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Johnny Careless
Unabridged 7 hrs 8 mins. “A fast-moving classic crime novel” (John Sandford) crafted by the veteran screenwriter and showrunner for the acclaimed police procedural series Blue Bloods, Johnny Careless is Kevin Wade’s razor-sharp debut novel.
Police Chief Jeep Mullane has been bounced back home to Long Island’s North Shore by a heartbreaking case that both earned him his NYPD detective’s shield and burned him out of the Job. Now heading up a small local police department, he finds himself navigating the same geography he did growing up there as the son of an NYPD cop. Jeep is a “have-not” among the glittering “haves,” a sharp-witted, down-to-earth man in a territory defined and ruled by multigenerational wealth and power and the daunting tribal codes and customs that come with it.
When the corpse of Jeep’s childhood friend Johnny Chambliss—born into privilege and known as “Johnny Careless” for his reckless, golden-boy antics—surfaces in the Bayville waters, past collides with present, and Jeep is pulled into a treacherous web. He is challenged by Johnny’s wealthy and secretive family and his beautiful, enigmatic ex-wife as he untangles a knotted mystery fraught with theft, corrupt local moguls, and decades-old secrets, all while grappling with his own deep-seated grief for his lost pal.
A fast-paced story, Johnny Careless “combines grit and wit in a way that conjures Donald Westlake or Robert Parker in full stride” (Carl Hiassen).
Police Chief Jeep Mullane has been bounced back home to Long Island’s North Shore by a heartbreaking case that both earned him his NYPD detective’s shield and burned him out of the Job. Now heading up a small local police department, he finds himself navigating the same geography he did growing up there as the son of an NYPD cop. Jeep is a “have-not” among the glittering “haves,” a sharp-witted, down-to-earth man in a territory defined and ruled by multigenerational wealth and power and the daunting tribal codes and customs that come with it.
When the corpse of Jeep’s childhood friend Johnny Chambliss—born into privilege and known as “Johnny Careless” for his reckless, golden-boy antics—surfaces in the Bayville waters, past collides with present, and Jeep is pulled into a treacherous web. He is challenged by Johnny’s wealthy and secretive family and his beautiful, enigmatic ex-wife as he untangles a knotted mystery fraught with theft, corrupt local moguls, and decades-old secrets, all while grappling with his own deep-seated grief for his lost pal.
A fast-paced story, Johnny Careless “combines grit and wit in a way that conjures Donald Westlake or Robert Parker in full stride” (Carl Hiassen).
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First published January 28, 2025
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March 26, 2025
I just wrapped up Kevin Wade's "Johnny Careless" and I've got mixed feelings about this one. As someone who devours crime procedurals, I was really excited to dive in, especially given Wade's screenwriting background. While there's definitely stuff to like here, I found myself wanting a bit more.
Let's start with what works. Our main guy, Police Chief Jeep Mullane, is exactly the kind of character I love in these stories - he's rough around the edges but totally relatable. After a rough case with the NYPD leaves him burned out, he heads back to Long Island's North Shore looking for peace and quiet. But you know how these things go - his old friend Johnny Chambliss (total player, by the way) turns up dead, and suddenly Jeep's dealing with all sorts of drama involving the town's rich and powerful.
Wade really nails the setting - you can practically smell the salt air and feel the tension between the mega-wealthy summer people and the year-round locals. And I've got to say, the dialogue crackles. There were times I could totally picture this as a TV show, which makes sense given Wade's background.
But here's where things get sticky. The book takes its sweet time getting going, which I normally don't mind, but then it kind of meanders through the middle with way too many characters to keep track of. Just when I thought we were getting somewhere with the mystery, we'd veer off into another subplot that didn't really go anywhere. And don't get me started on the ending - it felt like Wade suddenly realized he needed to wrap things up and hit fast-forward.
The real heart of the book is when we're in Jeep's head, dealing with his complicated feelings about coming home and losing his friend. Those moments felt really genuine and kept me reading. But I wish we'd gotten the same depth from the other characters - Johnny's rich family and his ex-wife felt more like sketches than real people.
Look, it's not a bad book by any means. If you're into crime fiction and like your mysteries with a side of small-town secrets, you might want to give it a shot. Wade's got potential, and I'd probably pick up the next book if this turns into a series, hoping he tightens up the pacing and fleshes out the supporting cast a bit more.
Three stars from me. It's a decent enough read, just don't go in expecting the next great crime novel.
Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Let's start with what works. Our main guy, Police Chief Jeep Mullane, is exactly the kind of character I love in these stories - he's rough around the edges but totally relatable. After a rough case with the NYPD leaves him burned out, he heads back to Long Island's North Shore looking for peace and quiet. But you know how these things go - his old friend Johnny Chambliss (total player, by the way) turns up dead, and suddenly Jeep's dealing with all sorts of drama involving the town's rich and powerful.
Wade really nails the setting - you can practically smell the salt air and feel the tension between the mega-wealthy summer people and the year-round locals. And I've got to say, the dialogue crackles. There were times I could totally picture this as a TV show, which makes sense given Wade's background.
But here's where things get sticky. The book takes its sweet time getting going, which I normally don't mind, but then it kind of meanders through the middle with way too many characters to keep track of. Just when I thought we were getting somewhere with the mystery, we'd veer off into another subplot that didn't really go anywhere. And don't get me started on the ending - it felt like Wade suddenly realized he needed to wrap things up and hit fast-forward.
The real heart of the book is when we're in Jeep's head, dealing with his complicated feelings about coming home and losing his friend. Those moments felt really genuine and kept me reading. But I wish we'd gotten the same depth from the other characters - Johnny's rich family and his ex-wife felt more like sketches than real people.
Look, it's not a bad book by any means. If you're into crime fiction and like your mysteries with a side of small-town secrets, you might want to give it a shot. Wade's got potential, and I'd probably pick up the next book if this turns into a series, hoping he tightens up the pacing and fleshes out the supporting cast a bit more.
Three stars from me. It's a decent enough read, just don't go in expecting the next great crime novel.
Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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December 8, 2024
I received a free copy of, Johnny Careless, by Kevin Wade, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Jeep Mullane is a police in New York. Johnny Chambliss aka Johnny Careless, body was found in the water, he was a childhood friend of Jeep. This book was a good read.
September 7, 2024
Celadon Books were generous enough to send me an advance readers copy of this book. Seeing the authors it was approved by gave me hope that this was going to be a good read. John Sandford and Carl Hiaasen are two masters of the cop/crime genre. This book and the author, Kevin Wade, have moved right to the top of the list. Wade supposedly wrote this because he was bored during the Covid crisis, and I hope he continues this series and it's not a one trick pony. The characters are interesting, the dialogue is amusing and down to earth, and the plot was not overly complicated. I recommend this offering to all fans of crime fiction and can only hope there is a sequel or two in the future.
September 18, 2024
I was fortunate to receive an Advanced Readers Copy of JOHNNY CARELESS by Kevin Wade. This is Mr. Wade’s debut novel, but he’s a television producer, writer, and screenwriter. I have to say, I enjoyed the book thoroughly. I love thrillers and I can now add Kevin Wade to m list of authors I want to read more from. A former NYPD detective is now a Police Chief on Long Island’s North Shore who investigates the death of his childhood friend. Great storyline and solid, sympathetic characters make for a great read!
September 22, 2024
This is an exceptional police thriller. Chief Jeep Mullane is a NYPD cop's son who grows up around the wealthy of Long Island befriending a young man who is known as Johnny Careless. The book actually starts our with Chief Mullane vmbeing called to an unattended drowning death and he recognizes a tattoo on the body as belonging to his childhood friend, Johnny. He is deeply saddened and from the get go doesn't believe that it is a drowning. Through flashbacks and continued investigation, A brilliant story is told of the relationship between the cop and the carefree rich guy. The author delves into various difficulties each of the men faced over time and he expertly weaves the past and the present into a thrilling detective novel. With grit and determination Jeep finds out the truth about his friend's death and finds his own self worth in the end. #JohnnyCareless and #CeladonReads
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2024
Thanks to Caledon books I received an advanced readers copy of this book. This is the author's first foray into books as he is usually a screenwriter. Jeep the main character is likeable and moralistic. One wonders why he is friends with Johnny Careless and is always cleaning up his messes. The story is told with the help of flashbacks which gives you more insight into the characters. The case and the town struggles with and are sharply divided by class. This book really held my interest as it was great at building anticipation. The ending surprised me. I wish this was a series of books because, I feel like the people had more secrets and stories to tell.
October 16, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. Laughed out loud several times, and looked forward to picking it back up every day. I have an ARC copy... very much appreciate that. I hope the editor is able to correct a small error on page 99 where internment is mistakingly used for interment; my only negative.
#JohnnyCareless #CeladonReads
#JohnnyCareless #CeladonReads
June 15, 2025
3.5
Jeep and Johnny have been friends since childhood.
Jeep comes from a working class Cop family
Johnny from money.
present day:
Jeep is a Cop.
Johnny is Dead.
certainly a character driven crime procedural mystery.
there's not a ton of action but character interaction is worth sticking around for
Jeep and Johnny have been friends since childhood.
Jeep comes from a working class Cop family
Johnny from money.
present day:
Jeep is a Cop.
Johnny is Dead.
certainly a character driven crime procedural mystery.
there's not a ton of action but character interaction is worth sticking around for
October 11, 2025
Very Promising Debut Mystery Novel From An Acclaimed Writer Of Blue Bloods!
In Johnny Careless, first-time novelist Kevin Wade demonstrates very strong writing skills in terms of creating credible multi-dimensional characters, richly described geographic locales, a realistic sense of time and place, ramping up conflict between different social strata, and the personal ties between grief and loyalty.
What keeps Johnny Careless from getting a five star rating pertains to its plot development. Without getting into specific plot details, Johnny Careless is a mystery that starts early in exposing the crime, then shifts repeatedly between present investigation and flashbacks. But what primarily drives this story - moreso than its plot elements - is the interactions between the large cast of well-developed characters, and especially its very compelling main character, small-town Long Island, NY police chief, Jeep Mullane.
It’s this disproportionate emphasis on character vs plot development that keeps me from considering this book to be worthy of a five-star rating and a very high recommendation. That is, for me, its 240 page length makes it feel a bit tight for all the ideas and character threads Wade introduces in Johnny Careless. This is one of those rare instances where I feel more room would have been helpful to allow for the plot to be explored more deeply.
All in all, despite my feelings about what would have made Johnny Careless even more entertaining, I think it is a debut mystery that you’ll find worthy of your attention.
# Johnny Careless #NetGalley
In Johnny Careless, first-time novelist Kevin Wade demonstrates very strong writing skills in terms of creating credible multi-dimensional characters, richly described geographic locales, a realistic sense of time and place, ramping up conflict between different social strata, and the personal ties between grief and loyalty.
What keeps Johnny Careless from getting a five star rating pertains to its plot development. Without getting into specific plot details, Johnny Careless is a mystery that starts early in exposing the crime, then shifts repeatedly between present investigation and flashbacks. But what primarily drives this story - moreso than its plot elements - is the interactions between the large cast of well-developed characters, and especially its very compelling main character, small-town Long Island, NY police chief, Jeep Mullane.
It’s this disproportionate emphasis on character vs plot development that keeps me from considering this book to be worthy of a five-star rating and a very high recommendation. That is, for me, its 240 page length makes it feel a bit tight for all the ideas and character threads Wade introduces in Johnny Careless. This is one of those rare instances where I feel more room would have been helpful to allow for the plot to be explored more deeply.
All in all, despite my feelings about what would have made Johnny Careless even more entertaining, I think it is a debut mystery that you’ll find worthy of your attention.
# Johnny Careless #NetGalley
September 23, 2024
Many thanks to Celadon Books for providing me with a free ARC of this book!
Johnny Careless is a crime novel in the classic tradition. Police Chief Jeep Mullane heads the local police department in the North Shore Long Island town he grew up in, a middle class kid in an upper class area. When his childhood friend, Johnny Chambliss–nicknamed Johnny Careless–turns up dead, Jeep can't help but do some digging … even though some would prefer Johnny's past stay buried.
I really liked this book. Jeep is a fine protagonist, and the portrait of Johnny that comes together as the story progresses is a fascinating one. We get flashbacks of the pair's shared past that help to shed light on the present. Kevin Wade does a fine job of letting the details flow at just the right pace to keep the interest up. The characters and settings feel authentic and plausible. I enjoyed my time spent living with this book.
Since so many books seem to develop into series, it's fair to ask whether there will be more Jeep Mullane books or not. Obviously, not every book is going to involve the murder of someone from Jeep's past. That's just not sustainable at series length. But as long as Wade can keep things fresh and interesting, I'm up for more.
Johnny Careless is a must-read for fans of classic crime fiction. Highly recommended!
#JohnnyCareless
#CeladonReads
@CeladonBooks
Johnny Careless is a crime novel in the classic tradition. Police Chief Jeep Mullane heads the local police department in the North Shore Long Island town he grew up in, a middle class kid in an upper class area. When his childhood friend, Johnny Chambliss–nicknamed Johnny Careless–turns up dead, Jeep can't help but do some digging … even though some would prefer Johnny's past stay buried.
I really liked this book. Jeep is a fine protagonist, and the portrait of Johnny that comes together as the story progresses is a fascinating one. We get flashbacks of the pair's shared past that help to shed light on the present. Kevin Wade does a fine job of letting the details flow at just the right pace to keep the interest up. The characters and settings feel authentic and plausible. I enjoyed my time spent living with this book.
Since so many books seem to develop into series, it's fair to ask whether there will be more Jeep Mullane books or not. Obviously, not every book is going to involve the murder of someone from Jeep's past. That's just not sustainable at series length. But as long as Wade can keep things fresh and interesting, I'm up for more.
Johnny Careless is a must-read for fans of classic crime fiction. Highly recommended!
#JohnnyCareless
#CeladonReads
@CeladonBooks
November 23, 2024
This book came to me and when I saw the cover and that it was a craft
of Kevin Wade, I was all in for a great book!
From start to finish it’s clear that every instinct in place was good before bad~
Through to the end. The journey would be long, and complicated, and exactly
as I expected without specifics. It turns out that television writers make for
great Authors, making me happy as a non~screen person.
As someone with law enforcement experience on both coasts, I enjoyed the
processes and the scrambling and the good natured struggles between
Agencies ~ there is truth in every chapter.
The humanity shines through the story of the uber wealthy, the uber entitled
and the good hearted with what to me seemed like a case of things all washing
out in a real sense of justice and humanity’s karma.
I highly recommend this book. I needed a Kleenex a couple of times, but this
is a high mark of a story being very well crafted in a relatively compact book.
My thanks to Celadon Books via NetGalley for the download copy of this
book for review purposes. Release date is 28 January 2025.
of Kevin Wade, I was all in for a great book!
From start to finish it’s clear that every instinct in place was good before bad~
Through to the end. The journey would be long, and complicated, and exactly
as I expected without specifics. It turns out that television writers make for
great Authors, making me happy as a non~screen person.
As someone with law enforcement experience on both coasts, I enjoyed the
processes and the scrambling and the good natured struggles between
Agencies ~ there is truth in every chapter.
The humanity shines through the story of the uber wealthy, the uber entitled
and the good hearted with what to me seemed like a case of things all washing
out in a real sense of justice and humanity’s karma.
I highly recommend this book. I needed a Kleenex a couple of times, but this
is a high mark of a story being very well crafted in a relatively compact book.
My thanks to Celadon Books via NetGalley for the download copy of this
book for review purposes. Release date is 28 January 2025.
December 18, 2024
Kevin Wade is the showrunner and screenwriter for Blue Bloods, so he has lots of experience creating crime dramas and with the inner workings of the police – both the good, the bad and the ugly. The good is the character of Jeep Mullane, an ex-NYC cop now the chief of police in the small Long Island town where he grew up. The bad was the death of his best friend while growing up and the son of a very wealthy and prominent family. The ugly was how Jeep had to deal with the rich and influential and also deal with the normal conflicts between different small town police jurisdictions and put up with typical political fallout. Johnny Careless is a classic crime novel and police procedural with a razor-sharp and very likeable police chief who you will want to see more of. Thanks to Netgalley for an adv. listening copy.
November 30, 2024
3.5 stars. Loved the strong sense of place. There are A LOT of characters. A bit hard to keep up with them all.
February 25, 2025
JOHNNY CARELESS by Kevin Wade
Publication: January 28, 2025 by Celadon Books
Page Count: 240
Audio Version: Macmillan Audio
Narrator: John Pirhalla
Duration: 7 hours, 8 minutes
Highly cohesive and impactful debut police procedural novel from veteran playwright, and screenwriter Kevin Wade. Featured is the main protagonist police chief “Jeep” Mullane ( born: Gerald Paul ), who has given up his detective shield from NYPD after burning out from multiple heart breaking cases. He has returned to the same area of Long Island’s North Shore where he grew up and will face memories and secrets from the past. He can never forget the responsibilities of being the son of a decorated NYPD cop. The mystery begins immediately as the faceless body of a corpse is washed a shore on the beach of Bayville , New York. Early on the scene, Jeep arrives and recognizes a tattoo on the ankle of the corpse. He quickly realizes that the corpse belongs to his high school friend, John Chambliss . His lacrosse buddy was the scion of a powerful, and wealthy family. The privileged friend from his past was actually known as “Johnny Careless” due to his reckless and feckless antics that marked his youth. Initially the authorities assumed this was an accidental death, which Jeep actually did not agree. Due to unexplained marks on his back, he suspected a homicide.
Wade expertly weaves multiple timelines to develop his multidimensional characters that justifies their motivational actions. The flashbacks progress to the present, while yielding valuable background information. The tightly plotted procedural progressives escalates tension and mystery as the themes of political conflict and social class issues are explored. The complexities and like ability of Jeep’s character begs for a continuation of this series. Brought into the mix will be a haunting relationship with Johnny’s ex wife, as well as a high end car theft ring.
I personally alternated from my kindle to the Audio narration provided by John Pirhalla. He expertly provides individual and realistic voices to the various characters. His tone and timber brings the narrative to life in the theatre of my mind.
Thanks to NetGalley ,Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and Advance Audio version in exchange for an honest review.
Publication: January 28, 2025 by Celadon Books
Page Count: 240
Audio Version: Macmillan Audio
Narrator: John Pirhalla
Duration: 7 hours, 8 minutes
Highly cohesive and impactful debut police procedural novel from veteran playwright, and screenwriter Kevin Wade. Featured is the main protagonist police chief “Jeep” Mullane ( born: Gerald Paul ), who has given up his detective shield from NYPD after burning out from multiple heart breaking cases. He has returned to the same area of Long Island’s North Shore where he grew up and will face memories and secrets from the past. He can never forget the responsibilities of being the son of a decorated NYPD cop. The mystery begins immediately as the faceless body of a corpse is washed a shore on the beach of Bayville , New York. Early on the scene, Jeep arrives and recognizes a tattoo on the ankle of the corpse. He quickly realizes that the corpse belongs to his high school friend, John Chambliss . His lacrosse buddy was the scion of a powerful, and wealthy family. The privileged friend from his past was actually known as “Johnny Careless” due to his reckless and feckless antics that marked his youth. Initially the authorities assumed this was an accidental death, which Jeep actually did not agree. Due to unexplained marks on his back, he suspected a homicide.
Wade expertly weaves multiple timelines to develop his multidimensional characters that justifies their motivational actions. The flashbacks progress to the present, while yielding valuable background information. The tightly plotted procedural progressives escalates tension and mystery as the themes of political conflict and social class issues are explored. The complexities and like ability of Jeep’s character begs for a continuation of this series. Brought into the mix will be a haunting relationship with Johnny’s ex wife, as well as a high end car theft ring.
I personally alternated from my kindle to the Audio narration provided by John Pirhalla. He expertly provides individual and realistic voices to the various characters. His tone and timber brings the narrative to life in the theatre of my mind.
Thanks to NetGalley ,Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and Advance Audio version in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2025
4.5 rounded up for this story about the son of a police officer who ends up back in his home town as Sheriff. This isn’t Anyplace, USA but the North Shore of Long Island, NY Nassau County, still close enough to commute into the city but a world away from the cramped high rises. “Jeep” is the Sheriff who grew up palling around with the preppy set, including his best friend, John. They played Lacrosse together and Jeep covered for John when it counted. Years later, John is found dead on the beach. The case is taken out of Jeep’s hands, but he still needs to get to the bottom of what happened and why.
The story alternates between the past (narrated by Jeep) and the present (3rd person narration). Jeep is from a working-class policing family whereas John is a trust fund baby. The fast-moving story tests loyalties, digs up secrets, and emphasizes the importance of connections. Since there are some loose ends (not to the mystery itself, fortunately), I can see this becoming a series. If so, I look forward to reading more.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #JohnnyCareless for review purposes. Publication date: Jan. 28, 2025.
The story alternates between the past (narrated by Jeep) and the present (3rd person narration). Jeep is from a working-class policing family whereas John is a trust fund baby. The fast-moving story tests loyalties, digs up secrets, and emphasizes the importance of connections. Since there are some loose ends (not to the mystery itself, fortunately), I can see this becoming a series. If so, I look forward to reading more.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #JohnnyCareless for review purposes. Publication date: Jan. 28, 2025.
June 8, 2025
This was a fast-paced read that I got through in one setting, and I thought it was a good read. The narration was well done on audio.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to review.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to review.
February 27, 2025
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
It's Gatsby country, about 100 years later, and the more things change, the more they stay the same. Daisy would be perfectly at home there.
A townie police chief, who actually seems to spend most of his time NOT enforcing the law, has some problems. There's a stolen car ring of Chilenos who are boosting high end cars all over town. Then his school friend is found dead.
There's a lot of political pressure, but to be honest, if the law was enforced, none of these things would be problems in the first place. I'm not sure that's the lesson we're supposed to learn here.
It's Gatsby country, about 100 years later, and the more things change, the more they stay the same. Daisy would be perfectly at home there.
A townie police chief, who actually seems to spend most of his time NOT enforcing the law, has some problems. There's a stolen car ring of Chilenos who are boosting high end cars all over town. Then his school friend is found dead.
There's a lot of political pressure, but to be honest, if the law was enforced, none of these things would be problems in the first place. I'm not sure that's the lesson we're supposed to learn here.
June 25, 2025
I loved the characters. Looking forward to the next!
December 2, 2024
What an unexpected treat. I was put off by the somewhat pedestrian title but didn’t let that stop me. The story centered on a small town modern day sheriff similar to so many others, but his role in the community, halfway between the locals and the entitled gentry due to his athletic abilities, , gave him a special position. He was able to deal with both strata when carrying on an investigation. Although he was good friends with the Golden Boy found dead, he admitted to never feeling comfortable in that role. It made the story much less predictable.
The format of the story was a great way to move the plot along. Alternating present day chapters investigating the death of Johnny with chapters that flashback to the dynamics of the sheriff and his friend kept things off balance. Those historical chapters are told chronologically so gradually the relations of the different characters are revealed.
The writing of this story was a real bonus. There were actually word pictures and observations I underlined, and I never do that with a run-of-the-mill mystery story. Only when reading “About the Author” at the end did I learn Kevin Wade was the showrunner for the hit television series Blue Bloods, who began writing this story out of boredom during the writers’ strike. Well, now that Blue Bloods has ended, I hope he will continue as a novelist!
The format of the story was a great way to move the plot along. Alternating present day chapters investigating the death of Johnny with chapters that flashback to the dynamics of the sheriff and his friend kept things off balance. Those historical chapters are told chronologically so gradually the relations of the different characters are revealed.
The writing of this story was a real bonus. There were actually word pictures and observations I underlined, and I never do that with a run-of-the-mill mystery story. Only when reading “About the Author” at the end did I learn Kevin Wade was the showrunner for the hit television series Blue Bloods, who began writing this story out of boredom during the writers’ strike. Well, now that Blue Bloods has ended, I hope he will continue as a novelist!
August 25, 2024
I am a huge fan of procedural crime fiction: Jeffery Deaver, Ian Rankin, Lars Kepler, etc., so I was excited to get the chance to review this ARC copy of a new crime fiction novel. Kevin Wade is a screenwriter for film and TV, most notably for the show Blue Bloods, which had my hopes up for this novel.
Overall, the story was good and I was entertained but I really felt like I was reading a screenplay and not a fully fleshed out novel. The book clocks in at under 250 pages and many of the elements of a fully rendered story were missing or felt very rushed for me. Actually, I felt like I was being dropped into season 3, episode 5 of a TV show where yes, one can figure out what is going on but constantly feels like they don't know the characters or greater purpose. Wade does give us backstory but the constant back and forth time jumps start to get a little bit whiplashy. I just felt that some of that fleshed out character story and background was lacking but also very rushed in a way. I found that there were times that the plot would just jump in a way that works for TV but is confusing in a book. Also, Wade really likes to use similes in his writing; too many similes! I was intrigued by the murder and was interested in some of the characters, though I did find the solution to the case to be a little lackluster.
All that said, I did find enjoyment through the reading process and would recommend that crime fiction fans give it a try.
Overall, the story was good and I was entertained but I really felt like I was reading a screenplay and not a fully fleshed out novel. The book clocks in at under 250 pages and many of the elements of a fully rendered story were missing or felt very rushed for me. Actually, I felt like I was being dropped into season 3, episode 5 of a TV show where yes, one can figure out what is going on but constantly feels like they don't know the characters or greater purpose. Wade does give us backstory but the constant back and forth time jumps start to get a little bit whiplashy. I just felt that some of that fleshed out character story and background was lacking but also very rushed in a way. I found that there were times that the plot would just jump in a way that works for TV but is confusing in a book. Also, Wade really likes to use similes in his writing; too many similes! I was intrigued by the murder and was interested in some of the characters, though I did find the solution to the case to be a little lackluster.
All that said, I did find enjoyment through the reading process and would recommend that crime fiction fans give it a try.
February 25, 2025
Police Chief Jeep Mullane is a very likable guy. He is smart, sticks to the point at hand, and knows how to utilize law enforcement personnel to get the job done. Sadly, his best friend, Johnny, has been found dead, his death ruled an accident by the ME. Jeep isn't satisfied and wants to know more about Johnny's last day. The story is told entirely from Jeep's point of view, taking place in both the present and the past, allowing us to learn more about not only who Jeep is, but also about Johnny as well. This is said to be a fast-moving classic crime novel, but the middle of the book stalled a bit for me. At times I got confused with Jeep's multiple investigations. Since he is the police chief his case load was realistic so I kept with the story and eventually all the pieces started coming together and then I couldn't read fast enough. This is a short book and a fairly easy read. I'm giving this book 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4.
Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the DRC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the DRC in exchange for my honest review.
May 9, 2025
"Being careless wasn’t a crime around there, just a tribal custom."
If Blue Bloods is your kind of show then you'll probably like this book, as for me I was totally underwhelmed by it. The novel is billed as a classic crime novel but as crime novels go this one was just meh for me. The main character Police Chief Jeep Mullane is likeable enough as he investigates the death of his friend Johnny Chambliss, the plot starts out interesting but the story starts to drag, and at least for me becomes improbable. The end feels forced and rushed and too "made for TV" for my taste. I like my crime novels with a lot more grit.
If Blue Bloods is your kind of show then you'll probably like this book, as for me I was totally underwhelmed by it. The novel is billed as a classic crime novel but as crime novels go this one was just meh for me. The main character Police Chief Jeep Mullane is likeable enough as he investigates the death of his friend Johnny Chambliss, the plot starts out interesting but the story starts to drag, and at least for me becomes improbable. The end feels forced and rushed and too "made for TV" for my taste. I like my crime novels with a lot more grit.
October 19, 2024
I received this book from the publisher as an ARC. I'll start with the two critiques I have: the story itself was a little wordy. It felt like some of the sentences just went on too long. Second, there were a lot of characters. Sometimes it was just hard to follow. The story itself was entertaining. I finished the novel in one day so it was a quick and easy read. This played out as a murder mystery with a twist. I love a good police procedural story. I believe this novel is the debut for this author. Kudos to them for creating this enthralling debut novel. I look forward to reading more of Kevin Wade's work in the future.
January 2, 2025
Kevin Wade, screenwriter for the police procedural television show, Blue Bloods, debuets his first novel, Johnny Careless. When former NYPD detective Jeep Mullane returns home to become police chief of a small police department in Long Island, he never thought he would be investigating the death of his childhood friend, Johnny Chambliss.
Known locally as Johnny Careless, because of his wild antics growing up, Jeep must navigate the wealthy confines of Long Island, Johnny’s beautiful ex-wife, corrupt citizens, and a slew of car thefts occuring in his town. Although, I would have liked more character background of Jeep’s life as a NYPD detective, the chapters containing Jeep and Johnny’s life growing up made up for it and allowed for a captivating read.
With Kevin Wade’s fast-paced plot, interesting characters, and Jeep’s heartbreaking grief, he shows how to use his screenwriting background to write a beautiful novel that gives the same feeling as though you are watching the critically acclaimed Blue Bloods.
Thank you Netgally for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook for my honest review. 4.75⭐️
Known locally as Johnny Careless, because of his wild antics growing up, Jeep must navigate the wealthy confines of Long Island, Johnny’s beautiful ex-wife, corrupt citizens, and a slew of car thefts occuring in his town. Although, I would have liked more character background of Jeep’s life as a NYPD detective, the chapters containing Jeep and Johnny’s life growing up made up for it and allowed for a captivating read.
With Kevin Wade’s fast-paced plot, interesting characters, and Jeep’s heartbreaking grief, he shows how to use his screenwriting background to write a beautiful novel that gives the same feeling as though you are watching the critically acclaimed Blue Bloods.
Thank you Netgally for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook for my honest review. 4.75⭐️
February 7, 2025
This is a Jeep Malone crime mystery.
Concisely written.
Excellent dialogue.
Entertaining!
Concisely written.
Excellent dialogue.
Entertaining!
February 17, 2025
Johnny Careless was an enjoyable read exploring the story of Police Chief Jeep Mullane, that is investigating the suspicious death of this life long friend, Johnny. Johnny has a reputation of being unreliable and a bit careless, hence the title of the book. During his investigation, secrets are revealed, underlying threats exist and finally the truth is revealed. An overall worthwhile read. The narration was amazing for the audiobook.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the advanced reader copy ..all opinions are my own.
I very much appreciated this gritty noir thriller from a veteran screen and TV writer Kevin Wade. Written during the writers/actors strikes of 2023, it focuses on Gerald "Jeep" Mullane, a NYC cop turned police chief on Long Island's North Shore as he tries to solve the death of his childhood best friend Johnny "Careless" Chambliss...accident? murder? Or both? The past is never far away, every other chapter runs through Jeep's history with Johnny and Niven..two rich kids he ran with in his youth. Reads like a hard-boiled detective novel, very well-written..hoping for a sequel. Would recommend.
I very much appreciated this gritty noir thriller from a veteran screen and TV writer Kevin Wade. Written during the writers/actors strikes of 2023, it focuses on Gerald "Jeep" Mullane, a NYC cop turned police chief on Long Island's North Shore as he tries to solve the death of his childhood best friend Johnny "Careless" Chambliss...accident? murder? Or both? The past is never far away, every other chapter runs through Jeep's history with Johnny and Niven..two rich kids he ran with in his youth. Reads like a hard-boiled detective novel, very well-written..hoping for a sequel. Would recommend.
March 12, 2025
What a pleasure to immerse myself in this well-conceived and executed small town police procedural revolving around Jeep Mullane, our narrator, Police of Chief for a combined 4 small but monied Long Island communities. He is called to a beach crime scene and identifies his best friend’s body, Johnny "Careless" Chambliss—one of the trust fund and Wasp favorite sons. It looks like an accident to some but Jeep sees room for doubt. At the same time, he is investigating a rash of expensive car thefts. Jeep has an authentic flawed voice of conflict and decency and this lends even more credibility to Wade’s crafty plotting and use of police procedural detail. The other CHs—his policemen, his mayoral and Nassau PD adversaries, Johnny’s parents, and ex-wife, Niven, all appear through Jeep’s descriptions, reactions, and in excellent dialogue. That is not a surprise given Wade’s experience as a scriptwriter and show runner for the TV crime show, Blue Bloods. However, even though the Pace and some of the scenes play out cinematically, Wade’s care with CH and intricate Story Arcs and Plotting make this a richer read. The reader is also given flashbacks from 21-years ago to more current times giving important background to Jeep and Johnny’s relationship and Jeep’s NYPD background. There is a satisfactory ending, some sizzling ST (Sexual Tension), and wry humor, amidst the rising plot tensions. So worth your time to experience this story on your own. A growing Tone of jeopardy is heavily supported by Jeep’s descriptions of the tension between the tranquility of the ocean-side setting and his view of the people, places, décor, and social gatherings at a wake, a funeral, his trailer-office, his meetings with the mayor, and dive or tony bars. The author also expresses loss, grief, yearning and regret as Tone and Jeep’s emotion shifts and the action and conflicts pick up. Themes also examine a layered social and economic stratosphere in these closely-knit LI towns, political and policing realities, and morality and justice. If this turns into a series, I would not mind that at all. RED FLAGS: Violence; Graphic Dead Body description; Drug Use; Alcoholism; Paternity; Classism; Entitlement. Readalikes may be Randall Silvis’s Ryan DeMarco series, Hannah Morrissey, Archor Mayer, and Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone series.
December 16, 2024
I like that Celadon has started publishing some crime fiction like this book - Johnny Careless by Kevin Wade.
"Jeep is the Police Chief on Long Island's North Shore. A body washes up on the beach thst turns out to be one of his childhood friends. Jeep thinks there more to the case than the detective believes. Jeep has to navigate the problems of the ultra-wealthy families and secrets to find the truth."
Jeep is a great character. He is flawed and has baggage, but is unwilling to accept the story the detective spins about Johnny. He is a "have-not" versus most of the people involved who are the wealthy of NYC. There are interesting past relationships, including Johnny's ex-wife. There are secrets - always secrets. The final answer is a surprise. You probably won't guess the direction that Wade goes. I like the way that Jeep gets there and I like the ending.
Fast paced, good story from Wade.
"Jeep is the Police Chief on Long Island's North Shore. A body washes up on the beach thst turns out to be one of his childhood friends. Jeep thinks there more to the case than the detective believes. Jeep has to navigate the problems of the ultra-wealthy families and secrets to find the truth."
Jeep is a great character. He is flawed and has baggage, but is unwilling to accept the story the detective spins about Johnny. He is a "have-not" versus most of the people involved who are the wealthy of NYC. There are interesting past relationships, including Johnny's ex-wife. There are secrets - always secrets. The final answer is a surprise. You probably won't guess the direction that Wade goes. I like the way that Jeep gets there and I like the ending.
Fast paced, good story from Wade.
February 14, 2025
3.5 star rating.
Bookish Thoughts: I thought this debut police procedural story with short chapters was just ok. I had high expectations since the author Kevin Wade is a television writer and producer of the crime show Blue Bloods. I can’t pinpoint what the story was lacking. Johnny Careless had a diverse cast of characters, some unlikeable and one police chief who initially lacked integrity but was able to redeem himself by doing the right thing in the end, which I appreciated.
I received an advanced electronic copy from publisher Celadon books and Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book.
Bookish Thoughts: I thought this debut police procedural story with short chapters was just ok. I had high expectations since the author Kevin Wade is a television writer and producer of the crime show Blue Bloods. I can’t pinpoint what the story was lacking. Johnny Careless had a diverse cast of characters, some unlikeable and one police chief who initially lacked integrity but was able to redeem himself by doing the right thing in the end, which I appreciated.
I received an advanced electronic copy from publisher Celadon books and Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book.
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