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Case of the Wayward Son: Tales from the P.I.T Crew, 1
We Make Our Own Monsters...Forensic psychologist turned paranormal investigator Darrell Diamondback just landed the biggest case of his life. As a lone-wolf agent working for a covert federal agency that hunts the supernatural, he's used to going it alone--until a string of high-profile failures forces him to build a team.
Now saddled with a ragtag team known as the PIT Crew, they're on the trail of a psychopathic specter kidnapping children in SF. As the case unravels, so does Diamondback's grip on the past he's tried to bury.
Facing off against an urban legend--the bogeyman himself--Diamondback must decide whether to confront the monsters within or let them consume what little he has left.
Case of the Wayward Son launches J.M. Tilbury’s action-packed, chilling new series where urban legends bleed into true crime... and no one walks away unscarred.
Now saddled with a ragtag team known as the PIT Crew, they're on the trail of a psychopathic specter kidnapping children in SF. As the case unravels, so does Diamondback's grip on the past he's tried to bury.
Facing off against an urban legend--the bogeyman himself--Diamondback must decide whether to confront the monsters within or let them consume what little he has left.
Case of the Wayward Son launches J.M. Tilbury’s action-packed, chilling new series where urban legends bleed into true crime... and no one walks away unscarred.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 19, 2025
I haven't really had experience with supernatural thrillers before, but 'Case of the Wayward Son - Tales from the P.I.T. Crew: Book 1' has turned me into a big fan! I'm also a huge fan of intricate, well-designed world building and this novel has that and more to spare. When the rules of the story world are consistent and logical within the framework of the novel, I'm over the moon, just as I was with this book.
From the early pages, I was pulled along with the story and developing characters/world. I had to know more, to see what other aspects there were to learn and discover. PIT Crew is certainly what I would call 'rip-roaring' in that once you get into it, the words sweep you up and pull you into a fully formed, fleshed out world with rounded characters. Whenever I stopped reading to come back to real life, I had a period of 'story hangover' where I was still half thinking of what I'd read last, wondering what would happen next. Those are some of the best stories in my opinion, the ones you can't put down, even mentally.
I worried for characters when they were in danger, laughed with them, cried with them, rooted for them to overcome whatever they faced. The humor is well placed and adds some needed levity to the counterbalance the very real darkness our heroes face. As a word of caution, there are some scenes of graphic violence, though they aren't separated from the plot action. They often provide a visual representation of the violence and child-like cruelty some supernatural beings inflict on the realm of normal people. It may be a little too much for some, but I felt that the violence and sometimes gore served to enforce the evil and twisted nature of the big bad.
Even if you don't consider yourself a fan of supernatural thrillers, give Case of the Wayward Son a read! It's a fantastic read and will have you looking at the world around you a little differently, wondering if there's something or someone lurking in the shadows. Highly, highly recommend this novel to all that love a great story with well crafted characters and a rich world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
From the early pages, I was pulled along with the story and developing characters/world. I had to know more, to see what other aspects there were to learn and discover. PIT Crew is certainly what I would call 'rip-roaring' in that once you get into it, the words sweep you up and pull you into a fully formed, fleshed out world with rounded characters. Whenever I stopped reading to come back to real life, I had a period of 'story hangover' where I was still half thinking of what I'd read last, wondering what would happen next. Those are some of the best stories in my opinion, the ones you can't put down, even mentally.
I worried for characters when they were in danger, laughed with them, cried with them, rooted for them to overcome whatever they faced. The humor is well placed and adds some needed levity to the counterbalance the very real darkness our heroes face. As a word of caution, there are some scenes of graphic violence, though they aren't separated from the plot action. They often provide a visual representation of the violence and child-like cruelty some supernatural beings inflict on the realm of normal people. It may be a little too much for some, but I felt that the violence and sometimes gore served to enforce the evil and twisted nature of the big bad.
Even if you don't consider yourself a fan of supernatural thrillers, give Case of the Wayward Son a read! It's a fantastic read and will have you looking at the world around you a little differently, wondering if there's something or someone lurking in the shadows. Highly, highly recommend this novel to all that love a great story with well crafted characters and a rich world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2025
What happens when you mix aliens, psychic trauma, daddy drama, and a walking moral dilemma wrapped in leather? You get Case of the Wayward Son—a noir-sci-fi-crime cocktail shaken with just enough sass, shadowy pasts, and interstellar politics to make you wonder if therapy exists on other planets.
This book struts in wearing space boots and a trench coat, muttering something about “the mission” while lighting a cigarette with emotional baggage. It follows the PIT Crew (no, not NASCAR, unfortunately) as they try to uncover what happened to the not-so-lost son who’s got more secrets than a Vatican archive. The humor is dry, the characters are hot messes in mostly delightful ways, and the pacing makes sure you don’t get too comfortable—because right when you think you’ve got it figured out, BAM—plot twist. Or alien. Or both.
Our protagonist is like your favorite morally gray ex—broody, secretly damaged, suspiciously good with a gun, and always ready with a quip when emotional vulnerability starts leaking out. There’s tech, banter, trauma, loyalty, and just a dash of found-family dysfunction. The dialogue snaps. The characters bite. And the story? Think noir mystery meets space soap opera, but cooler.
Triggers:
• Parental abandonment
• Mental health struggles
• War trauma
• Torture (light sci-fi variety, still uncomfortable)
• Gun violence
Rating:
4.25 / 5
(Points deducted for emotional constipation and too few shirtless scenes. Yes, I said it.)
Mood:
Broody, witty, emotionally constipated, with a hint of reluctant tenderness. Like The Mandalorian met Blade Runner, went to therapy, and decided to raise a space kid.
Genre:
Sci-Fi Noir | Mystery | Found Family Dysfunction
Pacing:
Medium-fast. Just enough breathing room between chase scenes and emotional sucker punches.
If your type is “emotionally unavailable space detective with secret daddy issues,” congratulations. You’ve just met your next book boyfriend.
This book struts in wearing space boots and a trench coat, muttering something about “the mission” while lighting a cigarette with emotional baggage. It follows the PIT Crew (no, not NASCAR, unfortunately) as they try to uncover what happened to the not-so-lost son who’s got more secrets than a Vatican archive. The humor is dry, the characters are hot messes in mostly delightful ways, and the pacing makes sure you don’t get too comfortable—because right when you think you’ve got it figured out, BAM—plot twist. Or alien. Or both.
Our protagonist is like your favorite morally gray ex—broody, secretly damaged, suspiciously good with a gun, and always ready with a quip when emotional vulnerability starts leaking out. There’s tech, banter, trauma, loyalty, and just a dash of found-family dysfunction. The dialogue snaps. The characters bite. And the story? Think noir mystery meets space soap opera, but cooler.
Triggers:
• Parental abandonment
• Mental health struggles
• War trauma
• Torture (light sci-fi variety, still uncomfortable)
• Gun violence
Rating:
4.25 / 5
(Points deducted for emotional constipation and too few shirtless scenes. Yes, I said it.)
Mood:
Broody, witty, emotionally constipated, with a hint of reluctant tenderness. Like The Mandalorian met Blade Runner, went to therapy, and decided to raise a space kid.
Genre:
Sci-Fi Noir | Mystery | Found Family Dysfunction
Pacing:
Medium-fast. Just enough breathing room between chase scenes and emotional sucker punches.
If your type is “emotionally unavailable space detective with secret daddy issues,” congratulations. You’ve just met your next book boyfriend.
June 4, 2025
I’ve read several series with basically the same theme. Lots of paranormal lone wolf hunters reluctantly amassing a team of fellow outsiders and hunting the things that go ‘bump’ in the night or worse.
This story started off pretty true to course but then it caught my interest after the first flash-back of what exactly set our hero on this strange path. His roping in of his crew of misfits was equally engaging and I quite liked their eventual camaraderie.
BUT and this is a HUGE ‘but’ the author resorted to a trope midway thru the book that is a HUGE trigger for me. I generally nope right out of whatever it is be it movie, highly acclaimed tv series etc. and that’s why I’ve dropped the rating. I let the first occurrence slide, but the second . . .
Otherwise, I enjoyed the book very much. I was invested in the characters but that death ruined the book for me.
3.75 stars
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This story started off pretty true to course but then it caught my interest after the first flash-back of what exactly set our hero on this strange path. His roping in of his crew of misfits was equally engaging and I quite liked their eventual camaraderie.
BUT and this is a HUGE ‘but’ the author resorted to a trope midway thru the book that is a HUGE trigger for me. I generally nope right out of whatever it is be it movie, highly acclaimed tv series etc. and that’s why I’ve dropped the rating. I let the first occurrence slide, but the second . . .
Otherwise, I enjoyed the book very much. I was invested in the characters but that death ruined the book for me.
3.75 stars
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2025
5 stars! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Way to leave me hanging at the very end….I need to hear that book 2 is being written because I want more of Doc and the P.I.T. Crew!
This book gave me Supernatural (the tv show) vibes and being as how that’s my favorite show I couldn’t have loved this book more!
Join Doc and his crew of misfits as they rid the area of shadows, gremlins and more… and try to help solve a decades old case….
The characters were very likable and this story flowed effortlessly.
This will be a series that will have me waiting rather impatiently for more books in it! J.M Tillbury get to writing!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Way to leave me hanging at the very end….I need to hear that book 2 is being written because I want more of Doc and the P.I.T. Crew!
This book gave me Supernatural (the tv show) vibes and being as how that’s my favorite show I couldn’t have loved this book more!
Join Doc and his crew of misfits as they rid the area of shadows, gremlins and more… and try to help solve a decades old case….
The characters were very likable and this story flowed effortlessly.
This will be a series that will have me waiting rather impatiently for more books in it! J.M Tillbury get to writing!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 2, 2025
Case is the wayward son is a supernatural mystery thriller, with monsters, trauma, drama, interstellar politics, secrets found family
Doc and his pit crew of misfits work to help solve a decade old case whole trying to rid the area of shadows, gremlins & other monsters that live in the darkest spots of your mind.
Way to leave is hanging at the very end what a cliffhanger now I want more.
Doc and his pit crew of misfits work to help solve a decade old case whole trying to rid the area of shadows, gremlins & other monsters that live in the darkest spots of your mind.
Way to leave is hanging at the very end what a cliffhanger now I want more.
February 7, 2026
Fast paced and full of adventure. This is realistic and fantasy rolled into one wonderful adventure. I enjoyed the characters and thought the world building was solid. The story mixes military/procedural, action, scifi and fantasy incredibly well. It was an exciting read and I very much look forward to reading more in this world! I received an arc via BookSirens this is my honest review.
May 25, 2025
P.I.T. We Fight Monsters... And Kill Them
Follow the adventures of Doc and his ragtag team as they hunt the monsters who live in the shadows of our imagination. I'm looking forward to the next book. Thank you to Booksirens for the ARC.
Follow the adventures of Doc and his ragtag team as they hunt the monsters who live in the shadows of our imagination. I'm looking forward to the next book. Thank you to Booksirens for the ARC.
July 29, 2025
A detective story with a twist. Paranormal investigations and a shady past. This book had me from page 1. I cannot to read the next in this series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews