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Routine
Hugh Verad has a daily routine which he takes seriously. The retiree is content with his mundane life until a nearby construction project brings great disruption to his orderly and secluded existence in the hills of Goldenville, California. The stress eventually pushes him to a breaking point, and he unleashes an irrational torrent of retribution upon those who he feels are responsible for his anguish.
George Caites is the only detective for the Goldenville Police Department. Still considered new to the town and four years into his job, Caites has yet to work a murder case since arriving there after many years spent as a detective in San Francisco.
A bit off of his game, Caites suddenly must locate and apprehend Verad, who is methodically killing one person after another. Along with it being a professional responsibility for him, Caites also feels he has something to prove to the townspeople as well as his colleagues.
The committed detective will make a stunning decision during the pursuit of the suspect. Caites will also discover that some of his law enforcement colleagues are also prone to making risky decisions for the cause of public safety.
George Caites is the only detective for the Goldenville Police Department. Still considered new to the town and four years into his job, Caites has yet to work a murder case since arriving there after many years spent as a detective in San Francisco.
A bit off of his game, Caites suddenly must locate and apprehend Verad, who is methodically killing one person after another. Along with it being a professional responsibility for him, Caites also feels he has something to prove to the townspeople as well as his colleagues.
The committed detective will make a stunning decision during the pursuit of the suspect. Caites will also discover that some of his law enforcement colleagues are also prone to making risky decisions for the cause of public safety.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2014
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4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 20, 2018
Interested in reading a crime/murder police thriller that you won’t be able to peel from your fingers? Look no further. “Routine” is just that. Packed with action and mystery it’ll keep you mesmerized for hours. I really enjoyed the gritty crime scenes and the villain (who will remain nameless in this review), who is just a diabolical multi-murdering monster. And the author, Steven T. Savage has a special way of placing light hearted, loving and nurturing scenes right next to scenes of terror and violence which makes their impact that much more blood thirsty. I can easily say with confidence that “Routine” is as good a story as “Silence of the Lambs”. Don’t start to read this book when you have to get up early the next morning, because you’ll be up until you finish it.
May 27, 2014
Review By The Author:
While there are some philosophical moments to the story, for the most part Routine is a blunt and brutal tale of an evil force unleashed via a perfect storm of circumstances. The villain (Hugh Verad)is uncomplicated and relentless, roving about almost like a demon, inflicting his wrath upon those he feels that have caused him unnecessary torment.
The two protagonists, Detective George Caites and Sheriff Benjamin Decoto are in “react mode” as they deal with this man. Their natural instincts prevail over knowledge, training, and experience.
This is something I thought would be a short story but then slowly but surely it evolved into more of something in between a novella and a novel. Any attempts to bulk it up would have would have negatively impacted the tension. As of this posting, it is only available on Kindle and-or Kindle converting applications.
Routine, as with everything else I have done, is about several ideas coming together. I had an outline for a tightly-packed thriller set in a Pacific Northwest town and I needed a motive for Mr. Verad to let his dormant personal issues take over and embark on his mad descent. Many years ago my regular grocery store changed its entire layout. I remember walking the aisles and overhearing customer after customer grumbling and complaining about how they couldn’t find anything in this new design. They were really bent out of shape over this seemingly innocuous change to their daily routine. I made a note of it, and flash forward, and there is the trigger for Mr. Verad—he’s right on the edge anyway being so isolated with his percolating insanity and the construction project is too much for him.
As with Cultus Maximus, I wanted to drop the reader straight into a particular and expeditious moment in time. The difference here is the time frame is more compressed and intense as well as linear.
I wonder if the Egyptology from Cultus Maximus had an influence on Routine. The “release” of Hugh Verad upon the population of Goldenville is quite similar to the aftermath of the tampering of a mummy’s tomb in those tales. The first movie I saw in a theater was a matinee showing of the classic movie, “The Mummy” with Boris Karloff…so maybe it goes all the way back to that.
Independent writers have to do a lot of extra heavy lifting, and so I thank you for your support, feedback, and reviews. It is all greatly appreciated.
Stephen T. Savage
www.stephentsavage.com
While there are some philosophical moments to the story, for the most part Routine is a blunt and brutal tale of an evil force unleashed via a perfect storm of circumstances. The villain (Hugh Verad)is uncomplicated and relentless, roving about almost like a demon, inflicting his wrath upon those he feels that have caused him unnecessary torment.
The two protagonists, Detective George Caites and Sheriff Benjamin Decoto are in “react mode” as they deal with this man. Their natural instincts prevail over knowledge, training, and experience.
This is something I thought would be a short story but then slowly but surely it evolved into more of something in between a novella and a novel. Any attempts to bulk it up would have would have negatively impacted the tension. As of this posting, it is only available on Kindle and-or Kindle converting applications.
Routine, as with everything else I have done, is about several ideas coming together. I had an outline for a tightly-packed thriller set in a Pacific Northwest town and I needed a motive for Mr. Verad to let his dormant personal issues take over and embark on his mad descent. Many years ago my regular grocery store changed its entire layout. I remember walking the aisles and overhearing customer after customer grumbling and complaining about how they couldn’t find anything in this new design. They were really bent out of shape over this seemingly innocuous change to their daily routine. I made a note of it, and flash forward, and there is the trigger for Mr. Verad—he’s right on the edge anyway being so isolated with his percolating insanity and the construction project is too much for him.
As with Cultus Maximus, I wanted to drop the reader straight into a particular and expeditious moment in time. The difference here is the time frame is more compressed and intense as well as linear.
I wonder if the Egyptology from Cultus Maximus had an influence on Routine. The “release” of Hugh Verad upon the population of Goldenville is quite similar to the aftermath of the tampering of a mummy’s tomb in those tales. The first movie I saw in a theater was a matinee showing of the classic movie, “The Mummy” with Boris Karloff…so maybe it goes all the way back to that.
Independent writers have to do a lot of extra heavy lifting, and so I thank you for your support, feedback, and reviews. It is all greatly appreciated.
Stephen T. Savage
www.stephentsavage.com
May 14, 2014
Great quick book. Engaging and good for summer light reading.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews