Caught in a Web

by Joseph Lewis

The bodies of high school and middle school kids are found dead from an overdose of heroin and fentanyl. The drug trade along the I-94 and I-43 corridors and the Milwaukee Metro area is controlled by MS-13, a violent gang originating from El Salvador. Ricardo Fuentes is sent from Chicago to Waukesha to find out who is cutting in on their business, shut it down, and teach them a lesson. But he has an ulterior find and kill a 15-year-old boy, George Tokay, who had killed his cousin the previous summer.

Detectives Jamie Graff, Pat O’Connor, and Paul Eiselmann race to find the source of the drugs, shut down the ring, and find Fuentes before he kills anyone else, especially George or members of his family. The three detectives discover the ring has its roots in a high school among the students and staff.

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Novels, Fiction, Contemporary, Adult, Drama

Audible Audio

First published April 26, 2018

About the author

I am a reviewer and published author in the thriller-crime-mystery genre. I've won approximately 20 awards. You can find my work on my website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.com

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really unique story! It was so ambitious and involved that I felt it could have been broken into 3 separate novels. There was a lot of back story to the characters and it was a bit difficult to keep them straight. The crime/drug portion of the story was confusing and the detectives and police officers were harder to relate with. The family dynamics were interesting and definitely held my attention. There is a lot of violence and discussion of prior sexual assaults so I'd add a trigger warning for sensitive readers. That was a crucial piece to the overall plot so it was necessary to explain the histories.

Thanks to Net Galley and publishers for an advanced reader's copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

MS-13, heroin, Fentanyl, revenge, death .... one would think this story was ripped out of today's headline news. But this is fiction .... and it takes the reader into dark places that most of us have never seen and never want to.

Junior High and High School kids have been found dead, like litter thrown to the side of the road. The drug trade is active and busy. The kids are dead of overdoses. Someone is cutting in on the MS-13 business and no one wants a drug war. But there's more than just drugs at risk here. The man MS13 sends to shut down the interlopers into their business and teach them a lesson wants way more than that. He wants one particular teenage boy who killed his cousin.

Three detectives .... Jamie Graff, Paul Eiselmann, and Pat O'Connor .... are charged with finding the drug ring, the drug lords, and putting an end to them. What they never imagined was how far down the roots are in the schools, students, and even staff.

When it comes to kids and illegal drugs, I cannot actually say I "liked" this book. Vicious gangs, school bullying, graphic violent scenes and dead and dying children, and the sexual escapades of young people make this an uncomfortable read... especially to a mother of now-grown sons.

It's like an accident on the side of the road .... you can't help but look as you pass by. This was a well written, riveting read ... one that's hard to put down once started.

Many thanks to the author / Books Go Social / Netgalley / The Crime Book (FB) for the digital copy of this crime thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

3.5 Stars

[Tasha Mahoney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally avoid books where children are the victims but I thought I would be OK with this one but I admit I struggled at times with some of the subject matter.

Middle and high school children are dying from overdosing on heroin and fentanyl.  This sounds like the beginning of a normal good guy/ bad guy crime thriller but it is a whole lot more intricate than that!

At times I found it hard to follow this story because it is extremely involved and a bit confusing. I found that frustrating but persevered and did enjoy the book on the whole. The story was very well imagined but for me lacked a slight bit in the execution because there was just so much information conveyed. Overall though a good book that has a great storyline.

[Cherry London · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery thriller with some knee-jerking moments, masked deep with the stench of drugs and death all under the control of the gangs, attacking the depraved, lonely, scared, angry, psychotic, and even the greedy. A mindblowing eyeopener concerning the gangs and their drug trafficking infiltration in the schools. The destructive forces with which they attack the young, naive and impressionable minds. An intense, intriguing and interesting read, with stomach-churning violence which puts the spotlight on the gang violence taking over in the schools and the neighborhoods.

[Marie (UK) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is in my opinion a bad book, portly constructed, unbelievable in content and parts of it were simply strange.
We start with a introduction to so many characters you need pen and paper to try and work out who is who. They all live together all call the same two people mother and father but they are not necessarily related. they all sleep together, kiss and touch in a most unappealing way. They all have a past that the readers introduced to piecemeal. It makes the first third of the book feel like the second in a series without having had the benefit of reading the first.

George "speaks" to his dead Grandfather - at the ripe old age of around 15 he has killed several people and will in the course of the book kill more whilst the police look on leaving him to do their work.
Mixed into all this is a separate story line about deaths relating to drugs.

The whole is unbelievable, fragmented and frankly disturbing.
As I had received a copy from net galley I struggled woman fully to get through this book but i won't be looking for any more from this author

[Good Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book grabs you by the lapels and pulls you in from the opening line. It begins with a jarring and tragic crime scene. It’s a gruesome start that sets the tone for what this book is about. The “war on drugs’ is one that society has battled for countless generations and naïve teens can often fall prey without realizing what their getting themselves into. This book is about the deadly effects of drugs, the unscrupulous suppliers and those that fight to apprehend them and keep the streets clean. The book has “web” in the title, and this is certainly apt because it’s a complex and intricate story, and I got tangled up. I personally didn’t connect with any of these characters but this needn’t necessarily be the fault of the author. The writing style was sound although some of the superfluous details in certain scenes only served to cluttered things up, unfortunately. In saying that, you’ll find lively coming-of-age elements as you meet one character after the next. You’ll get to wrinkle your brow alongside the three detectives who work tirelessly to shut down the drug ring and solve the murders. It’s hard not be moved by the tragic loss of young lives to drugs. The story overall is a powerful one and worthy of being told, and should certainly be read by many.
This is an ambitious book and the author should be commended for the hard work involved in creating it. One gets the impression that the subject matter of this book is close to the author’s heart and that he seeks to not only entertain but educate and inform.
"Caught In A Web" is well worth your time and gets 4 stars from us, neatly arranged in a row.
Grab a copy on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...

I now urge you to please proceed in an orderly fashion and make your way the Meet and Mingle area for a chat with the author Joseph Lewis and others.

[Chapter Adapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caught in a Web by Joseph Lewis is a definite page turner featuring the MS-13 gang and all of it's atrocities. Taking place in Milwaukee, the book has a ton of characters ranging from Jeremy to George and a bunch in between. Jeremy has adopted George along with a lot of other young boys who need help. Jeremy soon becomes their true father figure, and is who the boys run to for guidance. The relationships here are quite well described and rendered in a loving fashion. However the story is truly about the sad fact that young kids are dying of overdoses of heroin. This is where detectives Jamie Graff, Pat O’Connor and Paul Eiselmann come in and they try to solve this mystery, and delve into the underground world of the famous and dangerous gang, MS-13. The characters are fully rendered, and at times you feel real empathy for them and their circumstances. While this is surely a sign of superb writing, some readers may be offended and taken aback by the violence that is graphically described throughout and the suggestion of a lot of familial closeness. It was borderline weird. It is frankly described, and a bit over the top in places. Even with that, the story is provocative on it's own merit, and worthy of delving into. Highly recommend for a gritty and satisfying read.

[Jule · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a lot to unpack with this novel and my opinion about it. According to the blurb, there is a drug ring entangled in a high school and controlled by a gang, a gang member on a mission for revenge, the boy he wants to take revenge upon, and the detectives trying to solve the case. That was all very interesting, but the book takes about 150 pages to start fulfilling that blurb. Everything beforehand is just setting up the scene and the characters. The actual action takes at best three chapters towards the end of the novel. Not only does it feel like the narrative starts way to early, I also felt like I was missing a part one, in which some more awesome action would have been shown (but here, it is only confusingly referenced - what is missing is an audience stand-in to explain it to).

Now, while I was not particularly invested in any of the characters and did not feel for them, there were some interesting story lines and beginnings of ideas that were explored there. However, I must say that there are entirely too many characters - I lost tracks of all of the brothers and their biological or otherwise connection to each other. It was a happy big dysfunctional family, yes, but a) was it confusing, and b) what purpose did the huge mass of can-not-keep-them-apart-boys serve? As a side note: they were all weirdly familiar with each others (naked) bodies and pda - I was just waiting for the sexual abuse story line to reveal itself, which can never be a good feeling. And in terms of the police investigation, let me just say that I would have fired all of these detectives for their serious misbehavior, especially in terms of confidentiality and risking teenagers' lives.

For the good stuff: I loved the Native American subplot and characters, including their believes and customs. That was great and unexpected in a novel about Mexican drug cartels and crime. Another thing I absolutely loved was the pacing of the story: especially in the beginning, there are two separate story lines in alternating chapters. One is really fast-paced and full of action, the other spans multiple months and is slower, relaxed, calm, lovely. Alternating between them at such a pronounced switch in pace contrasts them (and their respective characters) strongly. Reading it feels like a movie cutting back and forth between two differently scored and lit scenes. It builds up momentum and the reader just waits for them to collide. And that was brilliantly done and a really great reading experience. I also think that the ideas for the characters and plots were great, I just was not a big fan of how it ended up being presented.

~ I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions expressed above are my own.

[Marla Frey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fully consistent with its title. The reader himself becomes involved in a web of complex plot twists and turns.
The more interesting to follow the course of events. Caught in a Web by Joseph Lewis is a very well written thriller, an intriguing story about how violence, drugs and evil can destroy lives. Hard reading, but worth it. I think that this book will be appreciated both by lovers of the genre and all connoisseurs of a well-written novel. In any case, this story will give food for thought and will not leave anyone indifferent.

[Tina O'Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uncomfortably gripping: This is a gripping tale that is raw and gritty. It shows drugs, death, manipulation and youths easily led astray. To counter this darkness it shows compassion and male affection which is so stark in comparison it can be jarring if you are not accustom to affection, which many may not be. I am not - so gave that a pass not wanting to confine it to my own experiences. I wanted more in the ending resolution - yet, everyone received what they were due.

[Natania McLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writer draws you in instantly and you can feel the realism of the characters. Details of feelings are strong enough to make you gag, cry, feel fear, and want to know what is happening next. The geography is a little lost on a non-American however and there are quite a few different characters, so in the beginning it is a little hard to remember all of them. As reading goes on, they become familiar people that you become invested in.

[Clipinchick]

I received this book for free from the author/publisher in response for an honest review of the book. I have not had the opportunity to read this book at this time. I will add my
review of this book once I have read the book. Thank k you for allowing me the optometrist review your work. I look forward to reading this book.

[Jennifer Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I read from this autor and let me tell you that I loved it! Such a good book with great characters that keeps you obsessed with every page since the first one. The reality of drugs is crushing and brutal. I think the plot is really good and the author did an amazing job! definitely a must read!

[Kay Walden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story

Once again Joseph Lewis has captured my attention with an amazing storyline. I was thrilled to see the charts from the previous books carried over to this one.

[Roxann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through goodreads giveaway.

[Tena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a kindle version #GoodreadsGiveaway

[Pam Cunningham]

Brave

The story was riveting. The love the family felt for each other was refreshing because you don't see that kind of love and affection nowadays.

[Nancy Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller is not my favorite genre. But sometimes I make exceptions and read such books. Caught in a Web by Joseph Lewis was recommended to me by my good friend and the main argument for me was that she was very complimentary about the plot of the book.
I followed her advice and did not regret it. I could not tear myself away from this book. The plot is very complicated and originally written. The topic of drugs, violence, especially violence in the context of children is always a difficult and hard topic. This book is definitely not for a pleasant evening, but if you like a dynamic and tough plot, then you will definitely like the work of Joseph Lewis.

[Sue Blanchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thankyou to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and the author, Joseph Lewis, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Caught In A Web in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I thought this book provided a good, though disturbing, read. The storyline was well thought out and written with well developed characters. 3.5 stars.
Worth a read.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, even though it was uncomfortable at times. This is very well written with many characters. A lot of in-depth history of characters. Very heartbreaking at times with the graphic killing content. If you can't take bloody situations, you may not want to read this. Drugs are a bad scene, in this book it is mostly about middle and high school kids getting caught up with drugs and bullies and a lot of death. I would recommend this book, it does have a great story line. The end threw me off cause I had no idea who was at the root of all this turmoil. Great Job by the Author.


Thank you Net Gallery and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to review.


Cherie'

[Caroline Venables · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting read. I have read and reviewed Spiral Into Darkness which follows it, so it was good to go back and catch up on the back story.

The story is hard at times, but the author handles it well.

An intriguing thriller, recommended.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book by Joseph Lewis. After enjoying his Lives series (dealing with human trafficking), I was eager to see how this spin off/sequel/continuation played out. I have to say that I was not disappointed! The characters from the Lives series reappear, with elements of the aftermath of that series playing a role. However, this book does not deal in human trafficking; this time, they are facing another, new issue that is relevant to today's society - a drug epidemic.

All of the mainstays of Lewis's writing appear - good dialogue and character development, a thrilling plot, and a slight edge of the supernatural. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and loved every moment. I highly recommend this book!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second read by Joseph Lewis and I was not disappointed. Caught in a Web touches on some difficult topics, and feels very relevant in today's times.

I was immediately immersed in this story. While the ideas presented were scary, I couldn't put it down. Joseph Lewis' talent for captivating a reader is very apparent in this. I stayed up very late to finish this one because I just couldn't stop thinking about it. The characters were realistic, the scenes were vivid, and the suspense was there.

I highly suggest Caught in a Web. I don't think you will be disappointed!

*I received this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*

[Jay Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story but Very Slow

I almost stopped reading several times because the action moved so slowly. I am glad I persevered to the end because it was a good ending. There is an element of the supernatural that appears throughout the story, but it is handled very well and contributes to the interest. I would call this a good book, but not a great book.

[Mary L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding


Such a good book. Kept me mesmerized. I think I could have finished in a night if I didn't need to sleep.

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Early within “Caught in a Web” readers are taken on a morning walk through George’s routine. During this walk about the house, it is casually mentioned that there is a David Baldacci novel sitting partly read in one of the rooms. As I continued through this book, I couldn’t help but be reminded of this very novel sitting out. Not because it had significant relevance to the plot, but rather because this very novel read much like a classic Baldacci book. Thus, how fitting and foreshadowing for the reader as “Caught in a Web” laces several points of view together as it quickly encases the reader in its sticky web. From the detective work, a seemingly normal Evans family, and the unnamed, unknown criminals being chased down, each spun us into this read tighter and tighter until it had us constricted within its jaws.

Like Lewis’ book “Fan Mail,” “Caught in a Web” gives us the same great characters, each with a brief backstory, and one that takes more of the intentional focus. Similarly, readers enjoy the presence of a police case, circling the drain, as we flip between the hard-working detectives and unsuspecting school aged Evans boys. Slowly the case begins to edge ever closer to the boys’ lives until it all comes to a head. This is what Lewis does so spectacularly, he furnishes these two ostensibly unconnected lives, each of which draw readers in, before culminating in a memorable, action-packed conclusion.

I thought “Fan Mail” would be a tough read to beat, and yet “Caught in a Web” exceeded my expectations. Following George, readers are given a brief introduction to his joining of the Evans family before catapulting us into Tat Man and Fat Man’s drug antics and the detectives frantically working to stop the senseless over doses of school kids. As we explore Jeremy and George’s relationship, we are shown a tender side of George’s adoptive father, Jeremy, including his dreams and history, the good, the bad, the failed and the realized, we have the opportunity to see Jeremy peel back some of his layers in this book as George takes on his new role in the family. This book also offers readers first glimpses of Brian, the predominate focus of “Fan Mail,” as we learn more about his origin story within the Evans family tree. My heart is warmed by the love these boys have for one another. Their backgrounds, and the things no kid should ever have to see, only seem to make their hearts swell ever larger for one another. Once again, Joseph Lewis shows off his writing chops in this Baldacci-esque, thrill ride.

[kathleen r. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am totally uninterested in any kind of sports. There's a huge amount of focus on the pursuit of sports and all that involves so from the beginning I was horribly bored.
Another issue I found odd and uncomfortable is the amount of adult to teen male physical contact. Not with an emphasis on sports but hugging, stroking, kissing and (really weird) cuddling and snuggly type of physicality. What " mature, well adjusted adult father figure" strokes his sons hair, nestling next to him while watching a movie at home, while fondling and kissing his forehead as if he is a toddler? There was a great deal of that direct physical contact that kept repeating itself in too many instances that made me question if there wasn't a direct correlation between that behavior and some sort of incestual activity happening? It gave me the creeps to find it repeatedly occurring when there weren't any other family members present. In my experience most teenaged boys don't want to acknowledge parents of either sex unless they want money or to borrow the car! It put me off the book very early on.
As for law enforcement. Lazy cops. Dirty cops. Having zero evidence but looking for any excuse to veer away from truth and persevere suspicion rather than facts. It smacked of ignorance of proper investigation tools and procedures.
The characters are a mash up of lost personas and ill formed backgrounds. There's just too much left to imagine. Lots of references to the summer of death without explanation of the events concerning that time. I take it there were some horrific events that happened but I had difficulty understanding the meaning between " the Navajo Way" and society as a whole. I also didn't understand the initial action between " The Boy" and " The Man". Who?
In total I thought this book was written from the ending, working backwards to make the beginning all come together. There's just too many holes to fill in before anything made any sense.
I didn't finish the book because I was too bored and tired of skimming back to see if I missed some vital clues or if the book was just poorly conceived and executed.
Not for me. I read for pleasure not to correct an author's poor grammar and flawed sentence structure. I've had enough from this lazy author. I won't read any other products from him.

[Valery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caught in a Web by Joseph Lewis is a definite page turner featuring the MS-13 gang and all of it's atrocities. Taking place in Milwaukee, the book has a ton of characters ranging from Jeremy to George and a bunch in between. Jeremy has adopted George along with a lot of other young boys who need help. Jeremy soon becomes their true father figure, and is who the boys run to for guidance. The relationships here are quite well described and rendered in a loving fashion. However the story is truly about the sad fact that young kids are dying of overdoses of heroin. This is where detectives Jamie Graff, Pat O’Connor and Paul Eiselmann come in and they try to solve this mystery, and delve into the underground world of the famous and dangerous gang, MS-13. The characters are fully rendered, and at times you feel real empathy for them and their circumstances. While this is surely a sign of superb writing, some readers may be offended and taken aback by the violence that is graphically described throughout and the suggestion of a lot of familial closeness. It was borderline weird. It is frankly described, and a bit over the top in places. Even with that, the story is provocative on it's own merit, and worthy of delving into. Highly recommend for a gritty and satisfying read.

[Laura Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have had this one for quite some time now on my kindle begging to be read. As this is my first read by this author, I was pretty excited to finally manage to start it.

Packed full of characters, I seriously felt as though I needed some sort of flow chart/spreadsheet to keep up with them. As the story progressed, it was easier to remember who they were but in the beginning of reading this book, it was very overwhelming.

The blurb is very interesting to me. However, it takes about 75% of the book before we get anywhere.

There is so much going on with so many people involved, it’s hard to stay focused on the true story of the book…. bodies of kids being found dead from drug overdose.

All in all not a bad book, just one that could be condensed into a cleaner, better flowing version.

[Karyl Ahn White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my GOSH!!! If you haven’t read this book- do it. Now! This is a perfect blend of intrigue, mystery, and suspense; everything you would want in a thriller. The characters are so well developed and you really don’t know who to sympathize with, which for me is unusual for a crime type novel. You see the good and the bad in the characters which brings reality to the story. There are also twists that keep you on the edge of your seat, so to speak, and you just can’t wait to see what happens next. I have never read this author’s work before but I will certainly be reading more. Just brilliant!