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FalconClaw: Pieces
Holed up in a mansion in Montreal, Philly Cop Bones Sullivan is still recovering from a grotesque leg injury after taking down a deranged killer. Not wanting to return to Philadelphia, Bones is visited by his late partner, Frank Collazo. His dead partner had a message for him… “A storm is coming.”
Back in Philly, Detective Robert Brooks has a chance meeting with a Ukrainian woman who fled the war with Russia after being separated from her sister and father. The unlikely pair were never meant to be together, however, and the end of their relationship would finally convince Bones to return home.
A Russian Oligarch wannabe, Anatoly Smirnov, obsessed with a building called The Beury and the celebrity of Bones Sullivan, will stop at nothing to have it all. And then there’s Anatoly’s brother, Leviticus, and his hero, Ivan Sokolov, both seeking Anatoly’s atonement and a final reunion on the River Moyka.
Back in Philly, Detective Robert Brooks has a chance meeting with a Ukrainian woman who fled the war with Russia after being separated from her sister and father. The unlikely pair were never meant to be together, however, and the end of their relationship would finally convince Bones to return home.
A Russian Oligarch wannabe, Anatoly Smirnov, obsessed with a building called The Beury and the celebrity of Bones Sullivan, will stop at nothing to have it all. And then there’s Anatoly’s brother, Leviticus, and his hero, Ivan Sokolov, both seeking Anatoly’s atonement and a final reunion on the River Moyka.
501 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 2, 2025
This book is a masterful blend of suspense, emotion, and richly layered storytelling. The author weaves together a compelling narrative that spans from the eerie streets of Philadelphia to the turbulent shadows of international conflict. With unforgettable characters like Bones Sullivan, grappling with both physical and emotional scars, and the enigmatic Anatoly Smirnov, the story is filled with tension and unexpected twists.
The vivid descriptions and intricate plotlines make it impossible to put down, while the emotional depth of the characters brings a powerful human element to the thriller. The author's ability to seamlessly intertwine personal struggles with a broader, sinister narrative is nothing short of remarkable. Each chapter pulls you deeper into a world of danger, resilience, and redemption.
Fans of crime dramas and psychological thrillers will find themselves captivated by this book. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a gripping read that lingers long after the final page.
The vivid descriptions and intricate plotlines make it impossible to put down, while the emotional depth of the characters brings a powerful human element to the thriller. The author's ability to seamlessly intertwine personal struggles with a broader, sinister narrative is nothing short of remarkable. Each chapter pulls you deeper into a world of danger, resilience, and redemption.
Fans of crime dramas and psychological thrillers will find themselves captivated by this book. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a gripping read that lingers long after the final page.
March 25, 2025
Another continuous page turner from Michael Cook! This one definitely kept me on my toes! As with all of Michael's books, he immerses you in every scene, making you feel as though you're right there, experiencing every single detail as you read! You will get to know the characters personally once again! This story is sure to captivate you, making you chuckle, seethe, and even shed a tear along the way! If you enjoy psychological and paranormal crime dramas—and even if you haven't read the first five in his series—this book is perfect for you. This will definitely spark your curiosity to explore his previous installments! Excellent reading and I am looking forward to the next one!
March 22, 2025
The author shared an advanced copy of this book with me. It's a gritty and intense tale of revenge and redemption. Moments of vulnerability and impending danger keep a steady pace, which continuously keeps you on your toes. With international intrigue, thrilling suspense, and sleuthy detective work of Philadelphia's finest, this book delivers for dark psychological drama lovers. Great continuation of the FalconClaw series!
April 29, 2025
FalconClaw: Pieces opens in Russia, with the voice of a child. Lev recounts his life, home, and family. The tragedy, history, and family dynamics introduced on those first pages run through FCP like the Neva Delta that courses around Lev’s Kamenny Island home. The final line of the prologue sets the tone for the rest of the book, with a healthy dose of foreboding.
We meet Detective Robert Brooks at the scene of a suspected suicide at a high-rise construction site with a gruesome history. As it quickly becomes apparent that the death is no suicide, Brooks is seized by an all-too-familiar dread. He also recognizes a challenge in the retouched graffiti spanning multiple floors of the building. Someone is calling Brooks’ fellow detective, Jon “Bones” Sullivan, back to Philadelphia.
Over six books, spanning 50 years, the FalconClaw series has evolved from cozy, to police procedural, to psychological thriller. The Philadelphia detectives in Cook’s novels have hunted killers while battling gender discrimination, antiquated procedures, and deeply personal ghosts of every variety. And when one detective falls, another steps up to carry on the fight.
As in life—or the gritty streets of Philadelphia—no one is safe. Our villain, an aspiring Russian Oligarch, demonstrates this early and often. However it is a challenging loss in the first third of the book that punctuates the lethal uncertainty of life our heroes face.
Which leads me to a disclaimer of sorts. Cook’s work has evolved along with his subject matter. Real-world events and people cycle through his books and so does real-world horror. This is the most violent book yet in the series and while there is no explicit sexual violence, the physical violence is graphic and sticks with you.
Ultimately, though, this is a story of rising beyond loss and living beyond trauma. Everyone in this story has lost someone or some part of themselves. And most rise above their pain and trauma with resilience and a commitment to carry on from those that have gone before.
Cook gives us no neat/clean solutions. Bad things happen. Good people stand up to face the bad and salvage some good from it. That is the best any story can represent.
We meet Detective Robert Brooks at the scene of a suspected suicide at a high-rise construction site with a gruesome history. As it quickly becomes apparent that the death is no suicide, Brooks is seized by an all-too-familiar dread. He also recognizes a challenge in the retouched graffiti spanning multiple floors of the building. Someone is calling Brooks’ fellow detective, Jon “Bones” Sullivan, back to Philadelphia.
Over six books, spanning 50 years, the FalconClaw series has evolved from cozy, to police procedural, to psychological thriller. The Philadelphia detectives in Cook’s novels have hunted killers while battling gender discrimination, antiquated procedures, and deeply personal ghosts of every variety. And when one detective falls, another steps up to carry on the fight.
As in life—or the gritty streets of Philadelphia—no one is safe. Our villain, an aspiring Russian Oligarch, demonstrates this early and often. However it is a challenging loss in the first third of the book that punctuates the lethal uncertainty of life our heroes face.
Which leads me to a disclaimer of sorts. Cook’s work has evolved along with his subject matter. Real-world events and people cycle through his books and so does real-world horror. This is the most violent book yet in the series and while there is no explicit sexual violence, the physical violence is graphic and sticks with you.
Ultimately, though, this is a story of rising beyond loss and living beyond trauma. Everyone in this story has lost someone or some part of themselves. And most rise above their pain and trauma with resilience and a commitment to carry on from those that have gone before.
Cook gives us no neat/clean solutions. Bad things happen. Good people stand up to face the bad and salvage some good from it. That is the best any story can represent.
May 17, 2025
Another excellent read from Michael Cook! This sixth installment to the FalconClaw series did not disappoint but rather illustrated the strength & masterful storytelling & writing skills of this author! The development of each character & the intertwining stories gets better with each novel introduced! In this novel not only are we reacquainted with characters Bones Sullivan Candace & many of the same detectives previously introduced in his earlier installments but the roles of each character become more involved and done so in such a masterful & compelling manner. Further, author Michael Cook demonstrates his talents to intertwine genres from psychological thriller to drama & now in "Pieces" we see a bit more of Romance! So get ready to chew off a few nails when reading this installment while simultaneously shedding a few tears to ultimately cheering on the Team of Philly Detectives while they try to stop the senseless & brutal killing of not only their fellow officers but also citizens of North Philly!
March 21, 2025
Pardon. My intentions are pure in leaving a review for my own book, as it gives me a chance to say hello to those considering reading my eighth overall novel and my sixth in the FalconClaw Detective Series. This story, FC-Pieces, is somewhat of a departure from the others in the series. While some of the characters are the same, the feel and vibe of this international mystery, still very much rooted in North Philly, feels more sophisticated than its predecessors. Taking nothing away from the others, I'm very proud of this edition, and I think you'll enjoy it, too.
Please note that while this is part of a series, it is still very much a stand-alone. All of my books in the FC series can be read in any order. Thank you in advance for giving my latest novel a try. Let me know how I did.
Regards, Michael Cook
Please note that while this is part of a series, it is still very much a stand-alone. All of my books in the FC series can be read in any order. Thank you in advance for giving my latest novel a try. Let me know how I did.
Regards, Michael Cook
March 30, 2025
I feel fortunate to have received an advance copy of Michael Cook's new thriller "Pieces", his sixth in the FalconClaw series. It was lovely to find a few familiar characters along with an assortment of unique new ones. A poverty-stricken area of North Philadelphia that is ripe for redevelopment has caught the eye of a well-established Russian business mogul. He is particularly fixated on the Beury Building, a 1926 fourteen story shell unused for four decades with the exception of graffiti artists. When a body is found at the base of the building, we are reunited with Philly detectives John Reigns and Robert Brooks. Though familiar with the gritty streets of the 39th District, this investigation will challenge them in ways they could never anticipate. I found this very entertaining book compelling, thoughtful, and a page turner to the end.
March 25, 2025
Michael Cook, author of the Falcon Claw Detective Series, has really upped his game with book 6, Pieces.
In it, Detective Bones Sullivan is pulled back into service and Philly to track down the murderer of his friend and coworker, Detective Robert Brooks.
Cook skillfully intertwines family dynamics, murder, suspense, romance, business and Russians, into a captivating narrative, challenging you, the viewer, to gather the pieces and walk side-by-side with the Philadelphia detectives.
Definitely a must-read.
Sandi
In it, Detective Bones Sullivan is pulled back into service and Philly to track down the murderer of his friend and coworker, Detective Robert Brooks.
Cook skillfully intertwines family dynamics, murder, suspense, romance, business and Russians, into a captivating narrative, challenging you, the viewer, to gather the pieces and walk side-by-side with the Philadelphia detectives.
Definitely a must-read.
Sandi
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews