Boulevard

Hayden Glass #1

by Stephen Jay Schwartz

“Just as I thought there wasn't an original take left on the detective novel, along comes Stephen Jay Schwartz and Beat. Fast and slick, this book is a great ride!”- Michael Connelly, New York Times bestselling author of the Harry Bosch novels

“Schwartz is skillful at rendering charcoal-sketch views of the darker corners of Sunset Boulevard, and he dazzles the reader with intermittent flashes of a poetic sensibility…A book full of merit, by an author loaded with talent.” - Los Angeles Times

“Like James Ellroy, Schwartz can make the reader squirm…Schwartz does a fine job of blurring the lines between sexuality and violence, the criminal world and the police world.” - Publishers Weekly

“Boulevard is raw, twisted, and so hard-boiled it simmers from beginning to end. - Robert Crais, New York Times bestselling author of The First Rule

“Relentless and unflinching, a shocking thriller that dares you to keep reading. Schwartz has created one of the most complex and tortured protagonists I’ve encountered in a long time. A powerful debut.”
- Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of the Rizzoli and Isles series

“Boulevard is terrific. Fast-paced and convincingly told. The streets of L.A. have never been meaner or seamier. Stephen Jay Schwartz’s clear vision and knowing heart make him a gifted writer to watch.”
T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times bestselling author of Iron River

LAPD detective Hayden Glass has only one vice...the girls who work the streets he's vowed to protect.
Hayden Glass never had it easy. He fought hard for everything he got, hounded by a shame that he could never quite define or conquer. Now a Los Angeles Police Robbery-Homicide detective, Glass is still haunted by the scars that left a permanent void in his soul. He deals with it the only way he can . . . . he cruises Sunset Boulevard, picking up prostitutes. Hayden Glass is a sex addict.
Called to investigate a heinous crime scene involving the daughter of a prominent L.A. politician, Glass is quickly overwhelmed by the media spotlight. When new murders arise, Glass sees a link where no one else does, realizing that this is the work of a vicious, sadistic sexual predator.
His investigation takes him beyond his temptations and to the line where the deviant behavior that has become his crutch crosses over into deviantly criminal.

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Crime, Fiction

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

STEPHEN JAY SCHWARTZ grew up in New Mexico and traveled the United States extensively before settling down in Los Angeles. There he became the Director of Development for Wolfgang Petersen, helping develop films such as Outbreak and Air Force One.

Reviews

[Rachel Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one blew me away. I was hooked from the start, and then became irritated and grouchy when real-life interruptions got in the way of my read. That's a very good sign. :)

In Boulevard, Schwartz's debut thriller, we're introduced to a troubled protagonist, Hayden Glass, a dedicated and gifted robbery and homicide investigator plagued by a private demon, sex addiction. Slowly, we learn the many facets of Hayden's true self that have been lost to his addiction, but what really brought this character to life for me was the realistic "one step forward, two steps back" portrayal of his continued efforts to heal and recover.

As Hayden works a string of murder cases, he discovers that he is the link connecting them all. While other detectives in his division are headed down the wrong path, Hayden struggles to end a serial killing spree alone, without backing from his comrades or captain. He knows he is a common link to each crime, but can't come forward with full disclosure without essentially ending his career. Worse, he doesn't believe the men left to do the job have the capacity to do it right.

With tight prose, outstanding dialogue, and strong supporting characters, I enjoyed this novel as much for its impressive writing as for its fast-paced and gripping storyline. Highly recommended for thriller fans, readers of police procedurals, and those who like a dark, disturbing read that taps uncomfortable spots in the psyche. This one is definitely an emotional ride.

I'm standing by for the next in the Hayden Glass series, BEAT, coming in September, 2010.

[Giovanni Gelati · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read so many novels that involve Los Angeles’s Parker Center that I feel as if I have been there many times. Boulevard is another one of those detective stories that revolves around it and all the infighting and politics that go along with it. Before you click away though, understand that Stephen Jay Schwartz has penned a very good debut novel that has a very warped twist to it. For some reason the novels that I have posted on for this week seem to have a certain trend to them: twisted , damaged people with unusual proclivities.
Boulevard is a very gripping, quick read. It is hard to put down. Stephen Jay Schwartz’s novel is compelling, at times revolting, and altogether a well-constructed novel, not just for a debut. His main character is two sides of a coin that at times seems more complex than a Rubik’s Cube. Addiction is a recurring theme throughout and it is not for drugs or alcohol; he has a sex addiction. The problem with that is he picks up prostitutes on the Boulevard. He is supposed to be putting them behind bars; go figure. Twist, twist, twisted, it is a nice wrinkle. Did it rankle me? Yes it did, but other novelists have used other devices and plotlines that have gotten my attention in other ways too; his is just a bit more unique.
Don’t let his use of this type of addiction make you pass on this novel. The characters he creates and the setting, although used by many, seem perfect for his construct. If he had set this in my hometown, it wouldn’t have worked; we don’t have a Boulevard. This novel definitely had a different feel and grit to it than others that have characters working out of the same building; it was refreshing. Stephen Jay Schwartz has crafted a tough, cop, crime drama with many flawed, damaged characters that leads to many places one may not expect. The ride is a bit rough, the action is intense, and the pages turn quick. Be warned, addictions come in many forms, but get beyond it and don’t pass up this highly nominated debut novel.
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[Eric_W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really an excellent police procedural reminiscent of Michael Connelly. Hayden Glass is a Robbery Homicide detective​​​​​ assigned to the murder of a politically powerful Councilman's daughter. Hayden is also a recovering sex addict who attends meetings of a group similar to AA so the audience gets a sense of deja vu thinking one might be reading a Lawrence Block Matt Scudder novel albeit with a different emphasis. Unfortunately, Hayden's presence in the group has made some of the members uncomfortable because he's a cop and they no longer feel safe anymore since their addiction involves illegal activity, and feeling safe is essential to their recovery strategy.

Hayden is tossed from his group and is then forced to drive down streets filled with transvestite, massage parlors and triple x movies and and hooker temptations. Stressed out by the rejection and feeling increasingly powerless to stop the murders that appear related, Hayden succumbs to the temptations. Schwartz describes these enticements as "streets like dirty brown rivers with soft, inviting quicksand banks. A step in the water left dark oily residue like liquid tobacco that came off slow leaving hives in its wake. The current unforgiving and relentless in its crusade to sink a man."

Soon some little coincidences reveal to Hayden that all the murders are linked to him and his sex addiction. It appears that his former partner, in bed recovering from a stroke, may hold the key to unreaveling the mystery, as Hayden is tormented by knowing that the longer he hides the connection from his colleagues, the more likely someone else may be killed.

Hayden is a much darker Hieronymus Bosch; this author bears watching. A real page-turner.

[Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay - I wasn't ready for this book.

I wanted to sympathize for this character; I can't. I wanted to look past his anger and addiction; I can't. Everything about Hayden scares me. So much to the point of where I didn't want to listen anymore. But I had too. My eyes were so wide. I just couldn't believe it.

This was a dark novel, with a dark "hero", a malicious killer and a surprisingly horrific end. I'm not disgusted by it at all, nor do I think that Schwartz isn't a good writer. My level of discomfort proves his prowess. I don't think I was supposed to come away feeling good. If the goal was to hit bottom with Hayden, then I did. I felt his pain and the pain of those around him.

But what happened to him. The killer. To Kennedy. The truth about Hayden's link to the dead case... good lord. I wasn't expecting that. I had Scooter pegged for the killer. But wow. Just... wow.

At the end, I came away feeling gritty and dirty and sad. A huge part of that has to do with Ray Porter's excellent, no brilliant, narration. Especially, when Hayden broke down in group with Kennedy - I was brought to tears. It's just. Damn.

[John Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engrossing serial killer book with an ending not dissimilar to Se7en. Detective Hayden Glass is seriously flawed and on a downward spiral, he's lost his wife because of his sexual addiction problem and he's having serious problems getting past step 3 in his 12 step programme and that's before he gets kicked out of his addiction group as the other members aren't comfortable with having a cop there so when a murderer starts killing people he knows only he knows the deaths are related as he can't reveal to his boss just why he would know the prostitute victims. But his problems escalate when his wallet turns up at a crime scene and now he's suspect number one, suspended from duty and running out of options and time.Recommended (but not for the fainthearted).

[Leslie Kohler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced read about the under belly of the boulevards of LA. A great sketch of a protagonist, Hayden
Glass, who is flawed and conflicted. His world of addiction and his professional one as a vice/homicide detective collide, causing his world to collapse. And when he is stalked by a psychopath, all of those around him are targeted for disaster.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not for the sensitive or queasy person. It is a fast paced, action packed book with vivid imagery and some scenes that are definitely not for the faint of heart.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book that I've read in a long time. Shocking, gripping, well written, intense and full of twists.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Almost a good story, almost good writing.

[Don · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up on the book after one disc. The characters just weren’t interesting or believable, which for me makes a book impossible to read. It was like a weird and slightly darker copy of the Michael Connelly LAPD murder novels.

[Lawrence FitzGerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars? Kinda harsh. After all, it's a first novel. More like 2.5 stars.

What went wrong? Characterization. You know the characterization in a novel has been at least adequate when you understand the motivations for the actions of the characters. This is a bit different than being told after the fact why a character did something. Boulevard fails that test.

There is a lot of back story on the lead character, homicide detective Hayden Glass, and some decent insight into a few of the minor characters, but pretty skimpy on two major characters: the serial killer and Hayden's new girlfriend.

By the nature of the crimes, it is clear that the serial killer is performing for Hayden. In the denouement (do we still have those?) the killer tells Hayden why. Okay. The author did try to fill in the background on our killer, but only to make him creepy, not to provide any real insight. And then at the last minute, like taking a long overdue crap, the author has the killer un-ass this turd and expects the reader to buy into it. I don't think so.

It turns out that the serial killer knows something about Hayden that no one else on earth knew (I don't know how he found out) and this factoid somehow makes them psychological blood brothers...even though a good many words have been expended on Hayden's sex addiction and this factoid essentially has nothing to do with Hayden's addiction. (Okay, okay, related but in a very cheap way. Was his sex addiction caused by this or by his mother having been scared by a train? Know what I mean?)

And then there's the girlfriend. Hayden's new girlfriend finds out about Hayden's sex addiction in a very direct and sordid way even before she takes up with him. But then she's all over him. She apparently has issues of her own, but the author never goes there. This could have been interesting and taken the novel in a different direction. A bit of a lost opportunity there.

Stephen Jay Schwartz can write. He just needs to work a little on making his character's actions a bit more psychologically compelling. There is a second Hayden Glass novel, even less well received by the readers. I think I'll give it a pass.

[Tattered Cover Book Store]

Mark L says:

"Boulevard" is a tightly focused, whiplash story that will keep you up all night. It is a steam engine plot with throttle wide open and train wreck lives of characters that seem as far from fiction as they could possibly be.

With all of the relationships in his life reeling from the self-destructive hurricane of his personal life, and a serial-killer who targets his victims based on the compulsions and addictions that ravage Detective Hayden Glass (and which he has disclosed in his faltering 12-step journey), is it any surprise that Hayden ends up suspected of being the serial killer? He must catch this monsters while fighting his own demons and not allowing the public disclosures that would destroy his career.

Stephen Jay Schwartz has written a story where the descent into hell is
beyond Dante, and the paradise that's lost may not be worth recovering in the twisted underbelly of Los Angeles, where the cost of love and
friendship may not be bearable, but where loyalty is unforgettable.
...as is the story.



***Please look for this great book at an independent bookstore near you. There is a store finder at www.indiebound.org***

[Mircalla · Rating 2 out of 5]

scrivo le storie e poi ci metto il sesso per vendere (cit)

Hayden è un detective della Omicidi che è anche un sex addicted, la notte va per i viali di Los Angeles e luma le pupe, a volte se le porta a letto, altre volte riesce a mantenere il controllo...una serie di omicidi attira la sua attenzione più del solito dal momento che sembrano contenere dei messaggi diretti a lui, dapprima sono semplici coincidenze numeriche, ma a mano a mano si fanno più personali, come quando a morire è il suo sponsor, quello del suo gruppo di aiuto per sex addicted...si perchè lui va anche alle sedute di gruppo, quelle dei Dodici Passi, già ampiamente descritte da Wallace in Infinite Jest, con meno parole e con più fantasia, ma questa è un'altra cosa...
vabbè questa è la storia, che non sarebbe nemmeno male se non fosse scritta coi piedi, se le scene di sesso non fossero di una noia e una banalità avvilenti e non fossero messe là così palesemente con l'unico fine di svegliare il lettore sbadigliante...il finale poi è una vera chicca...insomma non è un romanzo originale, è scritto male, pare incollato con il Vinavil e finisce a cavolo...c'è bisogno che approfondisca il concetto? :-P

[Robert Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a really nice (in that it kept me turning the pages) yet dark novel. Hayden Glass is definitely a flawed person - he's an addict whose drug of choice is sex, and since he once worked vice and now works Robbery/Homicide for LAPD, one could see how this may be an issue. And it is. But Detective Glass, while socially defined as an addict, does still have some morals, and it is these morals that ultimately prove who Glass is as a person.

What I found most interesting about this story was the wrestling with the definition of "addict": is the repeated, and sometimes seemingly uncontrollable, behavior of the individual that defines one as an addict? or is it that society, which includes reformed "addicts" and wishes to maintain control of what is normal, that defines an addict? "A sick society calls this a sickness," is how one of Glass's "pro's" refers to a label Glass gives her in heated moment. I happen to agree. I also hope that we see more of Detective Glass int he future.

[Jennifer Tressen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't my typical genre so I was surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. The story felt a bit slow in the beginning and didn't immediately grab me but as I continued on I was hooked. I was like the addict in the story, I wanted more.

Stephen's detail is incredible, he really did his research and it paid off big time. This who-dunit story is so much more than your typical murder investigation, he delves into the soul of a sex addict (How incredibly fresh of a character is that? Bravo for that brave choice alone) and shows us a whole new world of thinking.

I was disappointed with the ending. Not that it wasn't gripping but that something happened I wish hadn't. However it does fit the story and I completely understand the decision. It's not a happy ending type of book to begin with. I look forward to reading more of Stephen's work and seeing whose mind he takes us on an adventure through next.

Wonderful written!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boulevard is a book that will haunt you long after you read it. It's dark, grisly, and disturbing. A book hasn't affected me like this in a long time and I love it! I wasn't drawn into it instantaneously. It's one of those books that creeps up on you but once it takes a hold, you have to know how it ends. Hayden Glass is complex, deeply flawed, and utterly unforgettable. I love books that expose different facets of the Los Angeles beach communities I know and love. I will never be able to cruise Lincoln Blvd. (not that I do very often) or walk the Esplanade in Redondo Beach without recalling this book.

[Bill M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that needs to be said about BOULEVARD is that it is not for the squeamish or the faint of heart. This is bitter black noir in which the protagonist is almost as deeply screwed up as the people he's both trying to lock up and save. Personally, I loved the oppressive Los Angeles atmosphere and the tight plotting, but some readers might be turned off by the intensity of the subject matter. For those with a taste for the darker side of genre fiction, BOULEVARD is a sure thing. It will challenge, compel and entertain in equal doses.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK Saw Schwartz at the LA Times Book Festival. Had never heard of him, but was impressed, so I went home and got both books from the Library. Was blown away. What a character Glass is, a sex addict cop. Lived in LA for many years so I like following the geography. Thrilling ride of a book and what an ending!! Glass is NOT a likeable character, which usually bothers me, but in this case it works. I don't need to root for him, just want the mystery solved. Could not put the book down as I had no idea where it was going! Must read a book club book today, then on to "Beat", the next book.

[Jessica B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great new writer I discovered thanks to Twitter and following independent booksellers' tweets! It's a whole new world out there, I tell you!
Anyway, this is the first of two books featuring an LAPD detective who is flawed beyond belief. Engaging writing, great albeit dark, dark story, multi-faceted characters. In short, I'm hooked!
REad it and it was engrossing. Now, what to read? Know what I mean?

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A truely gritty book about a cop investingating murders while trying to control his sex addiction. I still can't decide if I hate this guy or like him or just feel sorry for him. And if a character is that complex I guess he's written pretty well. This book really shows the underside of the streets. I will try the next one in the series Beat and hopefully that will clear up my ambiguity on the lead guy.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good first novel. Hayden Glass is like no other homicide detective I've ever read about. A sex addict who takes hookers off the street to have sex. His biggest problem is his job takes him down the streets where vice of all kinds is ubiquitous. Though he attends a sex addicts anonymous he finds it hard to quit. When Glass spots a trend in a series of homicides that bring back his past and makes his future very doubtful.

[Sandy Kell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written 1st novel that I read mainly because of glowing reviews from some of my favorite writers in the LA cop genre. BUT....as hard as I tried, I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in the sex-addicted LA cop, Hayden Glass; not as a person, a friend, a lover, and not even as a policeman. Still, morbid curiosity did keep me reading to the end, but I'm not going to rush out for the sequel.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for Everyone!!

Schwartz creates a highly flawed and unique character in Hayden Glass.

His descriptions of Hayden's internal battles (for the most part) are raw and unflinching and create an intersting tension overlayed over what could have been a run of the mill procedural.

The novel also has an ending that is actually a surprise!

[LaQuita Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have just finished this book and I really have no idea what to think....to be glad I am finished because J have finally gotten to the end or to be glad I am finished so that I can go wash my hands. I have never read a book with so conflicted a character as Hayden. I am unsure whether I would recommend to someone to read. I will read book 2 and see if it changes my thoughts about book 1.

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't care for this book, it was quite graphic, but I hung on hoping the story would end with some redeeming quality, which it did not. The author did know his material very well, which impressed me.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced, gripping and, oddly enough, haunting.

[Mark Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mesmerizing freight train of a book. Gripping analysis of addiction and twelve steps in the context of a police procedural. Outstanding.

[Sara Kuberski · Rating 1 out of 5]

Story line just didn't really hold my attention but the ending could have saved it. Instead it totally killed it. Doubtful that I would go back to this author or character.

[Robin]

New suspense/thriller with an interesting character: He's a vice cop with a sex addiction.

[Hrn1947 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Need to take a shower inside and out after this. This guy is no Harry Bosch. This guy is off the scale. No happy ending here. Can't see a series.