What do you think?
Rate this book
Farrell and Kearns #1
Wounded Prey
“It’s time to finish what he started…”A young girl is snatched in broad daylight from outside her school and later found brutally murdered and hanging from a tree.When recently retired San Francisco Police Inspector, Bob Farrell, sees this on the news, he realises his worst nightmare has just come true. The same brutal killer a government agency stopped him from putting away twenty years before is once more on the loose.As the killer wreaks a trail of blood and destruction across North America, Bob Farrell sets out to track him down.But Farrell’s not playing by the rules any more than the killer is, and soon the FBI have both of them in their sights…From the Trade Paperback edition.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2013
104 people are currently reading
1070 people want to read
About the author
Sean Lynch
43 books57 followersSean Lynch served as an enlisted infantryman and spent three decades as a municipal police officer in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Learn more at www.seanlynchbooks.com
Learn more at www.seanlynchbooks.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
May 18, 2013
Rookie cop Kevin Kearns witnesses a child abduction and gets his ass handed to him by the perp, one Vernon Slocum. The girl winds up dead a short time later and Kearns finds himself the scapegoat. When a retired cop with a history of his own with Slocum, Bob Farrell, shows up offering him a chance at redemption, Kearns jumps at the chance. But will even two lawmen be enough to bring in a remorseless killing machine like Slocum?
First off, the official stuff: I got this ARC from Exhibit A in exchange for reviewing it. I'm a huge Angry Robot fan so when I heard they were launching a crime line, I sprung into action and nabbed print ARCs of their first two books.
Wounded Prey is the tale of a deranged psychopathic ex-marine and the two men bent on stopping his killing spree... permanently!
Sean Lynch's debut effort is quite something. This is one brutal book. The good guys don't walk out smelling like roses and the bad guy winds up smelling like something else altogether. Damn near every member of the cast goes through the meat grinder, some multiple times.
The two protagonists, rookie cop Kevin Kearns, and retired cop Bob Farrell are at opposite ends of their respective careers and complement one another nicely. I thought Kearns was a little light on personality but Farrell won me over after only a couple pages. Farrell was part mentor, part bad influence, making for an enjoyable read whenever the two were on stage at the same time.
And the villain, oh, the villain. Vern Slocum was one scary bastard and the idea of someone like him freely wandering around instead of being locked up was pretty chilling. He was rotten to the core but, given his background, didn't have much of a chance to be otherwise. On my all time list of deranged killing machines, he has to be near the top. It's pretty easy to hate a guy that's tougher than the heroes, a better shot, and a child rapist/killer to boot.
The FBI are caught in the middle. Scanlon's an asshole but he's trying to do his job. I was kind of hoping he'd join Kearns and Farrell in putting down Slocum but it wasn't in the cards.
The writing was pretty good, especially when Lynch was writing Farrell. Can you tell Farrell was my favorite character? I'll be interested in further books about Farrell and Kearns.
I do have a minor gripe. If A Farrell and Kearns thriller wasn't displayed above the title, there would have been a lot more suspense. Since Wounded Prey is the first book in a series, I knew neither of the leads would be taking the dirt nap. Other than that, not a gripe to be had. Four stars!
First off, the official stuff: I got this ARC from Exhibit A in exchange for reviewing it. I'm a huge Angry Robot fan so when I heard they were launching a crime line, I sprung into action and nabbed print ARCs of their first two books.
Wounded Prey is the tale of a deranged psychopathic ex-marine and the two men bent on stopping his killing spree... permanently!
Sean Lynch's debut effort is quite something. This is one brutal book. The good guys don't walk out smelling like roses and the bad guy winds up smelling like something else altogether. Damn near every member of the cast goes through the meat grinder, some multiple times.
The two protagonists, rookie cop Kevin Kearns, and retired cop Bob Farrell are at opposite ends of their respective careers and complement one another nicely. I thought Kearns was a little light on personality but Farrell won me over after only a couple pages. Farrell was part mentor, part bad influence, making for an enjoyable read whenever the two were on stage at the same time.
And the villain, oh, the villain. Vern Slocum was one scary bastard and the idea of someone like him freely wandering around instead of being locked up was pretty chilling. He was rotten to the core but, given his background, didn't have much of a chance to be otherwise. On my all time list of deranged killing machines, he has to be near the top. It's pretty easy to hate a guy that's tougher than the heroes, a better shot, and a child rapist/killer to boot.
The FBI are caught in the middle. Scanlon's an asshole but he's trying to do his job. I was kind of hoping he'd join Kearns and Farrell in putting down Slocum but it wasn't in the cards.
The writing was pretty good, especially when Lynch was writing Farrell. Can you tell Farrell was my favorite character? I'll be interested in further books about Farrell and Kearns.
I do have a minor gripe. If A Farrell and Kearns thriller wasn't displayed above the title, there would have been a lot more suspense. Since Wounded Prey is the first book in a series, I knew neither of the leads would be taking the dirt nap. Other than that, not a gripe to be had. Four stars!
September 23, 2024
What an exceptional read this was. I love a crime thriller with a nasty BAD serial killer in it, the serial killer in this book is one of the darkest and most evil I have come across. The fear of him kind of bounced off the pages into my home. And I have come across a lot of them in my reading lifetime.
This is a crime thriller that is a cut above many I have read, I can't praise it enough. With smooth prose, very believable and very flawed characters (more than one) this book is one of those that sucks you in until time and life just falls away as you read rapidly, there is no such thing as "I will stop at this chapter". Nope, prepare for lock down if you pick this one up.
An exceptional novel that I honestly can't compare to any other crime writer. I just know I am a now a fan and can't wait to read more of this series. Here is the book blurb:
IT'S TIME TO FINISH WHAT HE STARTED…
A young girl is snatched from her rural Iowa school in broad daylight. The child is later found murdered, her body hanging from a tree.
When retired San Francisco Police Inspector Bob Farrell reads a newspaper account of the horrific crime, he realizes his worst nightmare has come true. The same remorseless predator a government agency stopped him from putting away twenty years before is once more on the loose.
Farrell enlists the aid of rookie Iowa deputy Kevins Kearns, who is tortured by his inability to prevent the kidnapping. As the murderer wreaks a trail of blood and destruction across North America, the duo sets out to track down their lethal prey.
But Farrell and Kearns aren't playing by the rules any more than the killer is, and soon the F.B.I. has them all in its sights…
Oh the plot! That is just a taster of what this novel consists of. It weaves it's magic right from the very first pages and does not weaken one little bit. Right up to the very ending it's both heart-wrenching and adrenalin-pumping moments. Relentlessly so. These two renegades are not playing by the rules (that is a huge understatement) in the hunt for this serial killer who makes other serial killers look like mere imposters. Evil is what he is, pure evil. You won't like him, nope, not one little bit. Nothing made me pity him. Nothing.
The book can be disturbing, but in more than just a visual sense, but in where it goes into the dark depths of the human psyche. What's even more scary is I bet there was and is this type of human killing machine that has come from the same place and same background that the one in this book did. I can't mention the name as it's a spoiler.
Author Sean Lynch has a background in Law Enforcement and it shows, in the tight plotting, knowledge of the system and ability to write this genre exceptionally well. There is just that "something special" that makes this one a stand out over my years of reading crime thrillers.
The man-hunt takes us with them, on the highways and byways and you will not be bored for one moment. There are plenty of surprises and shocking moments in it to keep you wide awake and on full alert for where the bad guy might pop up next.
Simply brilliant writing, top notch crime fiction, outstandingly written characters, a plot that I found interesting, disturbing and original and an ending that had me on the edge of my seat. This dear readers would make an oustanding movie. Loved it. Every bit of it. Highly recommended. Five paw prints from Booklover Catlady for Wounded Prey.
Many thanks to the author Sean Lynch for the opportunity to review his book via NetGalley, I hope he keeps me on his list for more ARC's
This is a crime thriller that is a cut above many I have read, I can't praise it enough. With smooth prose, very believable and very flawed characters (more than one) this book is one of those that sucks you in until time and life just falls away as you read rapidly, there is no such thing as "I will stop at this chapter". Nope, prepare for lock down if you pick this one up.
An exceptional novel that I honestly can't compare to any other crime writer. I just know I am a now a fan and can't wait to read more of this series. Here is the book blurb:
IT'S TIME TO FINISH WHAT HE STARTED…
A young girl is snatched from her rural Iowa school in broad daylight. The child is later found murdered, her body hanging from a tree.
When retired San Francisco Police Inspector Bob Farrell reads a newspaper account of the horrific crime, he realizes his worst nightmare has come true. The same remorseless predator a government agency stopped him from putting away twenty years before is once more on the loose.
Farrell enlists the aid of rookie Iowa deputy Kevins Kearns, who is tortured by his inability to prevent the kidnapping. As the murderer wreaks a trail of blood and destruction across North America, the duo sets out to track down their lethal prey.
But Farrell and Kearns aren't playing by the rules any more than the killer is, and soon the F.B.I. has them all in its sights…
Oh the plot! That is just a taster of what this novel consists of. It weaves it's magic right from the very first pages and does not weaken one little bit. Right up to the very ending it's both heart-wrenching and adrenalin-pumping moments. Relentlessly so. These two renegades are not playing by the rules (that is a huge understatement) in the hunt for this serial killer who makes other serial killers look like mere imposters. Evil is what he is, pure evil. You won't like him, nope, not one little bit. Nothing made me pity him. Nothing.
The book can be disturbing, but in more than just a visual sense, but in where it goes into the dark depths of the human psyche. What's even more scary is I bet there was and is this type of human killing machine that has come from the same place and same background that the one in this book did. I can't mention the name as it's a spoiler.
Author Sean Lynch has a background in Law Enforcement and it shows, in the tight plotting, knowledge of the system and ability to write this genre exceptionally well. There is just that "something special" that makes this one a stand out over my years of reading crime thrillers.
The man-hunt takes us with them, on the highways and byways and you will not be bored for one moment. There are plenty of surprises and shocking moments in it to keep you wide awake and on full alert for where the bad guy might pop up next.
Simply brilliant writing, top notch crime fiction, outstandingly written characters, a plot that I found interesting, disturbing and original and an ending that had me on the edge of my seat. This dear readers would make an oustanding movie. Loved it. Every bit of it. Highly recommended. Five paw prints from Booklover Catlady for Wounded Prey.
Many thanks to the author Sean Lynch for the opportunity to review his book via NetGalley, I hope he keeps me on his list for more ARC's
September 11, 2016
This book is a combination of a lot of old standard themes: the "buddy" cops gone rogue, older cop mentor/green rookie & the evil FBI. There are lots of bullets flying, bleeding and/or dead bodies & vigilantism. So if you're a fan of B grade action movies that are heavy on violence but light on character development & realism, this is for you.
Kevin Kearns, our rookie, has been an Iowa Dep. sheriff for about 6 months & his career may already be over. He tried to stop a child abduction but it ended up with the bad guy escaping & the little girl murdered in horrific fashion. Now he's been detained by the FBI, his boss is using him as a scapegoat & the whole town seems to blame him.
Bob Farrell, a former San Francisco police inspector, is trying to enjoy retirement. Finally divorced (again) & with too much free time, he's bored. Reading the paper one day, he comes across the story of a child abduction/murder. And he recognizes the killer's MO.
20 years ago when Bob was an MP in Vietnam, he tried to court marshall an american marine with a penchant for raping women & children before hanging them upside down with slashed throats. But the brass was more concerned with bad PR & quietly tucked him away in a psych hospital. Bob has never forgotten Lance Corp. Vernon Slocum, a man completely devoid of humanity. Now it looks like he's out & reliving the good old days & Bob decides it's up to him to put the freak down permanently.
One road trip later & Bob meets up with Kevin, disguised as his lawyer. Kevin identifies Slocum from the documents Bob has kept all these years & hears the whole story. Bob has a proposition. He convinces Kevin his career is basically over & they are the only ones who can bring Slocum down. And so the carnage begins.
What follows is the story of these two tracing our psychopath across the country as he leaves a trail of bodies in his wake. Along the way, they punch out FBI agents, break nto government files, steal cars & guns, threaten & rob police officers & kill bad guys. In alternating chapters, we travel with Slocum & learn of his horrific childhood as he murders everyone in his path, blows up a meth lab & continues stringing up his rape victims.
Besides the violence, this book is full of cliches. You have the alcoholic, good ol' boy sheriff, the world weary cop who drinks/smokes too much & virtually every FBI agent is depicted as arrogant and incompetent. Scanlon, the agent in charge, is portrayed as vindictive & completely inept & some of his actions defy credibility (he assaults an innocent woman in her hospital bed? seriously? Real FBI agents must love books like this). I know it's a popular plot device for authors, the age old turf battle between local cops & the bureau but it's taken to extremes here. Also, despite our dynamic duo breaking about a kabillion laws & constantly endangering the public, apparently it's ok because they're the good guys.
The dialogue is simple & short on any real humour that would have added much needed comic relief. Many passages deal with extreme child abuse so brace yourself for graphic & disturbing descriptions. There are lots of holes in the plot that require readers to completely suspend their disbelief & ignore logic but I think you get the gist. The ending is never in doubt & there's a nice, tidy resolution.
So it all boils down to what you enjoy reading & what you're prepared to give up for the sake of action.
Kevin Kearns, our rookie, has been an Iowa Dep. sheriff for about 6 months & his career may already be over. He tried to stop a child abduction but it ended up with the bad guy escaping & the little girl murdered in horrific fashion. Now he's been detained by the FBI, his boss is using him as a scapegoat & the whole town seems to blame him.
Bob Farrell, a former San Francisco police inspector, is trying to enjoy retirement. Finally divorced (again) & with too much free time, he's bored. Reading the paper one day, he comes across the story of a child abduction/murder. And he recognizes the killer's MO.
20 years ago when Bob was an MP in Vietnam, he tried to court marshall an american marine with a penchant for raping women & children before hanging them upside down with slashed throats. But the brass was more concerned with bad PR & quietly tucked him away in a psych hospital. Bob has never forgotten Lance Corp. Vernon Slocum, a man completely devoid of humanity. Now it looks like he's out & reliving the good old days & Bob decides it's up to him to put the freak down permanently.
One road trip later & Bob meets up with Kevin, disguised as his lawyer. Kevin identifies Slocum from the documents Bob has kept all these years & hears the whole story. Bob has a proposition. He convinces Kevin his career is basically over & they are the only ones who can bring Slocum down. And so the carnage begins.
What follows is the story of these two tracing our psychopath across the country as he leaves a trail of bodies in his wake. Along the way, they punch out FBI agents, break nto government files, steal cars & guns, threaten & rob police officers & kill bad guys. In alternating chapters, we travel with Slocum & learn of his horrific childhood as he murders everyone in his path, blows up a meth lab & continues stringing up his rape victims.
Besides the violence, this book is full of cliches. You have the alcoholic, good ol' boy sheriff, the world weary cop who drinks/smokes too much & virtually every FBI agent is depicted as arrogant and incompetent. Scanlon, the agent in charge, is portrayed as vindictive & completely inept & some of his actions defy credibility (he assaults an innocent woman in her hospital bed? seriously? Real FBI agents must love books like this). I know it's a popular plot device for authors, the age old turf battle between local cops & the bureau but it's taken to extremes here. Also, despite our dynamic duo breaking about a kabillion laws & constantly endangering the public, apparently it's ok because they're the good guys.
The dialogue is simple & short on any real humour that would have added much needed comic relief. Many passages deal with extreme child abuse so brace yourself for graphic & disturbing descriptions. There are lots of holes in the plot that require readers to completely suspend their disbelief & ignore logic but I think you get the gist. The ending is never in doubt & there's a nice, tidy resolution.
So it all boils down to what you enjoy reading & what you're prepared to give up for the sake of action.
May 23, 2013
You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2013/05/...
In 1967, when Staff Sergeant Bob Ferrell investigates the brutal death of a Saigon prostitute’s young son, he’s led directly to 20 year old Lance Corporal Vernon Emil Slocum, a violent bruiser who’s racked up a ton of medals during combat, but whose fellow soldiers have noticed behavior that defies the norm, and the definition of “normal” in Vietnam was already stretched to the limit. An obvious limp was the big identifier and after injuring the officers assigned to bring him to Ferrell, he’s finally subdued. Ferrell only has to look into Slocum’s eyes to know he’s dealing with evil and he assumes he’ll be brought to trial for the murder of the young boy. That’s not to be, however. Ferrell is unceremoniously told his investigation is over, and he won’t see Slocum for another 20 years.
In 1987, Iowa rookie cop Kevin Kearns happens upon a scene in a schoolyard and intervenes. A large man is brazenly attempting to kidnap a young girl in front of the rest of her class, and her teacher. Unfortunately, the man proves too much for Kearns, and the suspect manages to shoot the teacher, who tried to help, and gets away with the girl. Later, the little girl is found hanging from a tree at a rest stop with her throat cut. Unfortunately, the public, and the sheriff, who is up for reelection, needs a scapegoat, and that scapegoat is now Kevin Kearns.
Bob Ferrell is now a retired San Francisco cop living on his own, drinking and smoking too much, and wondering how everything seemed to have gotten away from him. His daughter is in college and they don’t talk much, and he’s gone through two wives. While looking at the paper, he notices the headline of the Iowa incident, and when he reads the details of how the little girl was killed, there’s no doubt in his mind that this killer is the same one he encountered in Saigon 20 years ago. After getting a line on Slocum’s whereabouts since 1967, Ferrell loads up and drives to Iowa to make a proposal to Kevin Kearns, one that could alter his future forever.
Wounded Prey is former San Francisco detective Sean Lynch’s first novel, and boy is it a doozy. Bob Farrell is a man out to settle a 20 year score, and he uses his police skills to fine effect as he cons his way into Kevin Kearns life and pretty much abducts him to convince him to hunt down Slocum. Kearns’s police career has barely started, but it seems sure to end soon, and the guilt he feels over the little girl’s death at Slocum’s hands is eating him from the inside. He has absolutely nothing to lose and no family to think of as he considers Ferrell’s proposal. Revenge and retribution are a heady combo, and they both drive the two men as they hunt down one of the most fearsome killers the state of Iowa has ever seen. The narrative switches back and forth from Ferrell and Kearns, and Slocum, and the scenes with Slocum are chilling; a portrait of a man that has sunk so far into depravity there is not hope for his return. He is an intrinsic part of the dark now, and he has no intentions of letting Ferrell and Kearns catch up now.
Wounded Prey heads into some pretty dark territory, and although it’s never gratuitous, the subject matter is deeply disturbing, but for me, that just made me want to see Slocum taken down even more. Slocum is a beast and a true monster, and strangely enough, Farrell and Kearns are just the men to take him down. With the FBI on their tail, they follow the body trail, hoping to catch their man before more children die. If you love a good thriller, you’ll blaze through this one, and personally, I can’t wait for the next Farrell and Kearns novel! What a great debut!
In 1967, when Staff Sergeant Bob Ferrell investigates the brutal death of a Saigon prostitute’s young son, he’s led directly to 20 year old Lance Corporal Vernon Emil Slocum, a violent bruiser who’s racked up a ton of medals during combat, but whose fellow soldiers have noticed behavior that defies the norm, and the definition of “normal” in Vietnam was already stretched to the limit. An obvious limp was the big identifier and after injuring the officers assigned to bring him to Ferrell, he’s finally subdued. Ferrell only has to look into Slocum’s eyes to know he’s dealing with evil and he assumes he’ll be brought to trial for the murder of the young boy. That’s not to be, however. Ferrell is unceremoniously told his investigation is over, and he won’t see Slocum for another 20 years.
In 1987, Iowa rookie cop Kevin Kearns happens upon a scene in a schoolyard and intervenes. A large man is brazenly attempting to kidnap a young girl in front of the rest of her class, and her teacher. Unfortunately, the man proves too much for Kearns, and the suspect manages to shoot the teacher, who tried to help, and gets away with the girl. Later, the little girl is found hanging from a tree at a rest stop with her throat cut. Unfortunately, the public, and the sheriff, who is up for reelection, needs a scapegoat, and that scapegoat is now Kevin Kearns.
Bob Ferrell is now a retired San Francisco cop living on his own, drinking and smoking too much, and wondering how everything seemed to have gotten away from him. His daughter is in college and they don’t talk much, and he’s gone through two wives. While looking at the paper, he notices the headline of the Iowa incident, and when he reads the details of how the little girl was killed, there’s no doubt in his mind that this killer is the same one he encountered in Saigon 20 years ago. After getting a line on Slocum’s whereabouts since 1967, Ferrell loads up and drives to Iowa to make a proposal to Kevin Kearns, one that could alter his future forever.
Wounded Prey is former San Francisco detective Sean Lynch’s first novel, and boy is it a doozy. Bob Farrell is a man out to settle a 20 year score, and he uses his police skills to fine effect as he cons his way into Kevin Kearns life and pretty much abducts him to convince him to hunt down Slocum. Kearns’s police career has barely started, but it seems sure to end soon, and the guilt he feels over the little girl’s death at Slocum’s hands is eating him from the inside. He has absolutely nothing to lose and no family to think of as he considers Ferrell’s proposal. Revenge and retribution are a heady combo, and they both drive the two men as they hunt down one of the most fearsome killers the state of Iowa has ever seen. The narrative switches back and forth from Ferrell and Kearns, and Slocum, and the scenes with Slocum are chilling; a portrait of a man that has sunk so far into depravity there is not hope for his return. He is an intrinsic part of the dark now, and he has no intentions of letting Ferrell and Kearns catch up now.
Wounded Prey heads into some pretty dark territory, and although it’s never gratuitous, the subject matter is deeply disturbing, but for me, that just made me want to see Slocum taken down even more. Slocum is a beast and a true monster, and strangely enough, Farrell and Kearns are just the men to take him down. With the FBI on their tail, they follow the body trail, hoping to catch their man before more children die. If you love a good thriller, you’ll blaze through this one, and personally, I can’t wait for the next Farrell and Kearns novel! What a great debut!
April 6, 2013
Disturbing and unsettling topic; but deeply-characterized, good understanding of psychology, well-written.
Review of Wounded Prey by Sean Lynch
5 stars
I reviewed a complimentary e-book copy provided in return for my fair and impartial review.
It’s not too uncommon to find a good novel, but it is more rare to come upon a novel as absorbing as this one, where reading it causes the external environment to drop away and time to pass without noting it. “Wounded Prey” is a very disturbing, graphic, violent, terrifying novel; but it is a novel that deserves a wide readership. Author Sean Lynch has the background in law enforcement to know the nature of his plotting; but even more importantly, he is an excellent writer. “Wounded Prey” so riveted me that I could not set it aside, but simply had to read on to find out the unfolding denouement. Psychologically and legally, the characters and plot are well-grounded, and unfortunately all too plausible. I do have to caution that this novel deals with violence, with sexual offenses against children and adults, and with horrible child abuse, and heavy substance abuse; so readers who are sensitive may wish to skip this one. I consider it not just worth the initial reading, but worthy of re-reading as well. I look for more from author Sean Lynch, as he has become a must-read author for me.
Review of Wounded Prey by Sean Lynch
5 stars
I reviewed a complimentary e-book copy provided in return for my fair and impartial review.
It’s not too uncommon to find a good novel, but it is more rare to come upon a novel as absorbing as this one, where reading it causes the external environment to drop away and time to pass without noting it. “Wounded Prey” is a very disturbing, graphic, violent, terrifying novel; but it is a novel that deserves a wide readership. Author Sean Lynch has the background in law enforcement to know the nature of his plotting; but even more importantly, he is an excellent writer. “Wounded Prey” so riveted me that I could not set it aside, but simply had to read on to find out the unfolding denouement. Psychologically and legally, the characters and plot are well-grounded, and unfortunately all too plausible. I do have to caution that this novel deals with violence, with sexual offenses against children and adults, and with horrible child abuse, and heavy substance abuse; so readers who are sensitive may wish to skip this one. I consider it not just worth the initial reading, but worthy of re-reading as well. I look for more from author Sean Lynch, as he has become a must-read author for me.
April 25, 2013
Needs Warning Labels
Wounded Prey should come with warning labels:
Danger: Very dark places ahead
Don’t start reading on a weekday
I knew that I wanted to read this book, but I didn’t expect that it would be so very, very good.
After a long day of work and a longer evening of homework (long division), I decided to read the first chapter … just to get the taste on my tongue.
I didn’t sleep much that night.
I’m not sure that I would have wanted to with Vern Slocum loose in my mind. The next day I found myself taking long breaks and an extended lunch as I tried to fit in “just one more chapter.” I was done by dinner.
Could. Not. Put. It. Down.
Tight, Dark, Authentic and Very Well-Written
Sean Lynch delivers with a terrifying plausibility that rattles me in places I didn’t know I had.
Vern Slocum is evil. Manufactured, unchecked and seemingly unstoppable evil. You may not believe that the Bogeyman is real, but you will believe that Vern Slocum is.
When Deputy Kevin Kearns stumbles into, but fails to prevent, the abduction of a young girl and the murder of her teacher, he becomes the scapegoat for an outraged community and gets the blame for a flagging FBI investigation.
When retired San Francisco Police Inspector Bob Farrell sees a news report about a little girl in Iowa, murdered, mutilated and hung from a tree, he realizes that an old evil has returned — a killer that he failed to stop 20 years ago.
Farrell makes his way to Iowa and absconds with Deputy Kearns. He knows that, no matter the cost and regardless of the rules, Vernon Slocum must be stopped.
This is not an exaggerated action-hero/buddy-cop story. Farrell and Kearns must use all of their strength, wits and determination to stop Slocum and evade the FBI.
The affections are earned and honest. The pursuit is grueling. The violence is horrifying.
Wounded Prey is well-written, compelling and frighteningly believable.
(originally posted at cheffojeffo.wordpress.com)
Wounded Prey should come with warning labels:
Danger: Very dark places ahead
Don’t start reading on a weekday
I knew that I wanted to read this book, but I didn’t expect that it would be so very, very good.
After a long day of work and a longer evening of homework (long division), I decided to read the first chapter … just to get the taste on my tongue.
I didn’t sleep much that night.
I’m not sure that I would have wanted to with Vern Slocum loose in my mind. The next day I found myself taking long breaks and an extended lunch as I tried to fit in “just one more chapter.” I was done by dinner.
Could. Not. Put. It. Down.
Tight, Dark, Authentic and Very Well-Written
Sean Lynch delivers with a terrifying plausibility that rattles me in places I didn’t know I had.
Vern Slocum is evil. Manufactured, unchecked and seemingly unstoppable evil. You may not believe that the Bogeyman is real, but you will believe that Vern Slocum is.
When Deputy Kevin Kearns stumbles into, but fails to prevent, the abduction of a young girl and the murder of her teacher, he becomes the scapegoat for an outraged community and gets the blame for a flagging FBI investigation.
When retired San Francisco Police Inspector Bob Farrell sees a news report about a little girl in Iowa, murdered, mutilated and hung from a tree, he realizes that an old evil has returned — a killer that he failed to stop 20 years ago.
Farrell makes his way to Iowa and absconds with Deputy Kearns. He knows that, no matter the cost and regardless of the rules, Vernon Slocum must be stopped.
This is not an exaggerated action-hero/buddy-cop story. Farrell and Kearns must use all of their strength, wits and determination to stop Slocum and evade the FBI.
The affections are earned and honest. The pursuit is grueling. The violence is horrifying.
Wounded Prey is well-written, compelling and frighteningly believable.
(originally posted at cheffojeffo.wordpress.com)
July 27, 2013
The Vietnam War provided the perfect opportunity for Vernon Slocum to unleash all of his twisted, murderous rage on the world, a product of his abusive childhood. His skills as a Marine earned him many medals and his commanders and squadmates recognized him as a man who got the job done - and who could easily end them if they questioned his more depraved actions. But when Slocum returns to the real world 20 years later, his kidnapping and brutal murder of a young girl isn't going to go unnoticed.
The story jumps right in with Slocum's depravity - and the valiant, but ultimately failed attempt by rookie deputy Kevin Kearns to save the girl. The FBI turns their attention on Kearns, as does the small town, whose thirst for vengeance will see Kearns burned at the stake for daring to survive where a little girl didn't. Meanwhile, retired cop Bob Farrell recognizes Slocum's MO and is not going to let him slip away again.
This is an introduction to Kearns and Farrell's partnership and Lynch puts a unique spin on the old cop/green cop team up by binding them both so strongly together through the guilt of the little girl's death. Kearns isn't too happy with Farrell's methods, but considering his new scapegoat status and his desire to catch the bad guy, he hesitantly goes along with Farrell's less than legal methods.
Essentially, the two become vigilantes and I really liked the liberation it gives them - knowing the law and being able to slip over and under it without the use of a cape and tights. It also means that the two are as much criminals themselves, adding to the intensity of the hunt.
I really appreciated the authenticity of the characters and the situations. Lynch is clearly drawing on his career to pull together an intense and often gruesome story.
See more reviews at
The BiblioSanctum
The story jumps right in with Slocum's depravity - and the valiant, but ultimately failed attempt by rookie deputy Kevin Kearns to save the girl. The FBI turns their attention on Kearns, as does the small town, whose thirst for vengeance will see Kearns burned at the stake for daring to survive where a little girl didn't. Meanwhile, retired cop Bob Farrell recognizes Slocum's MO and is not going to let him slip away again.
This is an introduction to Kearns and Farrell's partnership and Lynch puts a unique spin on the old cop/green cop team up by binding them both so strongly together through the guilt of the little girl's death. Kearns isn't too happy with Farrell's methods, but considering his new scapegoat status and his desire to catch the bad guy, he hesitantly goes along with Farrell's less than legal methods.
Essentially, the two become vigilantes and I really liked the liberation it gives them - knowing the law and being able to slip over and under it without the use of a cape and tights. It also means that the two are as much criminals themselves, adding to the intensity of the hunt.
I really appreciated the authenticity of the characters and the situations. Lynch is clearly drawing on his career to pull together an intense and often gruesome story.
See more reviews at
The BiblioSanctum
November 19, 2020
I put this in my "It's okay" category. Nothing special but held my interest.
There is no sense of danger for either of the main characters, as the title gives every indication it's the beginning of a series. I wasn't sure how the author, a retired police officer, was depicting the young deputy, Kearns. Was he a young officer who showed humanity or was he a wuss? About halfway through the book the question is answered by a dialogue with Farrell.
Slocum, the bad guy, is very bad indeed. Psycho does not begin to describe him. Anyone who has read some of Michael Slade's early work will know what type of evil character Slocum is.
One can see it has been written by a former police officer by the disdain held for FBI agents by the local police as well as the two protagonists. That seems to be a popular point of view integral to any book written by police.
There is no sense of danger for either of the main characters, as the title gives every indication it's the beginning of a series. I wasn't sure how the author, a retired police officer, was depicting the young deputy, Kearns. Was he a young officer who showed humanity or was he a wuss? About halfway through the book the question is answered by a dialogue with Farrell.
Slocum, the bad guy, is very bad indeed. Psycho does not begin to describe him. Anyone who has read some of Michael Slade's early work will know what type of evil character Slocum is.
One can see it has been written by a former police officer by the disdain held for FBI agents by the local police as well as the two protagonists. That seems to be a popular point of view integral to any book written by police.
July 23, 2013
A memorable manhunt for a Terminator-like, psycho killer on the loose in the heartland. What separates this book from the pack are the characters in the chase, their back stories and motivations. It also helps to have arrogant, glory hunting FBI types hounding the good guys in the chase. This is an outstanding first book in what I hope will be a long running series.
April 8, 2014
Good story, but not written very well.
May 3, 2013
Wounded Prey by Sean Lynch is an upcoming book from Exhibit A, a crime-publishing imprint of Angry Robot, and I can already tell you it is going to draw a lot of comparisons to other great crime stories. It’s already been noted as a mix between No Country for Old Men and Silence of the Lambs. I’ve debated over and over again about throwing out my own comparisons of the villain, Vernon Slocum, to that of so many other diabolical characters and I just can’t do it. Why? Because those characters are fictional and somewhere there once existed a man known as Vernon Slocum, there can be no other sufficient explanation for how mind-blowing the portrayal for this character was. For me, Vernon Slocum was a showstopper, evil and blood-crazed as this former insane marine was, I couldn’t help but become sickly fascinated when quivering behind closed doors and trying not to urinate myself as his parts neared.
For my first read from Exhibit A, Wounded Prey met and exceeded all my expectations. Sean Lynch dishes out what I like to consider a “complete novel” filled with: stellar characters, an engaging plot, captivating and also humorous writing at times, and most importantly, realism. I’ve already made a few notes during the read about how I loved the brutally realistic fighting. When a huge man with military combat training throws some hefty punches around it doesn’t take long for him to dish out serious damage. I tend to get sick of imitation style wrestling fight depictions of these superhuman hulks absorbing so much damage there is no way they should still be standing, let alone still alive and conscious. Every action by these former soldiers has been programmed and drilled by instinct to be quick and deadly efficient, and Lynch gives us just that. Vernon Slocum doesn’t pull many punches, when he wants somebody dead, he will kill them anyway he can.
Realizing I haven’t told you anything about the actual story inside Wounded Prey, here it is: “It’s time to finish what he started…”
A young girl is snatched in broad daylight from outside her school and later found brutally murdered and hanging from a tree.
When recently retired San Francisco Police Inspector, Bob Farrell, sees this on the news, he realizes his worst nightmare has just come true. The same brutal killer a government agency stopped him from putting away twenty years before is once more on the loose.
As the killer wreaks a trail of blood and destruction across North America, Bob Farrell teams up with rookie cop Kevin Kearns and sets out to track down their lethal prey.
But Farrell & Kearns are not playing by the rules any more than the killer is, and soon the FBI have all of them in their sights…
If this sounds to you like a harsh, disturbing, exciting, brilliant, amazing, violent, sick, and drug-infused wreck coming to a head-on collision with a lot of unique investigation techniques (You might want to think twice about giving Farrell your business card), enjoyable characters, and killing – then you assumed correctly.
The road Deputy Kevin Kearns and former inspector Bob Farrell take is one of the vigilante and they are damn good at it. By the time the novel ends I’m not sure whose bad side I would rather be on; that of the Farrell and Kearns duo or the unstoppable Slocum.
Reading Wounded Prey for me was like living in the shadows of Vernon Slocum and crawling my way through the jungles of Vietnam, praying I would make it out alive, watching as the big man slaughtered innocents and combatants alike. In case you can’t tell, I’m still in awe at what a presence Lynch has given Slocum and I can’t imagine any another character trying to enact Slocum’s perverse role. I’m sure there will be more Farrell and Kearns quests which I will be thrilled to read, but those who try and step up to fill Slocum’s shoes have a mighty big challenge ahead of them. 9 out of 10 Liams for Wounded Prey by Sean Lynch, I almost wish the hunt had never ended.
For my first read from Exhibit A, Wounded Prey met and exceeded all my expectations. Sean Lynch dishes out what I like to consider a “complete novel” filled with: stellar characters, an engaging plot, captivating and also humorous writing at times, and most importantly, realism. I’ve already made a few notes during the read about how I loved the brutally realistic fighting. When a huge man with military combat training throws some hefty punches around it doesn’t take long for him to dish out serious damage. I tend to get sick of imitation style wrestling fight depictions of these superhuman hulks absorbing so much damage there is no way they should still be standing, let alone still alive and conscious. Every action by these former soldiers has been programmed and drilled by instinct to be quick and deadly efficient, and Lynch gives us just that. Vernon Slocum doesn’t pull many punches, when he wants somebody dead, he will kill them anyway he can.
Realizing I haven’t told you anything about the actual story inside Wounded Prey, here it is: “It’s time to finish what he started…”
A young girl is snatched in broad daylight from outside her school and later found brutally murdered and hanging from a tree.
When recently retired San Francisco Police Inspector, Bob Farrell, sees this on the news, he realizes his worst nightmare has just come true. The same brutal killer a government agency stopped him from putting away twenty years before is once more on the loose.
As the killer wreaks a trail of blood and destruction across North America, Bob Farrell teams up with rookie cop Kevin Kearns and sets out to track down their lethal prey.
But Farrell & Kearns are not playing by the rules any more than the killer is, and soon the FBI have all of them in their sights…
If this sounds to you like a harsh, disturbing, exciting, brilliant, amazing, violent, sick, and drug-infused wreck coming to a head-on collision with a lot of unique investigation techniques (You might want to think twice about giving Farrell your business card), enjoyable characters, and killing – then you assumed correctly.
The road Deputy Kevin Kearns and former inspector Bob Farrell take is one of the vigilante and they are damn good at it. By the time the novel ends I’m not sure whose bad side I would rather be on; that of the Farrell and Kearns duo or the unstoppable Slocum.
Reading Wounded Prey for me was like living in the shadows of Vernon Slocum and crawling my way through the jungles of Vietnam, praying I would make it out alive, watching as the big man slaughtered innocents and combatants alike. In case you can’t tell, I’m still in awe at what a presence Lynch has given Slocum and I can’t imagine any another character trying to enact Slocum’s perverse role. I’m sure there will be more Farrell and Kearns quests which I will be thrilled to read, but those who try and step up to fill Slocum’s shoes have a mighty big challenge ahead of them. 9 out of 10 Liams for Wounded Prey by Sean Lynch, I almost wish the hunt had never ended.
May 23, 2013
Knowing my predeliction for reading crime books written by those who have experienced this world at first hand, Sean Lynch was an absolute find for me! With not only experience as an Infantryman in the US Army and a long career in law enforcement, Lynch is perfectly placed to imbue this novel, a brutal and bloody tale of the pursuit of a psychopathic killer, with a frighteningly accurate depiction of the essential natures of both killer and pursuer- and yes, this is definitely not one for the more nervous nellies among you, so be warned. Personally, I couldn’t fault this visceral, violent and completely enthralling thriller and here’s why…
Opening with the abduction of a young girl, resulting in the death of her teacher, and bringing the abductor into an altercation with an off-duty rookie cop, Kevin Kearns, Lynch instantly immerses us into a world of sickening violence, compounded by the later discovery of the child’s body in horrific circumstances. Kearns finds himself villified by his colleagues and the media with his failure to stop the initial abduction, setting him against the buttoned up and eminently dislikeable FBI agents who become involved in the case. Kearns is a great character, a subtle balance of naivity and grit, with an overwhelming compunction to nail this killer, who has bruised him mentally and physically. Throw into the mix, Bob Farrell, a grizzled retired police inspector and without a doubt one of my favourite characters of recent years, who recognising the traits of a killer who had slipped through his hands some years previously, takes Kearns on a road trip he will never forget in pursuit of one Vernon Slocum- abductor, murderer and psychopath supreme. Each member of this distinctly unholy trinity is brilliantly drawn and the interplay between Kearns and Farrell is particularly engaging, as eager beaver Kearns is constantly shown up by the cunning wiles of his older compatriot. Farrell is the archetypal ex-cop, a borderline alcoholic who smokes too much and has little personal life to speak of, but who possesses a great line in bare-faced cheek, thinking nothing of impersonating others and embarking on underhanded courses of action in a bid to apprehend Slocum. Equally our interpid duo’s prey, the wonderfully evil Slocum, is a great creation, utterly reprehensible, perverted and no stranger to the more creative punishments one human being can inflict on another. Cracking!
As the plot moves our three pawns in the story from one state to another, the pace is unrelenting and you will find yourself all too reluctant to draw away as this was one of those books that cries out ‘go on- one more chapter- you know you want to’. It definitely induces in the reader a slightly queasy fascination with a killer’s mind, whilst causing a quandary in us into the cause of nature vs nurture in the formulation of this particular killer’s psyche. Easily comparable in style and pace to writers like Chris Carter, Daniel Blake and Jack Kerley, Lynch is another welcome addition to the world of the serial killer thriller, and I for one can’t wait for the next bout of darkness and depravity hitting our shores next year!
Opening with the abduction of a young girl, resulting in the death of her teacher, and bringing the abductor into an altercation with an off-duty rookie cop, Kevin Kearns, Lynch instantly immerses us into a world of sickening violence, compounded by the later discovery of the child’s body in horrific circumstances. Kearns finds himself villified by his colleagues and the media with his failure to stop the initial abduction, setting him against the buttoned up and eminently dislikeable FBI agents who become involved in the case. Kearns is a great character, a subtle balance of naivity and grit, with an overwhelming compunction to nail this killer, who has bruised him mentally and physically. Throw into the mix, Bob Farrell, a grizzled retired police inspector and without a doubt one of my favourite characters of recent years, who recognising the traits of a killer who had slipped through his hands some years previously, takes Kearns on a road trip he will never forget in pursuit of one Vernon Slocum- abductor, murderer and psychopath supreme. Each member of this distinctly unholy trinity is brilliantly drawn and the interplay between Kearns and Farrell is particularly engaging, as eager beaver Kearns is constantly shown up by the cunning wiles of his older compatriot. Farrell is the archetypal ex-cop, a borderline alcoholic who smokes too much and has little personal life to speak of, but who possesses a great line in bare-faced cheek, thinking nothing of impersonating others and embarking on underhanded courses of action in a bid to apprehend Slocum. Equally our interpid duo’s prey, the wonderfully evil Slocum, is a great creation, utterly reprehensible, perverted and no stranger to the more creative punishments one human being can inflict on another. Cracking!
As the plot moves our three pawns in the story from one state to another, the pace is unrelenting and you will find yourself all too reluctant to draw away as this was one of those books that cries out ‘go on- one more chapter- you know you want to’. It definitely induces in the reader a slightly queasy fascination with a killer’s mind, whilst causing a quandary in us into the cause of nature vs nurture in the formulation of this particular killer’s psyche. Easily comparable in style and pace to writers like Chris Carter, Daniel Blake and Jack Kerley, Lynch is another welcome addition to the world of the serial killer thriller, and I for one can’t wait for the next bout of darkness and depravity hitting our shores next year!
May 31, 2013
The bulk of this novel is set in the late 1980s and this gives the story a refreshingly uncluttered air. With not a mobile phone or Internet connection in sight, this is a proper old school police procedural. No country-wide database searches here, well not ones that would give an immediate response anyway. Farrell and Kearns have to rely on chasing up leads the old fashioned way and actually visiting the locations where the might find the clues that they are looking for.
The burgeoning partnership between Farrell and Kearns is one of the novel’s highlights. Bob Farrell has many years’ experience and you quickly realise that retirement just isn’t working out for him. He’s haunted by ghosts of the past. He can’t give up trying to track down those who escaped justice in the past. Farrell’s personal habits are terrible (basically he’s a chain smoking, near alcoholic) and his behaviour is verging on the curmudgeonly. He’s a platinum rogue, never letting a rule or regulation getting in the way of getting the job done. I couldn’t help but like him, he all but radiates experience and ability as an investigator. Underneath his shabby exterior there is a razor sharp intellect that misses absolutely nothing. By contrast Kevin Kearns is almost Farrell’s polar opposite. Young, motivated but still wet behind the ears. He often acts on instinct and this doesn’t always serve him well.
You probably won’t be surprised when I tell you that the relationship between the two men isn’t anything that we haven’t seen before, but it is handled extremely well. A surly older mentor taking a young protégé under his wing, both learning to get along while solving the crime is hardly new ground, but Lynch has a flair for character. There is clear evidence of the growing respect they feel for one another, it shows in the constant back and forth of their conversations. They quickly build up a rapport and the reader is on hand to see all this unfold.
Scattered throughout the narrative there are a number of flashbacks that uncover the genesis of the killer that the duo are tracking. The reader gets to discover the series of events that created a monster. This killer is utterly remorseless, a genuine sociopath. He’s like a machine, this is a beast with a mission. Each new chapter allows Lynch to further explore what compels the killer’s actions.
I feel that I should offer a small word of warning. There is every chance that some may find this book too dark for their tastes. A story involving the murder of any child is never going to be an upbeat event. That said, Lynch manages to tackle a very difficult subject in a thoughtful manner. His writing very effectively captures the shock of the crime as well as fall out of its aftermath. You can always tell when an author is on the right track. If you find yourself holding your breath as a scene plays out.
The final inevitable show down between the killer and the authorities is very impressive. I don’t quite know how Lynch managed it but things get even darker than before as the novel morphs from straight crime into something closer to psychological horror. This unexpectedly grim denouement rounds things off perfectly.
The burgeoning partnership between Farrell and Kearns is one of the novel’s highlights. Bob Farrell has many years’ experience and you quickly realise that retirement just isn’t working out for him. He’s haunted by ghosts of the past. He can’t give up trying to track down those who escaped justice in the past. Farrell’s personal habits are terrible (basically he’s a chain smoking, near alcoholic) and his behaviour is verging on the curmudgeonly. He’s a platinum rogue, never letting a rule or regulation getting in the way of getting the job done. I couldn’t help but like him, he all but radiates experience and ability as an investigator. Underneath his shabby exterior there is a razor sharp intellect that misses absolutely nothing. By contrast Kevin Kearns is almost Farrell’s polar opposite. Young, motivated but still wet behind the ears. He often acts on instinct and this doesn’t always serve him well.
You probably won’t be surprised when I tell you that the relationship between the two men isn’t anything that we haven’t seen before, but it is handled extremely well. A surly older mentor taking a young protégé under his wing, both learning to get along while solving the crime is hardly new ground, but Lynch has a flair for character. There is clear evidence of the growing respect they feel for one another, it shows in the constant back and forth of their conversations. They quickly build up a rapport and the reader is on hand to see all this unfold.
Scattered throughout the narrative there are a number of flashbacks that uncover the genesis of the killer that the duo are tracking. The reader gets to discover the series of events that created a monster. This killer is utterly remorseless, a genuine sociopath. He’s like a machine, this is a beast with a mission. Each new chapter allows Lynch to further explore what compels the killer’s actions.
I feel that I should offer a small word of warning. There is every chance that some may find this book too dark for their tastes. A story involving the murder of any child is never going to be an upbeat event. That said, Lynch manages to tackle a very difficult subject in a thoughtful manner. His writing very effectively captures the shock of the crime as well as fall out of its aftermath. You can always tell when an author is on the right track. If you find yourself holding your breath as a scene plays out.
The final inevitable show down between the killer and the authorities is very impressive. I don’t quite know how Lynch managed it but things get even darker than before as the novel morphs from straight crime into something closer to psychological horror. This unexpectedly grim denouement rounds things off perfectly.
May 18, 2013
This is the first book I’ve read from crime publisher Exhibit-A, and the first from author Sean Lynch.
As I said in a tweet to the book’s editor, “It should have been called Relentless.”
In WOUNDED PREY, psycho killer Vernon Slocum is on the loose, murdering kids just as he did years before in the madness of Vietnam. Bob Farrell was an investigator during the Vietnam killings, and Kevin Kearns is a rookie deputy who’s just gone up against Slocum…andlost. With both men reeling from the realisation that they failed in their separate attempts to stop Slocum, they work together to finally put an end to his murder spree.
Slocum is smartly drawn for the reader, with explanations for his motives. The sickening reasons behind his psychosis are revealed throughout the book, and it never felt like an info-dump. In many cases his backstory was very cleverly detailed through the use of supporting characters. One example of this clever technique is when we visit Slocum’s brother Cole. Author Sean Lynch takes us from Cole’s traumatic childhood, all the way through to where he is now. So we not only learn about the kind of abuse Vernon Slocum and his siblings went through, but Lynch uses it to further propel the plot.
It’s first-rate, measured writing.
This brings me to something I really enjoyed: the interplay between Farrell and Kearns. The back-and-forth banter was so funny at times, it literally had me laughing out loud. They work well, the older, cynical cop and the young hot-head rookie. In Lynch’s capable hands, the duo bounce off of one another perfectly. It’s definitely a couple of characters I want to revisit.
WOUNDED PREY is a non-stop thrill ride of a book. Unrelenting, brutal, scary, and at times skin-crawling in its depiction of atrocious crimes. And yet it is also funny, warming and believable. Much like the excellent SUPERBIA police proceedural series, written by former Detective Bernard Schaffer, WOUNDED PREY feels realistic because its author knows what he’s talking about. Sean Lynch has seen a lot of stuff in his law-enforecement career, and that definitely comes across. True, anybody can write a police thriller. But few efforts feel as real as Lynch’s. Like Schaffer, he’s lived the life.
WOUNDED PREY is a great book, the start of a series. Now, Mr. Lynch…get to work on the follow-up. You have one very happy reader waiting for it!
As I said in a tweet to the book’s editor, “It should have been called Relentless.”
In WOUNDED PREY, psycho killer Vernon Slocum is on the loose, murdering kids just as he did years before in the madness of Vietnam. Bob Farrell was an investigator during the Vietnam killings, and Kevin Kearns is a rookie deputy who’s just gone up against Slocum…andlost. With both men reeling from the realisation that they failed in their separate attempts to stop Slocum, they work together to finally put an end to his murder spree.
Slocum is smartly drawn for the reader, with explanations for his motives. The sickening reasons behind his psychosis are revealed throughout the book, and it never felt like an info-dump. In many cases his backstory was very cleverly detailed through the use of supporting characters. One example of this clever technique is when we visit Slocum’s brother Cole. Author Sean Lynch takes us from Cole’s traumatic childhood, all the way through to where he is now. So we not only learn about the kind of abuse Vernon Slocum and his siblings went through, but Lynch uses it to further propel the plot.
It’s first-rate, measured writing.
This brings me to something I really enjoyed: the interplay between Farrell and Kearns. The back-and-forth banter was so funny at times, it literally had me laughing out loud. They work well, the older, cynical cop and the young hot-head rookie. In Lynch’s capable hands, the duo bounce off of one another perfectly. It’s definitely a couple of characters I want to revisit.
WOUNDED PREY is a non-stop thrill ride of a book. Unrelenting, brutal, scary, and at times skin-crawling in its depiction of atrocious crimes. And yet it is also funny, warming and believable. Much like the excellent SUPERBIA police proceedural series, written by former Detective Bernard Schaffer, WOUNDED PREY feels realistic because its author knows what he’s talking about. Sean Lynch has seen a lot of stuff in his law-enforecement career, and that definitely comes across. True, anybody can write a police thriller. But few efforts feel as real as Lynch’s. Like Schaffer, he’s lived the life.
WOUNDED PREY is a great book, the start of a series. Now, Mr. Lynch…get to work on the follow-up. You have one very happy reader waiting for it!
April 5, 2015
Sean Lynch goes onto my favorite authors list with this beauty. There's lots of action and really good character development. For some reason, I feel Lynch has read some Joe Lansdale and adopted that writer's "in your face", borderline over the top style. The older detective Farrell is a chain-smoking alcoholic and the younger Kearns is quicker with his fists than his mouth. The only thing that prevented me from giving Wounded Prey 5 stars was that the writer carries the incompetence and stupidity of the FBI a tad too far. Still and all, a great read!
April 16, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
A young girl is snatched from her rural Iowa school in broad daylight. The child is later found murdered, her body hanging from a tree.
When retired San Francisco Police Inspector Bob Farrell reads a newspaper account of the horrific crime, he realizes his worst nightmare has come true. The same remorseless predator a government agency stopped him from putting away twenty years before is once more on the loose.
Farrell enlists the aid of rookie Iowa deputy Kevins Kearns, who is tortured by his inability to prevent the kidnapping. As the murderer wreaks a trail of blood and destruction across North America, the duo sets out to track down their lethal prey.
But Farrell and Kearns aren't playing by the rules any more than the killer is, and soon the F.B.I. has them all in its sights…
*2.5 stars*
Somewhat disappointed with this book. On the face of it, I was kind of excited to read it. By the end, the clichés and tropes were far too much for me...
But lets give credit where it is due first: the action sequences were brilliant. The laugh-out-loud dialogue was cool (although not quite enough of it) and the violence isn't too graphic (although, God knows it could have been much worse...)
However, here's a list of things I didn't like:
* Retired cop comes out for "one last case"
* Rookie cop out of his depth
* Bumbling, inept FBI agents
* Turf battle between local cops and the FBI...
Have you read these things before? Sure you have - and saw it in every cop/buddy film in the 80's...
And that's a shame as the link to the stuff that happened back in Vietnam could have really been a great basis for this novel but it was more of a plot device than anything else...
I will try another of Lynch's novels down the track and see if he improves his characters along the way...let's face it, Kearns can only be a rookie cop once, right???
Paul
ARH
A young girl is snatched from her rural Iowa school in broad daylight. The child is later found murdered, her body hanging from a tree.
When retired San Francisco Police Inspector Bob Farrell reads a newspaper account of the horrific crime, he realizes his worst nightmare has come true. The same remorseless predator a government agency stopped him from putting away twenty years before is once more on the loose.
Farrell enlists the aid of rookie Iowa deputy Kevins Kearns, who is tortured by his inability to prevent the kidnapping. As the murderer wreaks a trail of blood and destruction across North America, the duo sets out to track down their lethal prey.
But Farrell and Kearns aren't playing by the rules any more than the killer is, and soon the F.B.I. has them all in its sights…
*2.5 stars*
Somewhat disappointed with this book. On the face of it, I was kind of excited to read it. By the end, the clichés and tropes were far too much for me...
But lets give credit where it is due first: the action sequences were brilliant. The laugh-out-loud dialogue was cool (although not quite enough of it) and the violence isn't too graphic (although, God knows it could have been much worse...)
However, here's a list of things I didn't like:
* Retired cop comes out for "one last case"
* Rookie cop out of his depth
* Bumbling, inept FBI agents
* Turf battle between local cops and the FBI...
Have you read these things before? Sure you have - and saw it in every cop/buddy film in the 80's...
And that's a shame as the link to the stuff that happened back in Vietnam could have really been a great basis for this novel but it was more of a plot device than anything else...
I will try another of Lynch's novels down the track and see if he improves his characters along the way...let's face it, Kearns can only be a rookie cop once, right???
Paul
ARH
June 17, 2013
Murdered children create an instant emotional response in almost everyone, unless they're a psychopath or a sociopath. Children are the most vulnerable part of society; they need adults to care for them and protect them and despite being well-aware that life is harsh and way too many children end up dead, damaged, or hurt due to an adult's actions, I'm always shocked when confronted with it. We recently had quite a high-profile case in the Netherlands, where two little boys had disappeared after their father was found having committed suicide. Despite the high probability that they had been murdered, everyone hoped against hope that they'd be found alive, a hope that was proven wrong when they were found dead after a fortnight. During the two week search, I often found myself wondering what had possessed their father to do what he did. How could he take the lives of these two precious boys, when as their father he should have been their greatest protector? And I found myself thinking of their mum, of how scared she must have been and how on earth she would be able to go on after this traumatic loss. Wounded Prey, particularly the first part, created a similar feeling of disbelief and dread as we see how Slocum, the book's villain, snatches seven-year-old Tiffany Meade right under the nose of out-for-an-off-duty-jog deputy sheriff Kevin Kearns. Kearns' agony and guilt over his inability to prevent Tiffany's kidnapping informs much of his actions and decisions throughout the book. But where in real life we often don't get answers to the question of the killer's motivations, in Wounded Prey Lynch shows us why Slocum does the things he does through Slocum's point of view and by giving us his history. Slocum is a horrific monster, but the things we learn about him also create a sense of pity for him, without being in anyway exculpatory.
The setting of the book is key, as Lynch himself has stated, it only works set in the Eighties; it wouldn't have worked set in any other era. One really has to wonder to what extent Lynch meant to make a statement about PTSD and how long it took for it to be viewed as a valid diagnosis needing treatment other than medicating people into catatonia, as there are several characters in the book that might be suffering from PTSD, not just Slocum, but Buddy Cuszack, Kearns himself and several others as well. Had the book not been set in the Eighties, were the Vietnam war was the most recent one and diagnosis and treatment of PTSD relatively new and underdeveloped, much of Slocum's history wouldn't have been realistic. The Eighties setting did prove to be a little jarring at times though. For example, in one hospital scene the patient was smoking in his hospital room; a fact that just made my jaw drop. I was born in '79, so I do have some recollection of the era, but that I hadn't remembered. It's strange to think how much the world has changed in just a little short of a quarter-century. A patient smoking in his hospital room would be unthinkable now.
The set-up of the plot is interesting; since we know who the killer is due to his point of view and the whodunit aspect is quite quickly solved thanks to Bob Farrell's haunted memory, the book is far more about proving he's the culprit and about puzzling out where Slocum might be going next and catching him. This hunt was well done, with some inventive ploys and some almost borderline legal action on the part of our two protagonists. I love the business cards spiel that Farrell has perfected and his training Kearns 'on the job' as he puts it. Kearns is the young, naive newbie, who has his eyes opened to the politics of justice and he handles this in a believable way, i.e. he doesn't take it very well. To alleviate the darkness of the narrative – impossible to avoid with such a nasty villain as Slocum – there are some really funny moments and Lynch does the dry banter between Farrell and Kearns quite well.
The pairing of the rookie Kearns, with Farrell the retiree was an interesting one. They were both hugely sympathetic characters and I loved both of them. There is a curious book-end situation with the one being so new and naive and the other a dyed-in-the-wool retired cop. It created an interesting dynamic and allowed Lynch to let the story be seen from different points of view. In addition to Kearns, Farrell, and Slocum, there are supporting roles for Farrell's daughter, Buddy, an old fellow-vet of Slocum's, and several FBI-agents. While the former two appear to be truly supporting characters for the protagonists, the latter seem to be an added stumbling block for all of them. For they seem to be against Farrell and Kearns as much as against Slocum. Especially Special Agent Scanlon is a piece of work, and admittedly a bit of a cliché as far as Feds go. As is often the case in films and TV shows, he is portrayed as a territorial glory hound, more interested to get in the way of the police and taking credit than running an efficient and successful investigation. So when he gets in his own way and is humiliated more than once in the course of the book, you can't help but smirk.
Wounded Prey was a hell of a read. At times harrowing – Lynch doesn't pull any punches when it comes to Slocum's crimes or his past – it is a gripping read and the ending of the book leaves an opening for a whole series of books featuring Farrell and Kearns. And I can't wait! Lynch has shown his chops with Wounded Prey and I'm looking forward to seeing what other stories he has to tell—nevermind seeing what other sorts of business cards Farrell has up his sleeve.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
The setting of the book is key, as Lynch himself has stated, it only works set in the Eighties; it wouldn't have worked set in any other era. One really has to wonder to what extent Lynch meant to make a statement about PTSD and how long it took for it to be viewed as a valid diagnosis needing treatment other than medicating people into catatonia, as there are several characters in the book that might be suffering from PTSD, not just Slocum, but Buddy Cuszack, Kearns himself and several others as well. Had the book not been set in the Eighties, were the Vietnam war was the most recent one and diagnosis and treatment of PTSD relatively new and underdeveloped, much of Slocum's history wouldn't have been realistic. The Eighties setting did prove to be a little jarring at times though. For example, in one hospital scene the patient was smoking in his hospital room; a fact that just made my jaw drop. I was born in '79, so I do have some recollection of the era, but that I hadn't remembered. It's strange to think how much the world has changed in just a little short of a quarter-century. A patient smoking in his hospital room would be unthinkable now.
The set-up of the plot is interesting; since we know who the killer is due to his point of view and the whodunit aspect is quite quickly solved thanks to Bob Farrell's haunted memory, the book is far more about proving he's the culprit and about puzzling out where Slocum might be going next and catching him. This hunt was well done, with some inventive ploys and some almost borderline legal action on the part of our two protagonists. I love the business cards spiel that Farrell has perfected and his training Kearns 'on the job' as he puts it. Kearns is the young, naive newbie, who has his eyes opened to the politics of justice and he handles this in a believable way, i.e. he doesn't take it very well. To alleviate the darkness of the narrative – impossible to avoid with such a nasty villain as Slocum – there are some really funny moments and Lynch does the dry banter between Farrell and Kearns quite well.
The pairing of the rookie Kearns, with Farrell the retiree was an interesting one. They were both hugely sympathetic characters and I loved both of them. There is a curious book-end situation with the one being so new and naive and the other a dyed-in-the-wool retired cop. It created an interesting dynamic and allowed Lynch to let the story be seen from different points of view. In addition to Kearns, Farrell, and Slocum, there are supporting roles for Farrell's daughter, Buddy, an old fellow-vet of Slocum's, and several FBI-agents. While the former two appear to be truly supporting characters for the protagonists, the latter seem to be an added stumbling block for all of them. For they seem to be against Farrell and Kearns as much as against Slocum. Especially Special Agent Scanlon is a piece of work, and admittedly a bit of a cliché as far as Feds go. As is often the case in films and TV shows, he is portrayed as a territorial glory hound, more interested to get in the way of the police and taking credit than running an efficient and successful investigation. So when he gets in his own way and is humiliated more than once in the course of the book, you can't help but smirk.
Wounded Prey was a hell of a read. At times harrowing – Lynch doesn't pull any punches when it comes to Slocum's crimes or his past – it is a gripping read and the ending of the book leaves an opening for a whole series of books featuring Farrell and Kearns. And I can't wait! Lynch has shown his chops with Wounded Prey and I'm looking forward to seeing what other stories he has to tell—nevermind seeing what other sorts of business cards Farrell has up his sleeve.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
August 7, 2017
This book started off rather quickly for me and I found that it was the type of twisted writing that I periodically enjoy. Around the 75th percent of the book, the writing began to drag and I found it more difficult to be pulled back to the book and I picked up other books instead. Finally, this month I forced myself to finish it to complete my review.
Overall, I would say the characters and storyline were strong and I can understand why this book has so many high ratings. I have recommended this book numerous times, including to my husband, who has my similar reading tastes and he did read it quickly. He stated that he would read another by this author.
Reviewed for publisher.
Overall, I would say the characters and storyline were strong and I can understand why this book has so many high ratings. I have recommended this book numerous times, including to my husband, who has my similar reading tastes and he did read it quickly. He stated that he would read another by this author.
Reviewed for publisher.
September 29, 2018
This was a great read. I am glad that I started another series which I try not to do because I am reading so many already. Sean has a great ability to write scenes. I always enjoy when I am reading when I can close my eyes for a moment and feel that I am looking around a room or place that the author is taking you to. And this book holds no punches. It is gripping and very scary at times. But it is also a book you won't want to put down.
December 6, 2022
This was a very entertaining read. The short chapters make it the perfect book for reading during down time when you’re often interrupted. I read it during slow times at my work. It is a bit gory and disturbing in parts but thankfully isn’t overly graphic. Definitely worth the read if this is your genre.
September 8, 2021
good read with occasional punches to the gut
I did enjoy this book and Farrell and Kearns. There is a lot of violence in the story of Vernon Slocum. And I even pitied him at times. Looking forward to reading Book 2
I did enjoy this book and Farrell and Kearns. There is a lot of violence in the story of Vernon Slocum. And I even pitied him at times. Looking forward to reading Book 2
September 18, 2017
Very good!
Excellent book. Great characters (though flawed),
Great story, detestable bad guy. Gripping. I will definitely be getting book 2! Highly recommended.....
Excellent book. Great characters (though flawed),
Great story, detestable bad guy. Gripping. I will definitely be getting book 2! Highly recommended.....
April 16, 2018
Page turner
Awesome read fast paced couldn't put it down . Great character s farrell and Kearns are incredible. Can't wait to read the next installment
Awesome read fast paced couldn't put it down . Great character s farrell and Kearns are incredible. Can't wait to read the next installment
August 3, 2019
A lot of excitement and a really creepy villain!
March 24, 2020
This book is set in 1987. I thought it was written in the '80's. Everything about it felt dated. Someone else compared this book to a B movie and that's a very good comparison.
November 24, 2020
Typical cop and bad guy story with a happy ending. A fun read, only a little overdone on cliches. The plot twist came late near the end and hindered rather than helped the story along.
Read
January 27, 2021Really bad guy. A little simple
September 6, 2024
4 stars is a bit of a stretch. A lot of gruesome scenes which make you root for the good guys.
September 25, 2013
Bob Farrell had the opportunity to arrest and imprison Vernon Slocum in Vietnam, but he didn't do so. Slocum was brutal and fearless, largely built and super strong. The troops he accompanied knew they were plenty safe when he was around. Safe from the Viet Cong that is. They also knew they were dead meat if they got in Slocum's way. Farrell could have arrested Slocum for crimes he committed in Saigon, but he did the easy thing. He waited. He knew Slocum would be leaving soon. In spite of his wartime crimes, even those of killing many Vietnamese children gruesomely, the Army chose to decorate him for bravery and quietly send him home to a VA psychiatric hospital. He was finally released years later.
The one thing Slocum stepped back into upon his release was the "mission." This is totally a figment of his insane mind, but it is also his reality. His mission is to continue wiping out the (his perceived) enemy by capturing them, sexually assaulting them and slicing their throats. His final act is to hang the victims by their feet to bleed out leaving a pool of blood under them.
Fast-forward twenty years. Bob Ferrell is a retired police detective with a history of service in every department the police had going including Special Victims Unit and Homicide. He has the strange habit of collecting business cards wherever he goes. They enable him to assume different roles like lawyer or doctor for example, to gain access to people and places for his investigations. One day his eyes light upon an article about a child who had been murdered and the M.O. is exactly the same as Slocum's. As he investigates, he also finds out this little girl isn't the first. He gets on a plane and flies to the location of the murder. There, he poses as a lawyer (with one of his infamous business cards) for the "alleged murderer", a young rookie named Kevin Kearns. Kevin witnessed the abduction of the little girl and even tried to stop it. But because the kidnapper got away with the child, the town blames him. The abduction brings the FBI into play, and they decide that Kearns is the probable perp. They can't hold Kearns on charges yet, so Farrell spirits him away as his lawyer and convinces him to partner up to find Slocum together.
The pursuit is fraught with strange moments as when Farrell poses as an FBI agent to get medical records on Slocum from the VA mental hospital. Along the road, they came upon the body of an ex-soldier junkie who had partnered with Slocum on his road of killing until he messed up and Slocum killed him. Also, they meet Slocum's sister and brother, both of whom are targeted by Slocum for revenge. They had all grown up in a severly abusive household, sexual, physical and mental abuse, and those two had escaped it, leaving Slocum with a mixed emotional state of abandonment and an illogical and insane loyalty to the father who had abused them all so badly for years.
Kearns, being a rookie and wanting to operate within the confines of the law, questions Farrell's methods of pursuing Slocum, because they are out-and-out illegal. Yet, Kearns has no choice. Because they have broken the law so often on their hunt, Kearns knows his career is down the tubes, but he still has to clear his own name. He tries to make some decisions on his own that don't line up with Farrell's instructions and blows it, cursing his inexperience. The relationship between Farrell the mentor and Kearns the mentee is at times tongue-in-cheek humorous.
Meantime, Slocum is murdering people left and right, point blank, and with no compunction. Anyone who gets in his way as he makes his way to the places his brother and sister have settled and gone on with their lives, is shot. Slocum is a monster physically and mentally, and seems indestructible. He finds out that Farrell and Kearns are on his trail, and gradually, as they grow closer to him, he becomes more anxious. The climax of the story is when they all converge at Slocum's brother's house. Again, Kearns makes a wrong decision and ends up knifed by Slocum and dies.
Farrell is grief-sticken and remorseful. He blames himself for Kearn's death, for even bringing Kearns into his plan to capture Slocum. He gets back on Slocum's trail with one plan in mind, to kill him.
Does he? Is Kearns really dead? What does it take to get to Slocum once and for all? The resolution of the story is as gory and as graphic as the story has been along, and I found it was also very satisfying as I finished the book. The characters are by no means complicated. They are pretty one-dimensional. But enough depth is given to be able to appreciate each in the context of the story. I really enjoyed the story, and I'm looking forward to the next Lynch book.
The one thing Slocum stepped back into upon his release was the "mission." This is totally a figment of his insane mind, but it is also his reality. His mission is to continue wiping out the (his perceived) enemy by capturing them, sexually assaulting them and slicing their throats. His final act is to hang the victims by their feet to bleed out leaving a pool of blood under them.
Fast-forward twenty years. Bob Ferrell is a retired police detective with a history of service in every department the police had going including Special Victims Unit and Homicide. He has the strange habit of collecting business cards wherever he goes. They enable him to assume different roles like lawyer or doctor for example, to gain access to people and places for his investigations. One day his eyes light upon an article about a child who had been murdered and the M.O. is exactly the same as Slocum's. As he investigates, he also finds out this little girl isn't the first. He gets on a plane and flies to the location of the murder. There, he poses as a lawyer (with one of his infamous business cards) for the "alleged murderer", a young rookie named Kevin Kearns. Kevin witnessed the abduction of the little girl and even tried to stop it. But because the kidnapper got away with the child, the town blames him. The abduction brings the FBI into play, and they decide that Kearns is the probable perp. They can't hold Kearns on charges yet, so Farrell spirits him away as his lawyer and convinces him to partner up to find Slocum together.
The pursuit is fraught with strange moments as when Farrell poses as an FBI agent to get medical records on Slocum from the VA mental hospital. Along the road, they came upon the body of an ex-soldier junkie who had partnered with Slocum on his road of killing until he messed up and Slocum killed him. Also, they meet Slocum's sister and brother, both of whom are targeted by Slocum for revenge. They had all grown up in a severly abusive household, sexual, physical and mental abuse, and those two had escaped it, leaving Slocum with a mixed emotional state of abandonment and an illogical and insane loyalty to the father who had abused them all so badly for years.
Kearns, being a rookie and wanting to operate within the confines of the law, questions Farrell's methods of pursuing Slocum, because they are out-and-out illegal. Yet, Kearns has no choice. Because they have broken the law so often on their hunt, Kearns knows his career is down the tubes, but he still has to clear his own name. He tries to make some decisions on his own that don't line up with Farrell's instructions and blows it, cursing his inexperience. The relationship between Farrell the mentor and Kearns the mentee is at times tongue-in-cheek humorous.
Meantime, Slocum is murdering people left and right, point blank, and with no compunction. Anyone who gets in his way as he makes his way to the places his brother and sister have settled and gone on with their lives, is shot. Slocum is a monster physically and mentally, and seems indestructible. He finds out that Farrell and Kearns are on his trail, and gradually, as they grow closer to him, he becomes more anxious. The climax of the story is when they all converge at Slocum's brother's house. Again, Kearns makes a wrong decision and ends up knifed by Slocum and dies.
Farrell is grief-sticken and remorseful. He blames himself for Kearn's death, for even bringing Kearns into his plan to capture Slocum. He gets back on Slocum's trail with one plan in mind, to kill him.
Does he? Is Kearns really dead? What does it take to get to Slocum once and for all? The resolution of the story is as gory and as graphic as the story has been along, and I found it was also very satisfying as I finished the book. The characters are by no means complicated. They are pretty one-dimensional. But enough depth is given to be able to appreciate each in the context of the story. I really enjoyed the story, and I'm looking forward to the next Lynch book.
June 5, 2014
I've just finished reading one of those novels that you never want to see end. That novel is "Wounded Prey: Introducing Detectives Farrell and Kearns".
A man abducts a young girl in broad daylight, and rookie deputy Kevin Kearns attempts, but fails to prevent the crime from happening. As a result, the little girl is murdered, and Kearns finds himself under suspicion. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, retired police inspector Bob Farrell reads about the murder in the paper. He is certain that the killer is Vernon Slocum, a man he was prevented from putting behind bars twenty years ago in Viet Nam. Farrell and Kearns team up and hit the road with the intention of hunting down and killing Slocum, using whatever means necessary.
I found this fast paced book to be gripping and action packed from cover to cover. The protagonists (particularly Bob Farrell) are colorful, and the character development is quite detailed. Both Farrell and Kearns have their flaws and more than a little baggage, but that just makes them more human and very likeable. Vernon Slocum is one of the most brutal and chilling villians I have ever read about, but he is just as much a victim as the children he murders.In the end, I found myself pitying him.
Author Sean Lynch has an extensive military and law enforcement background, and his experience shows in his writing. He is very knowledgeable about matters such as weapons as well as police and military protocol.
This book may not be for everyone, however. Slocum's crimes are quite disturbing due to the fact that they involve very young children. The novel is very brutal, gory and graphic, with quite a bit of adult language, but Lynch manages to interject comedic relief, thus giving us a reprieve from the violence.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Wounded Prey", and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I haven't been this caught up in a book in quite a while. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good old-fashioned shoot 'em up detective novel. Kudos to Sean Lynch for a job well done. I can wait to read the next Farrell and Kearns adventure!
A man abducts a young girl in broad daylight, and rookie deputy Kevin Kearns attempts, but fails to prevent the crime from happening. As a result, the little girl is murdered, and Kearns finds himself under suspicion. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, retired police inspector Bob Farrell reads about the murder in the paper. He is certain that the killer is Vernon Slocum, a man he was prevented from putting behind bars twenty years ago in Viet Nam. Farrell and Kearns team up and hit the road with the intention of hunting down and killing Slocum, using whatever means necessary.
I found this fast paced book to be gripping and action packed from cover to cover. The protagonists (particularly Bob Farrell) are colorful, and the character development is quite detailed. Both Farrell and Kearns have their flaws and more than a little baggage, but that just makes them more human and very likeable. Vernon Slocum is one of the most brutal and chilling villians I have ever read about, but he is just as much a victim as the children he murders.In the end, I found myself pitying him.
Author Sean Lynch has an extensive military and law enforcement background, and his experience shows in his writing. He is very knowledgeable about matters such as weapons as well as police and military protocol.
This book may not be for everyone, however. Slocum's crimes are quite disturbing due to the fact that they involve very young children. The novel is very brutal, gory and graphic, with quite a bit of adult language, but Lynch manages to interject comedic relief, thus giving us a reprieve from the violence.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Wounded Prey", and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I haven't been this caught up in a book in quite a while. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good old-fashioned shoot 'em up detective novel. Kudos to Sean Lynch for a job well done. I can wait to read the next Farrell and Kearns adventure!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews