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Detectives Kenda & Wilson #2
First Do No Harm
Former homicide detective and star of Investigation Discovery, Joe Kenda follows his authentic and fascinating debut novel with First Do No Harm, another addictive tale of crime and punishment as only he can tell it.
A string of overdoses in Colorado Springs has Detectives Joe Kenda and Lee Wilson on the lookout for a bad batch of heroin that has been cut with a drug they’ve never seen before.
Meanwhile, at Springs General Hospital, Dr. Blair Moreland—the notoriously unpleasant head anesthesiologist—has found a way to feed his deepening addiction to the very same powerful new Fentanyl.
But when Dr. Moreland starts supplying the dangerous painkiller to dealer Lula Lopez—planning to manufacture the drug himself—he angers a Mexican crime syndicate and sets into motion a cycle of death and violence that threatens to engulf the entire city.
Detectives Kenda and Wilson must track down the source of this killer heroin before anyone else can overdose—and stop Moreland before he can escape the long arm of the law.
A string of overdoses in Colorado Springs has Detectives Joe Kenda and Lee Wilson on the lookout for a bad batch of heroin that has been cut with a drug they’ve never seen before.
Meanwhile, at Springs General Hospital, Dr. Blair Moreland—the notoriously unpleasant head anesthesiologist—has found a way to feed his deepening addiction to the very same powerful new Fentanyl.
But when Dr. Moreland starts supplying the dangerous painkiller to dealer Lula Lopez—planning to manufacture the drug himself—he angers a Mexican crime syndicate and sets into motion a cycle of death and violence that threatens to engulf the entire city.
Detectives Kenda and Wilson must track down the source of this killer heroin before anyone else can overdose—and stop Moreland before he can escape the long arm of the law.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2024
156 people are currently reading
4869 people want to read
About the author
Joe Kenda
12 books416 followersJoe Kenda is a retired Colorado Springs Police Department detective lieutenant who was involved in 387 homicide cases over a 23-year career, with a closure rate of 92%. He is featured on the Investigation Discovery television show Homicide Hunter, where he recounts stories of cases he solved. The show began in 2011 and lasted nine seasons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 17, 2024
I found this book to be an absolute page-turner! The plot’s intensity and pace kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story revolves around Detectives Joe Kenda and Lee Wilson as they navigate a deadly new strain of heroin that's causing chaos in Colorado Springs. It’s a gritty, fast-paced read that felt incredibly real, especially with Kenda’s authentic touch as a seasoned detective.
What really grabbed me was the intertwining of Dr. Blair Moreland’s personal downfall with the larger criminal drama. Watching Moreland’s addiction and dangerous decisions set off a ripple effect of violence and intrigue was both chilling and captivating. The way the story unfolded with unexpected twists kept me hooked.
However, I did feel like the characters, despite being interesting, lacked a bit of depth. They felt more like pieces in the puzzle rather than fully fleshed-out individuals, which left me wanting a bit more connection with them.
Listening to the audiobook was a treat—the narrator’s smooth and steady voice made the experience even more enjoyable. Their delivery really brought the tension and whole story to life, making it a great choice for audiobook fans.
This book is a thrilling and immersive read with a strong plot and excellent narration, perfect for the fans of police procedurals.
What really grabbed me was the intertwining of Dr. Blair Moreland’s personal downfall with the larger criminal drama. Watching Moreland’s addiction and dangerous decisions set off a ripple effect of violence and intrigue was both chilling and captivating. The way the story unfolded with unexpected twists kept me hooked.
However, I did feel like the characters, despite being interesting, lacked a bit of depth. They felt more like pieces in the puzzle rather than fully fleshed-out individuals, which left me wanting a bit more connection with them.
Listening to the audiobook was a treat—the narrator’s smooth and steady voice made the experience even more enjoyable. Their delivery really brought the tension and whole story to life, making it a great choice for audiobook fans.
This book is a thrilling and immersive read with a strong plot and excellent narration, perfect for the fans of police procedurals.
November 13, 2024
When there are several odd heroine overdoses, all cut with the new drug, fentanyl, Kenda and his partner Wilson are tasked with finding the dealer before anyone else dies. During their investigation, Dr. Moreland, an anesthesiologist who happens to work at the same hospital as Kenda’s wife, captures their attention as rumors about his drug use and odd behavior circulate.
Dr. Moreland was a piece of work, and I couldn’t help but hope he was caught either by Kenda and Wison or the Mexican drug cartel!
Do No Harm is the second book in the Detectives Kenda & Wilson series penned by the real-life Detective Joe Kenda. While the stories are fictional, they’re inspired by past cases Kenda worked on, set in the 1970s, at the beginning of his career. It was an interesting mystery that kept and held my attention as the events played out. Kenda’s storytelling felt like a true crime narrative with a natural progression of events that snowballed into an action-packed conclusion!
I listened to the audio version performed by Bradford Hastings with an introduction and conclusion by Joe Kenda, which was a nice addition and gave some background to this case. Bradford Hastings did a wonderful job portraying Det. Kenda, with a pleasing masculine voice, easy going and good with the bits of ironic humor interspersed.
I voluntarily listened to an audio copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Dr. Moreland was a piece of work, and I couldn’t help but hope he was caught either by Kenda and Wison or the Mexican drug cartel!
Do No Harm is the second book in the Detectives Kenda & Wilson series penned by the real-life Detective Joe Kenda. While the stories are fictional, they’re inspired by past cases Kenda worked on, set in the 1970s, at the beginning of his career. It was an interesting mystery that kept and held my attention as the events played out. Kenda’s storytelling felt like a true crime narrative with a natural progression of events that snowballed into an action-packed conclusion!
I listened to the audio version performed by Bradford Hastings with an introduction and conclusion by Joe Kenda, which was a nice addition and gave some background to this case. Bradford Hastings did a wonderful job portraying Det. Kenda, with a pleasing masculine voice, easy going and good with the bits of ironic humor interspersed.
I voluntarily listened to an audio copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
May 20, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, what a book! I love Joe Kenda's sense of humor and the way he writes his fiction books as if the events as if they really happened. (His nonfiction books are great too!)
This book had me hooked from the start. There were a lot of characters to keep straight, which sometimes I have trouble with. But this book was so engaging, I was able to keep track of who was who.
Highly recommend if you want a somewhat gritty mystery novel.
Wow, what a book! I love Joe Kenda's sense of humor and the way he writes his fiction books as if the events as if they really happened. (His nonfiction books are great too!)
This book had me hooked from the start. There were a lot of characters to keep straight, which sometimes I have trouble with. But this book was so engaging, I was able to keep track of who was who.
Highly recommend if you want a somewhat gritty mystery novel.
October 23, 2024
I love Joe Kenda, I watched all his shows and have read his non-fiction books. Given his background, I think he is the perfect match for writing fiction crime novels, so when I saw he was starting a series, I knew I would need to check it out. I was not disappointed. Fiction that is convincing enough to be real. So good!
The narrator has the perfect voice for a detective, and obliviously, having parts narrated by Kenda himself is fantastic.
The narrator has the perfect voice for a detective, and obliviously, having parts narrated by Kenda himself is fantastic.
September 19, 2024
Meh. *sigh*
I have to admit, I love Lt Kenda’s nonfiction books. Although his fictionalization of actual cases is so-so, IMO, they don’t hold quite the interesting, and oftentimes, riveting appeal to me. His writing of fiction is mediocre at best.
I sure hated to rate this book so poorly, but …
I have to admit, I love Lt Kenda’s nonfiction books. Although his fictionalization of actual cases is so-so, IMO, they don’t hold quite the interesting, and oftentimes, riveting appeal to me. His writing of fiction is mediocre at best.
I sure hated to rate this book so poorly, but …
December 28, 2024
This was a fairly generic story… but I still enjoyed it. The audiobook narration was 10/10.
September 18, 2024
Thank you #netgalley, #joekenda, #blackstonepublishing for this ARC of First Do No Harm
I am a huge true crime buff and when I saw a book by Joe Kenda, a former homicide detective with shows on ID, I immediately hit REQUEST! I love hearing about his former cases and even his take on other homicides. I was approved and started the audiobook. During the foreword, Joe said this is a work of fiction and I was like whhhhattttt??? Fiction? I was so pleasantly suprised by the book.
Book synopsis:
"A string of overdoses happen in Colorado Springs has Detectives Joe Kenda & Lee WIlson on the lookout for a bad batch of heroin that has been cut with a drug they have never seen before. Meanwhile, at Springs General Hospital, Dr Blair Moreland - the notoriously unpleasant head anesthesiologist - has found a way to feed his deepening addiction to the very same powerful new Fentanyl. But when Dr Moreland starts supplying the dangerous painkiller to dealer Lula Lopez - planning to manufacture the druge himself 0 he angers a Mexican crime syndicate and sets into motion a cycle of death and violence that threatens to engulf the entire city. Detectives Kenda and Wilson must track down the source of this killer heroin before anyone else can overdose - and stop Moreland before he can escape the long arm of the law."
The book did have a sad outcome for a grandfather and his grandchild out walking which made me extremely sad. Even thought this book is a work of fiction, this is very much happening in the real word with the Fentanyl. crisis. This is the second book in the series, which I just found out when on Goodreads but I don't think you need to read book 1 to understand book 2 however I will definitely read book 1. I really enjoyed the first hand experience from a former homicide detective that you sometimes do not get on other works of fiction. The experience and the content made this book so believable that I had to remind myself that it was a. work of fiction.
I am a huge true crime buff and when I saw a book by Joe Kenda, a former homicide detective with shows on ID, I immediately hit REQUEST! I love hearing about his former cases and even his take on other homicides. I was approved and started the audiobook. During the foreword, Joe said this is a work of fiction and I was like whhhhattttt??? Fiction? I was so pleasantly suprised by the book.
Book synopsis:
"A string of overdoses happen in Colorado Springs has Detectives Joe Kenda & Lee WIlson on the lookout for a bad batch of heroin that has been cut with a drug they have never seen before. Meanwhile, at Springs General Hospital, Dr Blair Moreland - the notoriously unpleasant head anesthesiologist - has found a way to feed his deepening addiction to the very same powerful new Fentanyl. But when Dr Moreland starts supplying the dangerous painkiller to dealer Lula Lopez - planning to manufacture the druge himself 0 he angers a Mexican crime syndicate and sets into motion a cycle of death and violence that threatens to engulf the entire city. Detectives Kenda and Wilson must track down the source of this killer heroin before anyone else can overdose - and stop Moreland before he can escape the long arm of the law."
The book did have a sad outcome for a grandfather and his grandchild out walking which made me extremely sad. Even thought this book is a work of fiction, this is very much happening in the real word with the Fentanyl. crisis. This is the second book in the series, which I just found out when on Goodreads but I don't think you need to read book 1 to understand book 2 however I will definitely read book 1. I really enjoyed the first hand experience from a former homicide detective that you sometimes do not get on other works of fiction. The experience and the content made this book so believable that I had to remind myself that it was a. work of fiction.
November 11, 2024
I have watched every episode Joe Kenda has out, so when I saw I could ALC one of his books I had to!!
I loved being able to listen to the story of First Do No Harm. The narrator’s voice was perfect and kept me invested into the story.
This book is set back in the 1970s in Colorado. People start overdosing and dying which catches the attention of the police and the drug mafia to get to the bottom of it. They discover fentanyl is being cut into the drug which is causing people to overdose just using a small amount
This book hit home for me. My son’s father overdosed and passed away, so these stories really tug at my heartstrings.
4⭐️
I loved being able to listen to the story of First Do No Harm. The narrator’s voice was perfect and kept me invested into the story.
This book is set back in the 1970s in Colorado. People start overdosing and dying which catches the attention of the police and the drug mafia to get to the bottom of it. They discover fentanyl is being cut into the drug which is causing people to overdose just using a small amount
This book hit home for me. My son’s father overdosed and passed away, so these stories really tug at my heartstrings.
4⭐️
October 12, 2024
If you have ever seen any of the great True-Crime cable series featuring former Lt. Joe Kenda, such as Homicide Hunter, then will know that the thing that makes him so engaging and memorable is the way he speaks. He has such a no-nonsense, direct manner that comes across as unapologetically honest and extremely real.
Now, in a work of fiction entitled FIRST DO NO HARM, that same voice we have seen and heard on TV is fully evident on each and every page of the novel. The other thing that I found very unique is that Kenda has produced a fictional work that features a younger version of himself as one of the Detectives on this circa 1970’s crime case. That leap into New Fiction gives a feeling of hyper-realism that will make you believe these events actually happened in Colorado Springs.
In June of 1977 we meet the antagonist and central character of the novel --- a hospital head anesthesiologist with a serious God complex named Dr. Blair Moreland. He seems to feed off of the pain his patients feel and occasionally sees to it that they experience more than they were supposed to. This is because he has been skimming off the top of the latest pain medication known as fentanyl. What started as an obsession with this highly addictive narcotic soon turns into his getting into the illegal drug game. It is here where the crime part of the novel takes shape as the new hybrid drug containing Moreland’s fentanyl has been killing many of the users who had the misfortune of purchasing it.
Young Homicide Detective Joe Kenda and his partner and mentor Detective Lee Wilson are getting the rapidly increasing number of cases involving fatal overdoses in and around the Colorado Springs area. Even though Kenda’s wife, Nancy, works as a Nurse as the same hospital as Dr. Moreland, an initial link to him is not even close to being made yet. However, Moreland being the sociopath he has exhibited in these pages will surely make a misstep at some point that will put him directly in Detective Kenda’s crosshairs.
Moreland’s partner in his efforts to doctor street drugs from Mexican cartels is former military officer Lula Lopez. She has met Moreland through his work with addicts in recovery, many of which are former military. When people start dying, it puts Lula in a really bad position with her regular customers and her cartel bosses and that could be a deadly mistake that will come back to bite all of them.
Kenda names Moreland as a person of interest in his investigation when his wife introduces him to a nursing colleague that at one point was engaged to Moreland, only to break it off when he showed his true colors. Kenda now knows that Moreland had motive and opportunity to turn his pain meds into killer drugs, he just needed to catch him in the act. Moreland will make that easy when, in taking a page out of Breaking Bad, he hires a former drug addict and Jesse Pinkman wannabe named Lester who will wear the hazmat suit and cook up batches of the new hybrid drug at a location deep in the woods.
The suspense of the novel lies in whether it will be law enforcement or sicario hitmen from the Mexican cartels that get to Dr. Moreland first. In the meantime, Joe Kenda treats you to a story that jumps off the page like a True Crime documentary or podcast that you just cannot stop streaming.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
Now, in a work of fiction entitled FIRST DO NO HARM, that same voice we have seen and heard on TV is fully evident on each and every page of the novel. The other thing that I found very unique is that Kenda has produced a fictional work that features a younger version of himself as one of the Detectives on this circa 1970’s crime case. That leap into New Fiction gives a feeling of hyper-realism that will make you believe these events actually happened in Colorado Springs.
In June of 1977 we meet the antagonist and central character of the novel --- a hospital head anesthesiologist with a serious God complex named Dr. Blair Moreland. He seems to feed off of the pain his patients feel and occasionally sees to it that they experience more than they were supposed to. This is because he has been skimming off the top of the latest pain medication known as fentanyl. What started as an obsession with this highly addictive narcotic soon turns into his getting into the illegal drug game. It is here where the crime part of the novel takes shape as the new hybrid drug containing Moreland’s fentanyl has been killing many of the users who had the misfortune of purchasing it.
Young Homicide Detective Joe Kenda and his partner and mentor Detective Lee Wilson are getting the rapidly increasing number of cases involving fatal overdoses in and around the Colorado Springs area. Even though Kenda’s wife, Nancy, works as a Nurse as the same hospital as Dr. Moreland, an initial link to him is not even close to being made yet. However, Moreland being the sociopath he has exhibited in these pages will surely make a misstep at some point that will put him directly in Detective Kenda’s crosshairs.
Moreland’s partner in his efforts to doctor street drugs from Mexican cartels is former military officer Lula Lopez. She has met Moreland through his work with addicts in recovery, many of which are former military. When people start dying, it puts Lula in a really bad position with her regular customers and her cartel bosses and that could be a deadly mistake that will come back to bite all of them.
Kenda names Moreland as a person of interest in his investigation when his wife introduces him to a nursing colleague that at one point was engaged to Moreland, only to break it off when he showed his true colors. Kenda now knows that Moreland had motive and opportunity to turn his pain meds into killer drugs, he just needed to catch him in the act. Moreland will make that easy when, in taking a page out of Breaking Bad, he hires a former drug addict and Jesse Pinkman wannabe named Lester who will wear the hazmat suit and cook up batches of the new hybrid drug at a location deep in the woods.
The suspense of the novel lies in whether it will be law enforcement or sicario hitmen from the Mexican cartels that get to Dr. Moreland first. In the meantime, Joe Kenda treats you to a story that jumps off the page like a True Crime documentary or podcast that you just cannot stop streaming.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
September 15, 2024
I love Joe Kenda so much and I will read any of his books. This is his second fiction book and I enjoyed every page of it.
The book read like a true crime book and it was full of twists and turns. I think like any mystery and thriller book this really does happen and I found it so crazy while I was reading it.
I definitely cannot wait for his next novel. Thank you so much to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel via NetGalley!
The book read like a true crime book and it was full of twists and turns. I think like any mystery and thriller book this really does happen and I found it so crazy while I was reading it.
I definitely cannot wait for his next novel. Thank you so much to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel via NetGalley!
November 29, 2024
Dr. Moreland has an addiction to a new synthetic drug, fentanyl. In order to ensure he always has access to the drug, he decides to manufacture the fentanyl himself AND begins to supply a local heroin dealer, Lula. Not familiar with the potency of fentanyl, Lula cuts the heroin with lethal amounts. After a series of overdoses happen, Detectives Kenda and Wilson are on the hunt for the source of the bad heroin. When the Mexican cartel finds out their heroin supply has been tainted, they also come looking for the source.
This takes place in 1978 and has a distinct true crime feel, which I loved! Joe Kenda has written a younger version of himself into the story and it’s based on the introduction of fentanyl into the drug scene. Joe’s wife, who is a nurse, has also been written into the story, and works at the same hospital as Dr. Moreland. The reason and ways fentanyl started being used in hospitals and how it grew to become part of the drug cartels is fascinating. Joe Kenda spent twenty years as a homicide detective in Colorado Springs and his knowledge and experience seeps into this story brilliantly! This story IS fiction but Kenda DID base it on real events. I was completely immersed in this crime tale! It had a Breaking Bad vibe about it, complete with a Jesse incarnation!
I did an audio and physical book combo and Bradford Hastings was a fantastic narrator! He conveys just the right amount of emotion and has distinct voices (with accents) for different characters. Joe Kenda narrates an opening and the acknowledgments and I really enjoyed the true experiences and information he shared. FIRST DO NO HARM is a gritty, fast paced police procedural focused on crimes stemming from the scary business of the illegal drug trade and Mexican drug cartels. This was my first book by Joe Kenda , but I enjoyed it so much, I’m looking forward to reading more!
____
Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copies. All opinions are mine.
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content warnings: language, drug addiction, drug overdose, gore, violence, gun violence, Mention of: suicide
This takes place in 1978 and has a distinct true crime feel, which I loved! Joe Kenda has written a younger version of himself into the story and it’s based on the introduction of fentanyl into the drug scene. Joe’s wife, who is a nurse, has also been written into the story, and works at the same hospital as Dr. Moreland. The reason and ways fentanyl started being used in hospitals and how it grew to become part of the drug cartels is fascinating. Joe Kenda spent twenty years as a homicide detective in Colorado Springs and his knowledge and experience seeps into this story brilliantly! This story IS fiction but Kenda DID base it on real events. I was completely immersed in this crime tale! It had a Breaking Bad vibe about it, complete with a Jesse incarnation!
I did an audio and physical book combo and Bradford Hastings was a fantastic narrator! He conveys just the right amount of emotion and has distinct voices (with accents) for different characters. Joe Kenda narrates an opening and the acknowledgments and I really enjoyed the true experiences and information he shared. FIRST DO NO HARM is a gritty, fast paced police procedural focused on crimes stemming from the scary business of the illegal drug trade and Mexican drug cartels. This was my first book by Joe Kenda , but I enjoyed it so much, I’m looking forward to reading more!
____
Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copies. All opinions are mine.
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content warnings: language, drug addiction, drug overdose, gore, violence, gun violence, Mention of: suicide
June 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this and will definitely be checking out the rest of this series. It was fast paced and really kept me interested. The narrator was great. The author researched this topic really well so it felt very authentic!
September 15, 2024
A powerful new drug ushers in deaths on the street.
In the late 1970’s, Colorado Springs doesn’t see many drug overdoses; the Mexican brown heroin used by most on the street is rendered relatively weak given the way dealers cut it. When in a matter of days three different people suddenly die of overdoses, it is clear that something has changed. Detectives Joe Kenda and Lee Wilson start looking into what’s happening on the street, and for them it is personal….one of those who OD’d was the brother of Lee’s wife, M.E. Maggie Medina. An anesthesiologist at Springs General Hospital, unpopular with most who work with him given his nasty disposition and addicted to opiates himself, has started providing a powerful new synthetic opiate known as fentanyl to Lula Lopez, his occasional sexual partner who uses and deals drugs. As she cuts the much cheaper fentanyl into the Mexican brown she gets from family connections within the powerful Hinojosa cartel network, users die. For the cartel, this is just plain bad for business, but they don’t know which of their dealers is responsible….and decide to start getting rid of them one by one until the problem is resolved. Kenda and Wilson have a two-pronged problem, with dead bodies being the common denominator. Can they identify who is supplying and distributing this powerful and deadly new drug and stop the needless deaths?
First Do No Harm is the second novel featuring partners Kenda and Wilson by author and former homicide detective Joe Kenda, known to many as the star of the Investigation Discovery channel true-crime series Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda. Full disclosure: I have never seen (nor, to be honest, heard about) the series, and have not read the first book in the series. Not having the benefit of those sources of background information may have affected my perspective on the book at hand. The premise is fascinating, looking at the origins of fentanyl leaving the hospital setting for which it was intended and infiltrating the street market, the precursor to today’s full blown epidemic, and the author clearly knows the territory. I had a difficult time getting into the novel; it is written in the first person narrative, and there was little information given to me as a reader about the character (which is perhaps a result of not having seen or read the author’s preceding show and books). The writing for me seemed a bit clunky, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story at hand. I give the book solid marks for an interesting plot and a clear eye for the world of law enforcement and its battle against drug dealers. Fans of the author’s true crime show will likely want to check out this latest work, and readers of authors like John E. Douglas, Bruce Robert Coffin and Marc Cameron may want to give it a try as well. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me early access to a copy of First Do No Harm.
In the late 1970’s, Colorado Springs doesn’t see many drug overdoses; the Mexican brown heroin used by most on the street is rendered relatively weak given the way dealers cut it. When in a matter of days three different people suddenly die of overdoses, it is clear that something has changed. Detectives Joe Kenda and Lee Wilson start looking into what’s happening on the street, and for them it is personal….one of those who OD’d was the brother of Lee’s wife, M.E. Maggie Medina. An anesthesiologist at Springs General Hospital, unpopular with most who work with him given his nasty disposition and addicted to opiates himself, has started providing a powerful new synthetic opiate known as fentanyl to Lula Lopez, his occasional sexual partner who uses and deals drugs. As she cuts the much cheaper fentanyl into the Mexican brown she gets from family connections within the powerful Hinojosa cartel network, users die. For the cartel, this is just plain bad for business, but they don’t know which of their dealers is responsible….and decide to start getting rid of them one by one until the problem is resolved. Kenda and Wilson have a two-pronged problem, with dead bodies being the common denominator. Can they identify who is supplying and distributing this powerful and deadly new drug and stop the needless deaths?
First Do No Harm is the second novel featuring partners Kenda and Wilson by author and former homicide detective Joe Kenda, known to many as the star of the Investigation Discovery channel true-crime series Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda. Full disclosure: I have never seen (nor, to be honest, heard about) the series, and have not read the first book in the series. Not having the benefit of those sources of background information may have affected my perspective on the book at hand. The premise is fascinating, looking at the origins of fentanyl leaving the hospital setting for which it was intended and infiltrating the street market, the precursor to today’s full blown epidemic, and the author clearly knows the territory. I had a difficult time getting into the novel; it is written in the first person narrative, and there was little information given to me as a reader about the character (which is perhaps a result of not having seen or read the author’s preceding show and books). The writing for me seemed a bit clunky, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story at hand. I give the book solid marks for an interesting plot and a clear eye for the world of law enforcement and its battle against drug dealers. Fans of the author’s true crime show will likely want to check out this latest work, and readers of authors like John E. Douglas, Bruce Robert Coffin and Marc Cameron may want to give it a try as well. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me early access to a copy of First Do No Harm.
October 13, 2024
If you have ever seen any of the great true crime series featuring former homicide detective Joe Kenda, such as “Homicide Hunter,” then you know that what makes him so engaging and memorable is how he speaks. He has such a no-nonsense, direct manner that comes across as unapologetically honest and so very real. That same voice is fully evident on each and every page of FIRST DO NO HARM, a fictional work that features a younger version of himself as one of the detectives on this case.
Dr. Blair Moreland is the head anesthesiologist at a hospital, and he has a serious God complex. He seems to feed off of the pain that his patients feel and occasionally sees to it that they experience more than they should. This is because he has been skimming off the top of the latest pain medication, known as fentanyl. What started as an obsession with this highly addictive narcotic soon turns into his getting into the illegal drug game. It is here where the crime part of the novel takes shape as the new hybrid drug containing fentanyl has been killing many of its users who had the misfortune of purchasing it.
Detective Joe Kenda and his partner and mentor, Lee Wilson, are getting the rapidly increasing number of cases involving fatal overdoses in and around the Colorado Springs area. Even though Kenda’s wife, Kathy, works as a nurse at the same hospital as Moreland, an initial link to him is not even close to being made yet. However, Moreland being the sociopath he has exhibited in these pages surely will make a misstep at some point that will put him directly in Kenda’s crosshairs.
Moreland’s partner in his efforts to doctor street drugs from Mexican cartels is former military officer Lula Lopez. She met him through his work with addicts in recovery, many of whom are former military personnel. When people start dying, it puts Lula in a very bad position with her regular customers and her cartel bosses, which could be a deadly mistake that will come back to bite all of them.
Kenda names Moreland as a person of interest in his investigation when Kathy introduces him to a nursing colleague who was engaged to Moreland at one point, only to break it off when he showed his true colors. He now knows that Moreland had motive and opportunity to turn his pain meds into killer drugs. All he needs to do is catch him in the act. Moreland will make that easy when, in taking a page out of “Breaking Bad,” he hires a former drug addict and Jesse Pinkman wannabe, who will wear a hazmat suit and cook up batches of the new drug at a location deep in the woods.
The suspense of FIRST DO NO HARM lies in whether it will be law enforcement or hitmen from the Mexican cartels who get to Moreland first. In the meantime, Joe Kenda treats you to a story that jumps off the page like a true-crime documentary or podcast that you just cannot stop streaming.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
Dr. Blair Moreland is the head anesthesiologist at a hospital, and he has a serious God complex. He seems to feed off of the pain that his patients feel and occasionally sees to it that they experience more than they should. This is because he has been skimming off the top of the latest pain medication, known as fentanyl. What started as an obsession with this highly addictive narcotic soon turns into his getting into the illegal drug game. It is here where the crime part of the novel takes shape as the new hybrid drug containing fentanyl has been killing many of its users who had the misfortune of purchasing it.
Detective Joe Kenda and his partner and mentor, Lee Wilson, are getting the rapidly increasing number of cases involving fatal overdoses in and around the Colorado Springs area. Even though Kenda’s wife, Kathy, works as a nurse at the same hospital as Moreland, an initial link to him is not even close to being made yet. However, Moreland being the sociopath he has exhibited in these pages surely will make a misstep at some point that will put him directly in Kenda’s crosshairs.
Moreland’s partner in his efforts to doctor street drugs from Mexican cartels is former military officer Lula Lopez. She met him through his work with addicts in recovery, many of whom are former military personnel. When people start dying, it puts Lula in a very bad position with her regular customers and her cartel bosses, which could be a deadly mistake that will come back to bite all of them.
Kenda names Moreland as a person of interest in his investigation when Kathy introduces him to a nursing colleague who was engaged to Moreland at one point, only to break it off when he showed his true colors. He now knows that Moreland had motive and opportunity to turn his pain meds into killer drugs. All he needs to do is catch him in the act. Moreland will make that easy when, in taking a page out of “Breaking Bad,” he hires a former drug addict and Jesse Pinkman wannabe, who will wear a hazmat suit and cook up batches of the new drug at a location deep in the woods.
The suspense of FIRST DO NO HARM lies in whether it will be law enforcement or hitmen from the Mexican cartels who get to Moreland first. In the meantime, Joe Kenda treats you to a story that jumps off the page like a true-crime documentary or podcast that you just cannot stop streaming.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
October 3, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.
First Do No Harm by Joe Kenda, narrated by Joe Kenda and Bradford Hastings, is a gripping and authentic crime thriller that immerses listeners in the dark and dangerous world of drug trafficking and murder. Known for his role in the hit TV series “Homicide Hunter,” Kenda brings his real-life experience as a homicide detective to this riveting tale, adding a layer of authenticity and depth that is hard to match.
The story centers around a series of overdoses in Colorado Springs, which leads Detectives Joe Kenda and Lee Wilson on a desperate hunt for a new, deadly batch of heroin laced with an unknown substance. The plot thickens as they uncover a connection to Dr. Blair Moreland, a corrupt anesthesiologist with a dangerous addiction to fentanyl. Moreland’s involvement with a Mexican crime syndicate sets off a chain of events that threatens to engulf the entire city in violence and chaos.
Kenda’s narration is a standout feature of this audiobook. His deep, authoritative voice lends credibility and gravitas to the story, making listeners feel as though they are right there with him, unraveling the mystery. Bradford Hastings complements Kenda’s narration with a dynamic performance that enhances the tension and drama of the narrative.
First Do No Harm has meticulous attention to detail. Kenda’s firsthand knowledge of police procedures and criminal investigations shines through, providing an insider’s look at the complexities and challenges of solving such high-stakes cases. This book is not just a thriller; it’s an educational journey into the world of law enforcement, filled with insights and anecdotes that only someone with Kenda’s background could provide.
The characters are well-developed, with Kenda and Wilson’s partnership serving as the backbone of the story. Their camaraderie and determination to bring justice to their community are portrayed with authenticity and depth. Dr. Moreland, as the antagonist, is a chilling and complex character whose descent into criminality is both fascinating and horrifying.
First Do No Harm is a must-listen for fans of true crime and police procedurals. Joe Kenda’s storytelling, combined with Bradford Hastings’ engaging narration, makes this audiobook a compelling and immersive experience.
P. S. I love 😘 Joe Kenda and all of his books are stellar! ❤️🌹
First Do No Harm by Joe Kenda, narrated by Joe Kenda and Bradford Hastings, is a gripping and authentic crime thriller that immerses listeners in the dark and dangerous world of drug trafficking and murder. Known for his role in the hit TV series “Homicide Hunter,” Kenda brings his real-life experience as a homicide detective to this riveting tale, adding a layer of authenticity and depth that is hard to match.
The story centers around a series of overdoses in Colorado Springs, which leads Detectives Joe Kenda and Lee Wilson on a desperate hunt for a new, deadly batch of heroin laced with an unknown substance. The plot thickens as they uncover a connection to Dr. Blair Moreland, a corrupt anesthesiologist with a dangerous addiction to fentanyl. Moreland’s involvement with a Mexican crime syndicate sets off a chain of events that threatens to engulf the entire city in violence and chaos.
Kenda’s narration is a standout feature of this audiobook. His deep, authoritative voice lends credibility and gravitas to the story, making listeners feel as though they are right there with him, unraveling the mystery. Bradford Hastings complements Kenda’s narration with a dynamic performance that enhances the tension and drama of the narrative.
First Do No Harm has meticulous attention to detail. Kenda’s firsthand knowledge of police procedures and criminal investigations shines through, providing an insider’s look at the complexities and challenges of solving such high-stakes cases. This book is not just a thriller; it’s an educational journey into the world of law enforcement, filled with insights and anecdotes that only someone with Kenda’s background could provide.
The characters are well-developed, with Kenda and Wilson’s partnership serving as the backbone of the story. Their camaraderie and determination to bring justice to their community are portrayed with authenticity and depth. Dr. Moreland, as the antagonist, is a chilling and complex character whose descent into criminality is both fascinating and horrifying.
First Do No Harm is a must-listen for fans of true crime and police procedurals. Joe Kenda’s storytelling, combined with Bradford Hastings’ engaging narration, makes this audiobook a compelling and immersive experience.
P. S. I love 😘 Joe Kenda and all of his books are stellar! ❤️🌹
September 11, 2024
2.5 Stars
This was a "new to me" author and I gathered from the prologue that this was his first fiction book. The author - Mr. Kenda - has apparently written several non-fiction books detailing some of the real life cases that he was involved with as a detective. THIS book, while being a work of fiction, was based on certain circumstances that he experienced in real life - but the story itself was made up.
I have to say that while I did find the storyline itself interesting - well, more the premise of the storyline - there were too many other issues that were distracting. The story revolves around the beginnings of the drug fentanyl and how it was initially sold by the drug reps into hospitals and to physicians. It was not yet known the levels to which this drug was lethal and addictive.
Then, the fiction part of the story took over. I found the way in which the MMC, Dr. Blair Moreland, was a sociopathic anesthesiologist and the levels to which he was able to steal drugs and money from his hospital, well it was a bit hard to fathom.
Unfortunately, I also had a problem with the writing style. The writing felt extremely choppy. The sentence structures just never felt smooth and the narration seemed to be a bit forced and overdone.
All in all, it made for a challenging listen.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on September 10, 2024.
This was a "new to me" author and I gathered from the prologue that this was his first fiction book. The author - Mr. Kenda - has apparently written several non-fiction books detailing some of the real life cases that he was involved with as a detective. THIS book, while being a work of fiction, was based on certain circumstances that he experienced in real life - but the story itself was made up.
I have to say that while I did find the storyline itself interesting - well, more the premise of the storyline - there were too many other issues that were distracting. The story revolves around the beginnings of the drug fentanyl and how it was initially sold by the drug reps into hospitals and to physicians. It was not yet known the levels to which this drug was lethal and addictive.
Then, the fiction part of the story took over. I found the way in which the MMC, Dr. Blair Moreland, was a sociopathic anesthesiologist and the levels to which he was able to steal drugs and money from his hospital, well it was a bit hard to fathom.
Unfortunately, I also had a problem with the writing style. The writing felt extremely choppy. The sentence structures just never felt smooth and the narration seemed to be a bit forced and overdone.
All in all, it made for a challenging listen.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on September 10, 2024.
December 15, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Joe Kenda for an Advanced Listening Copy of this title!
In this installment of Kenda & Wilson, the (fictional) Joe Kenda returns to Colorado Springs to investigate a string of deaths related to a bad batch of heroin cut with a mysterious - and deadly - new drug. Roughly based on true events of the 1970s Fentanyl crisis, the stalwart detectives must stay ahead of a conniving anesthesiologist and the Mexican crime syndicate racing to discover and control this new drug and the money (and lives) it will cost.
Having been a long-time fan of crime shows and podcasts, I was pleased to see this interest and my other big interest - medical writing - have a thrilling crossover. I felt like I was listening to an episode of any number of my favorite crime dramas, and I enjoyed the nostalgia of this story being set in the 1970s and thus crime and reporting being confined to the technological limits of that era (not to mention the Easter-egg-like introduction of "newfangled" games such as Snake). The blend of fiction and non-fiction as this story follows the early years of Fentanyl before its rise as a dreaded and deadly street drug and what its introduction into more nefarious uses may have looked like was compelling and relatable as a healthcare worker. I thought the narrator also did an exceptional job of distinguishing the story's many voices, and at times I actually extended the walks I was taking to listen to this audiobook because I was so caught up in what would happen next I could not stop.
Fans of Joe Kenda from his past work in Investigation Discovery, and fans of any kinds of crime drama along the lines of the other greats (Keith Morrison would eat this up, I'm afraid) would really enjoy this story, and I highly recommend the audiobook as well!
In this installment of Kenda & Wilson, the (fictional) Joe Kenda returns to Colorado Springs to investigate a string of deaths related to a bad batch of heroin cut with a mysterious - and deadly - new drug. Roughly based on true events of the 1970s Fentanyl crisis, the stalwart detectives must stay ahead of a conniving anesthesiologist and the Mexican crime syndicate racing to discover and control this new drug and the money (and lives) it will cost.
Having been a long-time fan of crime shows and podcasts, I was pleased to see this interest and my other big interest - medical writing - have a thrilling crossover. I felt like I was listening to an episode of any number of my favorite crime dramas, and I enjoyed the nostalgia of this story being set in the 1970s and thus crime and reporting being confined to the technological limits of that era (not to mention the Easter-egg-like introduction of "newfangled" games such as Snake). The blend of fiction and non-fiction as this story follows the early years of Fentanyl before its rise as a dreaded and deadly street drug and what its introduction into more nefarious uses may have looked like was compelling and relatable as a healthcare worker. I thought the narrator also did an exceptional job of distinguishing the story's many voices, and at times I actually extended the walks I was taking to listen to this audiobook because I was so caught up in what would happen next I could not stop.
Fans of Joe Kenda from his past work in Investigation Discovery, and fans of any kinds of crime drama along the lines of the other greats (Keith Morrison would eat this up, I'm afraid) would really enjoy this story, and I highly recommend the audiobook as well!
October 21, 2024
What a fantastic storyline! I enjoyed this book right from the beginning as it had me hooked instantly, all the way to the end of the storyline and into the prologue. Outstanding story, interesting main and sub protagonists, educational as to drug abuse and it's dangers, informative drug information on fentanyl and addiction, a dishonest abusive doctor, the drug cartel you never cross without paying the price of your life, savvy detectives that stop at nothing to get to the truth, and so much more packed in this forward moving engrossing story.
I kept reminding myself that the author stated it was a work of fiction, but it didn't read like fiction - you know when you have those moments of eye rolls and sighs, or you're talking to yourself : "Right, that wouldn't happen"! No, it didn't happen to me- not in this story. I was fully engrossed and listened to the whole book in one sitting. Days later, I'm still thinking about it.
The setting is Colorado, and the places mentioned are accurate in description (coming from an area I personally know well). Beautifully written, capturing the realistic and proper emotion of the characters, the narration by Joe Kenda & Bradford Hastings is a treat to listen to. EXCELLENT PROLOGUE!
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My profound thanks to NetGalley, Joe Kenda, and Blackston Publishing Audiobooks for an AAC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I kept reminding myself that the author stated it was a work of fiction, but it didn't read like fiction - you know when you have those moments of eye rolls and sighs, or you're talking to yourself : "Right, that wouldn't happen"! No, it didn't happen to me- not in this story. I was fully engrossed and listened to the whole book in one sitting. Days later, I'm still thinking about it.
The setting is Colorado, and the places mentioned are accurate in description (coming from an area I personally know well). Beautifully written, capturing the realistic and proper emotion of the characters, the narration by Joe Kenda & Bradford Hastings is a treat to listen to. EXCELLENT PROLOGUE!
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My profound thanks to NetGalley, Joe Kenda, and Blackston Publishing Audiobooks for an AAC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 10, 2024
Detective Joe Kenda and his partner, Lee Wilson, have caught a weird case. People throughout the Colorado Springs area are dying. The local illegal drug supply has been laced with something new - and deadly. Set in the late 1970s, the new drug seems old now, but Fentanyl is no less deadly.
Many people are already familiar with Joe Kenda, the lovable-yet-ornery police detective from Colorado with many seasons of his tales available on ID.
Yep. That one.
In his first fictional novel, Kenda tells a story about the beginnings of Fentanyl in the Colorado drug culture. Thing is, despite this story not being true, it reads like it is. The book has the same focused, no-nonsense diction that Kenda uses on tv and in his non-fiction books. Every part of the story seemed completely plausible. And of course, there is Kenda's dry wit peppered in. I wasn't sure how I would like this as I read his non-fiction books and always loved his show. But it was just as good as any of his other work. Highly recommended whether you enjoy fiction or not. It's just nice to spend some time with my favorite tv detective.
Many people are already familiar with Joe Kenda, the lovable-yet-ornery police detective from Colorado with many seasons of his tales available on ID.
Yep. That one.
In his first fictional novel, Kenda tells a story about the beginnings of Fentanyl in the Colorado drug culture. Thing is, despite this story not being true, it reads like it is. The book has the same focused, no-nonsense diction that Kenda uses on tv and in his non-fiction books. Every part of the story seemed completely plausible. And of course, there is Kenda's dry wit peppered in. I wasn't sure how I would like this as I read his non-fiction books and always loved his show. But it was just as good as any of his other work. Highly recommended whether you enjoy fiction or not. It's just nice to spend some time with my favorite tv detective.
October 30, 2024
3.5 stars.
A string of overdoses in Colorado Springs has Detectives Joe Kenda and Lee Wilson on the lookout for a bad batch of heroin that has been cut with a drug they’ve never seen before. Dr. Blair Moreland—the notoriously unpleasant head anesthesiologist—has found a way to feed his deepening addiction to the very same powerful new drug: fentanyl. Detectives Kenda and Wilson must stop Moreland before he can escape the long arm of the law.
As I had expected, this was a straightforward action-focused suspense book. There was no mystery, as the pure-evil villain was revealed early on. What followed was a thrilling journey of how Kenda’s path converged into the villain’s path, and how he ended up closing in to bring in justice.
The highlight of the story for me was Kenda’s own perspective on the fictionalised version of himself, including his relationship with the fictionalised version of his wife, Kathy. It was also interesting to hear Kenda narrating his own part. Overall, the audiobook was enjoyable - the narration was good, with great intonation and pace. I went through this book really fast.
(Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
A string of overdoses in Colorado Springs has Detectives Joe Kenda and Lee Wilson on the lookout for a bad batch of heroin that has been cut with a drug they’ve never seen before. Dr. Blair Moreland—the notoriously unpleasant head anesthesiologist—has found a way to feed his deepening addiction to the very same powerful new drug: fentanyl. Detectives Kenda and Wilson must stop Moreland before he can escape the long arm of the law.
As I had expected, this was a straightforward action-focused suspense book. There was no mystery, as the pure-evil villain was revealed early on. What followed was a thrilling journey of how Kenda’s path converged into the villain’s path, and how he ended up closing in to bring in justice.
The highlight of the story for me was Kenda’s own perspective on the fictionalised version of himself, including his relationship with the fictionalised version of his wife, Kathy. It was also interesting to hear Kenda narrating his own part. Overall, the audiobook was enjoyable - the narration was good, with great intonation and pace. I went through this book really fast.
(Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
September 2, 2024
In 1970s Colorado Springs, people begin overdosing. The heroin is being cut with a new drug- fentanyl. The source is an anesthesiologist who is addicted himself. He knows he is on borrowed time at the hospital, so he decides to start making it himself. The police are determined to figure out where this new drug is coming for, but also, the cartels are mad that someone is killing their customers. Both are searching for Dr. Moreland.
I chose to read this because the synopsis was interesting- a rogue doctor who is an addict producing fentanyl? Add in the fact that fentanyl is such a huge problem today- but I never had heard about it until a decade or so ago. It was surprising to me that it was around and already a problem in the 1970s.
I enjoyed this story. I did wish it felt more like the 1970s. Other than it being mentioned, and the lack of cell phones and internet, you'd never know this was set 50 years ago. I also feel like the characters all could have used more depth. The book is fairly short, so there was opportunity to go deeper.
Bradford Hastings narrates the audiobook. The narration is good and this works as an audiobook.
I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
I chose to read this because the synopsis was interesting- a rogue doctor who is an addict producing fentanyl? Add in the fact that fentanyl is such a huge problem today- but I never had heard about it until a decade or so ago. It was surprising to me that it was around and already a problem in the 1970s.
I enjoyed this story. I did wish it felt more like the 1970s. Other than it being mentioned, and the lack of cell phones and internet, you'd never know this was set 50 years ago. I also feel like the characters all could have used more depth. The book is fairly short, so there was opportunity to go deeper.
Bradford Hastings narrates the audiobook. The narration is good and this works as an audiobook.
I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2024
First Do No Harm is a good, quick read! It's very well paced and the action was easy to follow despite featuring lots of characters and changing locations.
The story follows the detectives solving murder cases from drugs, the doctor cooking the drugs, and the Mexican cartel weirdly stuck between. I found this fascinating! It's a dark story,. As it says in the end that while it's a work of fiction, it is indeed within the realm of possibility as fentanyl is a real, actual danger in our country. But with that said, it's not overly graphic or gory; it's plot driven but the characters are excellent. They are each unique and well fleshed out for this being so short at 7 hours.
The audiobook is narrated by Bradford Hastings who I have never listened to before, but his skill and the sound of his voice is in the same flavor as Ray Porter and R C bray (who mainly do sci-fi) who happen to be my all time favorite narrators. Which is to say, I LOVED his narration and will absolutely go listen to more by him! Highly recommend! He did many accents well and great female intonation.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Audio for an audio arc to listen to and review. All opinions are my own.
The story follows the detectives solving murder cases from drugs, the doctor cooking the drugs, and the Mexican cartel weirdly stuck between. I found this fascinating! It's a dark story,. As it says in the end that while it's a work of fiction, it is indeed within the realm of possibility as fentanyl is a real, actual danger in our country. But with that said, it's not overly graphic or gory; it's plot driven but the characters are excellent. They are each unique and well fleshed out for this being so short at 7 hours.
The audiobook is narrated by Bradford Hastings who I have never listened to before, but his skill and the sound of his voice is in the same flavor as Ray Porter and R C bray (who mainly do sci-fi) who happen to be my all time favorite narrators. Which is to say, I LOVED his narration and will absolutely go listen to more by him! Highly recommend! He did many accents well and great female intonation.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Audio for an audio arc to listen to and review. All opinions are my own.
October 1, 2024
I couldn't resist picking up "First Do No Harm" when I learned it was set in Colorado Springs. Having lived just 20 miles away for six years, I have a soft spot for stories set in familiar places. This is my first plunge into the author's literary world, although I've heard plenty about his talent. Opting for the audiobook, I was thrilled to discover that the author himself was one of the narrators. It added a personal touch to the audio experience.
The story unfolds in the 1970s, a time when lethal painkillers started making their way into heroin. This gripping tale sheds light on the devastating impact of this deadly drug, which also touched medical professionals struggling with addiction. It's a chillingly realistic narrative that sometimes feels like true crime. I'm definitely intrigued and eager to pick up the first book in the series.
Thanks to the author and Blackstone Publishing for providing this audio ARC through Libro.fm. All opinions are entirely my own and shared voluntarily.
#FirstDoNoHarm #JoeKenda #BlackstonePublishing #LibroFM #Audiobook #Partner #Influencer
The story unfolds in the 1970s, a time when lethal painkillers started making their way into heroin. This gripping tale sheds light on the devastating impact of this deadly drug, which also touched medical professionals struggling with addiction. It's a chillingly realistic narrative that sometimes feels like true crime. I'm definitely intrigued and eager to pick up the first book in the series.
Thanks to the author and Blackstone Publishing for providing this audio ARC through Libro.fm. All opinions are entirely my own and shared voluntarily.
#FirstDoNoHarm #JoeKenda #BlackstonePublishing #LibroFM #Audiobook #Partner #Influencer
August 31, 2024
A thriller at the dawn of the fentanyl crisis decades ago. I was a bit ... amused ... at the author self-insertion ... and self-narration. I felt that the lead baddie was just a wee bit overblown ... I mean, he was detestable in every way ... and his thoughts were hardcore stereotype central. And the protagonists kind of fell into the background, including Detective Joe Kenda himself. Hm! The other characters were more compelling, especially the grandson-grandfather duo, the Indigenous war vet, and even the lead baddie's right hand man, Mr. Uber Privilege. On that note, some of the narration was a bit heavy-handed. There was something like "your mom's a rich bitch!" that, putting the use of bitch and use as an endearment aside, was just unnecessarily drilling in the idea. I found myself more interested in the details of the operation, the surprises more about who becomes involved and how people get tangled up (or powdered, I should say) in the scheme. A solid crime story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the advance copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the advance copy.
October 17, 2024
First Do No Harm by Joe Kenda
Thanks to the ALC program by @librofm I had the opportunity to connect with Joe Kenda’s work. It’s fiction this time but it has his touch and it’s as close as real one can get. Unfortunately.
The story is set in the late 70’s in Colorado Springs, and it includes the arrival of one of the most addictive and powerful drugs: fentanyl.
There has been a series of overdoses and Detectives Kenda and Wilson are after something they have never seen before.
Moreover, as they connect the dots a well renowned anesthesiologist will come up as a person of interest.
This is a well played game of cat a mouse. I loved experiencing the downfall of such heinous character together with all the unexpected plot twists!
Favorite quote:
“ As you may have heard me say before, when it comes to man’s inhumanity to man, truth is always stranger—and more disturbing—than fiction.”
Thanks to the ALC program by @librofm I had the opportunity to connect with Joe Kenda’s work. It’s fiction this time but it has his touch and it’s as close as real one can get. Unfortunately.
The story is set in the late 70’s in Colorado Springs, and it includes the arrival of one of the most addictive and powerful drugs: fentanyl.
There has been a series of overdoses and Detectives Kenda and Wilson are after something they have never seen before.
Moreover, as they connect the dots a well renowned anesthesiologist will come up as a person of interest.
This is a well played game of cat a mouse. I loved experiencing the downfall of such heinous character together with all the unexpected plot twists!
Favorite quote:
“ As you may have heard me say before, when it comes to man’s inhumanity to man, truth is always stranger—and more disturbing—than fiction.”
November 30, 2024
3.5 stars
This book was a bit cheeky.
The tone is just so delightfully sharp with that particular sort of pointed
gallows humour that I live, breath, and could eat up as if it was ice cream and my last meal on Earth.
However, I'm much more invested in the storytelling than I am in the plot, somehow.
The murder investigation is there in the background and it's OK, but what makes the book stand out from the mainstream is the anecdotes and the banter in between what's happening.
The setup where you already know what the culprit is doing and thinking takes a bit of mystery away from the book. While being entertaining in how utterly absurd criminals can be, it also shows you all the cards, so to speak. The detectives are trailing behind what you as the reader/listener already knows so it's a bit like painting by numbers. You know where we're going next.
Very, very entertaining though. I will absolutely return for a third book.
This book was a bit cheeky.
The tone is just so delightfully sharp with that particular sort of pointed
gallows humour that I live, breath, and could eat up as if it was ice cream and my last meal on Earth.
However, I'm much more invested in the storytelling than I am in the plot, somehow.
The murder investigation is there in the background and it's OK, but what makes the book stand out from the mainstream is the anecdotes and the banter in between what's happening.
The setup where you already know what the culprit is doing and thinking takes a bit of mystery away from the book. While being entertaining in how utterly absurd criminals can be, it also shows you all the cards, so to speak. The detectives are trailing behind what you as the reader/listener already knows so it's a bit like painting by numbers. You know where we're going next.
Very, very entertaining though. I will absolutely return for a third book.
August 29, 2024
4.25 stars
I am a huge Homicide Hunter fan! Truly I love all things true-crime. This was such a realistic novel that it was easy to get gripped into. Joe Kenda's experience as a homicide detective shone through in the details. The characters were well built on and likeable. I was hoping for a little more "thrill" and maybe a twist but did overall really enjoy the novel.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator. Joe Kenda did narrate the prologue and closing notes himself which was fun. The main narrator was well-spoken. Annunciation was great. He had a smooth steady voice that was easy to listen to. Speed of reading was good (but I do speed up my audiobooks after a few chapters).
I am a huge Homicide Hunter fan! Truly I love all things true-crime. This was such a realistic novel that it was easy to get gripped into. Joe Kenda's experience as a homicide detective shone through in the details. The characters were well built on and likeable. I was hoping for a little more "thrill" and maybe a twist but did overall really enjoy the novel.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator. Joe Kenda did narrate the prologue and closing notes himself which was fun. The main narrator was well-spoken. Annunciation was great. He had a smooth steady voice that was easy to listen to. Speed of reading was good (but I do speed up my audiobooks after a few chapters).
September 23, 2024
Fans of Joe Kenda will enjoy this, but hard-core mystery/thriller fans will find it mediocre. Initially it reminded me of Breaking Bad, but it found its own way. It moved along well, the characters were interesting, had a believable beginning of
plague upon mankind, and it there were a lot of facets to it. I just found it completely overt, unsubtle, leaving nothing for the reader to imagine or interpret, everything spelled out and no thought required. I like a little more nuance in my books.
Kenda is a great storyteller on TV. His delivery is both impactful and sardonic, which makes him fun to watch. But it's like reading a standup comedian's routine or reading an impassioned TED Talk... it's a performative art and doesn't translate well to books, even audiobooks.
plague upon mankind, and it there were a lot of facets to it. I just found it completely overt, unsubtle, leaving nothing for the reader to imagine or interpret, everything spelled out and no thought required. I like a little more nuance in my books.
Kenda is a great storyteller on TV. His delivery is both impactful and sardonic, which makes him fun to watch. But it's like reading a standup comedian's routine or reading an impassioned TED Talk... it's a performative art and doesn't translate well to books, even audiobooks.
November 6, 2024
I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.
I have loved watching Joe Kenda's show on Investigation Discovery for so many years, and I have picked up his non-fiction books too. I had no idea he was starting to write fiction! I got this novel from Netgalley and realized it was book #2, so I immediately went and got book #1 (All is Not Forgotten) and blew through that and immediately picked up this one. I appreciate that the first novel was based on a real case, whereas, this novel was based on real events overall, not necessarily a real case. Regardless, it was very well written and realistic and overall enjoyable to read. I do hope he keeps writing his fiction and non-fiction books!
I have loved watching Joe Kenda's show on Investigation Discovery for so many years, and I have picked up his non-fiction books too. I had no idea he was starting to write fiction! I got this novel from Netgalley and realized it was book #2, so I immediately went and got book #1 (All is Not Forgotten) and blew through that and immediately picked up this one. I appreciate that the first novel was based on a real case, whereas, this novel was based on real events overall, not necessarily a real case. Regardless, it was very well written and realistic and overall enjoyable to read. I do hope he keeps writing his fiction and non-fiction books!
November 15, 2024
“First Do No Harm” by Joe Kenda is a fictional story that offers a compelling and insightful look into the real-life experiences of the author, who is a retired homicide detective. The book blends a gripping narrative with the kind of meticulous research that lends credibility and authenticity to Kenda’s stories. As a pharmacist, I appreciated the level of detail the author includes, especially around medical aspects, which adds depth and realism to the story. Kenda’s narration is outstanding, with his distinct voice adding a personal touch that draws listeners in. The second narrator also complements Kenda well, enhancing the overall experience. It's a fascinating blend of crime, investigation, and human experience that is both educational and entertaining.
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