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Bug Man #3
First the Dead
When a national disaster strikes, "first the living" is the rule.
Unless you're the Bug Man.
When Hurricane Katrina strikes New Orleans, forensic entomologist Nick Polchak signs up to help with the recovery effort. He is known as the Bug Man for his knowledge of insects and what they can reveal about the dead. The government's mandate is clear--rescue the living first, recover the dead later.
But something is very wrong in the toxic soup-bowl of post-Katrina New Orleans.
Someone is using the cover of disaster to kill . . . hiding the victims of murder in the same watery grave as the victims of Katrina.
It's a tale only the dead can tell. But no one besides the Bug Man is listening.
" . . . stands out from the pack of CSI-inspired mysteries with its quirky hero and creative handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster."
--"Publishers Weekly" (Starred Review)
Unless you're the Bug Man.
When Hurricane Katrina strikes New Orleans, forensic entomologist Nick Polchak signs up to help with the recovery effort. He is known as the Bug Man for his knowledge of insects and what they can reveal about the dead. The government's mandate is clear--rescue the living first, recover the dead later.
But something is very wrong in the toxic soup-bowl of post-Katrina New Orleans.
Someone is using the cover of disaster to kill . . . hiding the victims of murder in the same watery grave as the victims of Katrina.
It's a tale only the dead can tell. But no one besides the Bug Man is listening.
" . . . stands out from the pack of CSI-inspired mysteries with its quirky hero and creative handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster."
--"Publishers Weekly" (Starred Review)
363 pages, Hardcover
First published January 8, 2008
37 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Tim Downs
47 books272 followersTim Downs is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Indiana University. After graduation in 1976 he created a comic strip, Downstown, which was syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate (Calvin & Hobbes, Doonesbury, The Far Side) from 1980 to 1986. His cartooning has appeared in more than a hundred daily newspapers worldwide. Tim has written seven mystery/suspense novels: Shoofly Pie, Chop Shop, PlagueMaker, Head Game, First the Dead, Less than Dead, and Ends of the Earth. PlagueMaker was awarded the Christy Award for the best CBA mystery/suspense novel of 2006, and Less than Dead was a finalist for the 2009 Christian Book Award in suspense fiction. Tim lives in Cary, North Carolina, with his wife Joy. They have three grown children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
October 28, 2024
Synopsis: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, federal disaster agents Jerry, Beth, and Nick "The Bug Man" Polchak go to investigate matters and assist with the recovery effort...when they find out that they have a murderer on their hands, and one who is intent on killing one of their own. Will they find out who in time?
My Review: Mildly entertaining, but doesn't quite live up to its premise. I was expecting the main character(s) to use insect-based detection skills, but they didn't do that all that much; it was primarily focused on the character interaction, especially the romantic banter of the two leads. Maybe the earlier books in the series were better on the bug front; I don't know. Still, for what it was, it was good.
My Review: Mildly entertaining, but doesn't quite live up to its premise. I was expecting the main character(s) to use insect-based detection skills, but they didn't do that all that much; it was primarily focused on the character interaction, especially the romantic banter of the two leads. Maybe the earlier books in the series were better on the bug front; I don't know. Still, for what it was, it was good.
December 26, 2025
Tim Downs delivered again with this one. More clever than either of the first two, mainly due to the back drop of Hurricane Katrina. Decaying bodies showing up impossibly quickly after the storm alerts Nick that we have foul play going on in a devious way. Throw in crooked characters here and there and the stakes are quite high. Nick loses some in the early game, and big losses at that, but he manages to come back and get the bad guys. J.T. was a great sidekick and had such great back and forth with Nick even though it was limited. Beth Woodbridge was a very fun foil to Nick’s “non-human” classification. I think one of the things I like most about Nick is that he always knows how to prolong a conversation, usually by being very annoying to the bad guys and mildly annoying to the good guys. The dry humor is great and I love the wittiness of Nick.
March 1, 2015
My sister gave me the book and said, "Read this. This guy writes like you." Of course, I had no choice then.
Though I saw many familiar phrases, it was the research component that immediately overwhelmed me. It's important to dig deep. But this guy digs so much deeper. You're going to end up being a bug expert whether you like it or not.
The writing was excellent. The gory scenes in and around New Orleans after the storm forced you to witness the human suffering and devastation up close and personal. The plot, however, was somewhat of an overreach at times with the main character having to say, "I know it's a long shot, but it's the only shot we have." Unfortunately, (though I think this will improve as the series goes on) too many things were contrived, made to fit for the purpose of the story. (In one scene, trappers have to arbitrarily show up and start shooting. In another scene, someone has to write on a mirror. The murderer has to understand and then show up at the right time and place to carry out the instructions.)
The author is talented. And for the sake of gaining an inside perspective on this horrible catastrophe, the book is well worth the read.
Though I saw many familiar phrases, it was the research component that immediately overwhelmed me. It's important to dig deep. But this guy digs so much deeper. You're going to end up being a bug expert whether you like it or not.
The writing was excellent. The gory scenes in and around New Orleans after the storm forced you to witness the human suffering and devastation up close and personal. The plot, however, was somewhat of an overreach at times with the main character having to say, "I know it's a long shot, but it's the only shot we have." Unfortunately, (though I think this will improve as the series goes on) too many things were contrived, made to fit for the purpose of the story. (In one scene, trappers have to arbitrarily show up and start shooting. In another scene, someone has to write on a mirror. The murderer has to understand and then show up at the right time and place to carry out the instructions.)
The author is talented. And for the sake of gaining an inside perspective on this horrible catastrophe, the book is well worth the read.
June 4, 2018
It's Saturday, August 27, 2005 and Nick Polchak, aka The Bug Man, is regretting accepting a date with a woman foisted upon him by well-meaning co-workers in the Entomology Department at North Caroline State University. His mind is on other things: waiting to be called up as a member of DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team), part of the National Disaster Medical System under FEMA. Hurricane Katrina is headed for New Orleans as a category 4 or 5 ... the worst, as we all came to know.
He gets the call and heads to Baton Rouge as part of the regional team of DMORT (Disaster Portable Mobile Unit). He is among about 75 people of all specialties primarily required to help identify casualties. Nick is annoyed to find that FEMA has decided to focus on rescuing the living first. Nick asserts that with the high murder rate in New Orleans, that some of the bodies won't be dead of natural causes and that delaying their pickup forfeits evidence of how they died. Nick knows bugs and how and when they attach to human bodies during decomposition. He is also headstrong and soon ignores the direction to ignore the dead. He finds some suspicious corpses and ... of course there are complications.
It was fascinating to read about the devastation of Katrina and more on-the-ground details of how people died, survived it or helped manage it. Some of the descriptions of various holding areas, such as the New Orleans Saints stadium, and flooded hospitals w/o power were pretty eye-opening.
I've read most of the Bug Man books and have never been disappointed. They are great stories and Nick is a peculiar, occasionally sarcastic and funny character.
He gets the call and heads to Baton Rouge as part of the regional team of DMORT (Disaster Portable Mobile Unit). He is among about 75 people of all specialties primarily required to help identify casualties. Nick is annoyed to find that FEMA has decided to focus on rescuing the living first. Nick asserts that with the high murder rate in New Orleans, that some of the bodies won't be dead of natural causes and that delaying their pickup forfeits evidence of how they died. Nick knows bugs and how and when they attach to human bodies during decomposition. He is also headstrong and soon ignores the direction to ignore the dead. He finds some suspicious corpses and ... of course there are complications.
It was fascinating to read about the devastation of Katrina and more on-the-ground details of how people died, survived it or helped manage it. Some of the descriptions of various holding areas, such as the New Orleans Saints stadium, and flooded hospitals w/o power were pretty eye-opening.
I've read most of the Bug Man books and have never been disappointed. They are great stories and Nick is a peculiar, occasionally sarcastic and funny character.
March 26, 2020
"Someone was using the hurricane to cover up a series of murders, but Nick had no way to prove it".
Called in as a member of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, Dr. Nick Polchak fully expected to be pulling dead bodies out of the toxic waters surrounding the city of New Orleans following the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. Instead he is summarily chastised when he does. Something curious is going on, because the first corpse that he discovers was evidentially murdered based on the insects invading the body tissue; and Nick would know, he is a renowned forensic entomologist.
Follow Nick and his human friends (if you know Nick, you know that human friends are a rarity) as they discover disturbing pieces of a larger truth; all while a virtual clock continues to tick; people and evidence are rapidly disappearing into the black hole of what was once a thriving metropolis.
What a great story!
Called in as a member of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, Dr. Nick Polchak fully expected to be pulling dead bodies out of the toxic waters surrounding the city of New Orleans following the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. Instead he is summarily chastised when he does. Something curious is going on, because the first corpse that he discovers was evidentially murdered based on the insects invading the body tissue; and Nick would know, he is a renowned forensic entomologist.
Follow Nick and his human friends (if you know Nick, you know that human friends are a rarity) as they discover disturbing pieces of a larger truth; all while a virtual clock continues to tick; people and evidence are rapidly disappearing into the black hole of what was once a thriving metropolis.
What a great story!
September 30, 2024
Baton Rouge, New Orleans and the Bayous, Louisiana
August 27 - September, 2005
In this third book of the Bug Man series, Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) sends Nick to New Orleans to help with Hurricane Katrina victims. The leader says "first the living", meaning this is a live rescue mission, but Tim feels "first the dead" is more appropriate. So although he's given orders — well, it’s Nick — he doesn’t always follow orders the way they’re given.
I remember Katrina fairly well. Horrible. But I learned about New Orleans and the hurricane in a new way. This book was fascinating! And his relationships with Jerry, with Dr. Beth Woodbridge and a little boy who latched on to him as a father figure were quite fun.
Fairly clean except for a few substitute swear words and the mention of a certain finger gesture.
Good book!
August 27 - September, 2005
In this third book of the Bug Man series, Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) sends Nick to New Orleans to help with Hurricane Katrina victims. The leader says "first the living", meaning this is a live rescue mission, but Tim feels "first the dead" is more appropriate. So although he's given orders — well, it’s Nick — he doesn’t always follow orders the way they’re given.
I remember Katrina fairly well. Horrible. But I learned about New Orleans and the hurricane in a new way. This book was fascinating! And his relationships with Jerry, with Dr. Beth Woodbridge and a little boy who latched on to him as a father figure were quite fun.
Fairly clean except for a few substitute swear words and the mention of a certain finger gesture.
Good book!
September 26, 2024
A good, suspenseful story that brought to life the horrible, unmanageable conditions in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The book suffered only from some scenes that were not believable, including a long discussion between predator and prey toward the end of the book that just never would have happened. But I’m giving it to a friend to read, so I consider it well worth reading.
February 14, 2015
Where were you on August 29th, 2005? If you're anything like the average American, you probably don't remember. We can barely recite what we ate for breakfast this morning, let alone what happened to us on a specific day years ago. But if you're a Gulf state resident, August 29th is a day you probably never will forget.
That late summer Monday was the day Hurricane Katrina, the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history ($81.2 billion) and the sixth strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, made landfall. Almost two thousand people lost their lives from its effects. But did they all die of natural causes? What if someone took advantage of a storm they knew would wreak havoc to dispose of their murdered victims? First The Dead proposes someone did just that--someone who didn't expect forensic entomologist Nick Polchak to volunteer with the DMORT response team.
Dubbed the "Bugman", Nick made his debut in Tim Downs' first novel Shoofly Pie. Readers grew to love the eccentric character with thick glasses who thought of himself more as an insect than a human, and Downs followed up with Chop Shop, the unofficial Book #2 in the series. He even gave Nick a cameo in his non-Bugman book Plague Maker. In First the Dead the Bugman is back in all his quirky glory. Downs has us immediately loving the guy all over again.
As Nick lends his hand in the rescue efforts it isn't long before he starts recovering dead bodies, much to his superiors' dismay. Their motto is "first the living", and it's very much against orders for Nick to bring the bodies in before the rescues are completed. Surprise, surprise--he does it anyway. After all, as a forensic entomologist it's his job to examine bugs, namely the maggots infesting human remains. Through the larvae of ordinary (and sometimes not so ordinary) flies he can accurately pinpoint a time of death, and often the location of the death. Some of the bodies he finds in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath obviously met their demise from the hurricane. Others cause Nick to speculate foul play. It's something else his superiors' don't want to hear.
The buggish details in this novel are not for the squeamish. Nick is fond of sharing the often grotesque particulars of his profession with his uninitiated acquaintances, and the descriptions could turn the stomachs of some readers. Others (myself included) will find the facts delightfully intriguing because they're disgusting. Who knew a body in water decomposes in six stages and doesn't float until it bloats in the second stage?
The banter between Nick and supporting character Dr. Beth Woodbridge, a psychiatrist who may or may not be attracted to Nick, is the highlight of the First the Dead reading experience. Some of the dead-pan one liners Nick delivers are hilarious. These lighter moments give us a reprieve between the darker scenes featuring the villain. More a suspense than a mystery, you might be able to guess the bad guy early on. But that could've been the way Downs planned it. By knowing, or at least suspecting, you're constantly worried for Nick and his companions.
As in his previous works, Downs has done his homework, and we experience his research on every page. Except for Chapter 4's somewhat dull DMORT briefing (even Nick was bored during the meeting), Downs weaves his facts and figures seamlessly into the narrative. Even that scene was probably intended to give us a glimpse into exactly what goes on during one of these gatherings.
In some ways First the Dead presents a softer and gentler Nick Polchak. Early on he becomes the impromptu guardian of a young boy searching for his missing father, and it's in these exchanges we realize perhaps, just maybe, Nick has a heart after all. The spiritual take-away is limited to Nick's sense of honor and duty (as in the previous Bugman novels), but there's nothing a Christian would find offensive. Violence is kept mostly off-stage, or at least not described for shock value. The goriest moments come from the bugs and clinical examination of bodies, not the murders.
For anyone who didn't realize the utter devastation Hurricane Katrina caused to not only New Orleans but also the surrounding area, First the Dead will be an eye-opener. It could be Tim Downs' strongest book yet. With a setting that hits close to home and loveable characters to root for, it'll keep you rapt.
That late summer Monday was the day Hurricane Katrina, the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history ($81.2 billion) and the sixth strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, made landfall. Almost two thousand people lost their lives from its effects. But did they all die of natural causes? What if someone took advantage of a storm they knew would wreak havoc to dispose of their murdered victims? First The Dead proposes someone did just that--someone who didn't expect forensic entomologist Nick Polchak to volunteer with the DMORT response team.
Dubbed the "Bugman", Nick made his debut in Tim Downs' first novel Shoofly Pie. Readers grew to love the eccentric character with thick glasses who thought of himself more as an insect than a human, and Downs followed up with Chop Shop, the unofficial Book #2 in the series. He even gave Nick a cameo in his non-Bugman book Plague Maker. In First the Dead the Bugman is back in all his quirky glory. Downs has us immediately loving the guy all over again.
As Nick lends his hand in the rescue efforts it isn't long before he starts recovering dead bodies, much to his superiors' dismay. Their motto is "first the living", and it's very much against orders for Nick to bring the bodies in before the rescues are completed. Surprise, surprise--he does it anyway. After all, as a forensic entomologist it's his job to examine bugs, namely the maggots infesting human remains. Through the larvae of ordinary (and sometimes not so ordinary) flies he can accurately pinpoint a time of death, and often the location of the death. Some of the bodies he finds in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath obviously met their demise from the hurricane. Others cause Nick to speculate foul play. It's something else his superiors' don't want to hear.
The buggish details in this novel are not for the squeamish. Nick is fond of sharing the often grotesque particulars of his profession with his uninitiated acquaintances, and the descriptions could turn the stomachs of some readers. Others (myself included) will find the facts delightfully intriguing because they're disgusting. Who knew a body in water decomposes in six stages and doesn't float until it bloats in the second stage?
The banter between Nick and supporting character Dr. Beth Woodbridge, a psychiatrist who may or may not be attracted to Nick, is the highlight of the First the Dead reading experience. Some of the dead-pan one liners Nick delivers are hilarious. These lighter moments give us a reprieve between the darker scenes featuring the villain. More a suspense than a mystery, you might be able to guess the bad guy early on. But that could've been the way Downs planned it. By knowing, or at least suspecting, you're constantly worried for Nick and his companions.
As in his previous works, Downs has done his homework, and we experience his research on every page. Except for Chapter 4's somewhat dull DMORT briefing (even Nick was bored during the meeting), Downs weaves his facts and figures seamlessly into the narrative. Even that scene was probably intended to give us a glimpse into exactly what goes on during one of these gatherings.
In some ways First the Dead presents a softer and gentler Nick Polchak. Early on he becomes the impromptu guardian of a young boy searching for his missing father, and it's in these exchanges we realize perhaps, just maybe, Nick has a heart after all. The spiritual take-away is limited to Nick's sense of honor and duty (as in the previous Bugman novels), but there's nothing a Christian would find offensive. Violence is kept mostly off-stage, or at least not described for shock value. The goriest moments come from the bugs and clinical examination of bodies, not the murders.
For anyone who didn't realize the utter devastation Hurricane Katrina caused to not only New Orleans but also the surrounding area, First the Dead will be an eye-opener. It could be Tim Downs' strongest book yet. With a setting that hits close to home and loveable characters to root for, it'll keep you rapt.
August 15, 2008
Hurricanes and murders and maggots oh my! This book is about murdered corpses being hidden within the many dead of Hurricane Katrina. DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Response Team) is preparing for the, ahem, flood of bodies that they know they will have to identify after the storm. Members of the team are ordered to deal with evacuating the living first, but any forensic evidence that will prove someone was murdered will soon disintegrate because of the disaster. Main character Nick Polchack, the portable morgue-in-a-box--no wait that's not right. Nick Polchack, forensic entomologist, is racing against time to deal with the dead first, before it's too late to prove foul play. Can the Bug Man do it? To be continued....ok just go read it already!!! It rocks my socks big time!!!!!!
Read
July 27, 2014Fun read. Really got into the characters and read all the books available. Wish he'd write another one!
August 8, 2022
FIRST THE DEAD is a Bug Man Suspense-Mystery novel by Tim Downs, bk 3 in a 6 bk series which could be read as a standalone title (no cliffhangers). FTD is a unique forensic science-based suspense series and was a reread for me. FIRST THE DEAD is a Clean Suspense Mystery suitable for most adult readers (See Cautions noted below).
MY RATING GUIDE: Nearly 4 Stars. Unique, informative, suspenseful.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I LIKED IT A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I rarely give 5 Stars).
FIRST THE DEAD is not a Cozy Mystery. Rather it’s a reality based Mystery featuring entomologist Dr Nick Polchak/MMC (late thirties) set in the early days following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Dr Polchak is a brilliant but odd forensic entomologist, entomology professor from North Caroline State University and an expert in his field. Dr Nick has assisted law enforcement in over 72 cases in 13 different countries. He has also volunteered 7 times (previous to FIRST THE DEAD) with the DEMORT organization, a group of medical professionals assisting in major civilian disasters such as airline crashes, train wrecks and hurricanes, operating under FEMA’s direction. Dr Nick is very knowledgeable in his field but known to have certain problems with authority figures and rules.
August 2005, New Orleans during/after Hurricane Katrina ~
> Among the many other agencies and volunteer groups, 1200 DEMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) volunteers are gathering just outside New Orleans preparing to assist with the rescue and recovery efforts, once Hurricane Katrina has passed. As a group of volunteer morticians, coroners, medical examiners and pathologists, these specialists generally deal with only the dead following a disaster. During Hurricane Katrina, however, the group will not be begin identifying the victims and notifying their family members until after it’s believed that all displaced survivors have been located. Dr Nick Polchak and his colleague Dr Jerry, who have served together through previous disasters, are working as a team, searching through their designated flooded section of the city for people. The power is out and communication is minimal but soon Dr Nick and Dr Jerry discover not only the displaced living and the recently dead are waiting in the dark. Someone else has been using the chaos to hide murder. And that person is still killing.
Memorable moments ~
> With a strong phobia of rodents and such herbivores (possums, coons, rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters), Beth’s reaction to the sudden appearance of a boatload of dead “swamp rats” is classic.
> Quote - “A father is a powerful thing, Nick. A father is more than a man, he’s a symbol of something larger - a reminder that the universe is a safe place to live - that someone out there loves you, and that things will turn out all right in the end.”
What I Liked ~
1) I find novels featuring main characters with unusual careers utterly fascinating and MMC Dr. Nick Polchak is truly unique.
2) There’s a lot of fascinating forensic information in this series but this book is not for the squeamish.
3) The details regarding the chaos which followed Hurricane Katrina were sobering. The author mentions in the author notes that he attempted to keep the setting as accurate as possible as recorded events.
What I Liked Less ~
1) As much as I enjoyed the quality of FIRST THE DEAD, certain suspenseful elements caused it to be a bit dark - more so than I have been preferring during these chaotic and uncertain times. I had to take breaks in my reading rather than read straight through, as per usual, mixing up lighter titles along the way (I don’t recall this being an issue on my previous reads).
2) Dr Nick Polchak was an extremely focused man. Unfortunately, his unswerving search for answers and his stubbornness did contribute to the death of an innocent person. I’m not sure the answers were worth it.
The Bugman series is truly unique. Dr Polchak is a bit weird and I find the science aspect fascinating. Readers who enjoy character driven novels, unusual careers, suspense novels or can enjoy a novel without the “mandatory romance and Sweet HEA” might want to check this series out. I find this a captivating series. Reading Order: SHOO FLY PIE, #1; CHOP SHOP is bk#2; LESS THAN DEAD, #3; FIRST THE DEAD, #4; ENDS OF THE EARTH, #5; NICK OF TIME, #6.
READER CAUTIONS - Suitable for readers of Suspense or Mysteries, IMO, 16yrs and up.
BE ADVISED: forensic science details are straightforward and candid (Think CSI with a consulting entomologist).
VIOLENCE - PG. This is a series dealing with forensic homicide investigations but the details are not overly drawn out, dark or graphic.
PROFANITY - None.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
MY RATING GUIDE: Nearly 4 Stars. Unique, informative, suspenseful.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I LIKED IT A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I rarely give 5 Stars).
FIRST THE DEAD is not a Cozy Mystery. Rather it’s a reality based Mystery featuring entomologist Dr Nick Polchak/MMC (late thirties) set in the early days following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Dr Polchak is a brilliant but odd forensic entomologist, entomology professor from North Caroline State University and an expert in his field. Dr Nick has assisted law enforcement in over 72 cases in 13 different countries. He has also volunteered 7 times (previous to FIRST THE DEAD) with the DEMORT organization, a group of medical professionals assisting in major civilian disasters such as airline crashes, train wrecks and hurricanes, operating under FEMA’s direction. Dr Nick is very knowledgeable in his field but known to have certain problems with authority figures and rules.
August 2005, New Orleans during/after Hurricane Katrina ~
> Among the many other agencies and volunteer groups, 1200 DEMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) volunteers are gathering just outside New Orleans preparing to assist with the rescue and recovery efforts, once Hurricane Katrina has passed. As a group of volunteer morticians, coroners, medical examiners and pathologists, these specialists generally deal with only the dead following a disaster. During Hurricane Katrina, however, the group will not be begin identifying the victims and notifying their family members until after it’s believed that all displaced survivors have been located. Dr Nick Polchak and his colleague Dr Jerry, who have served together through previous disasters, are working as a team, searching through their designated flooded section of the city for people. The power is out and communication is minimal but soon Dr Nick and Dr Jerry discover not only the displaced living and the recently dead are waiting in the dark. Someone else has been using the chaos to hide murder. And that person is still killing.
Memorable moments ~
> With a strong phobia of rodents and such herbivores (possums, coons, rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters), Beth’s reaction to the sudden appearance of a boatload of dead “swamp rats” is classic.
> Quote - “A father is a powerful thing, Nick. A father is more than a man, he’s a symbol of something larger - a reminder that the universe is a safe place to live - that someone out there loves you, and that things will turn out all right in the end.”
What I Liked ~
1) I find novels featuring main characters with unusual careers utterly fascinating and MMC Dr. Nick Polchak is truly unique.
2) There’s a lot of fascinating forensic information in this series but this book is not for the squeamish.
3) The details regarding the chaos which followed Hurricane Katrina were sobering. The author mentions in the author notes that he attempted to keep the setting as accurate as possible as recorded events.
What I Liked Less ~
1) As much as I enjoyed the quality of FIRST THE DEAD, certain suspenseful elements caused it to be a bit dark - more so than I have been preferring during these chaotic and uncertain times. I had to take breaks in my reading rather than read straight through, as per usual, mixing up lighter titles along the way (I don’t recall this being an issue on my previous reads).
2) Dr Nick Polchak was an extremely focused man. Unfortunately, his unswerving search for answers and his stubbornness did contribute to the death of an innocent person. I’m not sure the answers were worth it.
The Bugman series is truly unique. Dr Polchak is a bit weird and I find the science aspect fascinating. Readers who enjoy character driven novels, unusual careers, suspense novels or can enjoy a novel without the “mandatory romance and Sweet HEA” might want to check this series out. I find this a captivating series. Reading Order: SHOO FLY PIE, #1; CHOP SHOP is bk#2; LESS THAN DEAD, #3; FIRST THE DEAD, #4; ENDS OF THE EARTH, #5; NICK OF TIME, #6.
READER CAUTIONS - Suitable for readers of Suspense or Mysteries, IMO, 16yrs and up.
BE ADVISED: forensic science details are straightforward and candid (Think CSI with a consulting entomologist).
VIOLENCE - PG. This is a series dealing with forensic homicide investigations but the details are not overly drawn out, dark or graphic.
PROFANITY - None.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
July 17, 2023
Ending brought this down by a star.
Liked:
- Downs can write, which is a good start.
- I liked the atmosphere, and the sense of time and place.
- held my interest
Didn’t like:
- mystery resolution required too many coincidences, and the murders themselves seemed OTT. But this is a thriller, not a documentary, so I can let that go, to some extent.
- Nick’s “clever” quips began to grate quite quickly. I liked that another character called him out on that. It could end up being an interesting character trait…if he stops at some point!
- a lot of repetition, explaining the same thing to different characters.
- too much detail about forensic entomology for me
- What I really disliked was the complete misrepresentation of schizophrenia. It is NOT the same as “split personality,” yet was presented as such, in detail, explained by a PSYCHIATRIST, no less! Can meth cause either one? I doubt it and don’t feel like researching it, since that’s not my job: it’s the author’s. Since the resolution hinges on that, it was an important flaw.
All that said, I did read the next one, Less than Dead, and liked it better, though some problems remained.
Liked:
- Downs can write, which is a good start.
- I liked the atmosphere, and the sense of time and place.
- held my interest
Didn’t like:
- mystery resolution required too many coincidences, and the murders themselves seemed OTT. But this is a thriller, not a documentary, so I can let that go, to some extent.
- Nick’s “clever” quips began to grate quite quickly. I liked that another character called him out on that. It could end up being an interesting character trait…if he stops at some point!
- a lot of repetition, explaining the same thing to different characters.
- too much detail about forensic entomology for me
- What I really disliked was the complete misrepresentation of schizophrenia. It is NOT the same as “split personality,” yet was presented as such, in detail, explained by a PSYCHIATRIST, no less! Can meth cause either one? I doubt it and don’t feel like researching it, since that’s not my job: it’s the author’s. Since the resolution hinges on that, it was an important flaw.
All that said, I did read the next one, Less than Dead, and liked it better, though some problems remained.
August 2, 2022
First the Dead (3rd Bug Man Book) by Tim Downs
I borrowed this one from a friend, and it was a fun one. When I read the first one years ago, I remember being somewhat disappointed with the resolution/mystery, but intrigued enough with the characters and premise that I wanted to read more. I still kind of feel that way. Forensic entomology is such a unique niche, and it’s nearly impossible to go wrong with a mystery... but these don’t quite live up to their potential... a little formulaic... and somehow missing a deeply satisfying conclusion. Maybe it’s the way the author hones in on the protagonists need to become more human... and then formulaicly kills off someone close to him in each book. Maybe it’s that while there’s a new love interest in each book, the forensic entomology remains fairly simple and repetitive. Regardless, this was a fun book. It was set around Hurricane Katrina, and I realized how little I knew about that period. It was action-packed and suspenseful, with interesting tidbits about Katrina and forensic entomology. I enjoyed it, and I’ll read the next one... secretly hoping that it exceeds the previous three and lives up to its full potential... but happy regardless with a fun, quick, easy read.
I borrowed this one from a friend, and it was a fun one. When I read the first one years ago, I remember being somewhat disappointed with the resolution/mystery, but intrigued enough with the characters and premise that I wanted to read more. I still kind of feel that way. Forensic entomology is such a unique niche, and it’s nearly impossible to go wrong with a mystery... but these don’t quite live up to their potential... a little formulaic... and somehow missing a deeply satisfying conclusion. Maybe it’s the way the author hones in on the protagonists need to become more human... and then formulaicly kills off someone close to him in each book. Maybe it’s that while there’s a new love interest in each book, the forensic entomology remains fairly simple and repetitive. Regardless, this was a fun book. It was set around Hurricane Katrina, and I realized how little I knew about that period. It was action-packed and suspenseful, with interesting tidbits about Katrina and forensic entomology. I enjoyed it, and I’ll read the next one... secretly hoping that it exceeds the previous three and lives up to its full potential... but happy regardless with a fun, quick, easy read.
June 19, 2021
Nick is called to New Orleans after hurricane Katrina hits as part of the DMORT team to recover bodies from the storm. Working with FEMA, DEA, & the National Guard the mantra of 1st the dead is changed to 1st the living. Not used to recovering people alive, Nick has a hard time dealing with survivors. Along the way, he comes across a dead body that forensically was killed before the hurricane hit & the storm is being used to cover up more murders. Being told not to investigate & leave the dead bodies, Nick still continues his quest to link the murders & is stopped at every avenue, shot at, & followed by DEA, NOPD, & his psychiatrist. Determined to get to the bottom things may prove to be deadly. Another great mystery and interesting forensic facts.
April 3, 2019
I am so glad I listened and got this book. Very much enjoyed. This is a book that is in-between investigative thriller and fictional biography (especially for those who lived through Katrina). The author as another commentator implied indeed showed deep attention to details especially on the bug knowledge and the protagonist's personality on that subject. I quite enjoyed it although at the beginning I really wasn't sure despite the injected humour across chapters but right now I look forward to reading more by this author.
March 27, 2022
Nick and hundreds of other professionals are called to New Orleans right before Hurricane Katrina hits. They are there to recover and process the dead. But then the objective changes to rescuing the living first. Nick first rescues a young boy searching for his father. Soon bodies start showing up that were killed before the hurricane hit. But someone doesn't want Nick to recover these bodies, and they are willing to kill to make sure they stay hidden.
It was a nice change of pace for Nick's character. Being with the boy day after day starts to humanize the Bug Man.
It was a nice change of pace for Nick's character. Being with the boy day after day starts to humanize the Bug Man.
February 28, 2018
Very good story, great mystery. Could hardly put it down until finished. The story takes place during the chaos left by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Lots of information that I never knew about. The news reports were very much incomplete and often erroneous. Anyway, Mr. Downs and the "Bug Man" Nick Polchak make a great story.
May 20, 2020
I'm so glad I found this book in a Little Free Library. Good fast and easy quarantine read! The Bug Man has a quirky sarcastic sense of humor, and I learned a few interesting tidbits about forensic entomology! I also appreciated that the author put in an actual timeline of events during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
December 15, 2023
The third book in the series... Still enjoying them. The Hurricane Katrina angle in this book is well done. However, I'm not enjoying the predictable pattern that the author has, in who dies in each book. Also that the bug man has a different lady interest in each book, with no connection from book to book. It's like his previous stories never happened.
June 26, 2023
I enjoyed the first half of this book quite a lot, as well as the plot hooks, however the emotional significance during the climactic scenes and ending were a bit underwhelming and I was left unsatisfied. Still, I enjoyed this book a lot, and I love the Bug Man!
July 29, 2023
I really wanted to like this book... But it was just too predictable and tedious - I personally do not like it when the reader knows who the bad guys are while the protagonist is trying to catch-up.
I did at least enjoy the last ten chapters or so when things finally started to speed up
I did at least enjoy the last ten chapters or so when things finally started to speed up
August 27, 2023
An incredibly unique setting which made for a unique book. The mystery aspect of this was a little unsatisfying. He is a great writer that really gave insight into the suffering endured after Katrina.
March 5, 2018
Awesome thriller/mystery during Hurricane Katrina. The pacing and scientific detail were the best parts. The last 15pgs were a little dramatic/cheesy for my taste, but they weren't bad.
April 6, 2018
A page turner!
October 9, 2018
I did not finish because it was too detailed. Bugs ruled the story too much. And the government angle was not for me
April 21, 2019
It was a good read an interesting plot.
September 16, 2019
This was a good mystery it played out so well it was so interesting to know some of the facts about hurricane Katrina i truly enjoyed it and loved nick
October 31, 2023
Great read!
April 5, 2025
Fascinating and engaging to the end. Fun mystery / suspense novel without too much predictability. Using Hurricane Katrina as the backdrop, I learned a good bit about the event.
July 1, 2021
Prompt#13 Includes an Exotic Animal (alligator)
Exotic animal is defined as any wild cat, non-human primate, canine not indigenous to Oregon, bear (except black bear), and any alligator, crocodile, or caiman.
Exotic animal is defined as any wild cat, non-human primate, canine not indigenous to Oregon, bear (except black bear), and any alligator, crocodile, or caiman.
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