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Nasty
Adultery pays. Murder doesn't. That is P.I. Nate 'Nasty' Jepson's motto, and he normally makes his living snapping pictures of cheating spouses. When a stranger is brutally shot in the passenger seat of his car, he finds himself in the middle of a gang war between battling triads, as well as a suspect in the murder. Nate must step far outside his comfort zone to clear himself and live to catch another cheater.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2014
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20 people want to read
About the author
Bret R. Wright
4 books12 followersA retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer, Wright has travelled the world extensively. When not abroad, he spent much of his time in the Pacific Northwest, as well as in Southern California. Always one to wear many hats, he is now a secondary English and Social Studies teacher, a freelance journalist, and author. He is married to his high school sweetheart, who was also the editor of their school literary magazine and was the first person to publish his work. He lives with his wife and youngest son, splitting their time between the Colorado Springs area and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 24, 2014
Nasty opens with Nate Jepson, referred to as “Nasty” by some on the street, standing next to his Subaru on a dark beach near Seattle. He’s looking at a hole in the passenger side window. There is a corresponding hole in the head of stranger he just met on said beach. Their encounter started with beef sticks flying, followed by bullets and ending with the guy shot dead in Nate’s car. Now he’s the number one murder suspect. And the people who did the killing want something from Nate or he’ll end up like the guy in his car. And what is up with those beef sticks?
Nate is a former Navy SEAL and current private investigator. He makes his living following and catching—at least on camera—cheating spouses. It is, apparently, a pretty good living. It’s at least enough to keep up with the rent on his office, the mortgage on his condo and buy all the burritos he can eat. And that is a lot.
You might have missed the part where I said “condo.” This PI does not live in a dark studio apartment in a seedy neighborhood. He lives in a nice condo located in a small town just outside Seattle. A gated community no less. He also has a garden gnome named Phred. This is not your father’s private detective. And that’s a good thing.
Picking up the first book in a series can be a crap shoot. Especially when it’s written by a debut author. There is usually a lot of back story about the character that the reader will need. Then the author needs to build the world this character is going to inhabit. Even if the stories are set in what we like to call the real world. I’ve never been to Seattle, so I need a little grounding there.
This can, and often does, lead to what is known as information dump. A whole lot of setting and back story in one place. That does not happen here. All of that good stuff is woven into the story. I never felt like Mr. Wright stopped the action to bring me up to speed. But I never felt lost either.
And action there was. Guns, fast cars, twists and turns. The plotting was tight with some great surprises, and the pacing kept me turning pages well past when I should have turned out the light.
What keeps me going with a series, though , are the characters. And Nate’s close circle of friends is populated by people I do want to spend more time with. Jeff and Peggy have known Nate since childhood and hint at some maybe not so idyllic memories. Jeff was also in the Navy SEALs and now works in law enforcement. Peggy acts sort of like a big sister, who alternately nags, scolds and patches up Nate.
My favorite of the little group is Janis, Nate’s neighbor in the condo block he lives in. She’s a middle-aged hippie who, in spite of trailing the scent of sandalwood oil and espousing some New Age philosophies, has a lot on the ball. She’s always good for a cup of tea, a sympathetic ear and some surprisingly sound advice.
I will definitely catch the next installment .
Nate is a former Navy SEAL and current private investigator. He makes his living following and catching—at least on camera—cheating spouses. It is, apparently, a pretty good living. It’s at least enough to keep up with the rent on his office, the mortgage on his condo and buy all the burritos he can eat. And that is a lot.
You might have missed the part where I said “condo.” This PI does not live in a dark studio apartment in a seedy neighborhood. He lives in a nice condo located in a small town just outside Seattle. A gated community no less. He also has a garden gnome named Phred. This is not your father’s private detective. And that’s a good thing.
Picking up the first book in a series can be a crap shoot. Especially when it’s written by a debut author. There is usually a lot of back story about the character that the reader will need. Then the author needs to build the world this character is going to inhabit. Even if the stories are set in what we like to call the real world. I’ve never been to Seattle, so I need a little grounding there.
This can, and often does, lead to what is known as information dump. A whole lot of setting and back story in one place. That does not happen here. All of that good stuff is woven into the story. I never felt like Mr. Wright stopped the action to bring me up to speed. But I never felt lost either.
And action there was. Guns, fast cars, twists and turns. The plotting was tight with some great surprises, and the pacing kept me turning pages well past when I should have turned out the light.
What keeps me going with a series, though , are the characters. And Nate’s close circle of friends is populated by people I do want to spend more time with. Jeff and Peggy have known Nate since childhood and hint at some maybe not so idyllic memories. Jeff was also in the Navy SEALs and now works in law enforcement. Peggy acts sort of like a big sister, who alternately nags, scolds and patches up Nate.
My favorite of the little group is Janis, Nate’s neighbor in the condo block he lives in. She’s a middle-aged hippie who, in spite of trailing the scent of sandalwood oil and espousing some New Age philosophies, has a lot on the ball. She’s always good for a cup of tea, a sympathetic ear and some surprisingly sound advice.
I will definitely catch the next installment .
September 12, 2014
Private Detective Ignatius Jepson goes by the name of Nate. On the mean streets of Seattle he is known as “Nasty.” It is not a nickname he likes, but considering the way he earned it, that nickname isn’t going to be something he will ever get rid of easily. Things don’t come easy to Nate and the way his latest case arrives won’t be easy either.
It was early in the morning a couple of hours before dawn and Nate was on a secluded beach contemplating the meaning of life. More accurately the meaning of his life and his future. Fate put him there. Nate wasn’t too happy with the concept of fate as it was before the figure came running at him through the mist.
The man is well dressed and running with a grocery bag full of beef sticks. He also has a very black gun and wants Nate’s immediate help in getting away. Like Nate, the guy is ex-military as proven by the way he carries himself and the dog tags on the leather necklace around his neck. The arrival of men on the beach as well as coming from the sea in pursuit and the numerous flying bullets make it clear that the situation is deteriorating badly and it is time to go.
Some private detectives get the beautiful damsel in distress and an explanation. Nate gets the physically in shape dude, no explanation, a destroyed car, killers after him, and a lot more in Nasty by Bret R. Wright.
A fast paced read with a very complicated case that goes from Seattle to Portland while adding many players and plenty of twists and turns. Nate is often a bit over his head because the clues are few and the players are many. While he does have a little help along the way via some old friends those same friendships are a huge risk as the stakes rapidly increase.
Hopefully the first book of a series, Nasty has all the right mix of action, clues, and high stakes that result in a compelling read. Author Bret R. Wright has created a strongly sympathetic character who flashes the occasional warped sense of humor while also taking things serious when the need arises. In this book the need arises quite often creating a certain frantic pace as Nate gets the job done by any means necessary. The book is a good one and Nasty is highly recommended.
Nasty
Bret R. Wright
http://www.bretrwright.com
Courtney Literary
http://courtneyliterary.com/
September 2014
ISBN# 978-0991608812
Paperback (e-book available)
306 Pages
$15.99
E-book ARC supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2014
http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com
It was early in the morning a couple of hours before dawn and Nate was on a secluded beach contemplating the meaning of life. More accurately the meaning of his life and his future. Fate put him there. Nate wasn’t too happy with the concept of fate as it was before the figure came running at him through the mist.
The man is well dressed and running with a grocery bag full of beef sticks. He also has a very black gun and wants Nate’s immediate help in getting away. Like Nate, the guy is ex-military as proven by the way he carries himself and the dog tags on the leather necklace around his neck. The arrival of men on the beach as well as coming from the sea in pursuit and the numerous flying bullets make it clear that the situation is deteriorating badly and it is time to go.
Some private detectives get the beautiful damsel in distress and an explanation. Nate gets the physically in shape dude, no explanation, a destroyed car, killers after him, and a lot more in Nasty by Bret R. Wright.
A fast paced read with a very complicated case that goes from Seattle to Portland while adding many players and plenty of twists and turns. Nate is often a bit over his head because the clues are few and the players are many. While he does have a little help along the way via some old friends those same friendships are a huge risk as the stakes rapidly increase.
Hopefully the first book of a series, Nasty has all the right mix of action, clues, and high stakes that result in a compelling read. Author Bret R. Wright has created a strongly sympathetic character who flashes the occasional warped sense of humor while also taking things serious when the need arises. In this book the need arises quite often creating a certain frantic pace as Nate gets the job done by any means necessary. The book is a good one and Nasty is highly recommended.
Nasty
Bret R. Wright
http://www.bretrwright.com
Courtney Literary
http://courtneyliterary.com/
September 2014
ISBN# 978-0991608812
Paperback (e-book available)
306 Pages
$15.99
E-book ARC supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2014
http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com
January 24, 2019
To a Brother and Shipmate
I felt like I was sitting in the Chiefs Mess listening to a "This is no $**t" story. He makes points colorful without a lot of fluff and fancy words to whip out the dictionary for. Good read. Bravo Zulu Brother!
I felt like I was sitting in the Chiefs Mess listening to a "This is no $**t" story. He makes points colorful without a lot of fluff and fancy words to whip out the dictionary for. Good read. Bravo Zulu Brother!
March 22, 2019
The book was alright. The author was a little too descriptive about minor things that had no bearing on the situation at hand. He was a little too flip. I found myself skipping over paragraphs to get to the relative stuff.
November 11, 2021
Written by an old co-worker of mine! I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy a murder mystery type book, as I usually don’t go for that genre. I just want to remember there’s quite a bit of language when I recommend it to some people!
March 8, 2019
Not only was it fun finding the source of each chapter's title as I read the chapters, the whole ambiance and flow of the story worked for me. It was fun, entertaining and had enough action to keep me going.
I'd definitely read more by this author!
I'd definitely read more by this author!
February 20, 2015
Nate Jessup is a PI in the Pacific Northwest and as the story begins, Nate is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is held up by a desperate man who really just wants help getting away from the beach where they encounter each other, or more specifically, the MEN on the beach who are trying to kill him. Nate ends up with his car exploded and some people after him who think he has something that he doesn't.
The tone of this has a lot in common with the hard boiled detective stories of old, but I felt like it had a lot more heart. Nate isn't a caricature—he has some demons, sure, but he is also balanced—a good person who has just been through some stuff. I also loved the Pacific Northwest setting, though that may be because I have roots there myself.
Overall I loved the tension, story and the nice sprinkling of humor to keep this balanced. And excellent debut.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this for the sake of interviewing the author for my blog.
The tone of this has a lot in common with the hard boiled detective stories of old, but I felt like it had a lot more heart. Nate isn't a caricature—he has some demons, sure, but he is also balanced—a good person who has just been through some stuff. I also loved the Pacific Northwest setting, though that may be because I have roots there myself.
Overall I loved the tension, story and the nice sprinkling of humor to keep this balanced. And excellent debut.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this for the sake of interviewing the author for my blog.
May 10, 2015
PI Nate Jepson (aka.. Nasty) how to describe him, well he is what I think of when you say a PI that was a Navy Seal. That rugged big guy, been around the block, don't want to know all of his storied, but sure as heck know he has a lot of them. I enjoyed the dark street wise PI with that common sense you don't always find.
I have to giggle with his moto "Adultery pays. Crime doesn't."
I'm looking forward to book 2
I have to giggle with his moto "Adultery pays. Crime doesn't."
I'm looking forward to book 2
September 27, 2014
Excellent start to a great detective series! Looking forward to when the next one comes out. The characters were well developed and the plot line kept me entranced.
July 5, 2015
Pleasantly surprised. Wise cracking private detectives and mystery novels aren't really my thing, and this one took me a bit to get into it, but midway through, I couldn't put it down.
Fun read.
Fun read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews