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Finding Carson: Mark Adler, Book 1
Best-selling author Josh Soule brings a shocking and tragic thriller. Sometimes bad things happen to good people.
Mark Adler had just finished a celebration dinner to mark the first day of his retirement as Detective Lieutenant with the Bay City Police Department. Adler looks forward to enjoying his retirement until he witnesses a city patrol officer assault a teenage girl. Wanting to do the right thing, Adler reports the incident, only to find that there is no trace of the officer or the suspect, and the department has no interest in pursuing it further. Desperate to find the truth, Mark Adler takes matters into his own hands, even at the risk of criminal prosecution; after all, if he doesn't help this girl - who will?
In part two, Adler's protege, Detective Carl Brathis partners with FBI agent Regina Carrigan to dive further into the case revealed by Mark Adler's unlawful investigation. Their meddling spurs activity in a local gang and warrants the involvement of the Mexican Mafia, and the notorious "El Fuego". Meanwhile, the trial of Mark Adler sparks heated emotions in the community and the jury faces a difficult decision on his fate.
Mark Adler had just finished a celebration dinner to mark the first day of his retirement as Detective Lieutenant with the Bay City Police Department. Adler looks forward to enjoying his retirement until he witnesses a city patrol officer assault a teenage girl. Wanting to do the right thing, Adler reports the incident, only to find that there is no trace of the officer or the suspect, and the department has no interest in pursuing it further. Desperate to find the truth, Mark Adler takes matters into his own hands, even at the risk of criminal prosecution; after all, if he doesn't help this girl - who will?
In part two, Adler's protege, Detective Carl Brathis partners with FBI agent Regina Carrigan to dive further into the case revealed by Mark Adler's unlawful investigation. Their meddling spurs activity in a local gang and warrants the involvement of the Mexican Mafia, and the notorious "El Fuego". Meanwhile, the trial of Mark Adler sparks heated emotions in the community and the jury faces a difficult decision on his fate.
- GenresMystery
Audible Audio
Published December 11, 2020
21 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Josh Soule
8 books43 followersBest-Selling Author, Josh Soule was born and raised on the open range of Wyoming. He loves doing all things outdoors with his wife and children; including camping, hiking, and fishing.
Josh spent many years trying to find his purpose. He worked in law enforcement, security, and social work before turning his eyes on education where he now works. A firm believer in the proper development of our youth, Josh teaches at a local elementary school, and uses his past experiences for his writing.
He possesses a Masters Degree in Business and is finishing his second Master's Degree in Education.
A devoted Christian and family man, Josh is an active member of his church, and can be found presenting and sharing his experiences. He is pleased to share his books that are always clean, family friendly, and affordable.
Josh is best known for his novel "Into the Woods" which became an Amazon Best-Seller in multiple categories.
To learn more, please visit www.joshsoulebooks.com
Or connect on social media at: facebook.com/joshsoulebooks or instagram.com/soulejosh
Josh spent many years trying to find his purpose. He worked in law enforcement, security, and social work before turning his eyes on education where he now works. A firm believer in the proper development of our youth, Josh teaches at a local elementary school, and uses his past experiences for his writing.
He possesses a Masters Degree in Business and is finishing his second Master's Degree in Education.
A devoted Christian and family man, Josh is an active member of his church, and can be found presenting and sharing his experiences. He is pleased to share his books that are always clean, family friendly, and affordable.
Josh is best known for his novel "Into the Woods" which became an Amazon Best-Seller in multiple categories.
To learn more, please visit www.joshsoulebooks.com
Or connect on social media at: facebook.com/joshsoulebooks or instagram.com/soulejosh
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 12, 2020
( Format : Audiobook )
"I did what I thought was right."
When first we meet Mark Adler, just retired as Detective Lieutenant after 30 years in in the police department, he is being read his rights by one Detective Howard, but for what we do not know. The first half of the book, delivered in the first person by Adler himself, switches between his current status of being under arrest for something, alternating with his story of how he came to be in police custody and his concerns for his only daughter. The whole section brings Adler alive, persoable, but flawed, his character writ large. The second half recounts the trial as well as looking further at the wider implications of the death.
Written with deceptive simplicity, this police procedural murder mystery has the feel of truth, and the characters are real, alive. Narrator Scott Cluthe expertly becomes the just retired Detective Adler, voice, emotion, pacing and modulation perfectly pitched. A fine performance enhancing the written book. Complete in itself, the ending is, nevertheless, initially unexpected: one which has no fairytale finish.
I was very fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy of Finding Carson by the rights holder at my request. Thank you so much. I very much enjoyed this first book in the new Mark Adler series and very much look forward to book two. Definitely recommended.
"I did what I thought was right."
When first we meet Mark Adler, just retired as Detective Lieutenant after 30 years in in the police department, he is being read his rights by one Detective Howard, but for what we do not know. The first half of the book, delivered in the first person by Adler himself, switches between his current status of being under arrest for something, alternating with his story of how he came to be in police custody and his concerns for his only daughter. The whole section brings Adler alive, persoable, but flawed, his character writ large. The second half recounts the trial as well as looking further at the wider implications of the death.
Written with deceptive simplicity, this police procedural murder mystery has the feel of truth, and the characters are real, alive. Narrator Scott Cluthe expertly becomes the just retired Detective Adler, voice, emotion, pacing and modulation perfectly pitched. A fine performance enhancing the written book. Complete in itself, the ending is, nevertheless, initially unexpected: one which has no fairytale finish.
I was very fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy of Finding Carson by the rights holder at my request. Thank you so much. I very much enjoyed this first book in the new Mark Adler series and very much look forward to book two. Definitely recommended.
September 29, 2020
A realistic and tense police procedural
This was a highly believable and engaging crime story. The characters were clear and compelling and the plot unfolded in a way that felt both authentic and entertaining. A bit dark, but enjoyable.
This was a highly believable and engaging crime story. The characters were clear and compelling and the plot unfolded in a way that felt both authentic and entertaining. A bit dark, but enjoyable.
September 30, 2020
A very enjoyable read
I usually am not a fan of extended narratives within a piece of fiction. However, the author captivated me with Lt. Adler's recounting of events in the interrogation room in Part One of this novella. The author succeeded with any writer's primary mission--engaging the reader. Well done.
I usually am not a fan of extended narratives within a piece of fiction. However, the author captivated me with Lt. Adler's recounting of events in the interrogation room in Part One of this novella. The author succeeded with any writer's primary mission--engaging the reader. Well done.
February 8, 2021
The law has consequences.
A good read with good story line well written without foul language. It keep getting better and better the more you read.
A good read with good story line well written without foul language. It keep getting better and better the more you read.
February 16, 2021
Very good.
July 19, 2024
“Finding Carson (Mark Adler Book 1)”
I can understand why Josh Soule is a best-selling author and “Finding Carson” is certainly a page-turner. From the word go there is plot and suspense, and police work becomes very human, and policemen become sentimental, emotional, guilt-ridden and, eer, human, too. I felt the father / daughter relationship was overdone and that Mark Adler’s psycho-drama over his wife’s demise and his daughter’s demise were just not real. If the daughter loves him and she is successful then drama over wrong decisions and ‘faits accomplis’ are not necessary. This part of the book gushed unnecessarily for me, and falsely created sentimentality and trauma just didn’t get appreciated (by me).
Whenever I read an American novel I am struck by the amount of violence there, perceived or latent, and “Finding Carson” is no exception. People may ask me what I hope to find in vigilante thrillers, crime fiction, detective and police work, and of course the obvious answer is violence, but the point I wish to make here is that while America is seemingly very interested in crime and violence and is from news reports a gun-happy country, there is hardly ever a writer who is willing to take to task his or her romantic, sentimental, or whatever murderer as if the whole of the US is stuck in the Old Testament without an inkling of the New. And to make matters worse is stuck with “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” without even a nod to the first commandment: “Thou shalt not kill”. And so, time and time again, the killers get away with it, and murder itself becomes justified and honourable. Real life is just not so clear cut. America today would not be rioting if crime were black and white. It is kind of childish to say, “He tried to kill me so I killed him.”
Hobbyhorses aside, this is a suspenseful read, good and exciting, with quite a few, unnecessary typos, but for me well worth the four stars I am giving it. Regarding the typos, a second edition could definitely erase them.
I can understand why Josh Soule is a best-selling author and “Finding Carson” is certainly a page-turner. From the word go there is plot and suspense, and police work becomes very human, and policemen become sentimental, emotional, guilt-ridden and, eer, human, too. I felt the father / daughter relationship was overdone and that Mark Adler’s psycho-drama over his wife’s demise and his daughter’s demise were just not real. If the daughter loves him and she is successful then drama over wrong decisions and ‘faits accomplis’ are not necessary. This part of the book gushed unnecessarily for me, and falsely created sentimentality and trauma just didn’t get appreciated (by me).
Whenever I read an American novel I am struck by the amount of violence there, perceived or latent, and “Finding Carson” is no exception. People may ask me what I hope to find in vigilante thrillers, crime fiction, detective and police work, and of course the obvious answer is violence, but the point I wish to make here is that while America is seemingly very interested in crime and violence and is from news reports a gun-happy country, there is hardly ever a writer who is willing to take to task his or her romantic, sentimental, or whatever murderer as if the whole of the US is stuck in the Old Testament without an inkling of the New. And to make matters worse is stuck with “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” without even a nod to the first commandment: “Thou shalt not kill”. And so, time and time again, the killers get away with it, and murder itself becomes justified and honourable. Real life is just not so clear cut. America today would not be rioting if crime were black and white. It is kind of childish to say, “He tried to kill me so I killed him.”
Hobbyhorses aside, this is a suspenseful read, good and exciting, with quite a few, unnecessary typos, but for me well worth the four stars I am giving it. Regarding the typos, a second edition could definitely erase them.
January 12, 2021
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.*
This is the story of a retired police officer that, as we've heard many times, cannot stop himself when he sees an injustice being made by an active member of the force, which gets him in serious trouble.
As he investigates, there are beautiful reflections, like the fact that no matter what we did, we are still people and everybody makes mistakes. The writing style makes it easy to follow and the narrator was fair.
I gave it three stars because the trope is not so believable nowadays, in which we've seen so much police brutality; especially because it goes unpunished in too many cases. This policeman would represent the exception to the rule.
After having read 2 books from the author, I think he decides on the morals he wants to write about and builds the whole story to make it fit those morals, which makes it harder to obtain a great result if you're writing non-fiction.
The story is fine and the main character quite likeable, though.
This is the story of a retired police officer that, as we've heard many times, cannot stop himself when he sees an injustice being made by an active member of the force, which gets him in serious trouble.
As he investigates, there are beautiful reflections, like the fact that no matter what we did, we are still people and everybody makes mistakes. The writing style makes it easy to follow and the narrator was fair.
I gave it three stars because the trope is not so believable nowadays, in which we've seen so much police brutality; especially because it goes unpunished in too many cases. This policeman would represent the exception to the rule.
After having read 2 books from the author, I think he decides on the morals he wants to write about and builds the whole story to make it fit those morals, which makes it harder to obtain a great result if you're writing non-fiction.
The story is fine and the main character quite likeable, though.
January 24, 2021
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and any opinions expressed herein are my own.
I have read several books by this author and find his writing to be engaging and frequently, thought-provoking. Here, I really enjoyed how the events of the story are slowly revealed through the police interrogation of the MC, a retired police detective. I found the MC to be completely believable and his motivations were understandable. However, what detracted, for me, was the relationship between him, his wife, and his daughter - I found this aspect to be a bit melodramatic and unnecessary. Putting that aside, the remainder of the story is compelling and gripping. The narrator, Scott Cluthe, was fantastic.
I have read several books by this author and find his writing to be engaging and frequently, thought-provoking. Here, I really enjoyed how the events of the story are slowly revealed through the police interrogation of the MC, a retired police detective. I found the MC to be completely believable and his motivations were understandable. However, what detracted, for me, was the relationship between him, his wife, and his daughter - I found this aspect to be a bit melodramatic and unnecessary. Putting that aside, the remainder of the story is compelling and gripping. The narrator, Scott Cluthe, was fantastic.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews