he has been on the force for a number of years now and pretty much knows everybody. It also helps he grew up there.
There have been some strange things happening at his house. There is also the stress of being the new boss. Especially when Officer Brenda Lee Paige was skipped over by the former chief, Frank Keogh, when he recommended to the council they appoint, Ethan Brand. Frank’s son, Mal Keogh, also still works in the department and is clearly not ready to recognize Brand as his boss. Frank has also left him the pollical problem as to what to do Officer Cliff Mooney.
He is trying to smooth things over with Brenda Lee, at least a little bit, when Officer Ruiz calls in over the radio and requests assistance out at MO’s Scrapyard on the southeast side of the town. There is a body about a mile and a quarter from the scrapyard. Officer Ruiz was out at the yard on the vandalism call. The owner had thought it was kids and that they were still around on the nearby train tracks. They went looking to see if they could find the kids, or evidence tied into them, and found the body instead.
The deceased woman appears to be in her late twenties. It appears she was stabbed twice in her right side. It was raining until just after midnight and her clothing is dry. There is also no sign of anything around the body. Brand is left to wonder if she, somehow, came off of the train as it rolled by on the tracks a few feet away, or some other way.
What follows is a complicated police procedural that features a lot of world building. Rich and full small town characters including Brand, and a complicated mystery, are all at work here in A Lonesome Place for Dying. It takes familiar tropes, such as the veteran wounded and back home trying to stay sober, and turns them in new ways that reveal depth and nuance of characters. Those side excursions into backstory don’t slow the forward motion of the tale. Instead, they enhance the read.
Everything combines incredibly well together to create a mighty good read. One that hopefully is the start of a series. A Lonesome Place for Dying: A Novel by Nolan Chase is absolutely strongly recommended.
My reading copy was a digital ARC from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley and was provided with no expectation of a review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2024
April 20, 2024
Ethan Brand is on his first day as sheriff for Blaine, Washington, and his first case is a murder. Ethan is an Afghan war vet who came home with a partial prosthetic foot which he has managed to keep quiet. He's separated from his wife who took their two boys back to Boston to live. He has recently had an affair with the wife of the local big land developer. But she's gone back to her husband to give their marriage another try.
Ethan was the first choice for sheriff in his mentor's - the previous sheriff's - eyes but a female lead deputy with similar experience also wanted the job and was courting members of the city council to get it. Ethan also has to deal with the mayor's nephew who was one of his deputies until he deliberately lost evidence when a local committed suicide. The previous sheriff left firing him to Ethan knowing that firing him with put him on the outs with the mayor.
Besides the turmoil in the small sheriff's department, a murder will really stretch their resources. It is only the third murder in Ethan's years as a deputy on the force. The body of the young woman was found near the train tracks. She was stabbed to death. With the possibility that she jumped or fell from the train, the investigation needs to widen to include the train and its passengers.
But, once identified, there are local suspects to investigate too. The local crime family, well known for smuggling into and out of Canada, is somewhat diminished with the eldest son in prison and the daughter going straight as a travel agent, but the youngest son is determined to carry on the family legacy of crime.
And while investigating Ethan has to deal with threats that indicate that someone wants him gone - or dead. A threatening note, an elk's heart left at his front door, and potshots taken at his truck keep Ethan on his toes and a little distracted from the investigation into the young woman's death.
This was an engaging and entertaining debut mystery. I liked Ethan and liked that he was coming to terms with his new life as a single man and sheriff. The setting was interesting too.
Ethan was the first choice for sheriff in his mentor's - the previous sheriff's - eyes but a female lead deputy with similar experience also wanted the job and was courting members of the city council to get it. Ethan also has to deal with the mayor's nephew who was one of his deputies until he deliberately lost evidence when a local committed suicide. The previous sheriff left firing him to Ethan knowing that firing him with put him on the outs with the mayor.
Besides the turmoil in the small sheriff's department, a murder will really stretch their resources. It is only the third murder in Ethan's years as a deputy on the force. The body of the young woman was found near the train tracks. She was stabbed to death. With the possibility that she jumped or fell from the train, the investigation needs to widen to include the train and its passengers.
But, once identified, there are local suspects to investigate too. The local crime family, well known for smuggling into and out of Canada, is somewhat diminished with the eldest son in prison and the daughter going straight as a travel agent, but the youngest son is determined to carry on the family legacy of crime.
And while investigating Ethan has to deal with threats that indicate that someone wants him gone - or dead. A threatening note, an elk's heart left at his front door, and potshots taken at his truck keep Ethan on his toes and a little distracted from the investigation into the young woman's death.
This was an engaging and entertaining debut mystery. I liked Ethan and liked that he was coming to terms with his new life as a single man and sheriff. The setting was interesting too.
May 4, 2024
A Lonesome Place for Dying by Nolan Chase
Perfect introduction to a new series…if indeed this IS a new series… This story is filled with small town people doing their best, and their worst, every single day of their lives. Ethan Brand, new on the job as police chief, is faced with a murder to solve. Will those he worked with and now is in charge of treat him with respect? Will he be able to live up to the job? How many will be against him and who will stand with him?
What I liked:
* Ethan Brand: ex-Marine, wounded in battle, fifteen years a policeman, just became police chief, separated from his wife and two sons who live on the East Coast, cool, calm, lethal, romantic, thoughtful, a good man with a few flaws – intriguing – would like to learn more about him
* The small-town community with all the typical issues to be faced by the police in such a town
* The police procedural aspects of the murder mystery and the way clues were unearthed
* That the characters felt believable and there were some I began to care about and would like to know more about
* Ethan’s ability to understand, do what is right, and help those he can – he has a big heart
* The hired assassin’s part in the story and wondering if he might show up in the future
* Wondering how Ethan will settle into being Police Chief and if he will find people to spend time with socially if this is a series
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That the case was wrapped up – no cliffhanger
* Finding out that this author also writes under the name Sam Wiebe
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how evil some of the characters were and how willing they were to commit the crimes they did
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Perfect introduction to a new series…if indeed this IS a new series… This story is filled with small town people doing their best, and their worst, every single day of their lives. Ethan Brand, new on the job as police chief, is faced with a murder to solve. Will those he worked with and now is in charge of treat him with respect? Will he be able to live up to the job? How many will be against him and who will stand with him?
What I liked:
* Ethan Brand: ex-Marine, wounded in battle, fifteen years a policeman, just became police chief, separated from his wife and two sons who live on the East Coast, cool, calm, lethal, romantic, thoughtful, a good man with a few flaws – intriguing – would like to learn more about him
* The small-town community with all the typical issues to be faced by the police in such a town
* The police procedural aspects of the murder mystery and the way clues were unearthed
* That the characters felt believable and there were some I began to care about and would like to know more about
* Ethan’s ability to understand, do what is right, and help those he can – he has a big heart
* The hired assassin’s part in the story and wondering if he might show up in the future
* Wondering how Ethan will settle into being Police Chief and if he will find people to spend time with socially if this is a series
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That the case was wrapped up – no cliffhanger
* Finding out that this author also writes under the name Sam Wiebe
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how evil some of the characters were and how willing they were to commit the crimes they did
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
April 4, 2024
It really annoys me when publishers make a big deal out of a title being a ‘DEBUT” - when it’s written under a pseudonym, as this one is. That is disingenuous and disrespectful to the reader at best. Manipulative and deceitful at worst.
Setting aside that bit of annoyance, this is a very solid police procedural. It has everything you could possibly ask for - including sex, drugs and… country music!
The case and characters are complex. There’s just enough small town political intrigue without being over the top. There are a few unexpected twists and turns along the way, including the ending - which nicely sets this up for further instalments in what is intended to be a new series while still wrapping things up nicely in this title.
I downgrade my score just a little bit on two accounts.
First that the story is set alongside the BC/Washington border - but on the south side of the border, in Blaine, Washington. While Vancouver does figure in the story, it is only a bit player. There is no reason why this couldn’t have been set in Vancouver.
Second, while it didn’t necessarily feel like the author was box ticking - he made sure to tick every box you can imagine. His characters include every colour and gender - Black, Brown, Indigenous, gay, straight - and the main character even has a physical disability. My problem was that in almost all cases, that he identified the characters as being this, that or the other was - in almost all instances - irrelevant to the story or the character development. Hence, box-ticking.
All in all, a solid read… with lots to chew on especially from a book club perspective.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
Setting aside that bit of annoyance, this is a very solid police procedural. It has everything you could possibly ask for - including sex, drugs and… country music!
The case and characters are complex. There’s just enough small town political intrigue without being over the top. There are a few unexpected twists and turns along the way, including the ending - which nicely sets this up for further instalments in what is intended to be a new series while still wrapping things up nicely in this title.
I downgrade my score just a little bit on two accounts.
First that the story is set alongside the BC/Washington border - but on the south side of the border, in Blaine, Washington. While Vancouver does figure in the story, it is only a bit player. There is no reason why this couldn’t have been set in Vancouver.
Second, while it didn’t necessarily feel like the author was box ticking - he made sure to tick every box you can imagine. His characters include every colour and gender - Black, Brown, Indigenous, gay, straight - and the main character even has a physical disability. My problem was that in almost all cases, that he identified the characters as being this, that or the other was - in almost all instances - irrelevant to the story or the character development. Hence, box-ticking.
All in all, a solid read… with lots to chew on especially from a book club perspective.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
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