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Scott Finn #1
Бандата от Чарлстоун
Сериен убиец хвърля в ужас Бостън. Скот Фин - приятел на седмата жертва и преуспяващ млад адвокат, също попада в полезрението на полицията.
За да се защити, той започва собствено разследване, но става така, че му помагат старите авери от престъпния свят, сред които е израснал. В тази история нищо не е такова, каквото изглежда на пръв поглед. Все едно сте в лабиринт с криви огледала. Кръгът на заподозрените се разраства, а лейтенант Линда Флеърти се изправя срещу политическия елит на Бостън, тъмните операции на ФБР и босовете на мафията.
За да се защити, той започва собствено разследване, но става така, че му помагат старите авери от престъпния свят, сред които е израснал. В тази история нищо не е такова, каквото изглежда на пръв поглед. Все едно сте в лабиринт с криви огледала. Кръгът на заподозрените се разраства, а лейтенант Линда Флеърти се изправя срещу политическия елит на Бостън, тъмните операции на ФБР и босовете на мафията.
300 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2005
59 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
About the author
David Hosp
15 books69 followersDavid Hosp is a trial lawyer who spends a portion of his time working pro bono on behalf of wrongly convicted individuals. He lives with his wife and family in Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
August 11, 2016
First, grab some stock mystery characters off the shelf - a serial killer nick-named Little Jack, (as in Ripper), who has some "religious" issues. Then, add a drop dead gorgeous female homicide detective with an aging "seen it all" partner. Finally mix in a "street tough" ruggedly handsome, up and coming attorney who takes it upon himself to pursue "Little Jack" when his law partner/old flame is brutally murdered, (much in the same manner as Little Jack's previous prostitute victims).
For some spice, toss in a few secondary characters - the attorney's old Irish mentor from the streets, a politically motivated bonehead police chief and the usual political cronies from the Governor's mansion on down.
Top it all off with a post 9/11 terrorist attack and conclude with a James Bond finale and one might think this would make a great made-for TV movie, (there's even a cameo appearance from Whitey Bulger), which is exactly how this reads. Unfortunately it doesn't make for a good book.
Everything in this book is predictable - the plot, the dialogue, who lives, who dies, good guys, bad guys. The major "twist" in this book occurs halfway in - not in a good Raymond Chandler way, more in an "I saw this 150 pages ago" way - and the "solution/resolution" plods along for another 200+ pages. There are also a multitude of scenes in this book that are not only irrelevant but force the reader to remove him or herself from any concept of reality.
I hate to be so negative but with all the hoopla surrounding this book, (comparisons to Lehane for instance), I expected much, much more.
For some spice, toss in a few secondary characters - the attorney's old Irish mentor from the streets, a politically motivated bonehead police chief and the usual political cronies from the Governor's mansion on down.
Top it all off with a post 9/11 terrorist attack and conclude with a James Bond finale and one might think this would make a great made-for TV movie, (there's even a cameo appearance from Whitey Bulger), which is exactly how this reads. Unfortunately it doesn't make for a good book.
Everything in this book is predictable - the plot, the dialogue, who lives, who dies, good guys, bad guys. The major "twist" in this book occurs halfway in - not in a good Raymond Chandler way, more in an "I saw this 150 pages ago" way - and the "solution/resolution" plods along for another 200+ pages. There are also a multitude of scenes in this book that are not only irrelevant but force the reader to remove him or herself from any concept of reality.
I hate to be so negative but with all the hoopla surrounding this book, (comparisons to Lehane for instance), I expected much, much more.
January 5, 2012
Occasionally, Hosp's clumsiness with key details--and the attempt to drop red herrings--are obvious and telegraph the reader that s/he is being manipulated. The inclusion of too-helpful friends and colleagues, along with Finn's own loose lips about crucial information, are the marks of an inexperienced author trying to control outcomes. Hosp does not have the literary flair or style of Lehane, but this Boston mystery, overall, is exciting, well-paced and clever, ideal for the beach, and great fun to read.
July 4, 2018
This hardback is a disappointment. The cover is great though, it grabs the attention
I had to skim most of what I read. I just could not get into the story at all. Nor could I get into the characters. It might be a brilliant plot, in the end, but life's too short to wade through a book that does not grab the reader. Especially when there are so many other stories waiting to be read.
A long preface is never a good thing. Although blowing up a train sounded wonderful, if wordy.
we meet a bunch of characters and a body. And I still didn't like the characters. For me, info dumping and telling me is not gonna cut it, and i just felt that it was all tell and no show. Head hopping is also not ideal. It's not a deal breaker, and some people head hop and it works. This doesn't.
I had to skim most of what I read. I just could not get into the story at all. Nor could I get into the characters. It might be a brilliant plot, in the end, but life's too short to wade through a book that does not grab the reader. Especially when there are so many other stories waiting to be read.
A long preface is never a good thing. Although blowing up a train sounded wonderful, if wordy.
we meet a bunch of characters and a body. And I still didn't like the characters. For me, info dumping and telling me is not gonna cut it, and i just felt that it was all tell and no show. Head hopping is also not ideal. It's not a deal breaker, and some people head hop and it works. This doesn't.
August 19, 2011
This was a book that I was 'forced' to read through my monthly readers group and managed to get through it in two days whilst on holiday. Not a book I would have picked up through choice and starts, develops and ends as you would imagine for a book of this kind. Relatively straight forward plot which actually helps rather than hinders it. Dark Harbour is a but like watching a soap opera, it's fine from time to time but I wouldn't want to do it every night
December 25, 2012
Entertaining, but predictable. Dark Harbor takes place in the gritty Boston of Dennis Lehane, with all the sense of depth and conspiracy of James Ellroy. Throw some Grisham into the equation and this is the novel that remains. In fact, there are too many elements that seem familiar; however, David Hosp keeps the plot moving and seamlessly ties together all the characters and events, so it never drags or seems repetitive.
May 19, 2015
I really enjoyed this first novel by David Hosp. There were some cliche types of things scattered among the really good writing but the bottom line is that I cared about many of the characters, and that's one of my key measures of whether I like a book or not. I believe David Hosp had a bright future ad a writer and he just might give Grisham a run for his money in the legal thriller genre.
May 27, 2012
I really enjoyed the authors writing style, and his portrayal of the characters. The story kept me engaged from beginning to end!
May 29, 2017
Fast paced and a kick ass chic.
September 27, 2017
This was a fun read! The characters are richly developed early on and the various twists and turns were well done and not always predictable,
September 29, 2019
The author kept the storyline moving from beginning to end. There were no lags, and I just couldn't put the book down. I thought for sure I knew who did it at least twice before the real culprit was exposed. There was torture and blood, I like the way the author handled it. There was plenty of suspense, the descriptions were done very well while leaving something to the imagination. The story was very well written.
For a first novel. The mystery is done well. With an actual surprise at the end, a little misdirection had me looking elsewhere.
For a first novel. The mystery is done well. With an actual surprise at the end, a little misdirection had me looking elsewhere.
October 30, 2018
I enjoyed this book. I was able to figure out who the killer was well before the reveal but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. I liked the character of Kozlowski-- I thought he was funny. I would read more in this series.
November 5, 2025
Very predictable and very cliche. Really enjoyable.
May 26, 2013
“Don’t see what you see; don’t hear what you hear. And if you’re asked, say you don’t know.” Follow this maxim in order to survive in the brutal neighbourhood of Charlestown, Boston, infamous for its mob presence. Scott Finn, who spent his youth on the streets of this violent quarter of Boston, got out to live a ‘normal’ life; and worked his way up to become a successful lawyer in the most elite law firm of Boston. Six years later he shockingly realized that the aphorism that was germane to his past life applied equally well to his current respectful life in a corporate world!
There were six murders in a row – all white females, whose hearts were surgically removed from their chest. The seventh victim turned out to be Natalie Caldwell, a colleague, closest friend and an ex-lover of Finn’s. Circumstances of her death were identical to the serial killer’s earlier preys’, except that this one looked more like an aftermath of a sexcapade. Police detective lieutenant Linda Flaherty, a beautiful, capable cop, who was in charge of the investigation of the serial killings, discovered more than one anomaly between the first six killings and the latest. Finn, because of his closeness to Caldwell, became a prime suspect for Caldwell’s murder.
When Finn took it upon himself to track down Caldwell’s murderer to prove his innocence and also to bring justice to his friend, unknown forces first attempted to dissuade Finn from his pursuit and then took action to make the case against Finn stronger. Friends turned out to be foes, and foes friends.
David Hosp’s Dark Harbour revolves about the theme that “Nothing is ever exactly what it seems to be”, but then most thrillers do exactly that. The novel begins well, but the prologue has hardly any major significance with respect to the central plot and that is disappointing. Nevertheless, the pace of the book is reasonably quick and it is a page-turner. The thrill is maintained right up to the end, but not so much the suspense. The fact that there was a second killer, who killed Natalie Caldwell, other than the serial killer, was brought out in the open too early in the novel. The story of the serial killer ended a little too soon with his capture and the situation of his capture was a little slapdash.
Final verdict is that this thriller is an average read – recommended for thriller-lovers, but not for choosy readers.
There were six murders in a row – all white females, whose hearts were surgically removed from their chest. The seventh victim turned out to be Natalie Caldwell, a colleague, closest friend and an ex-lover of Finn’s. Circumstances of her death were identical to the serial killer’s earlier preys’, except that this one looked more like an aftermath of a sexcapade. Police detective lieutenant Linda Flaherty, a beautiful, capable cop, who was in charge of the investigation of the serial killings, discovered more than one anomaly between the first six killings and the latest. Finn, because of his closeness to Caldwell, became a prime suspect for Caldwell’s murder.
When Finn took it upon himself to track down Caldwell’s murderer to prove his innocence and also to bring justice to his friend, unknown forces first attempted to dissuade Finn from his pursuit and then took action to make the case against Finn stronger. Friends turned out to be foes, and foes friends.
David Hosp’s Dark Harbour revolves about the theme that “Nothing is ever exactly what it seems to be”, but then most thrillers do exactly that. The novel begins well, but the prologue has hardly any major significance with respect to the central plot and that is disappointing. Nevertheless, the pace of the book is reasonably quick and it is a page-turner. The thrill is maintained right up to the end, but not so much the suspense. The fact that there was a second killer, who killed Natalie Caldwell, other than the serial killer, was brought out in the open too early in the novel. The story of the serial killer ended a little too soon with his capture and the situation of his capture was a little slapdash.
Final verdict is that this thriller is an average read – recommended for thriller-lovers, but not for choosy readers.
June 8, 2009
This was a very smart, well thought out book. The beginning immediately caught my attention, though at times it wasn't hard to put down. I liked how the conflict was immediately established, and once you thought it was resolved you found out you were mistaken. The familiarity of the Boston references (Big Dig, Sommerville, Whitey Bulger) and atmosphere (Boston Harbor, Charlestown) was refreshing and relatable. At different points in the book, specifically with Preston and the killing of the Private Investagator, I saw streaks of James Patterson in Hosp. Through the expostion however, I felt like at times there were too many characters and it was a bit confusing to determine the necessary and unecessary sub-plots (i.e. Stone and the Terrorist attack). I wished he had focused on McGuire and Williams a little earlier on and had their characters develop more. At times, I felt Finn was a bit immature and annoying and the ending was a bit happily ever after cliche. Other than that, I thought the book was extremely interesting and complex and would recommend it for everyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2016
This is the first of a series about Boston-based lawyer Scott Finn and his circle of friends, clients and enemies. At this point, he's a fast-rising associate in a big, pricy law firm although based on his background, he doesn't fit the usual ivy league pattern. In the course of his adventure, he first meets Kozlowski, who reappears as an important character in the later books. It's a somewhat formulaic crime story, beginning with a murder, incorporating some of the usual stock characters; but it's very well written and the characters are better developed than is usual for this genre. A well constructed plot that moves quickly and keeps the reader fully engaged as underlying facts are revealed. Perhaps not quite as good as "Among Thieves" which comes later, but still good entertainment.
July 18, 2013
So, this is the first novel by David Hosp. It is rather good, though it is one of those where the hero ends up getting beaten to a pulp twice. How do these characters survive such treatment. Scott Finn has worked his way up from squalid beginnings to being a lawyer at a good firm with an excellent wardrobe. THere is a serial killer named Little Jack, who did NOT kill Scott's one time lover, Natalie Caldwell. Finn determines that after an interview with the serial killer. Someone who IS interested in Finn is the detective, Linda Flaherty. There are a number of situations where one is not sure who are the bad guys. A good read, if you like lawyers, mobsters and police.
July 27, 2013
A woman, Natalie, is murdered and is considered to be the 7th victim of a serial killer. Investigations into the case show that there is much more to it than it meets the eye.
Scott Finn, the lawyer and the friend of the deceased who was last seen with her before her murder, becomes the prime suspect.
There is also underworld connection here. Finn has to not only save himself but also find out who murdered Natalie and why!
Amazing book. A total page-turner. Full of suspense and mystery. Fast-paced and a bit of romance and inner turmoil among all these. Deadly combo.
Must-read and highly recommended for all suspense/mystery lovers.
Scott Finn, the lawyer and the friend of the deceased who was last seen with her before her murder, becomes the prime suspect.
There is also underworld connection here. Finn has to not only save himself but also find out who murdered Natalie and why!
Amazing book. A total page-turner. Full of suspense and mystery. Fast-paced and a bit of romance and inner turmoil among all these. Deadly combo.
Must-read and highly recommended for all suspense/mystery lovers.
April 19, 2010
This is the first in the series by the author of "Among Thieves," the recent mystery about the Gardner Heist. I went back and read it because I was interested in the characters; the fact that the series is set in Boston was also a factor. The first one is good; I figured out who the "bad guy" was probably earlier than the author wanted me to but I read so much that this isn't necessarily that bad. Having read "Among Thieves" I have seen how the author's writing develops and plan to read numbers 2 & 3 as well.
February 1, 2008
I couldn't believe this was David Hosp's first book! This was engrossing from start to finish. Complicated characters, serial murders, hero suspected of murdering his best friend/ex-lover, Massachusetts politics. Great escapism. I had a new theory every chapter or so.
Was it perfect? No. But well worth the time invested. And quite impressive for a first book. I expect great things from David Hosp.
Was it perfect? No. But well worth the time invested. And quite impressive for a first book. I expect great things from David Hosp.
July 11, 2009
A great thriller read. The story of power attorney Scott Finn who becomes a murder suspect when his rising star co-worker and former lover Natalie is found dead in the Boston Harbour. Wanted by the police and the Irish mob Scoot tries to find answers to Natalie’s death. Was she murdered by the serial killer Little Jack? Or was something far worse going on? Scott also finds himself strangely attracted to the very detective that is trying to put him away for murder - Linda Flaherty.
September 29, 2011
Dark Harbor is a little out of my element. I'm not that crazy about cop thrillers, but it was definitely interesting and Hosp a talented writer.
The plot goes in directions you don't expect, but some of the elements were a little bit cliche (which is why I suspect I'm not crazy about cop dramas).
However, Finn and Flaherty both are likeable although maybe not as well realized as they should and could have been over a book this length.
The plot goes in directions you don't expect, but some of the elements were a little bit cliche (which is why I suspect I'm not crazy about cop dramas).
However, Finn and Flaherty both are likeable although maybe not as well realized as they should and could have been over a book this length.
February 23, 2018
I really enjoyed reading Hosp's various novels and this, being the first, sets the stage in a graphic way, and that is what really grabbed me. I can understand the dark world that is depicted in this book and can understand the emotional turmoil created by a person trying to leave that world but being continually drawn back into it. Over all, this was a well done book.
February 11, 2018
I enjoyed this. This was well plotted and highly entertaining. It was well written and fun. The part that I was irritated about is how all of the women are described in relation to how attractive they are to the male characters. I hope that this improves as the series continues.
August 7, 2017
I've never read anything by this author before, but this was an excellent thriller based in Boston on a serial killer fashioned after Jack the Ripper.
September 19, 2022
The scenes and the cliffhangers in each chapter had me on the edge of my seat, and the way they caught their killer early and yet there were still a lottt of pages left made me think like "what could possibly happen next?"...when you ask that question in a mystery/thriller book, know there's A LOT that could and will happen next.
there is a couple thing that bothered me though, but it's not so major so it didn't affect my rating much :
1- WHY DOES THE AUTHOR ASSUME I KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BOSTON. i was so confused and overwhelmed with the amount of bostanian (?) information and the descriptions in every chapter and the amount of useless characters we were introduced to and their job titles that i have never heard before. like one part of me was like "was that really necessary" and the other appreciates the amount of research that went into it.
2-GOD HELP ME WITH AMERICAN NAMES. Why do both the MCs' names start with F. Why is there 2 characters names stone and scott. why is there 2 characters named Tich McCluen and Tony McGuire. yes they are vastly different, but when you're reading and especially a thriller when you jump through the words, you can't make 2 characters have the same first letter AND number of letters in their name.
3- And this one made me the most angry/frustrated. It was addressed in the book but it still just doesn't excuse how stupid the cops in this book are. The main character, Flaherty, and her partner, Koz, are assigned on one of the most important investigations yet it doesn't seem deserved at all. The only reason they caught the murderer was because their fellow officer, Stone, had a "bad feeling" about a guy. How the hell did this officer catch the bad vibe meters away and not the prostitute that was hanging out with him? like shouldn't these women start taking precautions after founding out a killer is targeting them? Speaking of the officer in the bar, are we supposed to think it a very smart offer from koz to assign someone to watch the bar like yeah no shit you're gonna do that. what the hell did Flaherty expect to find on her laptop in the first place.
Then when finding the 2nd killer, SHE PUT ABSOLUTELY NO EFFORT IN IT AT ALL. she saw finn being a good suspect and was like OKAY LET'S JUMP ON THAT WAGON. like girl go search the victim's belongings maybe?? don't you think a lawyer would have a lot of enemies maybe investigate that?? And again, yes, Flaherty did acknowledge the fact that "she'd been so careful not to let her personal feelings bias her in Finn's direction that she may have let herself become biased against him" BUT IT DOESN'T ERASE THE FACT THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WHO WAS ASSIGNED ON A TOP CASE BCZ OF HOW SMART SHE IS DIDN'T MAKE ANYY SMART DECISIONS.
Not to mention both stone and flaherty "caught" their "killer" ILLEGALLY. like stone, honey you had a bad feeling, CALL SOMEONE OVER. What kind of smart decision was it to break in alone? you could've been killed AND NO ONE WOULD KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS YOU'RE IN THAT HOUSE. And Flaherty, really? like, actually? This guy invites you over knowing fully well he has a knife and ribbon in his closet? That seems logical to you honey?
Like let's not ignore the whole reason finn got beaten up twice and lost his best friend was because of Flaherty, like i would've made her feel guilty so bad, but ig finn decided to support women's wrongs.
Also, i tend to not trust white male authors, so i was very happy with this and the way they handled controversial topics. The women weren't heavily sexualized and there was actually some awareness to the struggles they go through. yeah i know. very low standards but what can i say. And i'm glad there was awareness on religious terrorism, all without blaming the entire religion and instead the brainwashing and severe mental illness.
there is a couple thing that bothered me though, but it's not so major so it didn't affect my rating much :
1- WHY DOES THE AUTHOR ASSUME I KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BOSTON. i was so confused and overwhelmed with the amount of bostanian (?) information and the descriptions in every chapter and the amount of useless characters we were introduced to and their job titles that i have never heard before. like one part of me was like "was that really necessary" and the other appreciates the amount of research that went into it.
2-GOD HELP ME WITH AMERICAN NAMES. Why do both the MCs' names start with F. Why is there 2 characters names stone and scott. why is there 2 characters named Tich McCluen and Tony McGuire. yes they are vastly different, but when you're reading and especially a thriller when you jump through the words, you can't make 2 characters have the same first letter AND number of letters in their name.
3- And this one made me the most angry/frustrated. It was addressed in the book but it still just doesn't excuse how stupid the cops in this book are. The main character, Flaherty, and her partner, Koz, are assigned on one of the most important investigations yet it doesn't seem deserved at all. The only reason they caught the murderer was because their fellow officer, Stone, had a "bad feeling" about a guy. How the hell did this officer catch the bad vibe meters away and not the prostitute that was hanging out with him? like shouldn't these women start taking precautions after founding out a killer is targeting them? Speaking of the officer in the bar, are we supposed to think it a very smart offer from koz to assign someone to watch the bar like yeah no shit you're gonna do that. what the hell did Flaherty expect to find on her laptop in the first place.
Then when finding the 2nd killer, SHE PUT ABSOLUTELY NO EFFORT IN IT AT ALL. she saw finn being a good suspect and was like OKAY LET'S JUMP ON THAT WAGON. like girl go search the victim's belongings maybe?? don't you think a lawyer would have a lot of enemies maybe investigate that?? And again, yes, Flaherty did acknowledge the fact that "she'd been so careful not to let her personal feelings bias her in Finn's direction that she may have let herself become biased against him" BUT IT DOESN'T ERASE THE FACT THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WHO WAS ASSIGNED ON A TOP CASE BCZ OF HOW SMART SHE IS DIDN'T MAKE ANYY SMART DECISIONS.
Not to mention both stone and flaherty "caught" their "killer" ILLEGALLY. like stone, honey you had a bad feeling, CALL SOMEONE OVER. What kind of smart decision was it to break in alone? you could've been killed AND NO ONE WOULD KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS YOU'RE IN THAT HOUSE. And Flaherty, really? like, actually? This guy invites you over knowing fully well he has a knife and ribbon in his closet? That seems logical to you honey?
Like let's not ignore the whole reason finn got beaten up twice and lost his best friend was because of Flaherty, like i would've made her feel guilty so bad, but ig finn decided to support women's wrongs.
Also, i tend to not trust white male authors, so i was very happy with this and the way they handled controversial topics. The women weren't heavily sexualized and there was actually some awareness to the struggles they go through. yeah i know. very low standards but what can i say. And i'm glad there was awareness on religious terrorism, all without blaming the entire religion and instead the brainwashing and severe mental illness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2019
This was a pretty solid book with some rather atmospheric descriptions of Boston. As an Australian I'm not really familiar with Boston's layout and vibe, however the scenes painted interestingly were clear enough to have a clear idea of the lay of the land from having played Fallout 4 which was sent in Boston also, and featured many of the same landmarks as the novel.
I found the initial section of the book with the serial killer on the prowl was particularly good, however it then seemed to lag a little in the middle and I was somewhat losing concentration and interest. Then that could have been due to the fact I'd been up for 40 hours at the time. At any rate, the story then gets back up and going as the threads of seeming different matters begin to wind together suspiciously and characters who seemed dirty end up being upstanding people to varying degrees, and those who seemed upstanding end up being not so upstanding, also to varying degrees.
Overall I'd say it was decent, but not outstanding. It lacked the enthrallment you get with James Sheehan, John Grisham & Patterson.
I found the initial section of the book with the serial killer on the prowl was particularly good, however it then seemed to lag a little in the middle and I was somewhat losing concentration and interest. Then that could have been due to the fact I'd been up for 40 hours at the time. At any rate, the story then gets back up and going as the threads of seeming different matters begin to wind together suspiciously and characters who seemed dirty end up being upstanding people to varying degrees, and those who seemed upstanding end up being not so upstanding, also to varying degrees.
Overall I'd say it was decent, but not outstanding. It lacked the enthrallment you get with James Sheehan, John Grisham & Patterson.
November 11, 2020
4 -4 1/2 star read. This is the debut novel for Hosp and book 1 in a series and it is off to a great start. This legal thriller was well written and kept my interest from beginning to end. Scott Finn is a lawyer at a prestigious firm on track to partner, but he's got a past from his youth in the tough streets of Boston. When his colleague and former lover ends up dead in the water, presumed to be the latest victim of a serial killer at work in the city, Finn is determined to find out what happened to Natalie. And as he starts looking into things, life starts to get dangerous. Finn finds himself up against some very powerful and dangerous people. He has help from a police detective, Linda Flaherty and her partner Kozlowski, but the people they are up against are relentless in trying to keep the truth from coming out. A really good read. Looking forward to book 2 in the series.
February 12, 2019
David Hosp writes a solid thriller about Scott Finn, a Boston lawyer who grew up in a tough neighborhood, and gets immersed with a serial murderer and a related murder of his ex-lover. On the plus side, the characters are interesting and the dialogue is good, if uninspiring. The backstory is good, and the appearance of Whitey Bulger (he shows up in other Hosp books) combined with the description of Irish gang presence in Boston is a definite plus. The plot moves at a good pace. The negative side is that the plot is a little flat, with some odd coincidences - the police, hero, and villain all show up in the same bar at different times by random chance - that jarred this reader. This is not a "legal" thriller, even though Scott Finn is a lawyer - there is no court drama.
June 29, 2022
This is a fair to middling legal thriller. It is an easy read. Perfect for the beach or a leisurely read by the lake. It requires no deep thinking and is relatively entertaining. The plot is rather stock as are some of the characters (the psycho, serial killer and the hardened cop partner). However, some of the characters are rather interesting and occasionally amusing. The one relationship I did not get is the main character's obsession with his deceased colleague. From what we are told I saw nothing likeable or engaging about her and I never really understood their colleagus to lover to friend relationship.
August 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced with short chapters.
At first there was a lot of characters but it didn’t take long to get invested in each one and I wouldn’t say there was a character/chapter I wasn’t interested in reading.
With the many different POV you knew what was going on most the time and didn’t need to guess at the plot twist, it was mainly about who betrayed him not who committed the crime but it still kept me interested.
I wish there was a bit more closure at the end in terms of what happened to the Tanner case, the widow and wanting the big public reveal.
I’ll definitely be reading the next one.
At first there was a lot of characters but it didn’t take long to get invested in each one and I wouldn’t say there was a character/chapter I wasn’t interested in reading.
With the many different POV you knew what was going on most the time and didn’t need to guess at the plot twist, it was mainly about who betrayed him not who committed the crime but it still kept me interested.
I wish there was a bit more closure at the end in terms of what happened to the Tanner case, the widow and wanting the big public reveal.
I’ll definitely be reading the next one.
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