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Van Shaw #1
Past Crimes
When his estranged grandfather is shot and left for dead, an Army Ranger must plunge into the criminal underworld of his youth to find a murderer and uncover a shocking family secret in this atmospheric and evocative debut thriller
Van Shaw was raised to be a thief, but at eighteen he suddenly broke all ties to that life and joined the military—abandoning his illicit past and the career-criminal grandfather who taught him the trade. Now, after ten years of silence, his grandfather has asked him to come home to Seattle. But when Van arrives, he discovers his grandfather bleeding out on the floor from a gunshot to the head. With a lifetime of tough history between him and the old man, Van knows he’s the main suspect.
The only way he can clear his name is to go back to the world he’d sworn to leave behind. Tapping into his criminal skills, he begins to hunt the shooter and uncover what drove his grandfather to reach out after so long. But in a violent, high-stakes world where right and wrong aren’t defined by the law, Van finds that the past is all too present . . . and that the secrets held by those closest to him are the deadliest of all.
Edgy and suspenseful, rich with emotional resonance, gritty action, and a deep-rooted sense of place, Past Crimes trumpets the arrival of a powerful talent in the mold of Dennis Lehane, Robert B. Parker, and John D. MacDonald.
Van Shaw was raised to be a thief, but at eighteen he suddenly broke all ties to that life and joined the military—abandoning his illicit past and the career-criminal grandfather who taught him the trade. Now, after ten years of silence, his grandfather has asked him to come home to Seattle. But when Van arrives, he discovers his grandfather bleeding out on the floor from a gunshot to the head. With a lifetime of tough history between him and the old man, Van knows he’s the main suspect.
The only way he can clear his name is to go back to the world he’d sworn to leave behind. Tapping into his criminal skills, he begins to hunt the shooter and uncover what drove his grandfather to reach out after so long. But in a violent, high-stakes world where right and wrong aren’t defined by the law, Van finds that the past is all too present . . . and that the secrets held by those closest to him are the deadliest of all.
Edgy and suspenseful, rich with emotional resonance, gritty action, and a deep-rooted sense of place, Past Crimes trumpets the arrival of a powerful talent in the mold of Dennis Lehane, Robert B. Parker, and John D. MacDonald.
324 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2015
358 people are currently reading
2571 people want to read
About the author
Glen Erik Hamilton
11 books296 followersGlen Erik Hamilton writes crime thrillers. His novels have been called “outstanding” (Publishers Weekly), “perfect mix of serious crime and caper movie” (Criminal Element), and “a must-read series” (Mystery Scene Magazine).
Hamilton's debut novel Past Crimes won the Anthony, Macavity, and Strand Magazine Critics Awards, and was also nominated for the Edgar®, Barry, and Nero Awards. Kirkus called Past Crimes “an exciting heir to the classic detective novel.” Each of his subsequent books in the Van Shaw series have earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and more, and been published in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Japan.
Glen grew up aboard a sailboat in Seattle, Washington, and around the islands, marinas, and commercial docks of the Pacific Northwest. He served as President of the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America from 2018-2019 and is also a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. He lives near Los Angeles with his family and openly acknowledges his addiction to Columbo.
Hamilton's debut novel Past Crimes won the Anthony, Macavity, and Strand Magazine Critics Awards, and was also nominated for the Edgar®, Barry, and Nero Awards. Kirkus called Past Crimes “an exciting heir to the classic detective novel.” Each of his subsequent books in the Van Shaw series have earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and more, and been published in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Japan.
Glen grew up aboard a sailboat in Seattle, Washington, and around the islands, marinas, and commercial docks of the Pacific Northwest. He served as President of the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America from 2018-2019 and is also a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. He lives near Los Angeles with his family and openly acknowledges his addiction to Columbo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
October 2, 2019
This book has a great new character, real, three dimensional. The writing craft is strong and easy to drop into. The story is engaging and held me in the whole way through. The ending was very satisfying.
I highly recommend this book.
d.
I highly recommend this book.
d.
July 26, 2017
I picked this up because, in just glancing at the author's last name, I mistakenly thought this was a book in another series I'm reading. It was a purchase made in error but once I realized it I decided to go ahead and read it anyway. I'm glad I did. This is a solid entry into a new series that introduces Army Ranger, Donovan 'Van' Shaw. Brought up in a lifestyle with decidedly criminal element present, Van made a clean break ten years ago, leaving the life behind to join the Army,and never once communicating with the criminal grandfather who raised him. When he receives a one line letter from his grandfather asking him to come home, Van thinks it might finally be the time to address old wounds. But from the moment Van steps foot in his childhood home to find his grandfather bleeding out from a gunshot wound, it's clear that it may be too late.
I liked Van as a character. He's moral but can appreciate the shades of gray. He's not overly reactive and so doesn't go around shoving the chip on his shoulder in the face of everyone who crosses his path. AND, and this is a big one, though he does take it upon himself to do his own investigation into the attack on his grandfather, he doesn't treat the police like the enemy. He actually *gasp* shares information with them!
The plot itself was well paced and the author has an easy writing style that made the pages go by quickly. There were a couple of surprises and some colorful secondary characters that I hope will stick around. My one complaint, more of a quibble really, is that we never really get to see Van whip out any badass Ranger skills. That aside, I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds in store for Van Shaw.
I liked Van as a character. He's moral but can appreciate the shades of gray. He's not overly reactive and so doesn't go around shoving the chip on his shoulder in the face of everyone who crosses his path. AND, and this is a big one, though he does take it upon himself to do his own investigation into the attack on his grandfather, he doesn't treat the police like the enemy. He actually *gasp* shares information with them!
The plot itself was well paced and the author has an easy writing style that made the pages go by quickly. There were a couple of surprises and some colorful secondary characters that I hope will stick around. My one complaint, more of a quibble really, is that we never really get to see Van whip out any badass Ranger skills. That aside, I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds in store for Van Shaw.
March 19, 2015
I was really quite taken with this debut from Hamilton, I must confess. As regular readers of my reviews know, I am always keen to discover new American writers and what appealed to me about Hamilton was the way that his book neatly bypassed the more simple label of ‘thriller’ and instead, through the strength of his characterisation and observation, was on a par with the very best of American contemporary fiction.
With his main character returning from military service to his old stomping ground and Hamilton’s solid depiction of Shaw’s Seattle neighbourhood, I would have no hesitation in putting this in the same league as Dennis Lehane or George Pelecanos, whose assured grip of the socio-economic representations of the neighbourhoods they depict, add another level to the reader’s experience. Supported by the extremely well-worked double timeline, I was utterly engaged throughout the whole book. The use of the contrasting timelines subtly speeded up or slowed down the reading experience, giving an undulating sense of pace to the book overall to great effect. Sometimes it is easy to be engaged more with one timeline than another, but I found that each enriched the enjoyment of the other, as truths were revealed and we got drawn deeper into the trials and tribulations of Shaw’s world…
I thoroughly enjoyed the way that Hamilton slowly built up a complete picture of Shaw from his troubled childhood, to his teenage years kicking around with best friend Davey, and the ‘criminal’ schooling by his gruff grandfather Dono. Shaw’s formative years are a turbulent affair, interspersed by his grandfather’s criminal activities and incarceration, but we as readers, embark on a journey with Shaw as the light and shade of his character come into sharp focus. The oscillating moral compass of Shaw that we see formed from his youth to his army service adds a real depth to his character, and by extension makes him an incredibly empathetic protagonist. As he seeks to uncover the reasons for the vicious attack on his grandfather that greets his arrival home, Shaw uncovers the nefarious dealings of the old man, calling on some of his grandfather’s less than honest pals for assistance (who are another highlight of the book), and Shaw has to face up to the sins of his own past along the way, leading the book to an emotional and heartfelt conclusion. A highly recommended debut novel, and another name to keep a close eye on…
With his main character returning from military service to his old stomping ground and Hamilton’s solid depiction of Shaw’s Seattle neighbourhood, I would have no hesitation in putting this in the same league as Dennis Lehane or George Pelecanos, whose assured grip of the socio-economic representations of the neighbourhoods they depict, add another level to the reader’s experience. Supported by the extremely well-worked double timeline, I was utterly engaged throughout the whole book. The use of the contrasting timelines subtly speeded up or slowed down the reading experience, giving an undulating sense of pace to the book overall to great effect. Sometimes it is easy to be engaged more with one timeline than another, but I found that each enriched the enjoyment of the other, as truths were revealed and we got drawn deeper into the trials and tribulations of Shaw’s world…
I thoroughly enjoyed the way that Hamilton slowly built up a complete picture of Shaw from his troubled childhood, to his teenage years kicking around with best friend Davey, and the ‘criminal’ schooling by his gruff grandfather Dono. Shaw’s formative years are a turbulent affair, interspersed by his grandfather’s criminal activities and incarceration, but we as readers, embark on a journey with Shaw as the light and shade of his character come into sharp focus. The oscillating moral compass of Shaw that we see formed from his youth to his army service adds a real depth to his character, and by extension makes him an incredibly empathetic protagonist. As he seeks to uncover the reasons for the vicious attack on his grandfather that greets his arrival home, Shaw uncovers the nefarious dealings of the old man, calling on some of his grandfather’s less than honest pals for assistance (who are another highlight of the book), and Shaw has to face up to the sins of his own past along the way, leading the book to an emotional and heartfelt conclusion. A highly recommended debut novel, and another name to keep a close eye on…
March 17, 2015
Past Crimes is a very authentic feeling, cleverly written thriller with a main protagonist in Van Shaw that I absolutely adored.
A note from his Grandfather brings Shaw back to Seattle, despite having left that life behind vowing never to return. When he discovers his Grandfather has been attacked, he starts to delve into the time that he has been away and finds himself drawn inexorably back into that world.
This is a fast, action packed story a la Reacher (although to my mind with much greater depth) which will engage immediately. I loved all the characters, Shaw of course with his inner turmoil and need to do right in a whole world full of wrong, but also Dono, who raised him and is a highly intriguing, shadowy figure who you slowly learn more about. Cleverly written to draw you into the family dynamic, as Shaw remembers his past and looks to the future, I really did enjoy every minute of it.
There are some little twists and turns along the way, the backstory is drip fed in perfect harmony with current events so you can start to see the bigger picture, the story is peppered with many colourful and eclectic characters and the author walks a fine line between right and wrong, Shaw especially lives in a world of grey area’s and this comes over beautifully.
The scene setting is also top notch – Seattle comes to vivid life giving the characters and events an anchor and putting you right on the spot.
Overall then a most terrific thriller – Hopefully we will meet Shaw again one day, I for one will look forward to that greatly.
A note from his Grandfather brings Shaw back to Seattle, despite having left that life behind vowing never to return. When he discovers his Grandfather has been attacked, he starts to delve into the time that he has been away and finds himself drawn inexorably back into that world.
This is a fast, action packed story a la Reacher (although to my mind with much greater depth) which will engage immediately. I loved all the characters, Shaw of course with his inner turmoil and need to do right in a whole world full of wrong, but also Dono, who raised him and is a highly intriguing, shadowy figure who you slowly learn more about. Cleverly written to draw you into the family dynamic, as Shaw remembers his past and looks to the future, I really did enjoy every minute of it.
There are some little twists and turns along the way, the backstory is drip fed in perfect harmony with current events so you can start to see the bigger picture, the story is peppered with many colourful and eclectic characters and the author walks a fine line between right and wrong, Shaw especially lives in a world of grey area’s and this comes over beautifully.
The scene setting is also top notch – Seattle comes to vivid life giving the characters and events an anchor and putting you right on the spot.
Overall then a most terrific thriller – Hopefully we will meet Shaw again one day, I for one will look forward to that greatly.
April 23, 2020
A very good and well written first novel. I believe this author will excel moving forward. The only negative I thought was the over done chapters on Van Shaw's childhood or would have gave it a 5 star but definitely a 4+. I was very impressed with the content and it was a "no put down" book which moved at a fast and exciting pace.
September 30, 2018
The story involves a bunch of crooks killing each other. This is not my first choice for crime control policy. Nor is it a great way to set up dramatic tension for a thriller/whodunit because I don’t really care which bad guys offed the other ones.
February 13, 2020
Army ranger Van Shaw hasn’t been home in ten years, and he has no plans to return until he gets a letter from his estranged grandfather, the man who raised him, asking him to return. Van arrives to find his grandfather on the floor bleeding from a very recent gunshot wound. Van knows he is the best person to find out what happened to his grandfather. The man made his living as a thief, something he was training Van in until Van turned his back on that life and joined the army. But Van still knows the old man’s friends, and they might tell him things they wouldn’t tell the police. Can he use his contacts to find out what happened?
This book is definitely darker than my typical cozies, but I knew that when I picked it up. While I didn’t find the violence or sex excessive, I did feel the foul language could have been toned down some. The plot was a little slow to hook me, and some flashbacks to Van’s childhood didn’t really help that feeling. However, I did get hooked and was along for the twists, turns, and action sequences we got. I was on the edge of my seat by the time I reached the end. The characters are all solid, which helps. I don’t normally like rooting for criminals, but since Van is reformed, it is easy to root for him. The rest are very real and I enjoyed getting to know them. I’m glad I gave this debut a chance, and I definitely plan to move on to the next in the series.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This book is definitely darker than my typical cozies, but I knew that when I picked it up. While I didn’t find the violence or sex excessive, I did feel the foul language could have been toned down some. The plot was a little slow to hook me, and some flashbacks to Van’s childhood didn’t really help that feeling. However, I did get hooked and was along for the twists, turns, and action sequences we got. I was on the edge of my seat by the time I reached the end. The characters are all solid, which helps. I don’t normally like rooting for criminals, but since Van is reformed, it is easy to root for him. The rest are very real and I enjoyed getting to know them. I’m glad I gave this debut a chance, and I definitely plan to move on to the next in the series.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 26, 2023
I think I would maybe give it 3 1/2 stars if I could, but I don't really like it enough to go to 4.
The audiobook I got was narrated by Jeff Harding, who narrated most of the Jack Reacher audiobooks I've listened to. So, I kept feeling like it was a Jack Reacher book, which many have compared it to. But I think I like Jack Reacher better than this series, and also better as a personality. Perhaps it's because Reacher seems a lot more honest and law-abiding than Van Shaw, although Van isn't really that dishonest in his present life.
The book had a lot of Van Shaw's background, and skipped from his past to his present a lot without warning. Hopefully, this is just something in the first book; otherwise, it could turn me off to the series.
The story was fairly interesting, and I'm hoping it will turn out to be a good series.
The audiobook I got was narrated by Jeff Harding, who narrated most of the Jack Reacher audiobooks I've listened to. So, I kept feeling like it was a Jack Reacher book, which many have compared it to. But I think I like Jack Reacher better than this series, and also better as a personality. Perhaps it's because Reacher seems a lot more honest and law-abiding than Van Shaw, although Van isn't really that dishonest in his present life.
The book had a lot of Van Shaw's background, and skipped from his past to his present a lot without warning. Hopefully, this is just something in the first book; otherwise, it could turn me off to the series.
The story was fairly interesting, and I'm hoping it will turn out to be a good series.
September 30, 2017
Simply couldn't finish this one.
October 9, 2019
I had this on TBR list for close to 10 months so I am finally glad I got around to reading it. I think I saw the synopsis for Hard Cold Winter which initially attracted me to the series so I had to start from the 1st book.
My first thoughts were that the book was a bit slow to take off, I wasn't really enjoying the pace of the story from the perspective of Van Shaw and felt that the throwbacks to his youth were an unnecessary diversion - but the picture became a whole lot clearer around the 65% mark and I am glad I stuck it out with Van Shaw.
Van Shaw is on 10 days leave from the army and has come home to visit his grandfather ('Dono') after receiving a letter from him. It has been 10 years since Van left home at the age of 18 to join the army (raised by his Grandfather since he was around 10 - if I followed the timeline right). When Van returns he encounters a brutal scene at his grandfather's home. Dono has been shot and left bleeding out on the floor. Van is thrown in the deep end immediately and as soon as he cant fathom what is happening the police have turned up at the door.
The title of the Book 'Past Crimes' was perfectly chosen as the story revolves around Van & Dono's past and how it has led them to this point in the story. Van must call on close friends to find out who would want his Grandfather dead and what he had to hide from Van.
The story came on much better after the 60% mark and found myself flying through the pages at a much more enjoyable pace than I began with. I definitely look forward to reading Hard Cold Winter - hopefully it wont take me 10 months to get around to it :D
My first thoughts were that the book was a bit slow to take off, I wasn't really enjoying the pace of the story from the perspective of Van Shaw and felt that the throwbacks to his youth were an unnecessary diversion - but the picture became a whole lot clearer around the 65% mark and I am glad I stuck it out with Van Shaw.
Van Shaw is on 10 days leave from the army and has come home to visit his grandfather ('Dono') after receiving a letter from him. It has been 10 years since Van left home at the age of 18 to join the army (raised by his Grandfather since he was around 10 - if I followed the timeline right). When Van returns he encounters a brutal scene at his grandfather's home. Dono has been shot and left bleeding out on the floor. Van is thrown in the deep end immediately and as soon as he cant fathom what is happening the police have turned up at the door.
The title of the Book 'Past Crimes' was perfectly chosen as the story revolves around Van & Dono's past and how it has led them to this point in the story. Van must call on close friends to find out who would want his Grandfather dead and what he had to hide from Van.
The story came on much better after the 60% mark and found myself flying through the pages at a much more enjoyable pace than I began with. I definitely look forward to reading Hard Cold Winter - hopefully it wont take me 10 months to get around to it :D
April 10, 2018
One of the best debut crime/thriller novels I've read in the past decade. Hamilton crafts an excellent page-turner which intrigues as much through his characters as the gripping plotlines.
Van Shaw, a wounded Army Ranger who grew up as a childhood thief, appeals as a multi-layered protagonist with the potential to be the spine of an ongoing series. In this first book, he finds himself back in his hometown of Seattle after a decade away, visiting his estranged grandfather following a cryptic message, only to find the old man - who'd raised him - bloodied and shot on the floor. Shaw must navigate a minefield of police, his military masters, his past associates, and an unknown killer as he seeks to find the truth before his Army leave is over.
Hamilton writes with remarkable assuredness for a debutant, balancing action, storyline, intrigue, character, and setting in a way reminiscent of the best crime writers out there. PAST CRIMES has all the hallmarks of a page-whirring thriller, balanced with depth of character for those who prefer their crime and thrills of a more substantive nature.
In the end, with a debut author, the biggest question is 'would I read more of this writer'? In the case of Glen Erik Hamilton and PAST CRIMES, my answer would be: "in a heartbeat". Looking forward to Book #2.
Van Shaw, a wounded Army Ranger who grew up as a childhood thief, appeals as a multi-layered protagonist with the potential to be the spine of an ongoing series. In this first book, he finds himself back in his hometown of Seattle after a decade away, visiting his estranged grandfather following a cryptic message, only to find the old man - who'd raised him - bloodied and shot on the floor. Shaw must navigate a minefield of police, his military masters, his past associates, and an unknown killer as he seeks to find the truth before his Army leave is over.
Hamilton writes with remarkable assuredness for a debutant, balancing action, storyline, intrigue, character, and setting in a way reminiscent of the best crime writers out there. PAST CRIMES has all the hallmarks of a page-whirring thriller, balanced with depth of character for those who prefer their crime and thrills of a more substantive nature.
In the end, with a debut author, the biggest question is 'would I read more of this writer'? In the case of Glen Erik Hamilton and PAST CRIMES, my answer would be: "in a heartbeat". Looking forward to Book #2.
July 25, 2017
This first book in the Van Shaw series is a great read.
When Van Shaw, on the mend from being wounded in the war on terror, gets a note from his criminal grandfather, asking him to come home, Shaw takes a leave.
His grandfather is in a coma, and the cops aren't too worried about it. Shaw pokes around, meeting people he knew back in the day. There's also stories of Shaw's criminal past throughout the work.
Very well done, very hard boiled.
When Van Shaw, on the mend from being wounded in the war on terror, gets a note from his criminal grandfather, asking him to come home, Shaw takes a leave.
His grandfather is in a coma, and the cops aren't too worried about it. Shaw pokes around, meeting people he knew back in the day. There's also stories of Shaw's criminal past throughout the work.
Very well done, very hard boiled.
September 19, 2020
I won a copy of
Past Crimes
from a Goodreads Giveaway.
I'm glad I won a copy because I may not have otherwise picked up this book since I've never read one of Mr. Hamilton's books before.
I love stories when the hero is raised in a morally and ethically ambiguous environment who turns out to be a dedicated, solid and just a damn good guy.
That is Van Shaw in a nutshell. A soldier on military leave, he returns to his hometown of Seattle in response to a summons by his estranged grandfather, Dono.
Unfortunately, when he arrives, it is only to discover his grandfather is mortally wounded and he had just missed the perpetrator fleeing the scene.
Van Shaw embarks on a dangerous quest into his grandfather's past, meeting old friends and foes, to discover Dono had not relinquished his thieving ways but for a good reason.
Interspersed with Shaw's solitary investigation are details from his past, the lessons he learned from Dono that would later serve him well in the future.
I really liked Van Shaw and Dono's friends. Honor among thieves and loyalty amongst friends and family is the best way to describe Dono's small circle but especially Van Shaw.
A young man who entered the military to find his path in life, and discovers he is good at it, Van Shaw is a morally aware man but not preachy, he sought justice for his grandfather, understanding the thin line between vigilantism and doing the right thing.
A lot happens in the story, not the least being the reveal of family secrets (what else is new?) but we also have duplicitous associates, a bank robbery gone wrong, and a cache of missing diamonds. Woo hoo!
And the identity of Dono's killer?
Not who you think at all and a decent twist.
And staying true to Van Shaw's character, he errs on the side of the law and will do anything to keep his family and friends safe.
Past Crimes is a very good debut to a new series.
I'm glad I won a copy because I may not have otherwise picked up this book since I've never read one of Mr. Hamilton's books before.
I love stories when the hero is raised in a morally and ethically ambiguous environment who turns out to be a dedicated, solid and just a damn good guy.
That is Van Shaw in a nutshell. A soldier on military leave, he returns to his hometown of Seattle in response to a summons by his estranged grandfather, Dono.
Unfortunately, when he arrives, it is only to discover his grandfather is mortally wounded and he had just missed the perpetrator fleeing the scene.
Van Shaw embarks on a dangerous quest into his grandfather's past, meeting old friends and foes, to discover Dono had not relinquished his thieving ways but for a good reason.
Interspersed with Shaw's solitary investigation are details from his past, the lessons he learned from Dono that would later serve him well in the future.
I really liked Van Shaw and Dono's friends. Honor among thieves and loyalty amongst friends and family is the best way to describe Dono's small circle but especially Van Shaw.
A young man who entered the military to find his path in life, and discovers he is good at it, Van Shaw is a morally aware man but not preachy, he sought justice for his grandfather, understanding the thin line between vigilantism and doing the right thing.
A lot happens in the story, not the least being the reveal of family secrets (what else is new?) but we also have duplicitous associates, a bank robbery gone wrong, and a cache of missing diamonds. Woo hoo!
And the identity of Dono's killer?
Not who you think at all and a decent twist.
And staying true to Van Shaw's character, he errs on the side of the law and will do anything to keep his family and friends safe.
Past Crimes is a very good debut to a new series.
December 14, 2015
I’m not usually a fan of books where the bad guys – thieves, con men, and the like – are the good guys.
What redeemed this one was that the bad guys were loyal. They didn’t backstab or double cross the hero, did everything in their power to help him find whoever had murdered his grandfather.
Hamilton did a good job of making Van Shaw, the main character, three-dimensional, didn’t portray him as some sort of Superman who can shake off a blow to the head in five seconds. He didn’t do quite as good a job with some of the secondary characters. And some of the flashback scenes didn’t seem to add anything and could have been covered in a paragraph elsewhere. Part of that was due to their erratic appearance. Had they appeared at regular intervals, their presence would have been less disruptive of the story’s flow
Hamilton also did a good job of making the action scenes real, didn’t leave the reader wondering how this or that went down. Although in a place or two, he had happenstance tip the scales in favor of Shaw over the real bad guys.
Overall, this book was good enough to make me want to read more Van Shaw stories.
What redeemed this one was that the bad guys were loyal. They didn’t backstab or double cross the hero, did everything in their power to help him find whoever had murdered his grandfather.
Hamilton did a good job of making Van Shaw, the main character, three-dimensional, didn’t portray him as some sort of Superman who can shake off a blow to the head in five seconds. He didn’t do quite as good a job with some of the secondary characters. And some of the flashback scenes didn’t seem to add anything and could have been covered in a paragraph elsewhere. Part of that was due to their erratic appearance. Had they appeared at regular intervals, their presence would have been less disruptive of the story’s flow
Hamilton also did a good job of making the action scenes real, didn’t leave the reader wondering how this or that went down. Although in a place or two, he had happenstance tip the scales in favor of Shaw over the real bad guys.
Overall, this book was good enough to make me want to read more Van Shaw stories.
August 4, 2016
A military man (Van) has a leave to go home to see his elderly grandfather who has been shot and is near death. His granddad (Dono) has a long criminal past and we find that Van has also done some unsavory things in his youth. Over time we find that Dono is involved in a plot to steal millions of dollars worth of diamonds. Others die and eventually so does granddad. So the mysteries are where are the diamonds and who shot Dono. A really great book worthy of all the acclaim it received.
April 14, 2015
Every so often a book comes along where the typical way I review a book just doesn't seem right, and I find myself wishing I could write better reviews that can do the book justice. To describe Past Crimes in a basic 'this is what happens' way could end up making it sound like just another thriller, yet it's so much more than that, and really, it was one of the most exciting and original novels I have read in a long time, and one that totally consumed me over the past day reading it.
Van Shaw, soldier and ex-con returns home to Seattle after a decade's self-imposed exile when he receives a letter from his grandfather, alerting him that he may need his help. Arriving to find his grandfather brutally attacked, it isn't long before Shaw is the number one suspect. He finds himself drawn back into the violent, high-stakes life that he tried to leave behind, and let's just say a huge can of worms is opened. Buried secrets rise to the surface and it's an intense and completely thrilling read that had me on the edge of my seat one minute, and then quietly reflecting and gathering my thoughts as the past and present start to collide the next.
One of the highlights of Past Crimes for me was definitely the Seattle setting, and the authentic and totally believable way it was portrayed by Hamilton, and how vivid it was in my mind. In fact, it's hard to find fault with the book. The writing and characterisation are incredibly strong, as is the storytelling, Hamilton delivering up a story that will keep readers guessing, and creating in Van Shaw a character that the reader will be rooting for from day one. He's also a character that feels 'new' and stands out in a very busy line-up of similar characters.
Van Shaw is a character who deserves a series, who needs a series, and I for one am very excited to continue reading his story, and to see what Hamilton delivers next. For this to be a debut is quite remarkable, so it's definitely going to be a sequel to look out for. Until then though, I highly recommend Past Crimes. Already the comparisons to other authors are coming, yet some of those continue to sell on name alone, regurgitating the same tired stories each year, what we have here is a fresh, original debut that can easily stand alongside some of the best-selling authors in the genre.
Van Shaw, soldier and ex-con returns home to Seattle after a decade's self-imposed exile when he receives a letter from his grandfather, alerting him that he may need his help. Arriving to find his grandfather brutally attacked, it isn't long before Shaw is the number one suspect. He finds himself drawn back into the violent, high-stakes life that he tried to leave behind, and let's just say a huge can of worms is opened. Buried secrets rise to the surface and it's an intense and completely thrilling read that had me on the edge of my seat one minute, and then quietly reflecting and gathering my thoughts as the past and present start to collide the next.
One of the highlights of Past Crimes for me was definitely the Seattle setting, and the authentic and totally believable way it was portrayed by Hamilton, and how vivid it was in my mind. In fact, it's hard to find fault with the book. The writing and characterisation are incredibly strong, as is the storytelling, Hamilton delivering up a story that will keep readers guessing, and creating in Van Shaw a character that the reader will be rooting for from day one. He's also a character that feels 'new' and stands out in a very busy line-up of similar characters.
Van Shaw is a character who deserves a series, who needs a series, and I for one am very excited to continue reading his story, and to see what Hamilton delivers next. For this to be a debut is quite remarkable, so it's definitely going to be a sequel to look out for. Until then though, I highly recommend Past Crimes. Already the comparisons to other authors are coming, yet some of those continue to sell on name alone, regurgitating the same tired stories each year, what we have here is a fresh, original debut that can easily stand alongside some of the best-selling authors in the genre.
December 2, 2019
Past Crimes is a delicious little gem of a novel. The first in a series featuring Van Shaw, an Army Ranger Sergeant on a ten day leave to visit his grandfather in Seattle. But this isn’t an innocent and heartwarming visit. Grandpa (“Dono”) you see, is a career criminal from Ireland who reared Van from age ten until he ran off to join the Army at age eighteen. But during those formative years, Van learned the trade well, and knew how to “grease” an alarm and pick a lock by his teens.
Well, the long overdue reunion is spoiled by Dono taking a bullet and lapsing into a coma before he can tell Van the reason he’d asked the latter to come home in the first place. The story takes off from there, with Van and the Seattle PD looking to solve the case, but Van needing to do so before he has to return to duty. And what a case it turns out to be.
With multiple, well drawn characters mixing into the tale, Hamilton fills in Van’s backstory by interspersing chapters in which he takes us back to Van’s childhood under the influence and tutelage of the intimidating but loyal criminal grandfather. And it is interesting that Van elected to pursue an honest life, a career in the military, rather than following in the footsteps of a criminal whom he’d idolized as a kid.
But Van will need those criminal skills if he’s to solve the ever more complex puzzle surrounding his grandfather and lead the police to the shooter before his time runs out or, for that matter, someone takes him out. It’s refreshing to see Van operate independently, yet keep the cops in the loop, since he actually wants them to succeed in catching the bad guys. The pace is one of gradual acceleration, the characters are pretty interesting, if occasionally slightly stereotypical, and the sense of place is believable.
This is a very good inaugural effort and I can only hope that Hamilton’s successive efforts in this series can match or exceed it. I enjoyed it more than I’d expected and suspect others will as well.
Well, the long overdue reunion is spoiled by Dono taking a bullet and lapsing into a coma before he can tell Van the reason he’d asked the latter to come home in the first place. The story takes off from there, with Van and the Seattle PD looking to solve the case, but Van needing to do so before he has to return to duty. And what a case it turns out to be.
With multiple, well drawn characters mixing into the tale, Hamilton fills in Van’s backstory by interspersing chapters in which he takes us back to Van’s childhood under the influence and tutelage of the intimidating but loyal criminal grandfather. And it is interesting that Van elected to pursue an honest life, a career in the military, rather than following in the footsteps of a criminal whom he’d idolized as a kid.
But Van will need those criminal skills if he’s to solve the ever more complex puzzle surrounding his grandfather and lead the police to the shooter before his time runs out or, for that matter, someone takes him out. It’s refreshing to see Van operate independently, yet keep the cops in the loop, since he actually wants them to succeed in catching the bad guys. The pace is one of gradual acceleration, the characters are pretty interesting, if occasionally slightly stereotypical, and the sense of place is believable.
This is a very good inaugural effort and I can only hope that Hamilton’s successive efforts in this series can match or exceed it. I enjoyed it more than I’d expected and suspect others will as well.
January 5, 2018
Van Shaw, raised by his grandfather to be a thief, is stolen from a straight-an-narrow life back into the mayhem of his father’s world when his grandfather is found critically shot. Who shot him then is the overall mystery. Yet, while the mystery is intriguing, it is the relationship between Van Shaw and his grandfather that keeps the readers hooked. The relationship feels real. Granted, it is not the life most of us have grown up in, but considering theirs, the situation and problems come across authentically. This relationship is expertly developed by the use of flashbacks.
Hamilton uses flashbacks to compare past motives—character and crime history—with present circumstances. This ability to offer backstory along with story is nicely peppered allowing the reader access, along with the protagonist, to what is morally right and wrong. The more the characters become known, the more this line becomes fuzzy.
The draw of Past Crimes comes from the tension of the family dynamic between grandson and grandfather, and it is this tension that raises the game of plot twists, turns, and enables a surprise ending. Hard Cold Winter, his newest, has just been released. Find both on Amazon.
Reviewed in Le Coeur de l'Artiste http://www.djadamson.com/le-coeur-de-...
Hamilton uses flashbacks to compare past motives—character and crime history—with present circumstances. This ability to offer backstory along with story is nicely peppered allowing the reader access, along with the protagonist, to what is morally right and wrong. The more the characters become known, the more this line becomes fuzzy.
The draw of Past Crimes comes from the tension of the family dynamic between grandson and grandfather, and it is this tension that raises the game of plot twists, turns, and enables a surprise ending. Hard Cold Winter, his newest, has just been released. Find both on Amazon.
Reviewed in Le Coeur de l'Artiste http://www.djadamson.com/le-coeur-de-...
September 26, 2020
Van Shaw was born to a young single mother who with Van moved in with Van's grandfather Dono Shaw. When Van's mother wouldn't give up the name of Van's father she left the home and Van was raised by his grandfather and started to take up his grandfathers life of crime. Until Van and grandfather had a serious falling out over a murder Van committed while trying to help a friend. Van join's the Army and for 10 years Van and his grandfather have on contact until Van gets a strange note saying "Come home ....If you can". Van returns to his childhood home seconds after his grandfather is shot and finds someone running from the house. Van is determined to find find out who shot his grandfather in the head and clear his name. But maybe Dono has been his old tricks again when some stolen diamonds come into play. The book goes back and forth between present day and Van as a teenager. Which is good because it gives you the background on how Van got to where he is today. 3.5 stars actually because the ending holds some surprises I was not expecting.
March 7, 2016
I enjoyed this mystery.thriller, which was a good blend of action and emotion. Van Shaw is a tough Army Ranger trying to figure out who killed his grandfather, a professional criminal. The book provides great insights into the life of a kid who admires yet fears his grandfather (for good reasons on both counts). The mystery has enough twists to keep the reader guessing, and no plot holes. Van is clever in figuring out clues and staying one step ahead of the cops. I guess what keeps it from being a 5 star read for me is that the victim is not very sympathetic, so it's hard to care who really killed him. Also, I kept feeling that the book was set in Boston, not Seattle, because the criminals were all Irish and there were several scenes set on the waterfront. I've never been to Seattle, but this book didn't give me a very strong sense of what the city is like.
November 19, 2016
Don't bother. A thriller that bordered on boring. Nothing original at all. That would be OK if the writing was worth it. It's not.
July 7, 2019
Very good entertaining read for a debut novel. I like this Van Shaw character, soldier and former thief. Shaw gets a message from his grandfather , come home if you can... Shaw and his grandfather haven't spoken in ten years but Van knows he is needed and returns home where he finds trouble waiting.
October 7, 2025
You know that feeling when you can’t click with a book, no matter how hard you try? That’s how I felt with this one.
The premise didn’t grab me, and I found myself struggling to connect with the story or characters. It’s not that it was bad, but it wasn’t my style.
Sometimes, a book and a reader are like chalk and cheese! 🤷🏾♀️
The premise didn’t grab me, and I found myself struggling to connect with the story or characters. It’s not that it was bad, but it wasn’t my style.
Sometimes, a book and a reader are like chalk and cheese! 🤷🏾♀️
March 22, 2021
I liked that it didn't seem to lean too hard on his Army background like a Jack Reacher type but I get the feeling the series could easily go there. This was like a Seattle based Lehane's Boston but mostly centered in a small crime circle but with no Generao or interesting narration. Not that you can expect greatness. This was decent without falling into too much generic plot points.
Want to read
December 1, 2019Synopsis: his grandfather is shot and left for dead, and Army Ranger Van Shaw must plunge into the criminal underworld to find a murderer.
May 7, 2020
One of the best thrillers I've had the pleasure to read recently. Tautly written, vivid sense of character and place.
January 15, 2021
Just what I was in the mood for. 😃 (And well-written to boot.)
Recommend: Reminiscent of Lee Child's Jack Reacher. If you like that series, then you should like Past Crimes.
Recommend: Reminiscent of Lee Child's Jack Reacher. If you like that series, then you should like Past Crimes.
June 20, 2025
Bland. Not bad, not great. I guess I didn't quite understand the premise. Hamilton's decision to jump back to Van's upbringing was the most interesting part. The rest just felt like walking through a mud pit. I feel like there were some missed opportunities with Addy and Ondine, two of the more dynamic and interesting characters. when you have a room full of goons they all blend together.
I will read more as they usually get more developed as the author progresses.
I will read more as they usually get more developed as the author progresses.
May 30, 2024
Bad writing. Amateurish. The Lee Child comparison is laughable.
February 25, 2015
Van Shaw, US Army Ranger veteran, steps off a plane in Seattle drawn back by a note from his estranged grandfather, Dono, 10 years after he suddenly left. He hasn’t heard from Dono or been home since then, undertaking tours in various war-torn theatres as the army trained and moulded Shaw into what he is today.
But when Shaw arrives at Dono’s house, the place he grew up, he finds his grandfather with a gunshot wound to the head, clinging onto life. As he tends to the old man Shaw is attacked by an assailant who is still in the house. Shaw fights back, the intruder escapes, but leaves behind one of the items he’d broken in to claim – a surveillance bug.
Dono is a career criminal and, before he left, Shaw used to help him. Shaw believes Dono carried out one last heist and that’s why the old man was shot. When Dono succumbs to his wounds Shaw decides that in order to find the killer he must do what he swore he never would – return to the underworld he left behind and to the friends he hasn’t seen since.
But Shaw ends up caught in the middle, between the criminals after the goods Dono took, the police who have Shaw down as prime suspect for Dono’s shooting, and the army from which he is on leave. As Shaw closes in on the contraband and Dono’s murderous past crimes rise to the surface and he realises the truth is closer to home than he’d like…
Glen Erik Hamilton’s debut novel has a cover blurb by Lee Child, no less. That’s an achievement in itself, but in Past Crimes the author has produced a taut crime thriller that is a step above the rest. It is compelling from the off and protagonist Shaw is an interesting and unusual mix of criminal tempered with a strong sense of law and order resulting from his time as a young career criminal followed by his an enlistment. He’s skilled in illegal activities such as burglary and remains willing to bend the rules, but won’t break them in the way he used to. Added to that, the army has trained to hurt and to kill. There are shades of Jack Reacher here, although thankfully not too much.
The supporting cast of characters is also strong, with appropriately colourful dialogue to boot. Seattle is an interesting backdrop, with sufficient shades of light and dark, law and order, to admirably support the narrative.
Interspersed throughout are flashbacks to Shaw’s youth, used to explain why he left town, the location of the stolen goods and, ultimately, Dono’s killer and the reasons why he was shot. These diversions aren’t short, they stretch into pages at a time – unfortunately they tend to conflict with the breakneck flow of the story. Some may find this exposition of great interest, to be fair it does flesh out the characters significantly, however you might wish the writer would just get on with it and tell the story.
Lee Child’s blurb says the author hit a home run – not quite, it bounced once, but nevertheless this is a worthy crime tale.
Originally reviewed for Crime Fiction Lover.
But when Shaw arrives at Dono’s house, the place he grew up, he finds his grandfather with a gunshot wound to the head, clinging onto life. As he tends to the old man Shaw is attacked by an assailant who is still in the house. Shaw fights back, the intruder escapes, but leaves behind one of the items he’d broken in to claim – a surveillance bug.
Dono is a career criminal and, before he left, Shaw used to help him. Shaw believes Dono carried out one last heist and that’s why the old man was shot. When Dono succumbs to his wounds Shaw decides that in order to find the killer he must do what he swore he never would – return to the underworld he left behind and to the friends he hasn’t seen since.
But Shaw ends up caught in the middle, between the criminals after the goods Dono took, the police who have Shaw down as prime suspect for Dono’s shooting, and the army from which he is on leave. As Shaw closes in on the contraband and Dono’s murderous past crimes rise to the surface and he realises the truth is closer to home than he’d like…
Glen Erik Hamilton’s debut novel has a cover blurb by Lee Child, no less. That’s an achievement in itself, but in Past Crimes the author has produced a taut crime thriller that is a step above the rest. It is compelling from the off and protagonist Shaw is an interesting and unusual mix of criminal tempered with a strong sense of law and order resulting from his time as a young career criminal followed by his an enlistment. He’s skilled in illegal activities such as burglary and remains willing to bend the rules, but won’t break them in the way he used to. Added to that, the army has trained to hurt and to kill. There are shades of Jack Reacher here, although thankfully not too much.
The supporting cast of characters is also strong, with appropriately colourful dialogue to boot. Seattle is an interesting backdrop, with sufficient shades of light and dark, law and order, to admirably support the narrative.
Interspersed throughout are flashbacks to Shaw’s youth, used to explain why he left town, the location of the stolen goods and, ultimately, Dono’s killer and the reasons why he was shot. These diversions aren’t short, they stretch into pages at a time – unfortunately they tend to conflict with the breakneck flow of the story. Some may find this exposition of great interest, to be fair it does flesh out the characters significantly, however you might wish the writer would just get on with it and tell the story.
Lee Child’s blurb says the author hit a home run – not quite, it bounced once, but nevertheless this is a worthy crime tale.
Originally reviewed for Crime Fiction Lover.
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