What do you think?
Rate this book
Firecross
A series of murders, the face of a dead girl bringing back his failures of the past, an exclusive men’s club, a sin that can’t be undone – Detective Russell Kane is involved in the most torturous case of his career.
Clues point to a fancy strip club where a mysterious stripper called Ginger is the star act. As the body count rises and it appears she may be the next victim, he begins to realize Ginger matters far more than he cares to admit.
If he doesn’t want the past to repeat, Russell Kane needs to catch the killer before another woman dies.
SEATTLE. A CITY THAT offered him no comfort. It sucked him in and made sure he would never forget that he had blood on his hands.
Russell drove along Broadway to Beacon Hill. The rain was tapping on the windshield, the asphalt a glistening black stripe as the headlights flashed on it. There was hardly any traffic at such an early hour, so Russell didn’t bother putting the police light on the hood.
In the rear-view mirror he saw the skyscrapers in the city center, still sparkling, even at nighttime. Like spikes rising from hell, surrounded by a ring of fire that was the highway traffic.
Turning toward the narrow streets, he drove across the quiet residential area. What could bring someone to murder in a place like this? Family quarrels? Dispute between neighbors?
He stopped the car at the curb where some other police cars were parked already, the coroner’s black van at the end of the line. Russell got out, ruffled his hair and tried to put on his tie, something he didn’t bother with before he left home. He struggled for a few seconds, then threw it back onto the passenger seat. To hell with it, he cursed, shutting the car door. He pulled his coat together, turned up his collar against the wind and walked towards the closed area.
The annoying blue-red lights on top of the police cars were still on, attracting all those curious neighbors, who, despite the late hour, had gathered in increasing numbers on the other side of the cordon. Russell flashed his badge, then passed through under the yellow tape.
When it came into view, the crime scene baffled him. The alley, the metal of the fire escape and a body on the ground. For a second, he came to a halt, pressed two fingers to the bridge of his nose. Memories came alive, chased each other in his head. A night six months ago, when it had been raining the same way. The scream echoed in his ears. His fists clenched, and he forced himself to get rid of those disturbing pictures, but they resisted heavily.
Despite the eerie feeling, he went closer. A nylon tent had been pitched around the body. The strong beam coming from a spotlight in the corner bathed the corpse in an unearthly, white brightness, casting harsh shadows on the other side of it. Two crime scene investigators and a coroner were busy around the body, the others stood a few yards away, the rain dripping from their black umbrellas.
“Kane,” a man turned to him. “What are you doing here?”
“You sound surprised, Swindon.” Russell drew closer and stood halfway under the offered umbrella. The water was dribbling onto his neck.
“I didn’t think the boss would give you this case,” Swindon said. Sugar coating wasn’t his thing. He was wearing a dark, knee-length trench coat, his greyish eyes eager and alive. “You look like shit.”
“Thanks,” Russell murmured. Peter Swindon looked outstanding. His face freshly shaven, his smooth brown hair trimmed, his clothes as if they had been newly ordered from a catalogue. “What do we know?” They didn’t exchange looks, both watching the coroner examine the body.
“Not much yet. A guy called in that he’d heard some noise, looked out the window and saw someone down here.”
Russell didn’t react. Lips puckering, he tried to look at who the victim might be. He could only make out that it was a woman.
Clues point to a fancy strip club where a mysterious stripper called Ginger is the star act. As the body count rises and it appears she may be the next victim, he begins to realize Ginger matters far more than he cares to admit.
If he doesn’t want the past to repeat, Russell Kane needs to catch the killer before another woman dies.
SEATTLE. A CITY THAT offered him no comfort. It sucked him in and made sure he would never forget that he had blood on his hands.
Russell drove along Broadway to Beacon Hill. The rain was tapping on the windshield, the asphalt a glistening black stripe as the headlights flashed on it. There was hardly any traffic at such an early hour, so Russell didn’t bother putting the police light on the hood.
In the rear-view mirror he saw the skyscrapers in the city center, still sparkling, even at nighttime. Like spikes rising from hell, surrounded by a ring of fire that was the highway traffic.
Turning toward the narrow streets, he drove across the quiet residential area. What could bring someone to murder in a place like this? Family quarrels? Dispute between neighbors?
He stopped the car at the curb where some other police cars were parked already, the coroner’s black van at the end of the line. Russell got out, ruffled his hair and tried to put on his tie, something he didn’t bother with before he left home. He struggled for a few seconds, then threw it back onto the passenger seat. To hell with it, he cursed, shutting the car door. He pulled his coat together, turned up his collar against the wind and walked towards the closed area.
The annoying blue-red lights on top of the police cars were still on, attracting all those curious neighbors, who, despite the late hour, had gathered in increasing numbers on the other side of the cordon. Russell flashed his badge, then passed through under the yellow tape.
When it came into view, the crime scene baffled him. The alley, the metal of the fire escape and a body on the ground. For a second, he came to a halt, pressed two fingers to the bridge of his nose. Memories came alive, chased each other in his head. A night six months ago, when it had been raining the same way. The scream echoed in his ears. His fists clenched, and he forced himself to get rid of those disturbing pictures, but they resisted heavily.
Despite the eerie feeling, he went closer. A nylon tent had been pitched around the body. The strong beam coming from a spotlight in the corner bathed the corpse in an unearthly, white brightness, casting harsh shadows on the other side of it. Two crime scene investigators and a coroner were busy around the body, the others stood a few yards away, the rain dripping from their black umbrellas.
“Kane,” a man turned to him. “What are you doing here?”
“You sound surprised, Swindon.” Russell drew closer and stood halfway under the offered umbrella. The water was dribbling onto his neck.
“I didn’t think the boss would give you this case,” Swindon said. Sugar coating wasn’t his thing. He was wearing a dark, knee-length trench coat, his greyish eyes eager and alive. “You look like shit.”
“Thanks,” Russell murmured. Peter Swindon looked outstanding. His face freshly shaven, his smooth brown hair trimmed, his clothes as if they had been newly ordered from a catalogue. “What do we know?” They didn’t exchange looks, both watching the coroner examine the body.
“Not much yet. A guy called in that he’d heard some noise, looked out the window and saw someone down here.”
Russell didn’t react. Lips puckering, he tried to look at who the victim might be. He could only make out that it was a woman.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
11 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 14, 2014
I was gifted this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I do NOT know the author personally so this is a just and fair review.
***** Five amazing stars are well deserved for this amazing book. I was on the edge of my seat, and I found myself with hardly any nails left on the end of my fingers. I held my breath a few times, and I found myself totally sucked into the world of Russell Kane. It is extremely well written, and the dialogue between the characters was fantastic. I read every word, every sentence and each paragraph sucked me in deeper.
It is sexy, explosive, shocking and a thrilling ride.
Russell Kane is a British detective who moved to Seattle for reasons you find out in the book (i dont wish to give any spoilers). He starts working on a case involving the strangulation of exotic dancers in a strip club. The body count is mounting and he must race against time to catch the perpetrator. He struggles with past demons, mainly about mistakes he's made in his career, and he fights said demons daily and struggles to come to terms with those mistakes.
Clues are left behind by the killer with each of the bodies, and he works with his psychiatrist (who is helping him with his demons), Susan Ward helps him unravel the clues and helps with profiling the culprit.
The book is so good that I would watch it as a movie if ever the chance arose. Thank you Catherine for the gift, and I wish you success with this novel.
I really hope that the author continues with a series of books involving Russell Kane at the detective who is haunted but brilliant, and I would definitely read further works involving this character.
BRILLIANT ~ A MUST READ FOR CRIME FANS!!
***** Five amazing stars are well deserved for this amazing book. I was on the edge of my seat, and I found myself with hardly any nails left on the end of my fingers. I held my breath a few times, and I found myself totally sucked into the world of Russell Kane. It is extremely well written, and the dialogue between the characters was fantastic. I read every word, every sentence and each paragraph sucked me in deeper.
It is sexy, explosive, shocking and a thrilling ride.
Russell Kane is a British detective who moved to Seattle for reasons you find out in the book (i dont wish to give any spoilers). He starts working on a case involving the strangulation of exotic dancers in a strip club. The body count is mounting and he must race against time to catch the perpetrator. He struggles with past demons, mainly about mistakes he's made in his career, and he fights said demons daily and struggles to come to terms with those mistakes.
Clues are left behind by the killer with each of the bodies, and he works with his psychiatrist (who is helping him with his demons), Susan Ward helps him unravel the clues and helps with profiling the culprit.
The book is so good that I would watch it as a movie if ever the chance arose. Thank you Catherine for the gift, and I wish you success with this novel.
I really hope that the author continues with a series of books involving Russell Kane at the detective who is haunted but brilliant, and I would definitely read further works involving this character.
BRILLIANT ~ A MUST READ FOR CRIME FANS!!
August 5, 2014
The only way I can think of to describe this book is sexy crime thriller. I loved it.
Russell Kane is a police officer with a checkered past. He is dark and dealing with the mental scars left from his ex wife and his ex partner. Enter his new case. A new serial killer is taking out strippers and Russell needs to stop him.
Ginger is the star stripper at the Nirvana club and is in the middle of everything that is happening. From the very first time that Russell sees Ginger, he is lost. Their relationship must remain secret as it begins with just pure lust. The two are completely consumed by each other. As the book moves on and Ginger becomes a target, Russell wants nothing but her. For the first time, he is able to move away from his past. The relationship is rocky but it changes over time until you can't help but root for them.
The best parts of this book are the characters. They are unpredictable and tough; complicated and conflicted. The evolution of Russell throughout the book is incredible and completely believable. His hardened shell is slowly peeled away until we finally see the real Russell near the end.
Ginger evolved in much the same way. Her best attribute though was the clear difference in personality between her stage person, Ginger, and her real life Rachel. All of this is wrapped up in a great crime thriller to create a story that you just don't want to put down. The only issue I had was the beginning. I had a hard time getting into the story early on. That's pretty typical of this genre though. If you keep reading, however, you won't regret it.
Russell Kane is a police officer with a checkered past. He is dark and dealing with the mental scars left from his ex wife and his ex partner. Enter his new case. A new serial killer is taking out strippers and Russell needs to stop him.
Ginger is the star stripper at the Nirvana club and is in the middle of everything that is happening. From the very first time that Russell sees Ginger, he is lost. Their relationship must remain secret as it begins with just pure lust. The two are completely consumed by each other. As the book moves on and Ginger becomes a target, Russell wants nothing but her. For the first time, he is able to move away from his past. The relationship is rocky but it changes over time until you can't help but root for them.
The best parts of this book are the characters. They are unpredictable and tough; complicated and conflicted. The evolution of Russell throughout the book is incredible and completely believable. His hardened shell is slowly peeled away until we finally see the real Russell near the end.
Ginger evolved in much the same way. Her best attribute though was the clear difference in personality between her stage person, Ginger, and her real life Rachel. All of this is wrapped up in a great crime thriller to create a story that you just don't want to put down. The only issue I had was the beginning. I had a hard time getting into the story early on. That's pretty typical of this genre though. If you keep reading, however, you won't regret it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews