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James Brickman is an investigator for the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Department. When his personal life collides with his work life, he finds himself racing to save a young girl held captive by human traffickers.

With the cooperation of several law enforcement teams and a little help from his new romantic interest, James embarks on a journey to bring justice to the sinister deviants behind the criminal network.

Traversing a peninsula in the Pacific Northwest, this unyielding ex-detective puts his life on the line in the name of righteousness.

5 hours and 16 minutes

6 pages, Audible Audio

Published January 24, 2023

123 people are currently reading
160 people want to read

About the author

Dennis Shock

25 books27 followers

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5 stars
75 (50%)
4 stars
42 (28%)
3 stars
29 (19%)
2 stars
3 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Rellim.
1,676 reviews44 followers
Want to read
June 27, 2023
6/2023 - rec from @jocegermain
3,348 reviews48 followers
February 3, 2023
I enjoyed the narration of Jeff Moon. He is a new narrator to me, I will be looking out for him.

James Brickman is an investigator for the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Department. He finds himself needing and the cooperation of several other law enforcement agencies. A young girl is being held captive by human traffickers. He wants, needs bring down criminal network.

I enjoyed this book, it has the action, pace you need in a thriller/mystery. You could feel the characters,angst and emotions.
Profile Image for gloria marquardt.
733 reviews7 followers
November 16, 2022
An amazing book.

I almost passed this book up.that would have bee a shame. The characters in this book were all well developed and interesting in themselves. I felt as if I were actually there and witnessing the events as they happened.
4 reviews
May 8, 2022
enjoyable

Fun and entertaining novel. I really enjoy the characters and the storyline in the novel . It was a very quick and easy read.
Profile Image for Lindzey McCall.
9 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2022
Great Read

This book was a treasure to read. Many characters described so well and a thrilling and captivating plot.

Looking forward to book #2 and Brick’s next adventure.
1 review
March 17, 2023
Beckman easy

For a first novel this is a hit. Easy reading, good characters. Believable action and well drawn baddies. A satisfying read. Thank you Drinks.
Profile Image for Jocelyne.
4,951 reviews22 followers
June 15, 2023
This was my first Dennis Shock's book, and won't be my last. This is the first book in The James Brickman Series, a suspenseful police procedural series. I highly recommend to read the short prequel First Murder, before this one. Brick (James Brickman) is an investigator for the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Department (after a very short career as a Detective). He is an amazing character. I liked his sharp mind, his determination, and his dedication. The supporting characters are great and intriguing. The story is told from multiple POVs, which is great. The plot is well crafted, and captivating. The storyline is fast-paced, and entertaining, filled with mystery, drama, humor, and twists and turns. The little romance is a great addition to the story. Jeff Moon did an excellent job bringing this story to life. I enjoyed it. Looking forward to listening to Justice for the Guilty, the next book in the series. I highly recommend this series.
Profile Image for Patience.
27 reviews1 follower
December 23, 2025
This crime thriller was a perfect palate cleanser for me! It was written in a clear, conversational tone that made it an easy read, and it conveyed each character and situation in an authentic and relatable way. Brick is an overall likable, laid-back, good guy who is willing to fight for justice for those who have been victimized. I loved Brick’s personality along with his willingness to sacrifice his own safety to ensure those he cared for remained safe. In a story that highlights realistic, modern-day fear and potential danger, that dedication to his career and chosen family stood out to me as especially admirable. All of the side characters were endearing in their own way, each having their own unique story and personality that shone through easily. What stood out to me was the complexity of the criminal network Brick was pursuing justice against; I found it wholly incredible that it could be so well-developed in a book as short as this one!

The pacing was perfect for holding my interest while balancing investigative progress and a blossoming romantic interest. This book did not limit itself to only crime, but included aspects of family, friendship, deceit, grief, and the familiar hope of rebuilding a life that looks much different than the one you’d planned for. Successfully evoking a range of emotions within me, ranging from disgust to shock and even amusement, this book laid a foundation that left me eager to read the next book in the James Brickman series, curious to see what developments come next, whether crime or relationship focused.
36 reviews
November 5, 2022
Needs more work

The plot is nice, with some twists. Both the narrative and the dialogue are too talky, and need to be slimmed down. The spelling is horrid for a published work, with simple words such as “brakes” and “sheriff” sometimes misspelled, detracting from an entertaining mystery.
Profile Image for Ann.
1,946 reviews33 followers
September 19, 2023
I enjoyed this fast paced, action- packed murder mystery of a human trafficking ring. Brickman a sheriff consultant got a call from a friend about a missing niece. This set off the search and solving of the wrong-doings. Jeff Moon narrated the book well.
496 reviews15 followers
April 13, 2024
Great Mystery

This is a fast paced fully fledged great mystery with a touch of romance. Dennis Shock does a great job with descriptions to paint each scene with enough info to provide us with the story and the answers. Loved it.
359 reviews
February 28, 2026
The Link

Awesome read, characters, and storyline. Great detective work. A friends husband gets killed and the friend works on solving the case with other law enforcement. This book really keeps your attention. Hard for me to put down. Definitely a must read. A+++++
7 reviews
October 13, 2023
thrilling

I love stories about my area. Seattle Bremerton Poulsbo
Silverdale Fort Worden.
It kept me inthralled the whole way through.
Profile Image for Michael Altieri.
204 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2025
Excellent

Great characters and a good storyline. It has all of the elements that are necessary to create an excellent thriller.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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