Bitter Fall

by Bruce Robert Coffin

Summer’s last breath meets autumn’s first kill in Greenville, Maine.

“...high-speed and dripping with suspense.” —Library Journal

On a moonless stretch of backcountry road, Detective Brock Justice stares down at a crime scene that refuses to play by the rules. A woman lies dead, the apparent victim of a lethal roadside crash—until a stab wound is found hidden beneath her clothing. Two causes of death. Zero easy answers.

Reunited with his partner, Detective Chloe Wright, Justice begins pulling at threads too many people want left alone. The victim had secrets—the kind worth killing for. And each suspect carries enough baggage to sink a body in Moosehead Lake. An ex-boyfriend with a violent past. A married fitness trainer with too much to lose. A combat veteran living off the grid, haunted by ghosts of his own.

As golden leaves turn blood-red against pewter skies, Justice is fighting more than just a killer. The fallout from testifying against a fellow trooper clings to him like a bad debt, and someone inside the department is making sure he pays for it.

Then a game warden’s trail camera captures something deep in the woods. But it isn’t just a clue—it’s a warning.

Fans of Craig Johnson's Longmire and C.J. Box's Joe Pickett will find themselves right at home in this dark corner of Maine.

_________________________

Praise for the Detective Justice

“…reads like the real deal—a tale of trial and redemption…” —Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire Mysteries

“Coffin’s experience…lends the book’s procedural elements a ring of truth, and he paints cops and suspects alike with a fine brush.” —Publishers Weekly

“A superior, Connelly-esque procedural that ratchets up the tension page by page.” —Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of Blind to Midnight

“Smooth as buttah in the telling, Coffin’s layered characters almost leap off the page to sit in your lap.” —Tracy Clark, award-winning author of the Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series and the Det. Harriet Foster series

“The pace is break-neck swift, the writing crisp, and the tension nearly unbearable…” —Baron Birtcher, award-winning and bestselling author of Knife River

“Brock Justice is a protagonist worth following.” —Paul Doiron, author of Dead by Dawn

“...a sensational follow up...” —Chris Miller, Best Thriller Books

“One of the most mesmerizing crime fiction series starters I’ve read in years…” —LynDee Walker, bestselling author of the Faith McClellan series

“...gritty authenticity and razor-sharp detail.” —Brian Shea, author of the Boston Crime Thriller series

“…a superb police procedural, gripping and tight.” —Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of Crooks

“...

Genres: Mystery

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

Bruce Robert Coffin is the award-winning author of the Detective Byron Mysteries. A former detective sergeant, he supervised all homicide and violent crime investigations for Maine's largest city. Following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, Bruce spent 4 years investigating counter-terrorism cases for the FBI, earning the Director's Award, the highest award a non-agent can receive.

His short fiction appears in a number of anthologies, including Best American Mystery Stories 2016.

www.brucerobertcoffin.com

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Justice is back with a new strange case in the northern part of Maine. Bitter Fall by Bruce Robert Coffin is even better than the first book in this series, sadly it was so fast paced that it soon was finished. I can't wait to see what's in store for the third one. I only hope that Brock will start trusting Chloe more than he has so far. I love the setting that I first came to know through Paul Doirons great work, I wonder if Brock Justice will join forces with Mike Bowditch sometime in the future. That would be neat. I also love the characters and their nicknames. The dialogue is also another thing that makes me smile when reading these books. If you haven't tried this author before it's about time you get a copy and enjoy them. I must thank Edelweiss and Severn River Publishing for giving me this great advance copy to read enjoy and review.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Severn River Publishing and Bruce Robert Coffin for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3,5 ⭐ - After reading the first book of the Detective Justice series, I had to know what this book had in store for Brock Justice and his partner Chloe.

When a woman turns up dead on a motorway, the Detective duo do everything to solve this case. From the crime scene it's pretty obvious Summer was struck by a car during her run.

However, nothing is what it seems when the forensic pathologist notices Summer is stabbed, why would someone stab her? Did she have enemies? Maybe a jealous ex-boyfriend?

Not knowing Summer had her own secrets like being pregnant, did she tell the father? Is the baby's father behind this murder?

I loved following Brock and Chloe during this case, it's easy to follow with lots of twists in the story. I do have to say it was pretty easy to figure out who was behind the murder, I can't wait to read book 3 of the series!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter Fall is the fast paced follow-up to Crimson Thaw featuring Detectives Brock Justice and Chloe Wright. The opening scene of a young woman running through the woods trying to escape an assailant, grabs your attention, ratchets up your heart rate and keeps you focused on what’s going to happen next. What happens next is sure to keep those pages turning to the satisfying end.

[Amy Lainoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story with some colorful characters and a great ending! Looking forward to the next one!

[Alice Persons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit that I am prejudiced and love everything Bruce writes. This is a solid police procedural, well written with touches of humor and a satisfying ending. Brock Justice is a believable character and Chloe is a good foil. The Maine setting is very well drawn. What more could you want?

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 - didn’t totally love the reveal of summer’s murderer but overall it was still a good read. love Brock and Chloe’s characters, and loved that Zim was in this one more.

[Micheal · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a follow up to “Crimson Thaw” I was really looking forward to the continuing story of Detective Brock Justice, a fitting name and is called out in the book.

The cast of characters is amazing, the nicknames are charming and their backstories add a warmth and a layer of insight that kept me riveted to the book. I like the way Bruce is very methodical about the way the evidence is introduced and how it affects the process of the investigation. He is very descriptive of the procedure of analyzing the evidence and explaining the next logical step.

In this book a young girl who seems to be loved and admired by everyone is caught in an intricate web of deceit and pays the ultimate price. It’s up to Brock, Chloe and Zim to peel away the lies and misdirection to reveal the true motives of a very deceptive list of suspects.

At one point Brock has three investigations going at the same time… Who killed Summer Taylor? Who nearly beat Summers abusive boyfriend to death? And proving that Brock’s ex-partner had staged a suicide of the witness that could prove Evan Mathers guilty of murder!

The book is very well thought out… so many suspects had motive and opportunity to kill the unfortunate victim. Brock and his team slowly eliminate the suspects, one by one until the very selfish plot is revealed by the least likely suspect!
Which involves a high speed pursuit that encourages Zim to dub his coworker “Chloe Chitwood”

I’m sure that much like real life investigations there are a lot of leads that have to be investigated… that turn into dead ends. The importance of inter-agency cooperation and the relationships within the hierarchy are a big part of the story. The role of elected officials conduct as it pertains to their re-election and how that can hamper an investigation or an unwillingness to look at a certain person because of their role in public service is dealt with very carefully.

I enjoyed reading the book very much and look forward to more Brock Justice!

Good job Bruce!

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bitter Fall (Detective Justice Book 2), my fourth read from author Bruce Robert Coffin, the first two co-writen with author LynDee Walker, a 459-page police thriller that grabbed me and kept me reading until finished. Totally unputdownable read with engaging, likeable characters! I received a complementary Kindle copy and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author with Dark Harbor (Detective Justice Book 3) due out in August. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justice is called to investigate the murder of a young girl who was interning as a nurse and is the daughter of a well-known politician. Things get really complicated when Justice is faced with his ex-partner Mathers working in the area where the crime happened and he tells Justice that the girlfriend of the guy he killed (and it was understood it was in legitimate defense so he walked without punishment) died a few months back. Justice will work relentlessly to find the culprit in the case of the girl's death and hopes that he'll also be able to prove that Mathers is a killer and not an Officer of the law.
I thank the author and his publisher for this ARC.

[jamie Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt this book was very well written. The plot was so captivating so many twists n turns just kept me from putting this brilliant book down! The Characters were spot on! If you love a who done it you will love this one!

[Rick Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

and the beat goes on- another great read

Coffin keeps the action going. The Justice series is an excellent procedural with great authenticity. Coffin sucks you in and the step-by-step of a homicide investigation is fascinating.

[Diane Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Bruce Robert Coffin never fails to deliver! Excellent read, great characters and plots. I have read and enjoyed all of his books and look forward to more.

[Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in the series. Better than the first book. I’m getting the third book today.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believable plot, interesting characters = great new series!

[Jim Nesbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIGH SPEED, LOW DRAG

If you like your cop-driven mysteries wicked fast and loaded up with lots of red herrings, hairpin curves and prime suspects, you'll love the latest Detective Brock Justice mystery from Bruce Robert Coffin -- Bitter Fall.

There's also a side order of score settling that's particularly sweet for Justice. So sweet you might want to call it dessert since it's the cherry on top of the book's slam-bang finale.

Coffin, a cop's cop now retired, is a helluva writer who knows how to tell a driven story. And he keeps the reader guessing by serving up a rotating gallery of suspects who fall under the dead-eyed stare of Justice and his fearless younger partner, Chloe Wright. They're in relentless pursuit of the killer of Summer Randall, an athletic young woman beloved in the small northern Maine town of Greenville, the daughter of a powerful congresswoman and her estranged husband.

There's the drunk driver of an SUV that smacked into Randall as she emerged from a wooded jogging trail, pursued by an unknown attacker; the war-ravaged poacher and survivalist living in a fortified compound deep in the forest; the violent, drug-addicted ex-boyfriend who once smacked her around; the philandering owner of the gym where Randall worked before suddenly quitting; and, the handsome doctor at the hospital where she also worked as a college requirement.

Plenty of suspicion to go around. Stirring the pot even more is Randall's mother, the hard-charging, media hound congresswoman; her estranged but vengeance-minded husband; a boss-from-hell for Justice and Wright known as Penny Dreadful; and, a politicking senior state police desk weasel who wants Justice gone for good.

There's a reason for this animosity. Justice testified against his partner in the bloody aftermath of a botched takedown of two hard-case brothers wanted for murder, a big breach of the blue code of silence that earned him instant notoriety and resentment in the insular world of law enforcement.

Cursed or blessed with an inflexible sense of right and wrong, Justice told jurors he watched from a second-story window as his fellow officer shot one of the brothers in cold blood just moments after Justice wounded the other one in a shoot-out that left the lawman with a concussion, a bullet in the leg and a limp he tries to hide.

No good deed goes unpunished. The jury acquitted the partner. Justice gets exiled to the wilds of northern Maine. And the partner? He's now a deputy in the county where Summer Randall's murder took place.
All of these elements make for a yeasty mix the author keeps bubbling, ladling a surprise ending you won't see coming and that cherry-on-top dessert for a tough, lone-wolf cop who finds trust a scarce commodity he's reluctant to give and has to work hard to regain.

Score another winner for the author. And get ready for the third book in this series, Dark Harbor, already waiting in the wings. He's been a busy lad.

[Kevintipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is October as Bitter Fall: A Detective Justice Novel by Bruce Robert Coffin begins. It is just after midnight on a desolate stretch of Maine roadway. Red and blue strobe lights from various emergency vehicles as well as portable floodlights keep the darkness at bay. For Maine State Police Detectives Brock Justice and Chloe Wright, what was already along day is about to get way longer.

A woman is dead in the roadway. Nearby, a dark SUV is on its crumpled roof with the front end of the vehicle smashed up against a huge pine tree. While the scene looks like the typical car versus pedestrian type situation, it isn’t. Homicide Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit North out of the Troop E barracks in Bangor are not called out to investigate fatal motor vehicle accidents.

They were told to make the ninety-minute drive, one way, not simply because Summer Randall is dead in the road. There is no doubt that the vehicle hit her. She is dressed in running clothes and may have come off of any number of nearby trails before being struck in the roadway. But the drunk driver, Jonathan Watters, probably did not kill her.

What killed her, in all likelihood, was a stab wound into her stomach. Dr. Ginny Waite from the medical examiner’s office believes she was stabbed some time shortly before she was hit by the car. That she was bleeding heavily internally and her body was failing her before she made it out on the roadway to be hit by the impaired driver. The discovery of a blood trail in the nearby woods means the medical examiner was right.

Meanwhile, Greenville, Maine, has a population of approximately 1400 people. That means the victim is well known among the locals. So too is her ex-boyfriend. He could be their prime suspect, but at the same time, other people also had reason to kill.

What follows is a complicated case full of twists, turns, and dead ends. It isn’t the only case Detective Justice is working either as he is continuing to pursue his suspicions about his exonerated former partner.

Building on the events of Crimson Thaw, Bitter Fall powers along at a steady pace that tightly holds the attention of the reader. Character building continues here at a slower pace as the main focus is investigating and solving cases.

A main aspect also seems to be aimed squarely at making the reader hungry for massive sized cinnamon buns.

A mighty good read in what is a very good series. The third book in the series, Dark Harbor, is currently scheduled to be released in August. One hopes that might be moved to a sooner date.


Published by Severn River Publishing, my digital ARC came direct from the author with no expectation of a review.


Kevin R. Tipple ©2026

[Mary Polzella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Brock Justice attends a crime scene where a young woman lies dead, the apparent victim of a lethal roadside crash, until a stab wound is found hidden beneath her clothing. Two causes of death and zero easy answers. With his partner, Detective Chloe Wright, Justice begins pulling at threads too many people want left alone. The victim had secrets and there are multiple suspects - an ex-boyfriend with a violent past, a married fitness trainer with too much to lose and a combat veteran living off the grid, haunted by ghosts of his own. While working the case, Justice is also fighting the fallout from testifying against a fellow trooper which he can't let go. Then a game warden’s trail camera captures something deep in the woods. Is it a clue or a warning?

This author is a former detective and this is reflected in the story's level of detail and its feeling of authenticity. The writing is crisp and the tension builds smoothly as the story progresses, keeping you interested in turning the pages. The characters are written with depth and realism, and the cast is diverse, reflecting the small-town setting. Justice is a great lead character who you can't help but empathize with, even when he is his own worst enemy and can't let things go. A well-written read with a great storyline and a few twists along the way culminating in great ending. I'm glad I discovered this author and look forward to reading more of his books. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Thank you @severnriverpublishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions published here are entirely my own.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC through "Severn River" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with Brock arriving at what appeared to be a vehicle accident resulting in Death, but on reviewing the scene, it was determined to be a homicide. Shortly after he arrived, Chloe, his partner also arrived on the scene. Once Chloe arrived, Brock started to look as to where Summer, the victim, came from before being run over. Brock discovered a trail a ways off of the road and did a quick look-see and discovered where Summer had tripped and fallen into the brush. It was discovered that Summer had been stabbed at another location and ran in an attempt to get away from her assailant. Brock also met up with Ethan Mathers, a trooper he testified against.

Read along and discover what steps Brock, Chloe and Zim took as they tried to locate Summer's killer. Learn what else Brock began looking into in addition to locating who had beat up Summer's ex-boyfriend. The ending is well done and answers all of the open questions.

This is definitely a story that will keep your interest, don't miss out!

[Melissa Westemeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opens with a heart-pounding chase through the woods and I was gripped by the second paragraph!
Detective Brock Justice is called to Moosehead Lake in rural Maine to investigate the death of a U.S. Representative's daughter. As in most well-written mysteries, everyone's secrets get dragged to the surface and the list of suspects expands with each new revelation. Told in close 3rd person (my favorite POV) Coffin brings readers into the minds of a wide range characters and fleshes each one out with wonderful detail (even the female characters are well-crafted!).

Coffin packs in the action and layers in accurate details about police investigations, and fully immerses readers into this world. Each character felt real, from MCs to the victim's ex-boyfriend. Set in Greenville, Maine, the descriptions make me want to take a vacation there. The plot was twisty, and the ending was deeply satisfying.

Readers will enjoy this thoughtfully developed police procedural. I personally cannot wait to read the next book in the Detective Justice Series.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another good police procedure featuring a good lead in Detective Justice. He is a bit of a renegade, often going his own way, much to the dismay of his superiors. I like the strength of the setting with a little history of the area and good descriptions.

This complicated murder takes quite a bit of untangling. There is a nice twist at the end as well as some good suspense involving Brock's partner, Chloe. Brock is still being hounded by his testifying against another police official. That nemesis is close by here. We hope Brock will finally come out in the end the good guy he is.

This is a rewarding police procedure. While it is the second in a series, it reads well on its own. To understand Brock's obsession with nailing the police officer from the previous experiences, the first novel in the series should be read.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

BITTER FALL - I really enjoyed reading this book; the pages just ran. Interesting story lines with a variety of characters that made for an intriguing and immersing way to relax. No misdirection since presumptions could be easily made by most readers. The killer was easy to figure out part way through the story. Source: Severn River Publishing. 4*

CRIMSON THAW - I was disappointed in this wordy and a slow-paced story. The characters are good and the story lines interesting, but the writing style was not for me. Source: Severn River Publishing. 3*

THE PIRATE'S SECRET - The writing style reminds me of Die Hard and Hudson Hawk. Silly in places but with good story lines and good characters. What the Pirate did was excellent. Source: Netgalley. 4*

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

State Police detective Brock Justice is called to a roadside accident that turns out to be far more than accidental. He is joined by his old partner Chloe Wright who he trusts completely, which is good, because he is not sure who in the small community he CAN trust, and knows of at least one other law enforcement officer he definitely cannot trust. The case is naturally far more complex than it first appears, full of small town intrigue and secrets. Characters are well-developed and believable, and Chloe and Brock work their way persistently through the suspects and red herrings. Lots of suspense and local color. A good, solid police procedural with a small dose of personal drama. Recommended.

[Ilona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Brock Justice and his partner Chloe Wright are called to a lethal roadside crash, not as simple as a roadside accident when a stab wound is found. The victim is a well-known and well liked nurse at the local hospital. Enough suspects, and to put a twist in the story Evan Mathers (Brock’s old partner, and reason for being in Northern Main) is current working at the local sheriff department.
Page turner from the beginning, and what an ending!!!
Looking forward to more!

[E Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story from Mr. Coffin, filled with plot twists that have you leaning one way then you are headed in another direction. While many police procedurals are filled with stereotypes, Mr. Coffin's stories have a more natural feel to them. Best of all, he doesn't provide solutions out of thin air, but he included just enough detail along the way to have you finish the book thinking, I could have figured it out!

[KerryO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter Fall is a realistic police procedural which is very well paced as we are drawn into the search by Detectives Wright and Justice for the killer of a well-liked college senior - murdered while out on an evening run. The ending was absolutely perfect! I received an ARC from Severn River Publishing and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Darren Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Justice is a new favorite. Gruff yet likeable. You have to admire his integrity in spite of situations thrown at him. This book along with the first are paving the way for some great storytelling.

[Tony Sannicandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 excellent book!

[Hen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good story by local author who was detective in Portland Maine. Nice familiar local touches like Maine Brewing beer being consumed by protagonists.

[Tracey Devlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting, atmospheric, and character-driven to the core. Bruce Robert Coffin turns Maine into a living, breathing menace—and you’ll love every second of it.

Many thanks to the publisher/author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[LoveMyAuthors · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brock Justice is definitely the detective you want working your case!

Brock's certainly not having an easy time of it, I guess it's true what they say, no good deed (in this case it's telling the truth) goes unpunished. The man has integrity oozing from his pores and honestly, I waited the entire book for the final pages. Bravo!

The jury, for me, is still out on his new partner Chloe Wright...I don't find her to be very likeable right now so I'll be anxious to see how the author grows her character in the next release. However, I can truly say I'm really enjoying some of the other side characters, they add depth and nuance to what could be just another police procedural.

I'm invested in the series and will certainly be back for more!