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Nick Ryan #2
Blind to Midnight
When you’re in trouble, you call 911.
When cops are in trouble, they call Nick Ryan.
Every cop in the city knows his name, but no one says it out loud.
He doesn’t wear a uniform, but he is the most powerful cop in New York.
Nick Ryan can find a criminal who’s vanished. Or make a key witness disappear.
He has cars, safe houses, money, and weapons hidden all over the city.
Nearly three thousand New Yorkers died on 9/11. But in the entire city on that tragic day, only one murder actually took place. Now, over two decades later, Detective Nick Ryan must dig beneath the official report—and into his own past—to find the truth.
Working again for the mysterious power broker “Joe,” Nick finds a link between an airman, a billionaire, a trove of Nazi gold, and a crew of killers, but gets sidetracked when his dear “uncle” Tony and Tony’s wife are murdered in a professional hit.
Nick’s investigations uncover a tangled web of corruption and blood money, and as the horrifying truth emerges, he finds himself outgunned, on the run, and trusting no one.
With professional killers on his trail, will Nick Ryan be able to end the violence before he loses everything that matters to him—including his own life?
When cops are in trouble, they call Nick Ryan.
Every cop in the city knows his name, but no one says it out loud.
He doesn’t wear a uniform, but he is the most powerful cop in New York.
Nick Ryan can find a criminal who’s vanished. Or make a key witness disappear.
He has cars, safe houses, money, and weapons hidden all over the city.
Nearly three thousand New Yorkers died on 9/11. But in the entire city on that tragic day, only one murder actually took place. Now, over two decades later, Detective Nick Ryan must dig beneath the official report—and into his own past—to find the truth.
Working again for the mysterious power broker “Joe,” Nick finds a link between an airman, a billionaire, a trove of Nazi gold, and a crew of killers, but gets sidetracked when his dear “uncle” Tony and Tony’s wife are murdered in a professional hit.
Nick’s investigations uncover a tangled web of corruption and blood money, and as the horrifying truth emerges, he finds himself outgunned, on the run, and trusting no one.
With professional killers on his trail, will Nick Ryan be able to end the violence before he loses everything that matters to him—including his own life?
304 pages, Hardcover
Published August 13, 2024
109 people are currently reading
4325 people want to read
About the author
Reed Farrel Coleman
166 books748 followersaka Tony Spinosa
Reed Farrel Coleman’s love of storytelling originated on the streets of Brooklyn and was nurtured by his teachers, friends, and family.
A New York Times bestseller called a hard-boiled poet by NPR’s Maureen Corrigan and the “noir poet laureate” in the Huffington Post, Reed is the author of novels, including Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series, the acclaimed Moe Prager series, short stories, and poetry.
Reed is a three-time Edgar Award nominee in three different categories—Best Novel, Best Paperback Original, Best Short Story—and a three-time recipient of the Shamus Award for Best PI Novel of the Year. He has also won the Audie, Macavity, Barry, and Anthony Awards.
A former executive vice president of Mystery Writers of America, Reed is an adjunct instructor of English at Hofstra University and a founding member of MWA University. Brooklyn born and raised, he now lives with his family–including cats Cleo and Knish–in Suffolk County on Long Island.
Reed Farrel Coleman’s love of storytelling originated on the streets of Brooklyn and was nurtured by his teachers, friends, and family.
A New York Times bestseller called a hard-boiled poet by NPR’s Maureen Corrigan and the “noir poet laureate” in the Huffington Post, Reed is the author of novels, including Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series, the acclaimed Moe Prager series, short stories, and poetry.
Reed is a three-time Edgar Award nominee in three different categories—Best Novel, Best Paperback Original, Best Short Story—and a three-time recipient of the Shamus Award for Best PI Novel of the Year. He has also won the Audie, Macavity, Barry, and Anthony Awards.
A former executive vice president of Mystery Writers of America, Reed is an adjunct instructor of English at Hofstra University and a founding member of MWA University. Brooklyn born and raised, he now lives with his family–including cats Cleo and Knish–in Suffolk County on Long Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 31, 2024
Lots of gore and a bit too much.
August 28, 2024
Nick Ryan, the rogue New York cop on a mission to clean up the streets no matter how outside the law he steps, is back in Blind To Midnight, the follow up to the first book of the series Sleepless City. Once again, the action is fierce and the pace frenetic as Nick and his ever-growing team of allies face up against dangerous enemies.
Ryan works for a shadowy organization as a fixer, a man who steps into dangerous situations and faces down the criminals running amok in the city. The people backing him have contacts in the highest places and he tends to perform his work without any problems from outside authorities.
In this case, he’s called on to investigate a murder that took place on September 11, 2001. It’s touted as the only murder that took place that day in NY outside of the Twin Towers. The man was stabbed multiple times at a subway station and left for dead. The assumption at the time was that the man was Arab in appearance and was attacked as a result. That thinking has now changed.
But Ryan’s not above working off the books, so to speak, and when a former cop, once a partner and his father’s is shot to death in his home along with his wife, he decides to take a special interest in the case. These unauthorized jobs are fraught with danger and tend to displease his handlers. It also opens him up to attacks from unexpected angles, something that ensures the action comes at a frenetic pace.
I must admit I really like these types of books where the hero is given a virtual free rein to track down and deal with bad guys. The fact that he has a small team of experts he can call on to help him with tech work, backup muscle and local knowledge makes it even easier to stride into the next showdown. With each phase carefully planned, often with a few important details hidden from us to offer small surprise twists, he jumps from one crisis to the next with the agility of a cat.
This is a solid hardboiled thriller that ticks all of the lone wolf detective, who’s torn between his job and the woman he loves, boxes. The growing cast of characters he enlists to help him adds interest to the storyline while also increasing his effectiveness. It feels as though Nick Ryan is still in the early days of coming to grips with his fixer role which augurs well for future possible outings.
The audiobook is narrated by Peter Giles and his low pitched growling delivery provides the perfect atmosphere to the story he’s conveying. From the first line you sense the threat and feel the danger that’s coming.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook which has allowed me to read, enjoy and review this book.
Ryan works for a shadowy organization as a fixer, a man who steps into dangerous situations and faces down the criminals running amok in the city. The people backing him have contacts in the highest places and he tends to perform his work without any problems from outside authorities.
In this case, he’s called on to investigate a murder that took place on September 11, 2001. It’s touted as the only murder that took place that day in NY outside of the Twin Towers. The man was stabbed multiple times at a subway station and left for dead. The assumption at the time was that the man was Arab in appearance and was attacked as a result. That thinking has now changed.
But Ryan’s not above working off the books, so to speak, and when a former cop, once a partner and his father’s is shot to death in his home along with his wife, he decides to take a special interest in the case. These unauthorized jobs are fraught with danger and tend to displease his handlers. It also opens him up to attacks from unexpected angles, something that ensures the action comes at a frenetic pace.
I must admit I really like these types of books where the hero is given a virtual free rein to track down and deal with bad guys. The fact that he has a small team of experts he can call on to help him with tech work, backup muscle and local knowledge makes it even easier to stride into the next showdown. With each phase carefully planned, often with a few important details hidden from us to offer small surprise twists, he jumps from one crisis to the next with the agility of a cat.
This is a solid hardboiled thriller that ticks all of the lone wolf detective, who’s torn between his job and the woman he loves, boxes. The growing cast of characters he enlists to help him adds interest to the storyline while also increasing his effectiveness. It feels as though Nick Ryan is still in the early days of coming to grips with his fixer role which augurs well for future possible outings.
The audiobook is narrated by Peter Giles and his low pitched growling delivery provides the perfect atmosphere to the story he’s conveying. From the first line you sense the threat and feel the danger that’s coming.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook which has allowed me to read, enjoy and review this book.
June 16, 2024
Reed Farrel Coleman shows once again what a master writer he is. Blind to Midnight is the second Nick Ryan story and it is great. It is actually one of the best books so far in 2024. The characters are wonderful, the idea behind the series is also great and it sets it apart from many others. I would lean towards hard boiled and noir and I have a soft spot for those genres. It ia as all Colemans books well written and it's a joy to read. I usually stay away from big city books but since I have followed the author for many years I had to read it and I recommend that you do as well. But start with the first book. I send a big thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Edelweiss for supplying me with this advance copy.
September 18, 2024
Good heavens I really love this series so far. It's scratching my tough guy noir itch and Coleman has this knack for introducing numerous plot threads that don't seem like they should tie together, but of course it ends up that they eventually do. This a chickens coming home to roost story, with a mess of bodies dropping thanks to the only documented (and still unsolved) murder that occurred in New York City on 9/11 that wasn't tied to the World Trade Center. Lots of blood and bullets but I was riveted by the storyline as Nick careens his way around the City looking for answers.
My only quibbles? I'm completely bored by Nick's Secret Baby Mama Drama and the fact he rekindles a friends-with-benefits relationship in this book - well let's just say Nick is pure poison for female characters and I can see this emotionally unavailable love triangle irritating me beyond measure if it drags out much longer. Also this story ends with a hell of a cliffhanger setting up Nick's next "adventure." Hopefully I'm not waiting too long for Book 3.
My only quibbles? I'm completely bored by Nick's Secret Baby Mama Drama and the fact he rekindles a friends-with-benefits relationship in this book - well let's just say Nick is pure poison for female characters and I can see this emotionally unavailable love triangle irritating me beyond measure if it drags out much longer. Also this story ends with a hell of a cliffhanger setting up Nick's next "adventure." Hopefully I'm not waiting too long for Book 3.
November 21, 2024
This is the latest and second novel in the Nick Ryan series and although I wasn’t too keen on the first one I decided to give it a try and I’m glad I did.
Ryan is an NYPD Detective but works as a ‘fixer’ within the force and his casework is meted out by his handler Joe. In this novel he is tasked with investigating an unsolved murder that took place on 9/11, which was the only murder that day outwith the twin towers attack. He also gets unofficially involved in the investigation of the murders of his father’s ex Police partner and his wife while also being involved in a shoot out with a local mobster. In top of this he also has his domestic problems to deal with in the shape of his ex-wife Shana, who despite being remarried still holds a torch for Ryan.
Although there is a lot going on in the story I enjoyed this one a lot more as Ryan’s investigations seem more grounded in actual Police work, where he knocks on doors and interviews witnesses and suspects. He is ably assisted by a raft of friends and colleagues the most prominent being Mack, a former Irish terrorist, turned informer and Feld a reclusive, disfigured computer genius who Ryan pulled from his burning home. The plot is multi faceted but all pulls together and climaxes in a shootout in Jamaica Bay.
Despite my initial reservations regarding the Nick Ryan debut novel I did enjoy this one, as although action packed it did come across as a bit more grounded and believable.
Ryan is an NYPD Detective but works as a ‘fixer’ within the force and his casework is meted out by his handler Joe. In this novel he is tasked with investigating an unsolved murder that took place on 9/11, which was the only murder that day outwith the twin towers attack. He also gets unofficially involved in the investigation of the murders of his father’s ex Police partner and his wife while also being involved in a shoot out with a local mobster. In top of this he also has his domestic problems to deal with in the shape of his ex-wife Shana, who despite being remarried still holds a torch for Ryan.
Although there is a lot going on in the story I enjoyed this one a lot more as Ryan’s investigations seem more grounded in actual Police work, where he knocks on doors and interviews witnesses and suspects. He is ably assisted by a raft of friends and colleagues the most prominent being Mack, a former Irish terrorist, turned informer and Feld a reclusive, disfigured computer genius who Ryan pulled from his burning home. The plot is multi faceted but all pulls together and climaxes in a shootout in Jamaica Bay.
Despite my initial reservations regarding the Nick Ryan debut novel I did enjoy this one, as although action packed it did come across as a bit more grounded and believable.
August 23, 2024
When I read the first book in this series I was disappointed but thought it set up the next one well. I was not wrong. Really fun book and I look forward to his continuing adventures.
One criticism is that the description gives entirely too much of the plot away. It would have been more exciting/interesting if you didn’t know certain points that had to be introduced and could be just as clueless/blind as the protagonist.
One criticism is that the description gives entirely too much of the plot away. It would have been more exciting/interesting if you didn’t know certain points that had to be introduced and could be just as clueless/blind as the protagonist.
September 12, 2024
3.5 - i miss the gravitas of a Moe novel but these will have to do :)
January 13, 2025
Not what I expected. Too much like a black-ops story for me.
December 27, 2024
“There were always candidates eager to fill the void. Money was honey. All you needed to take it was ambition, an abiding disregard for innocence, and a stomach for blood.”
Nick Ryan is a New York City detective, but he’s also a fixer who works ‘off book’, taking assignments from his handler, Joe. Nick is tough, savvy and dangerous. He’s also a man with ties, but he chooses to keep his distance for the safety of his loved ones. This also makes him lonely and somewhat haunted.
BLIND TO MIDNIGHT is an action packed thrill ride complete with shootouts, car chases, tricked out weapons and cars and many nefarious characters including mobsters and assassins. It felt like a Martin Scorsese or Antoine Fuqua film! I’m not kidding. The action never stops! Reed Farrel Coleman’s writing is poetic in the sense that this almost felt like a noir with the atmosphere of New York City acting as yet another character.
What made this stand out for me was Peter Giles’ performance! Not only do I love the tone of his voice, (he could read the dictionary and I’d love it!) he does accents and different voices so well, he sounds like different people! Giles’ also has the ability to perform females without it sounding hokey or pulling me out of the story. I think aside from Nick, my favorite voice was Lenny. He was also one of my favorite characters. A man with a traumatic and tragic past who Nick saved from a fire, his body is so badly damaged he speaks with an impediment. However, it’s the friendship between Nick and Lenny that really shines and adds heart to an otherwise intense and gritty crime story.
This is book two of a series, so it’s possible I may have enjoyed it more if I had read book one first. I do love an action thriller, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed this as much if I had only read the physical book. In this instance the audiobook made all the difference!
____
Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copies. All opinions are mine.
_____
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content warnings: severe language, sexual situations, violence, gun violence, gore, death
Nick Ryan is a New York City detective, but he’s also a fixer who works ‘off book’, taking assignments from his handler, Joe. Nick is tough, savvy and dangerous. He’s also a man with ties, but he chooses to keep his distance for the safety of his loved ones. This also makes him lonely and somewhat haunted.
BLIND TO MIDNIGHT is an action packed thrill ride complete with shootouts, car chases, tricked out weapons and cars and many nefarious characters including mobsters and assassins. It felt like a Martin Scorsese or Antoine Fuqua film! I’m not kidding. The action never stops! Reed Farrel Coleman’s writing is poetic in the sense that this almost felt like a noir with the atmosphere of New York City acting as yet another character.
What made this stand out for me was Peter Giles’ performance! Not only do I love the tone of his voice, (he could read the dictionary and I’d love it!) he does accents and different voices so well, he sounds like different people! Giles’ also has the ability to perform females without it sounding hokey or pulling me out of the story. I think aside from Nick, my favorite voice was Lenny. He was also one of my favorite characters. A man with a traumatic and tragic past who Nick saved from a fire, his body is so badly damaged he speaks with an impediment. However, it’s the friendship between Nick and Lenny that really shines and adds heart to an otherwise intense and gritty crime story.
This is book two of a series, so it’s possible I may have enjoyed it more if I had read book one first. I do love an action thriller, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed this as much if I had only read the physical book. In this instance the audiobook made all the difference!
____
Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copies. All opinions are mine.
_____
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content warnings: severe language, sexual situations, violence, gun violence, gore, death
August 18, 2024
Someone has to look out for the little guy.
Nick Ryan Jr is an NYPD cop who is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, with a sense of right and wrong that solidified during his tours of duty in Afghanistan. His reputation within the department makes many uneasy, and his father having given evidence against his own squad years earlier to a commission investigating dirty cops has not made Nick or his brother Sean popular within the ranks. Nick has recently been recruited to work for a shadowy group of people with power in the city who want him to take care of problems that cannot be addressed by traditional means; in return Nick will be given the tools and the access he needs to get things done. His new assignment is to find out who killed Vladimir Markovic, the only homicide victim killed on 9/11. Markovic was Serbian, had a full beard and spoke with an accent, and it has long been assumed that he was mistaken for being Arab and attacked by people lashing out against what had happened in NYC that morning in 2001. When Nick gets a call telling him that a former cop, an old family friend named Tony Angelo, and Tony’s wife have just been found murdered in their home, he wants to focus his attention instead on finding out who killed them. He soon gets caught up in the attempted kidnapping of a teenaged boy from a wealthy family in what may have been a mob-related act of revenge. None of these cases are what they seem to be, and as Nick probes for answers he will find himself confronting war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, killers for hire, and some uncomfortable truths about the past of a man he had long considered a member of his family. With not only his own life but those of the woman he loves and the daughter he can never acknowledge in the crosshairs of vicious adversaries, Nick will need to combine his unique skills with help from various quarters to get justice.
In this sequel to author Reed Farrel Coleman’s first book featuring Nick Ryan ,“Sleepless City”, the highly focused and principled cop is still feeling out the parameters of his new side job and coming to grips with the fact that he has a daughter. Other cops know he is one of the best at the job but still don’t much like or trust him, and he finds it pretty hard to trust anyone himself. He still loves the beautiful and wealthy (and now married) Shana Carlyle, but knows that his job would put her life in perpetual jeopardy and refuses her overtures to pursue a life together. With Becky, the daughter they share but who the world believes is the daughter of Shana and her husband, now also a potential soft target, Nick is more determined than ever to keep them away from him. Another former lover, Det. Annalise Puleo, is introduced; she and her partner Jeff Rosen are leading the investigation into Tony’s death. With his team of unofficial helpers, including a computer genius scarred physically and emotionally by a traumatic event, a former member of British Intelligence who now bartends at a local pub, and a sniper from his old military unit who comes in handy from time to time, there is a wealth of interesting characters and a series of mysteries that grow murkier as Nick investigates them. This is a stellar hard boiled crime novel with a hero who is part Shane and part The Equalizer. If you read Sleepless City, you have to grab a copy of Blind to Midnight; if you didn’t, then grab them both (while you can read this as a standalone, trust me….once you read one, you’ll want to read the other). Readers of Don Winslow, Dennis Lehane and Michael Connelly have a new series to follow here as well. Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me early access to a copy of this gripping crime novel.
Nick Ryan Jr is an NYPD cop who is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, with a sense of right and wrong that solidified during his tours of duty in Afghanistan. His reputation within the department makes many uneasy, and his father having given evidence against his own squad years earlier to a commission investigating dirty cops has not made Nick or his brother Sean popular within the ranks. Nick has recently been recruited to work for a shadowy group of people with power in the city who want him to take care of problems that cannot be addressed by traditional means; in return Nick will be given the tools and the access he needs to get things done. His new assignment is to find out who killed Vladimir Markovic, the only homicide victim killed on 9/11. Markovic was Serbian, had a full beard and spoke with an accent, and it has long been assumed that he was mistaken for being Arab and attacked by people lashing out against what had happened in NYC that morning in 2001. When Nick gets a call telling him that a former cop, an old family friend named Tony Angelo, and Tony’s wife have just been found murdered in their home, he wants to focus his attention instead on finding out who killed them. He soon gets caught up in the attempted kidnapping of a teenaged boy from a wealthy family in what may have been a mob-related act of revenge. None of these cases are what they seem to be, and as Nick probes for answers he will find himself confronting war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, killers for hire, and some uncomfortable truths about the past of a man he had long considered a member of his family. With not only his own life but those of the woman he loves and the daughter he can never acknowledge in the crosshairs of vicious adversaries, Nick will need to combine his unique skills with help from various quarters to get justice.
In this sequel to author Reed Farrel Coleman’s first book featuring Nick Ryan ,“Sleepless City”, the highly focused and principled cop is still feeling out the parameters of his new side job and coming to grips with the fact that he has a daughter. Other cops know he is one of the best at the job but still don’t much like or trust him, and he finds it pretty hard to trust anyone himself. He still loves the beautiful and wealthy (and now married) Shana Carlyle, but knows that his job would put her life in perpetual jeopardy and refuses her overtures to pursue a life together. With Becky, the daughter they share but who the world believes is the daughter of Shana and her husband, now also a potential soft target, Nick is more determined than ever to keep them away from him. Another former lover, Det. Annalise Puleo, is introduced; she and her partner Jeff Rosen are leading the investigation into Tony’s death. With his team of unofficial helpers, including a computer genius scarred physically and emotionally by a traumatic event, a former member of British Intelligence who now bartends at a local pub, and a sniper from his old military unit who comes in handy from time to time, there is a wealth of interesting characters and a series of mysteries that grow murkier as Nick investigates them. This is a stellar hard boiled crime novel with a hero who is part Shane and part The Equalizer. If you read Sleepless City, you have to grab a copy of Blind to Midnight; if you didn’t, then grab them both (while you can read this as a standalone, trust me….once you read one, you’ll want to read the other). Readers of Don Winslow, Dennis Lehane and Michael Connelly have a new series to follow here as well. Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me early access to a copy of this gripping crime novel.
August 17, 2024
There are few writers out there that do hard-boiled crime better than Reed Farrel Coleman. He has won practically every related writing award in the business and now graces us with the second novel in the outstanding Nick Ryan series entitled BLIND TO MIDNIGHT.
We learned in the first novel that when you’re in trouble you call 911 but when cops are in trouble, they call Nick Ryan. He works for an Intel branch of the NYPD as a Detective and also has a clandestine side gig he got ‘selected’ for by a strange benefactor named Joe who seems to have the power to do almost anything at any level to ensure the missions he puts Ryan on get done.
In BLIND TO MIDNIGHT, we find Nick dealing with a new case from the mysterious Joe and also a personal double-murder that he puts his nose into because it involves family. But before all that, we have to go back in time to the ill-fated September 11, 2001, and the only homicide in all of NYC that occurred that day. A Serbian immigrant working in a bakery in Queens was stabbed to death on a subway platform in Brooklyn that overlooked the smoke pouring from the Twin Towers. We find out later that his name was Markovic and it may not have been a 9/11 revenge crime but something completely different.
It is a pleasure watching Nick Ryan work, especially when he needs to reach out to his various contacts that perform various services for him. I specifically like Lenny Feld who lives in the basement apartment beneath a Jewish Synagogue in Brooklyn. Nick had saved the now badly scarred and deformed Feld from a fire once, but was unable to save his wife and daughter. He has an eternal bond with Lenny and uses him for his ace hacking skills that always come in handy. He also has a police radio on 24/7 and often hears of incidents before they even reach Ryan. Lenny is put to great use throughout this novel.
Ryan is rocked by some very unfortunate news that all but consumes him. His fellow NYPD brother Sean’s partner contacts him to make him aware that a retired cop named Tony Angelo and his wife were found slain in their Brooklyn apartment. Tony was friends with Ryan’s defamed father, who was seen as a rat by most of the NYPD, and Nick and Sean looked at him like an uncle. When Ryan gets Joe to pull strings to allow him a look at the crime scene he comes upon a bloodbath that resembled a gangland hit. He would make it his business to get justice for Tony, even though his ex-lover Annalise Puleo was one of the Detectives assigned the double-murder case.
The file that Joe had given Ryan to work on ironically dealt with that lone homicide case from 9/11. Astute readers will not be surprised when the paths between the Tony Angelo murder and that one, along with a handful of other connected cases, begin to fall in line. Ryan now has a case that has become both personal and professional for him and he needs to be at his best or the bad guys out there that don’t want him sticking his nose in old business will give him the same treatment as the line of victims being stacked up before him.
Ryan is treated to a team of ex-police pros as well as automobiles and weaponry that would make James Bond jealous --- all by the gracious hands of Joe. However, this case will take much more than clever gadgetry to overcome. Once Ryan is able to tie the Tony Angelo and Markovic cases together, the gloves come completely off and the reader is in for a wild ride. I would go anywhere Reed Farrel Coleman and Nick Ryan want to take me and BLIND TO MIDNIGHT --- which ends up being a very personal quote once made by Tony Angelo to Nick Ryan --- is an outstanding and entertaining read.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
We learned in the first novel that when you’re in trouble you call 911 but when cops are in trouble, they call Nick Ryan. He works for an Intel branch of the NYPD as a Detective and also has a clandestine side gig he got ‘selected’ for by a strange benefactor named Joe who seems to have the power to do almost anything at any level to ensure the missions he puts Ryan on get done.
In BLIND TO MIDNIGHT, we find Nick dealing with a new case from the mysterious Joe and also a personal double-murder that he puts his nose into because it involves family. But before all that, we have to go back in time to the ill-fated September 11, 2001, and the only homicide in all of NYC that occurred that day. A Serbian immigrant working in a bakery in Queens was stabbed to death on a subway platform in Brooklyn that overlooked the smoke pouring from the Twin Towers. We find out later that his name was Markovic and it may not have been a 9/11 revenge crime but something completely different.
It is a pleasure watching Nick Ryan work, especially when he needs to reach out to his various contacts that perform various services for him. I specifically like Lenny Feld who lives in the basement apartment beneath a Jewish Synagogue in Brooklyn. Nick had saved the now badly scarred and deformed Feld from a fire once, but was unable to save his wife and daughter. He has an eternal bond with Lenny and uses him for his ace hacking skills that always come in handy. He also has a police radio on 24/7 and often hears of incidents before they even reach Ryan. Lenny is put to great use throughout this novel.
Ryan is rocked by some very unfortunate news that all but consumes him. His fellow NYPD brother Sean’s partner contacts him to make him aware that a retired cop named Tony Angelo and his wife were found slain in their Brooklyn apartment. Tony was friends with Ryan’s defamed father, who was seen as a rat by most of the NYPD, and Nick and Sean looked at him like an uncle. When Ryan gets Joe to pull strings to allow him a look at the crime scene he comes upon a bloodbath that resembled a gangland hit. He would make it his business to get justice for Tony, even though his ex-lover Annalise Puleo was one of the Detectives assigned the double-murder case.
The file that Joe had given Ryan to work on ironically dealt with that lone homicide case from 9/11. Astute readers will not be surprised when the paths between the Tony Angelo murder and that one, along with a handful of other connected cases, begin to fall in line. Ryan now has a case that has become both personal and professional for him and he needs to be at his best or the bad guys out there that don’t want him sticking his nose in old business will give him the same treatment as the line of victims being stacked up before him.
Ryan is treated to a team of ex-police pros as well as automobiles and weaponry that would make James Bond jealous --- all by the gracious hands of Joe. However, this case will take much more than clever gadgetry to overcome. Once Ryan is able to tie the Tony Angelo and Markovic cases together, the gloves come completely off and the reader is in for a wild ride. I would go anywhere Reed Farrel Coleman and Nick Ryan want to take me and BLIND TO MIDNIGHT --- which ends up being a very personal quote once made by Tony Angelo to Nick Ryan --- is an outstanding and entertaining read.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
August 17, 2024
There are few writers who do hard-boiled crime better than Reed Farrel Coleman. He deservedly has won numerous awards for his work, and now he graces us with the second entry in his outstanding Nick Ryan series.
When you’re in trouble, you call 911. But, as we learned in SLEEPLESS CITY, when cops are in trouble, they call Nick Ryan. Nick works for an intel branch of the NYPD as a detective and has a clandestine side gig from “Joe,” a strange benefactor who seems to have the power to do almost anything at any level to ensure that the missions he assigns to Nick get done.
In BLIND TO MIDNIGHT, Nick is dealing with a new case from Joe and a double murder that he puts his nose into because it involves family. But first, we have to go back to September 11, 2001 and the only homicide that occurred that day in New York City. A Serbian immigrant working in a Queens bakery was stabbed to death on a subway platform in Brooklyn that overlooked the smoke pouring from the Twin Towers. We find out later that it might not have been a 9/11 revenge crime but something completely different.
It is a pleasure watching Nick work, especially when he needs to reach out to his contacts who perform various services for him. I really like Lenny Feld, who lives in the basement apartment beneath a synagogue in Brooklyn. Nick had saved the now badly scarred and deformed Lenny from a fire once, but was unable to rescue his wife and daughter. He has an eternal bond with Lenny and uses him for his ace hacking skills, which always come in handy. Lenny also has a police radio on 24/7 and often hears of incidents before they even reach Nick.
Nick is rocked by some very unfortunate news that all but consumes him. Retired cop Tony Angelo and his wife were found slain in their Brooklyn apartment. Tony was friends with Ryan’s defamed father, who was seen as a rat by most of the NYPD, and Nick considered him to be an uncle. When Nick gets Joe to pull strings to allow him a look at the crime scene, he comes upon a bloodbath that resembles a gangland hit. He will make it his business to get justice for Tony, even though his ex-lover is one of the detectives assigned to the case.
Nick is treated to a team of ex-police pros, as well as automobiles and weaponry that would make James Bond jealous --- all by the gracious hands of Joe. However, it will take much more than clever gadgetry to succeed in this investigation. Once Nick is able to tie the Tony Angelo and 9/11 cases together, the gloves come completely off, and readers are in for a wild ride.
I would go anywhere Reed Farrel Coleman and Nick Ryan want to take me. BLIND TO MIDNIGHT, which ends up being a very personal quote once made by Tony to Nick, is an outstanding and entertaining read.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
When you’re in trouble, you call 911. But, as we learned in SLEEPLESS CITY, when cops are in trouble, they call Nick Ryan. Nick works for an intel branch of the NYPD as a detective and has a clandestine side gig from “Joe,” a strange benefactor who seems to have the power to do almost anything at any level to ensure that the missions he assigns to Nick get done.
In BLIND TO MIDNIGHT, Nick is dealing with a new case from Joe and a double murder that he puts his nose into because it involves family. But first, we have to go back to September 11, 2001 and the only homicide that occurred that day in New York City. A Serbian immigrant working in a Queens bakery was stabbed to death on a subway platform in Brooklyn that overlooked the smoke pouring from the Twin Towers. We find out later that it might not have been a 9/11 revenge crime but something completely different.
It is a pleasure watching Nick work, especially when he needs to reach out to his contacts who perform various services for him. I really like Lenny Feld, who lives in the basement apartment beneath a synagogue in Brooklyn. Nick had saved the now badly scarred and deformed Lenny from a fire once, but was unable to rescue his wife and daughter. He has an eternal bond with Lenny and uses him for his ace hacking skills, which always come in handy. Lenny also has a police radio on 24/7 and often hears of incidents before they even reach Nick.
Nick is rocked by some very unfortunate news that all but consumes him. Retired cop Tony Angelo and his wife were found slain in their Brooklyn apartment. Tony was friends with Ryan’s defamed father, who was seen as a rat by most of the NYPD, and Nick considered him to be an uncle. When Nick gets Joe to pull strings to allow him a look at the crime scene, he comes upon a bloodbath that resembles a gangland hit. He will make it his business to get justice for Tony, even though his ex-lover is one of the detectives assigned to the case.
Nick is treated to a team of ex-police pros, as well as automobiles and weaponry that would make James Bond jealous --- all by the gracious hands of Joe. However, it will take much more than clever gadgetry to succeed in this investigation. Once Nick is able to tie the Tony Angelo and 9/11 cases together, the gloves come completely off, and readers are in for a wild ride.
I would go anywhere Reed Farrel Coleman and Nick Ryan want to take me. BLIND TO MIDNIGHT, which ends up being a very personal quote once made by Tony to Nick, is an outstanding and entertaining read.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
August 17, 2024
Blind to Midnight: A Nick Ryan Novel by Reed Farrel Coleman is the second book in the Nick Ryan series that began with Sleepless City. It is also another solidly good read as one always expects from the author.
In addition to his regular police work, Nick Ryan continues to work cases as they are assigned by the people in the shadows. He is a sort of fixer and has a wide latitude to solve problem as a NYC police detective. To achieve their goals, he has access to varied resources. He also separately has help from a variety of friends and associates that have talents and connections the average person would not. But, knowing Nick Ryan can be extremely dangerous for your own health.
Nick is just coming off an assignment and a very long day when he gets a phone call. Tony Angelo and his wife are dead. They have been murdered by person or persons unknown. Nick had known Tony since he was a kid. Nick’s father was a cop, friends with Ton and his wife, both were part of Nick’s life always and forever. That makes them family as far as Nick is concerned. Even though the people who control Nick want him to stay out of it and away from the investigation, he is not about to do that. They should know by now that Nick marches to the beat of his own drummer.
The shadowy powers that be want Nick to focus on solving a murder case from the night the towers fell. The case was believed to be a hate crime. It was something else and more than two decades later they want it solved for reasons unknown.
Nick does the only thing he can do. He works both cases and dodges bullets and violent mayhem along the way. His ultimate plan is to survive, keep the ex and their kid safe, and get out from under the thumb of the person or persons that are leaning on him. Easier said than done.
Blind to Midnight: A Nick Ryan Novel builds extensively on Sleepless City while spinning another very complicated tale of cross and double cross. Plenty of action, violence, and interesting characters blend together to make this another compelling page turning read from the master. Read the series in order and enjoy as both books are very much worth your time.
My digital reading copy was an ARC from the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, Inc., through NetGalley with no expectation of a review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2024
August 29, 2024
This is my first taste of author Reed Farrel Coleman in what is his 2nd in this action packed series featuring NYPD Detective Nick Ryan, the guy with a background of tours in Afghanistan, given a wide remit to do what is necessary in below the radar shadowy missions from his handler, Joe. I listened to this on audio, approximately 10 hours long with an interesting style of narration by Peter Giles, which at first I found bemusing, but which I quickly settled into it as it added a little something extra to the narrative. There are a number of different threads that are set to endanger and complicate Ryan's life, a man who can never be with the love of his life, Shana Carlyle, and their daughter, Becky, simply so they can be safe from anyone willing to get him through them.
Ryan is directed to look into the only apparent murder of Serbian Vladimir Markovic on 9/11, a bakery worker, said to be due to his Arabic appearance, but is there more to it? He finds himself prevented the abduction of a teenage boy from a wealthy family, but is thrown out of kilter when someone he had known from childhood, Tony Angelo, and his wife, Rosa, are murdered, this is personal, he is not going to leave it alone until he knows who killed them. Help comes Ryan's way, and it includes the specialist hacking skills of his friend, Lenny, badly scarred from a fire in which he was saved by Ryan, but sadly lost his family, and the reliable Irishman, Mac, who is willing to follow Ryan in scenarios in which he could lose his life. There are twists and turns galore, an enormous rising death count, in this dark story where the threads eventually begin to connect in a sinister and troubling manner.
The author writes a well plotted novel that revolves around the horrors of the past that occurred in the nightmare that was the Balkans, long memories, blood revenge, financial gain, and stolen gold. This is a fast paced and exciting thriller with a wide ranging cast of characters, the good and the bad, that will appeal to those who enjoy reading about a hard boiled all action central protagonist, a man with principles, who will go where others fear to tread, from one challenging scenario straight into the next one. I can certainly recommend the audio, which proved to be a great listen! Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the ALC.
Ryan is directed to look into the only apparent murder of Serbian Vladimir Markovic on 9/11, a bakery worker, said to be due to his Arabic appearance, but is there more to it? He finds himself prevented the abduction of a teenage boy from a wealthy family, but is thrown out of kilter when someone he had known from childhood, Tony Angelo, and his wife, Rosa, are murdered, this is personal, he is not going to leave it alone until he knows who killed them. Help comes Ryan's way, and it includes the specialist hacking skills of his friend, Lenny, badly scarred from a fire in which he was saved by Ryan, but sadly lost his family, and the reliable Irishman, Mac, who is willing to follow Ryan in scenarios in which he could lose his life. There are twists and turns galore, an enormous rising death count, in this dark story where the threads eventually begin to connect in a sinister and troubling manner.
The author writes a well plotted novel that revolves around the horrors of the past that occurred in the nightmare that was the Balkans, long memories, blood revenge, financial gain, and stolen gold. This is a fast paced and exciting thriller with a wide ranging cast of characters, the good and the bad, that will appeal to those who enjoy reading about a hard boiled all action central protagonist, a man with principles, who will go where others fear to tread, from one challenging scenario straight into the next one. I can certainly recommend the audio, which proved to be a great listen! Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the ALC.
October 3, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.
Blind to Midnight by Reed Farrel Coleman, narrated by Peter Giles, is a riveting addition to the Nick Ryan series, blending intense action with intricate plotting. This audiobook plunges listeners into the gritty world of New York’s most enigmatic cop, Nick Ryan, who operates in the shadows to solve the city’s most dangerous cases.
The story begins with a gripping premise: nearly three thousand New Yorkers died on 9/11, but only one murder took place that day. Over two decades later, Detective Nick Ryan is tasked with uncovering the truth behind this lone murder, a mission that leads him into a web of corruption, blood money, and high-stakes danger. Ryan delves deeper establishing shocking criminal connections.
Peter Giles’ narration is a stellar feature of this audiobook. His deep, resonant voice perfectly captures the gritty atmosphere of the story and the complex emotions of the characters. Giles’ ability to convey tension and urgency keeps listeners on the edge of their seats, making the audiobook an immersive experience.
Coleman’s writing is sharp and evocative, painting a vivid picture of New York’s underbelly. The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that keep the listener guessing until the very end.
A strength of Blind to Midnight is its character development. Nick Ryan is a compelling protagonist, a rogue cop who operates outside the law but is driven by a strong sense of justice. His moral ambiguity and relentless pursuit of the truth make him a fascinating character to follow. The supporting cast, including the mysterious power broker “Joe” and the various criminals Ryan encounters, add depth and complexity to the narrative.
Blind to Midnight is a must-listen for fans of hard-boiled crime fiction and action-packed thrillers. Reed Farrel Coleman’s masterful storytelling, combined with Peter Giles’ engaging narration, makes this audiobook a standout in its genre.
Blind to Midnight by Reed Farrel Coleman, narrated by Peter Giles, is a riveting addition to the Nick Ryan series, blending intense action with intricate plotting. This audiobook plunges listeners into the gritty world of New York’s most enigmatic cop, Nick Ryan, who operates in the shadows to solve the city’s most dangerous cases.
The story begins with a gripping premise: nearly three thousand New Yorkers died on 9/11, but only one murder took place that day. Over two decades later, Detective Nick Ryan is tasked with uncovering the truth behind this lone murder, a mission that leads him into a web of corruption, blood money, and high-stakes danger. Ryan delves deeper establishing shocking criminal connections.
Peter Giles’ narration is a stellar feature of this audiobook. His deep, resonant voice perfectly captures the gritty atmosphere of the story and the complex emotions of the characters. Giles’ ability to convey tension and urgency keeps listeners on the edge of their seats, making the audiobook an immersive experience.
Coleman’s writing is sharp and evocative, painting a vivid picture of New York’s underbelly. The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that keep the listener guessing until the very end.
A strength of Blind to Midnight is its character development. Nick Ryan is a compelling protagonist, a rogue cop who operates outside the law but is driven by a strong sense of justice. His moral ambiguity and relentless pursuit of the truth make him a fascinating character to follow. The supporting cast, including the mysterious power broker “Joe” and the various criminals Ryan encounters, add depth and complexity to the narrative.
Blind to Midnight is a must-listen for fans of hard-boiled crime fiction and action-packed thrillers. Reed Farrel Coleman’s masterful storytelling, combined with Peter Giles’ engaging narration, makes this audiobook a standout in its genre.
August 12, 2024
This is a wild series. It's man-lit, in the way that some people insist on calling certain books "chick lit" - which is to say, it's all stereotypical testosterone and high-octane action. But it's entertaining to listen to, and the narration really sells it. Peter Giles narrates it like every actor that has ever played Batman (including Will Arnett in the LEGO version), with a gravelly deep voice that just works here. Even when the plot is entirely beyond belief, it's just fun to listen to.
This is the second book in the series, which I didn't know when I requested it... (Incidentally, why do publishers/NetGalley not want people to know that a book falls within a series so often? Personally I find it irritating to request something and receive it, only to learn that there are multiple books/bits of backstory that I don't know about before I begin.) I downloaded the first from my local library and honestly I'm glad I did. While you could probably listen to this for the pure adrenaline-charged excitement of it, there is a fair amount of backstory that I believe you'd find helpful to have under your belt before beginning. It's not like this is really a character-study, but it still helps to understand some of the whys lurking behind the decisions Nick makes.
Overall the book is just a pure blast of fun. Nick Ryan is like 007 in the stereotypical old-school "every woman wants him, every man wants to be him" kind of way - and if that bugs you, you won't like this. It's not a genre I seek out a lot, but sometimes, in the same way that I sometimes want a Michael Bey movie, it's just satisfying and entertaining to engage with a story that is all about vengeance and seeing the bad guys get their comeuppance. There is definitely that sense in spades here, and it makes for an enjoyable listen.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
This is the second book in the series, which I didn't know when I requested it... (Incidentally, why do publishers/NetGalley not want people to know that a book falls within a series so often? Personally I find it irritating to request something and receive it, only to learn that there are multiple books/bits of backstory that I don't know about before I begin.) I downloaded the first from my local library and honestly I'm glad I did. While you could probably listen to this for the pure adrenaline-charged excitement of it, there is a fair amount of backstory that I believe you'd find helpful to have under your belt before beginning. It's not like this is really a character-study, but it still helps to understand some of the whys lurking behind the decisions Nick makes.
Overall the book is just a pure blast of fun. Nick Ryan is like 007 in the stereotypical old-school "every woman wants him, every man wants to be him" kind of way - and if that bugs you, you won't like this. It's not a genre I seek out a lot, but sometimes, in the same way that I sometimes want a Michael Bey movie, it's just satisfying and entertaining to engage with a story that is all about vengeance and seeing the bad guys get their comeuppance. There is definitely that sense in spades here, and it makes for an enjoyable listen.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
August 7, 2024
4 🌟
1 🌶️
This is my first Nick Ryan book by Reed Farrel Coleman, and I immensely enjoyed it. Nick is a conflicted hero with a heart he wishes he didn't have. This was danger in capital letters from page one for Nick. Trying to solve a murder from over twenty years ago opens up several cans of worms that Nick was not expecting. He relies on his wits and several misfits to assist when Nick needs it. The dialogue and characterizations of people from different parts of New York add some flavor and color to this book filled with gray. You learn in Nick's line of work there is really no black or white but many varying degrees of gray. Nick has to decide where he stands in the gray and who and what he's willing to protect, no matter what. This was a fast-paced novel that left you little time to catch your breath. I wondered at times if Nick ran triathlons in his limited spare time because his endurance was exceptional. I don't think he slept very much during this book. Nevertheless, I am ready to read more Nick Ryan books going backward and looking forward to the next Ryan book. Look, I have to know!
I received an eArc in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, for the eArc.
1 🌶️
This is my first Nick Ryan book by Reed Farrel Coleman, and I immensely enjoyed it. Nick is a conflicted hero with a heart he wishes he didn't have. This was danger in capital letters from page one for Nick. Trying to solve a murder from over twenty years ago opens up several cans of worms that Nick was not expecting. He relies on his wits and several misfits to assist when Nick needs it. The dialogue and characterizations of people from different parts of New York add some flavor and color to this book filled with gray. You learn in Nick's line of work there is really no black or white but many varying degrees of gray. Nick has to decide where he stands in the gray and who and what he's willing to protect, no matter what. This was a fast-paced novel that left you little time to catch your breath. I wondered at times if Nick ran triathlons in his limited spare time because his endurance was exceptional. I don't think he slept very much during this book. Nevertheless, I am ready to read more Nick Ryan books going backward and looking forward to the next Ryan book. Look, I have to know!
I received an eArc in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, for the eArc.
June 9, 2025
Second in the series, this book is another gritty, action-packed murder mystery featuring the smart, streetwise Irish cop Nick Ryan. His assignment from his handler, Joe, is to investigate the decades-old murder of Vlado Markovic, who was murdered in New York on 9/11, the day the Twin Towers fell. Vlado’s death had been filed away as a hate crime due to the chaos that ensued that day; however, the people Ryan works for seem to think there’s more behind Vlado’s death than meets the eye. Ryan, reeling from the shooting death of his dad’s best friend, Tony Angelo (who was like an uncle to Nick and his brother, Sean), and his wife, Rosa, reluctantly investigates Valdo while looking into the murder of Tony and his wife.
As Nick gets immersed in his work, he quickly becomes a target of several shady characters who seem to know his every move. However, Nick Ryan is a crafty and resourceful cop with more skills than James Bond and Jack Reacher put together. Dodging bullets and kidnapping attempts, Nick comes head-to-head with a group of Serbian killers who will let nothing stand in their way of recovering a fortune they’ve been tracking since World War II. Ryan is a self-sacrificing, stand-up hero you can root for.
As Nick gets immersed in his work, he quickly becomes a target of several shady characters who seem to know his every move. However, Nick Ryan is a crafty and resourceful cop with more skills than James Bond and Jack Reacher put together. Dodging bullets and kidnapping attempts, Nick comes head-to-head with a group of Serbian killers who will let nothing stand in their way of recovering a fortune they’ve been tracking since World War II. Ryan is a self-sacrificing, stand-up hero you can root for.
September 10, 2024
I listened to this audiobook. This is the second Nick Ryan book. Nick is an NYPD detective with a military background and an exceptional set of lethal skills. In the first book he was recruited by a shadowy group to become the city's "fixer" - to do what needs to be done outside the legal system to protect and serve. Nick is not a traditional good guy. He is more than willing to cross the line that most cops aren't supposed to cross. In this book we see the only homicide in New York that occurred on September 11, 2001, the day the towers came down. Now, 20 years later, Nick's handlers want to know what really happened. In addition, a retired cop who was close to Nick and his father (also a retired cop) is murdered along with his wife. Nick wants to look into it on his own time. Lots of action, lots of violence, lots of twists and turns. Nick finally learns the truth about the long ago murder. And, it relates to the murder of his father's friend. These books are action thrillers.
August 27, 2024
“Blind to Midnight” is the second Detective Nick Ryan story in the series (following “Sleepless City”), and it is excellent. Nick is a fixer/operative in the likes of 007, who is looking for a murderer hiding his crime within the tragedy of 9/11. His reputation within the police department makes many uneasy, but they know he is one of the best at his job. He gets justice done with his unique skill set and friends (a computer genius, a former member of British Intelligence, now a bartender, and a sniper from his old military unit). This book is a fast, action-packed story that takes you from New York to Eastern Europe and back; you will enjoy the ride!
The audio version of the book, narrated by Peter Giles with his gravelly deep voice, is a treat for the ears. His narration is not just entertaining, but also breathes life into the story, making it a truly engaging experience!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing-Audiobooks for the advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review, and thank you, Reed Farrel Coleman, for writing this amazing book!
The audio version of the book, narrated by Peter Giles with his gravelly deep voice, is a treat for the ears. His narration is not just entertaining, but also breathes life into the story, making it a truly engaging experience!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing-Audiobooks for the advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review, and thank you, Reed Farrel Coleman, for writing this amazing book!
October 5, 2024
Det Nick Ryan is back still on the force but mostly working for a power broker "Joe" who gives him assignments from powerful players in NY. Who they are is still up in the air and their legality is another question.
He's got money, a loft and GTO from "Uncle Kenny" but everyone on the force seems to know him/
Ryan is tasked with finding a killer of the only murder that happened in NYC during 9/11. Why now? That was never fully explained but his investigations lead to a number of deaths -some close to home and all of them linked.
It is of course all about money, Nazi gold found during the Bosnian war and the factions fighting over it. Serbs and Croats alike are looking for the money but for different reasons. One for revenge and another for greed and both linked to the deaths of retired dectectives who failed to solve the 9/11 cold case on purpose.
Along the way, Nick finds out who "Joe" actually is but not the group behind him- that must be in future books.
He's got money, a loft and GTO from "Uncle Kenny" but everyone on the force seems to know him/
Ryan is tasked with finding a killer of the only murder that happened in NYC during 9/11. Why now? That was never fully explained but his investigations lead to a number of deaths -some close to home and all of them linked.
It is of course all about money, Nazi gold found during the Bosnian war and the factions fighting over it. Serbs and Croats alike are looking for the money but for different reasons. One for revenge and another for greed and both linked to the deaths of retired dectectives who failed to solve the 9/11 cold case on purpose.
Along the way, Nick finds out who "Joe" actually is but not the group behind him- that must be in future books.
October 23, 2024
Thank you Blackstone Audio and NetGalley for an audio copy of this book for review purposes. I haven’t read anything by this author before and this was a nice surprise. Nick Ryan is a detective with the NYPD but he also does other investigations for a man named Joe. The book starts out on 9/11/01 with a man who is killed on a train platform in NYC. Now, decades later, Nick is tasked with finding out who did it. It isn’t just that the man looked to be Middle Eastern and someone was angry that day. Soon Nick finds himself fighting good guys and bad guys. There are car chases, motorcycle chases, love interests, attacks on Nick and his loved ones. This is fast paced. I didn’t feel that since I hadn’t read any others in this series that I couldn’t keep up. I do think I need to read the others. I can see this being made into a movie. I don’t think this is book club material but you read it and thank me later
This is a review of the audiobook.
This is a review of the audiobook.
August 19, 2024
Nick Ryan is New York City's fix-it policeman. When the city or its cops are in trouble, they call on Nick.
I liked the first book in the series. But Reed Farrell Coleman is really hitting his stride with the second book.
Nick is growing into his own character-skin and seeming less of a moral contradiction than he was the first time around.
In the second book, Nick is asked to solve the only non-terroristic homicide that took place in the city on Sept. 11.
But in rapid succession, Nick's "uncle," a retired policeman, is murdered and Nick and his partner get involved in a shoot-out with kidnapers. As Nick tries to pursue these very disparate story threads, it becomes increasingly likely that all three are somehow connected.
Coleman is a master. This may develop into being his best work yet. He is on his way!
I liked the first book in the series. But Reed Farrell Coleman is really hitting his stride with the second book.
Nick is growing into his own character-skin and seeming less of a moral contradiction than he was the first time around.
In the second book, Nick is asked to solve the only non-terroristic homicide that took place in the city on Sept. 11.
But in rapid succession, Nick's "uncle," a retired policeman, is murdered and Nick and his partner get involved in a shoot-out with kidnapers. As Nick tries to pursue these very disparate story threads, it becomes increasingly likely that all three are somehow connected.
Coleman is a master. This may develop into being his best work yet. He is on his way!
February 8, 2025
What a wild ride! Blind to Midnight by Reed Farrel Coleman is packed with action. Nick Ryan, a “fixer” has a job to do what no one else can. Fix situations in any way he deems possible. He is quick to figure things out, a natural reader of people. He is a force to be reckoned with, a real fierce guy, one who is undoubtedly loyal to those who count on him and are a part of his inner world.
This was a fast-paced, thrilling read. Peter Giles was an incredible narrator. His voices, accents, at times rough, yet at times smooth and velvety, had me rewinding the audio just to hear him say lines, words, or sounds again. What a superb narration!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to listen and review this novel.
#blindtomidnight #actionpackedread #fastpastread #nickryan #thefixer
This was a fast-paced, thrilling read. Peter Giles was an incredible narrator. His voices, accents, at times rough, yet at times smooth and velvety, had me rewinding the audio just to hear him say lines, words, or sounds again. What a superb narration!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to listen and review this novel.
#blindtomidnight #actionpackedread #fastpastread #nickryan #thefixer
September 2, 2024
In BLIND TO MIDNIGHT Reed Farrel Coleman puts his foot on the gas in the Prologue and doesn’t take it off until he’s through the Epilogue. You can’t help but turn the pages as NYC Detective Nick Ryan—a fixer, a hunter, a warrior—finds himself enmeshed in a violent tangle of good guys who might be bad, bad guys who might be good, and others who might be either. Oh, and that’s not to mention several women (yes, more than two) who find Nick irresistibly attractive. Oy vey, talk about problems. I guess if I had one nit to pick with the book, it would be that it’s hard to keep track of who all the players are, especially when a handful have Slavic names. But forget about that. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. BLIND TO MIDNIGHT takes you on one heck of a trip.
November 15, 2024
My rating is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. I thought the first book in this series had more tension than this one. There were no surprises, and the story unfolded as expected. I thought overall the story was a little more convoluted than it needed to be. I also felt like the ending was messy.
The scene on Ruffle Bar was not clear who was shooting whom or their motives. I thought there were too many secondary characters. The last scene at the end with Shana was too melodramatic. I did not like the way the author portrayed Nick’s wife. She couldn't be that dense to not understand why Rick couldn't take her back in his life.
Overall, 3.5 stars. I rounded up because I would read a sequel if written.
The scene on Ruffle Bar was not clear who was shooting whom or their motives. I thought there were too many secondary characters. The last scene at the end with Shana was too melodramatic. I did not like the way the author portrayed Nick’s wife. She couldn't be that dense to not understand why Rick couldn't take her back in his life.
Overall, 3.5 stars. I rounded up because I would read a sequel if written.
April 4, 2025
A very enjoyable New York detective book! It felt very New York if that makes sense, some books could take place in any big city, but this one is obviously in NY. I talk to a lot of New Yorkers (I live in Florida but I've never been to New York), so I could hear the characters speaking with Brooklyn accents in my head. I liked the complicated mystery, multiple associates/buddies, fighting, and shoot outs. I found myself googling all the different car models while I was reading, since I didn't have a clue what they looked like. That was actually fun. The GTO was gorgeous. I may have found a replacement for Lee Child. (My only annoyance in reading it was that every woman Nick came across wanted to fuck him. It was a bit too much.)
September 3, 2024
I’m new to this series and really enjoyed the MMC’s misadventures. In some ways, he reminds me of Myron Bolitar. Different career/series/author, but same charisma. I cannot wait to go back and read the first book of the series, and hope we see more of Nick Ryan in the future. If you’re a fan of police procedurals, this would probably be a good fit for you. Nick is a bit off the cuff, but is entertaining with his dry wit and unorthodox methods. Highly recommend! As always, Peter Giles does a phenomenal job with the narration.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced audiobook copy.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced audiobook copy.
September 4, 2024
2nd edition in the Nick Ryan series - which hopefully continues for a good while. Always hard for sequel to measure up to the first one but this one comes close. The plot is quite complicated - and not something I would have thought to be interested (the one person killed on 9/11 not connected to the Towers) in but Coleman does a good job of weaving the tale. I'll admit I was pretty clueless throughout the book as to the culprit(s) but it kept my attention. Plus, Nick continues to wrestle with the struggle to keep his personal life separate from this secret life/mission he's on. Definitely a "good read" :-)
October 24, 2024
An excellent book.
Being the second book in a series, it can take a minute to remember what happened in the first book. One thing Mr Coleman ( I'm going to call him Reed going forward as I don't know if he goes by Mr. Farrel Coleman or just Coleman) does is bring back memories of the first book little by little without it getting in the way of the story. This is not an easy thing to do.
Another thing he does extremely well, is have Nick Ryan stop and regroup every once in awhile which helps the reader keep everything straight. There is A LOT going on in this book so I found this very helpful.
Great cliffhanger and waiting for number 3. Read 1 and 2 if you haven't already.
Being the second book in a series, it can take a minute to remember what happened in the first book. One thing Mr Coleman ( I'm going to call him Reed going forward as I don't know if he goes by Mr. Farrel Coleman or just Coleman) does is bring back memories of the first book little by little without it getting in the way of the story. This is not an easy thing to do.
Another thing he does extremely well, is have Nick Ryan stop and regroup every once in awhile which helps the reader keep everything straight. There is A LOT going on in this book so I found this very helpful.
Great cliffhanger and waiting for number 3. Read 1 and 2 if you haven't already.
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