Shadows of the Badge: Introducing Detective Jake Harper

by J.K. Wolfe

When power shields the guilty, justice has only one weapon the truth.

Detective Jake Harper thought he left the past behind. After false accusations nearly ended his career, he rebuilt his life in the quiet city of Stonehaven. But when a tech mogul is found murdered, Harper uncovers a trail of corruption that leads straight back to the department that betrayed him.

The deeper he digs, the darker the truth becomes, finding evidence of a trafficking ring, political cover-ups, and a conspiracy involving powerful men who still view him as a threat. Now, with enemies circling and old wounds reopened, Harper must decide how far he is willing to go for justice and what it will cost him.

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2025

About the author

J.K. Wolfe writes crime thrillers where justice limps, truth cuts deep, and the badge carries a weight most never see. A career cop and Coast Guard veteran, he’s worked everything from child abuse to financial crimes—experience that gives his novels Shadows of the Badge and Shepherd’s Wake their gritty realism and emotional depth. Wolfe’s stories don’t flinch; they explore the cost of doing right when the truth hurts and redemption isn’t guaranteed. He lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he writes to honor those who still chase justice like it matters—because, as Detective Harper would say, “Right is right. No matter the cost.”

Reviews

[The ARC Bro · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔥 BRO vs. SHADOWS OF THE BADGE 🔥

⸻

🥊 The Book: Detective Jake Harper thought he’d buried his past along with the career that nearly got torched by false accusations. Now he’s rebuilt his life, but the body of a tech mogul drags him right back into the shadows. The deeper he digs, the uglier it gets: trafficking rings, political cover-ups, dirty cops, and the same brass who once betrayed him. It’s redemption or ruin, and Jake has to decide how much blood justice is worth.

💪 The Bro: I’ve been on a detective streak this year, and they’ve ranged from paint-by-numbers cop drama to hell yeah, that’s the good stuff. Wolfe’s debut? Familiar setup, sure, but the execution is sharp. It has fast pacing, layered character work, and stakes that hit hard.

⸻

🥊 ROUND 1: First Impressions
• Opens with a classic hook, but it avoids slipping into pure trope territory.
• Dual timeline structure helps flesh out Harper’s backstory without slowing down the current case.
• Jake comes off flawed but human, a guy you want to root for even when he’s pushing too far.

⸻

🥊 ROUND 2: In the Thick of It
• Every clue Harper chases feels like a win—until it doesn’t. Another layer of corruption always lurks behind the curtain.
• The trafficking storyline? Brutal. Wolfe doesn’t sensationalize it but doesn’t shy away either.
• Pacing never lets up: short chapters, sharp dialogue, and a city that feels alive.

⸻

🥊 ROUND 3: The Home Stretch
• That redemption arc payoff lands, even if it leaves scars.
• Not reinventing the genre, but it is a polished, propulsive debut that earns its place.
• Ending ties the threads while leaving enough room for more Harper down the line (and I’d read it).

⸻

🔥 FINAL BELL: The ARC Bro Scorecard 🔥
🥊 Unanimous Decision – Sharp prose, relentless pacing, and a flawed-but-rootable lead carry this one above the pack. Not the first procedural I’ve read this year, but it might be the best written.

[Carly Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Jake Harper thought he could start fresh in quiet Stonehaven. Then a murdered tech mogul lands on his desk and every clue points back to the police brass that once ruined his career. As he digs, he uncovers a trafficking ring and a cover-up reaching city hall. Now the same people who framed him want him silent. Harper’s only weapon is the truth, but telling it could cost everything.

Spillin’ the Book Tea:
I still can’t believe this is J K Wolfe’s debut. The way he paints scenes with words is unreal. From page one I felt sirens blaring in my head and grit under my nails. The story never lets up. Short chapters, quick shifts, constant stakes.

Wolfe spent years in law enforcement and it shows. The procedures feel spot on, the dialogue rings true, and the moral gray areas hit hard. Growing up around law enforcement and later working in the court system, I notice when an author gets it right. Wolfe nails it.

The mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think Harper has a lead, another layer of corruption surfaces. That push-pull between justice and loyalty makes every choice sting. By the final reveal I was half cheering, half holding my breath.

The Vibes It Brings:
🚓 Small-city police procedural
🕴️ Shadowy power players
🤐 Secrets stacked like files
🔥 Career redemption arc
⚖️ Justice versus influence
🏙️ Gritty urban nights
💣 Ticking-clock tension
🚨 Adrenaline action beats
🔍 Detective brain candy
⏳ No-way-out suspense

TL;DR:
Sharp prose, break-neck pacing, and real-world authenticity make this debut hit hard. Harper’s fight for truth feels personal and urgent. Crime-fiction fans, add this to your must-read pile. A raw punch of a police thriller that refuses to play it safe.

[LitWithBritt27 · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.K. Wolfe wrote a fabulous debut! It’s definitely well written, and the setting pulled me in right away. It takes place in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, and since I’ve lived just north of there my whole life, I felt an immediate connection.

This was my first time diving into a police procedural, and while I’ll admit some of those parts were a bit over my head, that’s on me, not the writing. Wolfe is both a police officer and military veteran, and you can tell that he writes what he knows. The detail felt authentic and added so much depth to the story.

I appreciated how much backstory we got for Jake Harper. He’s layered, flawed, and relatable. The dual timeline worked really well to build the picture of who he is and what’s driving him. And the trafficking aspect of the case? It made my blood boil. It’s a tough topic, but handled with care, and it reminded me just how real and horrifying that world is.

I’m already looking forward to more from Wolfe and seriously hope Jake Harper returns. Thank you to J.K. Wolfe for a copy of this book, but as always, all thoughts are my own.

[Tiffany King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake Harper was a victim of corruption. Painted as a disgraced police officer he fought his way back and is getting a second chance in Stonehaven. His motto is, “Right is Right. No matter the cost.”

J.K Wolfe does an amazing job quickly developing the characters and taking you along in the passenger seat. The imagery is on point and I felt like I was present in the scene from the start. There were a few times the descriptions were repetitive, like the tires humming on the pavement, but that only bothered me because I thought I had somehow went back a page or two. I was left guessing more than I would like to admit and toward the end my heart stopped before running out the door with rage…read it and you will understand.

Can’t wait to read the next one!

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabs you from the get go. The hero of the story has the most amazing story arc and the layers of this character make him utterly unique and captivating. He is so easy to root for! The story has so many twists and turns, but it’s so easy to follow! The author paints an incredibly compelling and detailed story and the reader can easily put themselves right into the action. The dialogue is so well written it’s like you’re sitting next to the characters overhearing their conversations. I simply cannot wait to read more from this author! It’s clear he knows his business, but doesn’t bog the readers down with police lingo. He never lost me once and I struggled to put the book down!

[Linda Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are spoilers here!!! I really enjoyed this book. Well written story about a detective who through no fault of his own has a very rough start to his career and marriage. Characters were well developed and engaging. A little spicy but done with reverence and appreciation for his wife and their relationship.

[Andi’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story grabbed my attention from the start! I loved the “then” and “now” storylines bringing you full circle with all the corruption and emotional struggles that Detective Jake Harper experienced firsthand. Im now ready for book two after that ending!

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

pulls you in

What a great book, well written and factual. This book had its claws in me from the start. I can’t wait to read book 2 when it comes out

[wendy chiabotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

Good read! Suspense and thrill. A little too much back and forth for my liking but good characters and story line.

[Cindy Houghton · Rating 4 out of 5]

very well done

This story was so well done. I swear you could feel the cold air and the depth of emotions in the final chapters. Amazing!!

[Elizabeth Momberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Right is right. No matter the cost." This book was amazing. I was hooked. I love all the details down to the little ones. Awesome story and character building.