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Jane Ryland #4
What You See
Hank Phillippi Ryan weaves another taut and surprising tale in What You See, the fourth Jane Ryland novel of suspense
Why would a father abduct his own child? A wedding is planned in Jane Ryland’s family, but there’s a disaster instead. Nine-year-old Gracie—supposed to be the flower girl—has been taken by her stepdad. Where are they? Is the girl in danger? Reporter Jane Ryland learns there’s a limit to the bonds of family—and learns to her peril what happens when loved ones are pushed too far.
Meanwhile, Detective Jake Brogan's got a doozy of a case. At Boston's historic Faneuil Hall, a man is stabbed to death in front of a crowd of tourists snapping photos of the murder on their cell phones. Solving the case should be easy, but the pictures and surveillance video lead him to a dark conspiracy of extortion and stolen lives.
Jane and Jake must explore where their loyalties lie—to each other? To their families? To their careers? If they make the wrong decision, the consequences could be fatal.
Why would a father abduct his own child? A wedding is planned in Jane Ryland’s family, but there’s a disaster instead. Nine-year-old Gracie—supposed to be the flower girl—has been taken by her stepdad. Where are they? Is the girl in danger? Reporter Jane Ryland learns there’s a limit to the bonds of family—and learns to her peril what happens when loved ones are pushed too far.
Meanwhile, Detective Jake Brogan's got a doozy of a case. At Boston's historic Faneuil Hall, a man is stabbed to death in front of a crowd of tourists snapping photos of the murder on their cell phones. Solving the case should be easy, but the pictures and surveillance video lead him to a dark conspiracy of extortion and stolen lives.
Jane and Jake must explore where their loyalties lie—to each other? To their families? To their careers? If they make the wrong decision, the consequences could be fatal.
382 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2015
109 people are currently reading
1321 people want to read
About the author
Hank Phillippi Ryan
47 books2,920 followersHank Phillippi Ryan is the USA Today bestselling author of sixteen award winning novels of suspense. National reviews have called her a "master at crafting suspenseful mysteries" and "a superb and gifted storyteller." SHe is also an investigative reporter for WHDH-TV, winning 37 Emmys for her true crime stories.
Her newest is ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS--an INSTANT USA TODAY bestseller.
Is a debut author’s blockbuster bestseller about to ruin her life? A glamorous book tour becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse chase in this new and captivating thriller!
(Freida McFadden says: "Engrossing! With a main character that I loved, and a twist the left me reeling!" And Jeneva Rose says: I absolutely loved it! This is Hank Phillippi Ryan at her best!”)
Don't miss ONE WRONG WORD, now in paperback. BA Paris says: "A gripping rollercoaster of a read!"
Her 2021 thriller THE HOUSE GUEST (Gaslight meets Thelma & Louise) now in a second printing!
Hank is also an award-winning investigative reporter at Boston's WHDH-TV. In addition to 37 EMMYs and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards, Hank's won dozens of other honors
for her ground-breaking journalism.
She is co-host and co-founder of The Back Room, co-host of First Chapter Fun, and host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze.
Her previous thriller, HER PERFECT LIFE, received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, calling it "Stellar."
Her earlier psychological thrillers include,THE FIRST TO LIE (with several starred reviews) an Agatha Award and Mary HIggins CLark award nomination) and THE MURDER LIST, which won the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the year, and was ]an Agatha, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee, a number one legal thriller on Amazon, and a USA Today Bestseller.
Her first psychological standalone, TRUST ME (now in paperback) , is an Agatha Award nominee, and was named BEST of 2018 by the New York Post, Real Simple Magazine, BookBub, Crime Reads, and PopSugar. Mary Kubica says: "Dazzling!" and Lisa Gardner says "Mesmerizing!"
The Booklist *starred review says "...it's a knockout. First-rate psychological suspense."
Her thriller SAY NO MORE, is a Library Journal BEST OF 2016. And this just in: it's a nominee for the AGATHA AWARD and the MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD! And now, breaking news, it is also a DAPHNE AWARD nominee! Associated Press calls it "stellar" and Publishers Weekly calls it "thrilling" "unflinching" and "gratifying."
Her 2015 book, WHAT YOU SEE, is a Library Journal BEST of 2015, an ANTHONY and AGATHA Award nominee, and a Top Pick!, dubbed "exceptional suspense." It received a starred review from Library Journal which says: "Readers will find themselves racing to the finish!"
Her 2014 book, TRUTH BE TOLD, won the AGATHA Award for best mystery, and is a Library Journal Best of 2014. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, which says, "Drop everything and binge read!"
THE WRONG GIRL won the Agatha Award and the Daphne Award, and is a seven-week Boston Globe bestseller and Anthony Award nominee.
THE OTHER WOMAN won the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was listed as a Best Book of 2012 by the Kansas City Star, the Sacramento Bee, Suspense Magazine, and The Boston Globe, won the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was the only novel nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Shamus and Daphne awards for Best Novel of 2012.
Her first four mysteries, beginning with the Agatha Award-winning PRIME TIME, feature Charlotte McNally, a Boston television reporter. FACE TIME was a BookSense Notable Book, and AIR TIME and DRIVE TIME were both Anthony and Agatha Award nominees for best novel of 2009 and 2010. They are now available in all new editions.
Her journalism work work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in refunds and restitution for victims and consumers. She's been a radio reporter, a legislati
Her newest is ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS--an INSTANT USA TODAY bestseller.
Is a debut author’s blockbuster bestseller about to ruin her life? A glamorous book tour becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse chase in this new and captivating thriller!
(Freida McFadden says: "Engrossing! With a main character that I loved, and a twist the left me reeling!" And Jeneva Rose says: I absolutely loved it! This is Hank Phillippi Ryan at her best!”)
Don't miss ONE WRONG WORD, now in paperback. BA Paris says: "A gripping rollercoaster of a read!"
Her 2021 thriller THE HOUSE GUEST (Gaslight meets Thelma & Louise) now in a second printing!
Hank is also an award-winning investigative reporter at Boston's WHDH-TV. In addition to 37 EMMYs and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards, Hank's won dozens of other honors
for her ground-breaking journalism.
She is co-host and co-founder of The Back Room, co-host of First Chapter Fun, and host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze.
Her previous thriller, HER PERFECT LIFE, received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, calling it "Stellar."
Her earlier psychological thrillers include,THE FIRST TO LIE (with several starred reviews) an Agatha Award and Mary HIggins CLark award nomination) and THE MURDER LIST, which won the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the year, and was ]an Agatha, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee, a number one legal thriller on Amazon, and a USA Today Bestseller.
Her first psychological standalone, TRUST ME (now in paperback) , is an Agatha Award nominee, and was named BEST of 2018 by the New York Post, Real Simple Magazine, BookBub, Crime Reads, and PopSugar. Mary Kubica says: "Dazzling!" and Lisa Gardner says "Mesmerizing!"
The Booklist *starred review says "...it's a knockout. First-rate psychological suspense."
Her thriller SAY NO MORE, is a Library Journal BEST OF 2016. And this just in: it's a nominee for the AGATHA AWARD and the MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD! And now, breaking news, it is also a DAPHNE AWARD nominee! Associated Press calls it "stellar" and Publishers Weekly calls it "thrilling" "unflinching" and "gratifying."
Her 2015 book, WHAT YOU SEE, is a Library Journal BEST of 2015, an ANTHONY and AGATHA Award nominee, and a Top Pick!, dubbed "exceptional suspense." It received a starred review from Library Journal which says: "Readers will find themselves racing to the finish!"
Her 2014 book, TRUTH BE TOLD, won the AGATHA Award for best mystery, and is a Library Journal Best of 2014. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, which says, "Drop everything and binge read!"
THE WRONG GIRL won the Agatha Award and the Daphne Award, and is a seven-week Boston Globe bestseller and Anthony Award nominee.
THE OTHER WOMAN won the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was listed as a Best Book of 2012 by the Kansas City Star, the Sacramento Bee, Suspense Magazine, and The Boston Globe, won the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was the only novel nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Shamus and Daphne awards for Best Novel of 2012.
Her first four mysteries, beginning with the Agatha Award-winning PRIME TIME, feature Charlotte McNally, a Boston television reporter. FACE TIME was a BookSense Notable Book, and AIR TIME and DRIVE TIME were both Anthony and Agatha Award nominees for best novel of 2009 and 2010. They are now available in all new editions.
Her journalism work work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in refunds and restitution for victims and consumers. She's been a radio reporter, a legislati
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
August 18, 2015
Author Hank Phillippi Ryan consistently wins awards for her writing--the Agatha, the Anthony, the Macavity, the Daphne du Maurier, and the Mary Higgins Clark awards. She has also won awards as the on-air investigative reporter for Boston's NBC affiliate--33 Emmys and 13 Edward R. Murrows, as well as others. So, you really don't have to take my word for it that Hank is brilliant, and her writing reflects that. However, that won't stop me from bragging on this favorite author who provides me with some of my best reading every year. She masterfully sets up plots and characters that will engage you in the perfect timing and complexity of connections. You won't get lost in these layers, except in the best possible way of relishing their relevance. What You See is the fourth book in the Jane Ryland series set in Boston, and it will please mightily the established fans of the series, and it will have first time readers racing back to the previous three novels.
In What You See, Jane Ryland is between jobs, after quitting her newspaper reporter's position due to the paper's lack of ethics, which Jane couldn't live with. She is in the middle of an interview with television station Channel 2 when a story breaks in front of City Hall, a stabbing. As no one else is available at the station, the news director sends Jane, an on-the-spot try-out. With Jane trying to work out the whole work conflict with boyfriend Detective Jake Brogan, it's a mixed blessing. The scene at City Hall is frantic with the stabbing victim pronounced dead and bystanders being detained for possible eye witness accounts or cellphone video/pictures. It's both a plethora of possibility and a dearth of decipherability. Finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. Jake and his partner Paul DeLuca are already on the scene giving out assignments and trying to keep control when Jane arrives on the fringes of the activity. A young man who has renamed himself Bobby Land and is hoping to make a name for himself as a photographer latches onto Jane and steers her toward an alley where Jake and DeLuca have engaged with two men, one claiming to have captured the killer and the supposed suspect unconscious from being beaten. Jane and Jake inevitably meet up in this alley, and the old question of maintaining a relationship with conflicting interests is back in play. And, in the middle of it all, Jane receives a call from her sister informing Jane that the nine-year-old daughter of her fiancé is missing with her step-father, with just days to go before the wedding.
Then, it gets complicated. Neither the murder victim or the injured man in the alley have any ID on them, making motive and solving the case that much harder. Jane is juggling trying to establish a toe-hold with Channel 2 while her family situation escalates into a possible kidnapping of young Gracie by the stepdad. Jake is finding a murder in broad daylight in front of City Hall is full of challenges and directions of interest that have far reaching connections and consequences. And, how do Jane and Jake fit in a relationship in two worlds at odds with one another? The answers will take readers on a thrilling, great paced trek of family secrets, merciless ambition, and deceitful maneuverings.
Thanks, Hank Phillippi Ryan for another absorbing story featuring Jane Ryland. What You See is a vision of great writing and entertainment.
In What You See, Jane Ryland is between jobs, after quitting her newspaper reporter's position due to the paper's lack of ethics, which Jane couldn't live with. She is in the middle of an interview with television station Channel 2 when a story breaks in front of City Hall, a stabbing. As no one else is available at the station, the news director sends Jane, an on-the-spot try-out. With Jane trying to work out the whole work conflict with boyfriend Detective Jake Brogan, it's a mixed blessing. The scene at City Hall is frantic with the stabbing victim pronounced dead and bystanders being detained for possible eye witness accounts or cellphone video/pictures. It's both a plethora of possibility and a dearth of decipherability. Finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. Jake and his partner Paul DeLuca are already on the scene giving out assignments and trying to keep control when Jane arrives on the fringes of the activity. A young man who has renamed himself Bobby Land and is hoping to make a name for himself as a photographer latches onto Jane and steers her toward an alley where Jake and DeLuca have engaged with two men, one claiming to have captured the killer and the supposed suspect unconscious from being beaten. Jane and Jake inevitably meet up in this alley, and the old question of maintaining a relationship with conflicting interests is back in play. And, in the middle of it all, Jane receives a call from her sister informing Jane that the nine-year-old daughter of her fiancé is missing with her step-father, with just days to go before the wedding.
Then, it gets complicated. Neither the murder victim or the injured man in the alley have any ID on them, making motive and solving the case that much harder. Jane is juggling trying to establish a toe-hold with Channel 2 while her family situation escalates into a possible kidnapping of young Gracie by the stepdad. Jake is finding a murder in broad daylight in front of City Hall is full of challenges and directions of interest that have far reaching connections and consequences. And, how do Jane and Jake fit in a relationship in two worlds at odds with one another? The answers will take readers on a thrilling, great paced trek of family secrets, merciless ambition, and deceitful maneuverings.
Thanks, Hank Phillippi Ryan for another absorbing story featuring Jane Ryland. What You See is a vision of great writing and entertainment.
October 20, 2015
What You See . . . is (or isn’t?) what you get
Hank Phillippi Ryan has hit another one right out of the park! Sighs of satisfaction, having just finished this splendid book. Ryan weaves strands of complex plots without losing clarity (a skill learned as a reporter with many stories to juggle?) I love when it all comes together.
She creates characters I care about, good people, flawed enough to be interesting and real. As webs tangled and problems grew, the “real world” had to stay on hold until all was resolved. (Not unexpected. I had “cleared the decks” for a reading marathon).
There is wisdom in these pages. I was hooked by the introductory quotes on ways of seeing, and "the hook was set” within the first few pages by Jane’s reflections on ethics, inconvenient as they can be. Would I quit a job on principle and face being unemployed? I hope I never have to find out. There are compensations: “Laser focus on the bright side, Jane.” No longer a reporter, Jane can stop hiding her relationship with Jake. In truth, they are so competent together that perhaps police/reporter teams should become a mandated norm rather than a are so good together that I'm thinking police/reporter teams should become a mandated norm rather than a “conflict of interest.”
Then there’s the problem of knowing what’s right. “So much of reality wasn’t what it seemed at first glance.” Despite everything, everywhere being recorded on video and photos, secrets and misunderstandings create dangerous traps, which good, brave people can help untangle, in fiction and maybe also in life.
Back to the Henry David Thoreau quote that hooked me at the start:
It’s not what you look at that matters. It’s what you see.
I’m still seeing this story in my mind, as I look at the little pond that I refer to as Walden, a little sad that the book is finished, looking forward to another, and hoping for many real-life heroes like Jane and Jake to help sort out the tangled webs of greed and power in life as in fiction.
Hank Phillippi Ryan has hit another one right out of the park! Sighs of satisfaction, having just finished this splendid book. Ryan weaves strands of complex plots without losing clarity (a skill learned as a reporter with many stories to juggle?) I love when it all comes together.
She creates characters I care about, good people, flawed enough to be interesting and real. As webs tangled and problems grew, the “real world” had to stay on hold until all was resolved. (Not unexpected. I had “cleared the decks” for a reading marathon).
There is wisdom in these pages. I was hooked by the introductory quotes on ways of seeing, and "the hook was set” within the first few pages by Jane’s reflections on ethics, inconvenient as they can be. Would I quit a job on principle and face being unemployed? I hope I never have to find out. There are compensations: “Laser focus on the bright side, Jane.” No longer a reporter, Jane can stop hiding her relationship with Jake. In truth, they are so competent together that perhaps police/reporter teams should become a mandated norm rather than a are so good together that I'm thinking police/reporter teams should become a mandated norm rather than a “conflict of interest.”
Then there’s the problem of knowing what’s right. “So much of reality wasn’t what it seemed at first glance.” Despite everything, everywhere being recorded on video and photos, secrets and misunderstandings create dangerous traps, which good, brave people can help untangle, in fiction and maybe also in life.
Back to the Henry David Thoreau quote that hooked me at the start:
It’s not what you look at that matters. It’s what you see.
I’m still seeing this story in my mind, as I look at the little pond that I refer to as Walden, a little sad that the book is finished, looking forward to another, and hoping for many real-life heroes like Jane and Jake to help sort out the tangled webs of greed and power in life as in fiction.
September 5, 2015
Hank Philippi Ryan nails Boston! I'm not sure how she pulls it off, creating such page turners, one after the other after the next. She really had me twisted up in this one. After the set up, I then just kept on flipping and flipping, as she expertly kept me on the edge of the edge. Philippi Ryan is an expert writer, she writes with suspense and well-placed humor. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a reader, and as a writer, I got a good schooling. Her descriptions of Boston City Hall are so wonderfully true, I smiled every time I was there in this tale. And if I didn't pass Fanueil Hall nearly every day, I would have see the places and smelled the air from the book alone. The child/family drama in this one really had me glued. And as an E-Discovery law professor, I very much appreciated the very true and accurate portrayals of ubiquitous electronic evidence literally everywhere. I may use some quotes in the upcoming semester.
March 21, 2016
I liked it, it kept me intrigued, curious how it was going to all play out...but I don't particularly like the Jane Ryland character. It seems like Jake is the better main character and a series about him would be more interesting.
February 29, 2016
This is the first time I'm reading HPR. I was curious to read her as she's always nominated or wins big in the Agatha Award, my go-to lists for cozy mysteries. They never let me down and neither did HPR. Though the cover tells us that this is a Jane Ryland novel, her cop-boyfriend Jake, features as much. While he works the opening murder scene from a policing angle, she does so from a journalistic one. On the surface it looks like they're in a situation of conflicted interests, but they work together to find justice and truth, the ideals of their two respected professions. They're likable, sympathetic, and mature protagonists. They navigate the little we see of their relationship in a realistic, affectionate way. I enjoyed them as much as I did the theme of perception. I really liked how HPR showed the skewed and uncertain way that detecting and reporting occurs: nothing is ever as it seems and the work is about putting seemingly confusing pieces together and sometimes getting things wrong and having to reassess. I'd like to read HPR again ... but I'd also like more romance in her narrative. If you'd like to read my blog review, please follow the link:
http://missbatesreadsromance.com/2016...
Please note I received an e-ARC from Forge Books, via Netgalley.
http://missbatesreadsromance.com/2016...
Please note I received an e-ARC from Forge Books, via Netgalley.
December 10, 2017
This book had two totally unconnected stories except for the main two characters, Jane Ryland, a journalist between jobs and Jake, a police detective who is involved in some crazy cases. Jane gets a frantic phone call from her sister that her soon-to-be stepdaughter, Gracie, is missing while she's covering a murder in broad daylight in a city park right across from City Hall. The book goes back and forth between the two stories. You can see where the Gracie story is going, so it wasn't that great, but only added it appears as a filler for why Jane gets distracted from covering the park murder for a TV station that has offered her a job. The thing that drove me crazy was the book covered a lot of what the main characters were thinking punctuated by questions? Why did this happen? Did that person really do that? You'd get a paragraph with five questions in a row? I'm not a big fan of that as it doesn't really advance the story line. The plot had potential and I kept reading to find out what was going to happen, but it was difficult to follow at times. It would be really slow and then speed up like crazy where you had a hard time following what was going on.
May 3, 2016
I can’t possibly express my love for Hank Phillippi Ryan’s books. They are absolute gems! Filled with the perfect parts of suspense, mystery, and everyday life, they really make me want to move to Boston and become an investigative reporter.
Jane sees even more development in her personal life in this book both with Jake and without him. I loved learning about her family and meeting her sister, it made Jane feel more real somehow to me. It also added an extra layer of suspense to the mystery part of the story knowing that it all hit closely to Jane’s life.
The mystery, as always, however, is the real star. It was fill with so many twists and turns and I love the way Ms. Ryan takes what looks like multiple completely separate mysteries and weaves them together into one mystery by the end; it’s absolutely mind blowing at times but it always makes sense.
The book ended on a cliffhanger and I absolutely cannot wait to see how it ends up in the next book! Excellent characters, setting, and mystery; this is probably one of my favorite series right now. Highly recommend!
Jane sees even more development in her personal life in this book both with Jake and without him. I loved learning about her family and meeting her sister, it made Jane feel more real somehow to me. It also added an extra layer of suspense to the mystery part of the story knowing that it all hit closely to Jane’s life.
The mystery, as always, however, is the real star. It was fill with so many twists and turns and I love the way Ms. Ryan takes what looks like multiple completely separate mysteries and weaves them together into one mystery by the end; it’s absolutely mind blowing at times but it always makes sense.
The book ended on a cliffhanger and I absolutely cannot wait to see how it ends up in the next book! Excellent characters, setting, and mystery; this is probably one of my favorite series right now. Highly recommend!
March 2, 2019
This was another new author for me. The novel is well written, but it may progress more slowly than many would like. On the other hand, you may like getting to know the characters in more depth as I did. The story line is complicated with twists and turns and the main characters are likeable. There are a couple of things that are somewhat unbelievable, but otherwise, the plot seemed okay. The last half of the book is more intense than the first half, but the action continues throughout the book.
October 22, 2015
Review to follow.
August 23, 2022
I love Hank Phillippi Ryan! This book had great twist and turns, unfortunately it was too drawn out and just wanted to finish.
October 1, 2019
When I first started reading this book I described it as “frantic”. But as I continued reading I realized I couldn’t put it down. This is the best Jane Ryland so far!
July 10, 2019
I just love a book that I can read and not have to struggle with the plot or characters. Hank does an amazing job intertwining numerous characters and plots. I find it hard to put these books down! #janeryland is a great leading character! Would love to see this on tv!!
October 29, 2015
Sometimes people think they know what you are going to say before you finish telling them something. They may jump in and finish your sentence for you, or even worse they may just assume that they understand what you are trying to tell them, and then not really listen to you. They may be on their phone or watching something on TV, or thinking about their hot date for Saturday night. Communication seems to be suffering in these fast paced days that we are living.
Ms. Ryan highlights this phenomena in What You See. Everyone cuts off each other. They are trying to multitask and therefore can barely single-task. Too much is going on, and too many worries and problems get in the way, so everyone thinks that they are getting the whole picture, but really they are missing crucial facts.
All of this churning around frustrated me. I wanted to yell at Detective Jake Brogan. He needed to follow-up. He had to do one thing at a time, but of course he couldn’t. He was pulled every which way and didn’t even have time to sleep, which just made everything worse. Laid-off Reporter Jane Ryland wanted to find a new job. She had her sister’s wedding to deal with at the same time. Then her sister’s future step-daughter goes missing. She is offered a temporary job with a local TV station. Everything happens at once. I wanted to yell at Jane too. Everyone just needs to calm down and complete what they are doing!
This book is very fast paced. It’s hard to feel comfortable while reading it, but that’s what the author wanted to convey. She wanted to make you feel what all of the characters were feeling, the hectic pace and the confusion. The feeling like you were being pulled in multiple directions, never able to compete anything before having to switch tasks and work on something else. The struggles of dealing with other family members. Trying to keep feeling from being hurt. She did a very effective job.
I give What You See 4 Stars out of 5 and a Thumbs Up! If you are ready to put up with the fast-paced challenge of modern multitasking along with the struggles that dealing with the secrets that families keep, then this book will keep you up all night.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
Ms. Ryan highlights this phenomena in What You See. Everyone cuts off each other. They are trying to multitask and therefore can barely single-task. Too much is going on, and too many worries and problems get in the way, so everyone thinks that they are getting the whole picture, but really they are missing crucial facts.
All of this churning around frustrated me. I wanted to yell at Detective Jake Brogan. He needed to follow-up. He had to do one thing at a time, but of course he couldn’t. He was pulled every which way and didn’t even have time to sleep, which just made everything worse. Laid-off Reporter Jane Ryland wanted to find a new job. She had her sister’s wedding to deal with at the same time. Then her sister’s future step-daughter goes missing. She is offered a temporary job with a local TV station. Everything happens at once. I wanted to yell at Jane too. Everyone just needs to calm down and complete what they are doing!
This book is very fast paced. It’s hard to feel comfortable while reading it, but that’s what the author wanted to convey. She wanted to make you feel what all of the characters were feeling, the hectic pace and the confusion. The feeling like you were being pulled in multiple directions, never able to compete anything before having to switch tasks and work on something else. The struggles of dealing with other family members. Trying to keep feeling from being hurt. She did a very effective job.
I give What You See 4 Stars out of 5 and a Thumbs Up! If you are ready to put up with the fast-paced challenge of modern multitasking along with the struggles that dealing with the secrets that families keep, then this book will keep you up all night.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
April 3, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Why would a father abduct his own child? A wedding is planned in Jane Ryland's family, but there's a disaster instead. Nine-year-old Gracie-supposed to be the flower girl-has been taken by her stepdad. Where are they? Is the girl in danger? Reporter Jane Ryland learns there's a limit to the bonds of family-and learns to her peril what happens when loved ones are pushed too far.
Meanwhile, Detective Jake Brogan's got a doozy of a case. At Boston's historic Faneuil Hall, a man is stabbed to death in front of a crowd of tourists snapping photos of the murder on their cell phones. Solving the case should be easy, but the pictures and surveillance video lead him to a dark conspiracy of extortion and stolen lives.
Jane and Jake must explore where their loyalties lie-to each other? To their families? To their careers? If they make the wrong decision, the consequences could be fatal.
I read the third book in this series a little while ago and, just like that book, this one had its ups and downs.
Most significant in the list of positives is the pacing of the novel. Regardless of how I was feeling about the plots or characters, the story kept chugging along, keeping the suspense building all the while. The two plots should have been more interesting but did enough to keep me reading.
The downsides, for me, were the plots themselves. I think there was just too much going on to keep me invested completely in the outcome. It was just a bit too - how do I say this? - fiddly?
The other thing was the dynamic between Jake and Jane. It still didn't feel convincing. It feels like their "will they, won't they?" story just keeps dragging out and the author is just throwing in more plot points and story arcs to stop them from actually doing anything.
Will I read another one? Geez, I really don't know...
Paul
ARH
Why would a father abduct his own child? A wedding is planned in Jane Ryland's family, but there's a disaster instead. Nine-year-old Gracie-supposed to be the flower girl-has been taken by her stepdad. Where are they? Is the girl in danger? Reporter Jane Ryland learns there's a limit to the bonds of family-and learns to her peril what happens when loved ones are pushed too far.
Meanwhile, Detective Jake Brogan's got a doozy of a case. At Boston's historic Faneuil Hall, a man is stabbed to death in front of a crowd of tourists snapping photos of the murder on their cell phones. Solving the case should be easy, but the pictures and surveillance video lead him to a dark conspiracy of extortion and stolen lives.
Jane and Jake must explore where their loyalties lie-to each other? To their families? To their careers? If they make the wrong decision, the consequences could be fatal.
I read the third book in this series a little while ago and, just like that book, this one had its ups and downs.
Most significant in the list of positives is the pacing of the novel. Regardless of how I was feeling about the plots or characters, the story kept chugging along, keeping the suspense building all the while. The two plots should have been more interesting but did enough to keep me reading.
The downsides, for me, were the plots themselves. I think there was just too much going on to keep me invested completely in the outcome. It was just a bit too - how do I say this? - fiddly?
The other thing was the dynamic between Jake and Jane. It still didn't feel convincing. It feels like their "will they, won't they?" story just keeps dragging out and the author is just throwing in more plot points and story arcs to stop them from actually doing anything.
Will I read another one? Geez, I really don't know...
Paul
ARH
October 27, 2015
On a busy Boston pathway, a man is stabbed to death in the midst of a crowd of tourists, resulting in a frenzy of cell phone photographs and leaving Detective Jake Brogan with an unusual problem: too many witnesses.
Between all those cell phone snapshots and the surveillance cameras surrounding the area, solving the case should have been a cinch, but the investigation takes a surprising turn, revealing unexpected treachery.
Meanwhile, wedding preparations are keeping Jane Ryland busy; she’ll be maid of honor for her sister, Melissa, and the groom’s young daughter, Gracie, will be the flower girl. There’s just one complication: Gracie has disappeared, apparently abducted by her stepfather, leaving her family fearing for her safety.
Jane is invited to Channel 2 for a job interview, but when the news director has no team available for a breaking story, she is given an opportunity to freelance for the station and heads to Curley Park to gather facts. Once there, she meets Bobby Land, a young would-be photographer who insists he has photos of the stabbing. Between his photographs and her on-scene video, will they be able to identify the person responsible for stabbing the unidentified man?
With so many witnesses and all the technology, both the detective and the reporter might believe the case will be wrapped up quickly. But has anyone seen what really took place? And just what happened the night Gracie wasn’t missing?
Crisp writing and well-developed characters in this fourth Jane Ryland tale ratchet up the fast-paced story while richly-drawn descriptions provide readers with an authentic sense of place. The intricately-woven mystery spins out in pulse-pounding suspense guaranteed to keep readers riveted to the edge of their seats until the final reveal and a surprise ending . . . or two.
Highly recommended.
Between all those cell phone snapshots and the surveillance cameras surrounding the area, solving the case should have been a cinch, but the investigation takes a surprising turn, revealing unexpected treachery.
Meanwhile, wedding preparations are keeping Jane Ryland busy; she’ll be maid of honor for her sister, Melissa, and the groom’s young daughter, Gracie, will be the flower girl. There’s just one complication: Gracie has disappeared, apparently abducted by her stepfather, leaving her family fearing for her safety.
Jane is invited to Channel 2 for a job interview, but when the news director has no team available for a breaking story, she is given an opportunity to freelance for the station and heads to Curley Park to gather facts. Once there, she meets Bobby Land, a young would-be photographer who insists he has photos of the stabbing. Between his photographs and her on-scene video, will they be able to identify the person responsible for stabbing the unidentified man?
With so many witnesses and all the technology, both the detective and the reporter might believe the case will be wrapped up quickly. But has anyone seen what really took place? And just what happened the night Gracie wasn’t missing?
Crisp writing and well-developed characters in this fourth Jane Ryland tale ratchet up the fast-paced story while richly-drawn descriptions provide readers with an authentic sense of place. The intricately-woven mystery spins out in pulse-pounding suspense guaranteed to keep readers riveted to the edge of their seats until the final reveal and a surprise ending . . . or two.
Highly recommended.
February 17, 2016
Love these characters. Jane Ryland is a reporter currently out of a job. When her sister, Melissa calls needing her help, Jane can't refuse. Melissa is about to marry Daniel. The wedding is mere days away. Daniel is currently over seas on business and now his daughter, the flower girl, seems to be missing.
There are actually two separate stories here which end up being entwined together because of Jane and her boyfriend, police detective, Jake Brogan. Jake is investigating a stabbing that took place in broad daylight in a very public place. He's amazed when Jane shows up claiming to be working for some tv station. Before he has a chance to question her, however, he has to take care of the suspected perp who's been injured in a citizen's arrest. The citizen involved has to be considered as well, although he's claiming to be the good guy. It's something Jake knows will have to be sorted out at the station. Then Jake gets a call from Jane regarding Melissa and the mystery she seems to be embroiled in.
From there, both stories take off. My hat is off to the author who manages to weave these two plots around each other in an intricate but precise way. I never got lost in trying to keep up with where each was going and had to marvel at how she so wonderfully weaved the two tales together. Jane was torn between her family obligations and her need for work, yet she chose family first with little hesitation on her part. This isn't often the case in stories of this kind where the job usually takes presidence. I also appreciated the way Jake always made time for Jane, showing their relationship was important to him. Even in the midst of a very important investigation, he worked to help her with her dilemma.
My only complaint is that I have to wait so long for the next book!
There are actually two separate stories here which end up being entwined together because of Jane and her boyfriend, police detective, Jake Brogan. Jake is investigating a stabbing that took place in broad daylight in a very public place. He's amazed when Jane shows up claiming to be working for some tv station. Before he has a chance to question her, however, he has to take care of the suspected perp who's been injured in a citizen's arrest. The citizen involved has to be considered as well, although he's claiming to be the good guy. It's something Jake knows will have to be sorted out at the station. Then Jake gets a call from Jane regarding Melissa and the mystery she seems to be embroiled in.
From there, both stories take off. My hat is off to the author who manages to weave these two plots around each other in an intricate but precise way. I never got lost in trying to keep up with where each was going and had to marvel at how she so wonderfully weaved the two tales together. Jane was torn between her family obligations and her need for work, yet she chose family first with little hesitation on her part. This isn't often the case in stories of this kind where the job usually takes presidence. I also appreciated the way Jake always made time for Jane, showing their relationship was important to him. Even in the midst of a very important investigation, he worked to help her with her dilemma.
My only complaint is that I have to wait so long for the next book!
April 9, 2016
I read this one prior to its nomination for the 2015 Agatha for Best Contemporary Fiction. I've followed the series from the beginning and have enjoyed it overall. The primary mystery to be solved involves a great deal of political intrigue; the secondary mystery is an extremely personal one, as Jane's sister's soon-to-be-step-daughter is missing. While the plot included many of the hallmark twists and turns readers have come to expect with this series, I did deduce the outcomes prior to the big reveals. Nevertheless, the storytelling and pacing still held my attention throughout the book. The personal drama in Jane's love life continues to play a central role in the storyline, leaving this reader wondering if it will ever be resolved. While I like both Jane and Jake as characters, I am beginning to wish that they'd just make a decision one way or the other and move forward. Yes, it will be hard either way. Yes, they both care deeply for each other and likely always will. But, please, make a decision. Perhaps book #5 in the series will settle matters once and for all though...we shall see!
October 25, 2015
Jane Ryland has lost yet another job and is up to her eye-balls in trouble. She stumbles upon a crime downtown. It should be quick to solve since there are crowds of people taking millions of pictures on their phones. Well, not so fast. Things are not what they seem to be. There are plenty of suspects but no answers. Crime and conspiracy lurk down every alley. Of course, boy-toy Jake is on the case as well, just to further complicate the situation.
At the same time, Jane's family life is in turmoil with her sister's wedding coming up and the flower girl suddenly going missing. (Just in case she didn't have anything else to do, what with trying to find a permanent job and all.)
Jane and Jake also have to evaluate their personal and professional lives in the midst of all this chaos. There are decisions that have to be made. Jane's life continues to be more complicated and, at the same time, more compelling in every book.
Rock on Jane!
At the same time, Jane's family life is in turmoil with her sister's wedding coming up and the flower girl suddenly going missing. (Just in case she didn't have anything else to do, what with trying to find a permanent job and all.)
Jane and Jake also have to evaluate their personal and professional lives in the midst of all this chaos. There are decisions that have to be made. Jane's life continues to be more complicated and, at the same time, more compelling in every book.
Rock on Jane!
February 22, 2021
Not what you look at but what you see - or what you're looking for. Jane Ryland: currently unemployed, is asked to help when the 9 year old girl scheduled to be the flower girl in Daniel andMelissa's wedding is allegedly kidnapped by her stepdad. Or was she? Det. Jake Brogan: a man is stabbed in front of tourists at Boston's courthouse. With his partner, De Luca, he interviews the many people who had cameras hoping someone caught something. Jane's and Jake's investigations keep criss-crossing throughout the many twists and turns, back and forth reports from the individuals involved, and a convoluted story - or two - emerges. by the end.
October 27, 2015
Well poor Jane can't have a drama free day, especially not in Ryan's newest Jane Ryland/Jake Brogan thriller. A public noontime murder, family drama, missing child, comatose victims (or perps), it's all happening within a 40 hour period and Jane is in the middle of it ALL. A great thriller filled with twists and turns, and an insightful look at our current world of 'what's private and what's not". Camera's everywhere, in people's hands, on the sides of buildings, on the tops of poles: can they help deter crime, solve crime, or muck everything up? Read this book and decide for yourself!
August 18, 2020
So I will withhold further judgement until after I've read a third Jane Ryland book, but if it's as full of angst over her dual relationship with her cop boyfriend and her life as a reporter, I think I will have had my fill. The author is very good at keeping your attention, and drawing you into the story, however I can only handle so much of the "should I, shouldn't I" overthinking and dreying a kopf - the same reason I've stopped reading Lisa Scottoline.
January 10, 2016
This relentlessly intense thriller demonstrates that what you see is not necessarily the truth, and the truth is not necessarily what you see.
Told in real-time, the action never lets up and one cannot help but truly care and emphasize with all of the characters and the tragedies they face.
Hank Phillippi Ryan is unstoppable.
Her work gets better and better.
Told in real-time, the action never lets up and one cannot help but truly care and emphasize with all of the characters and the tragedies they face.
Hank Phillippi Ryan is unstoppable.
Her work gets better and better.
July 18, 2016
What You See takes place in Boston and, since I'm from the area, it is the setting that drew me. Although Phillippi clearly knows the area and gets the crime beat (makes sense given her "day job"), she tries to throw everything she knows into this novel and it becomes confusing and convoluted. I wish she stuck to her main plot and left out the secondary mystery.
January 4, 2016
I so enjoy Hank Phillippi Ryan books, I can't wait until her next one comes out.
November 2, 2015
I was really disappointed in the last two books in this series. I found them to be boring. Thrillers should never be boring.
November 14, 2015
Very quick read and pretty good throughout until the end. Farfetched.
June 6, 2017
I received an advance copy of Ms. Ryan’s latest book…and my initial reaction was something like “YAY! Another author to add to my “writers-whose-latest-book-I-immediately-snap-up” list! Not sure why I have missed her previous Jane Ryland novels, but I plan to go back and enjoy them as well.
Ms. Ryan’s “day job” as an investigative reporter in Boston has been incredibly successful (30+ Emmys and a dozen or so Murrow awards), so she knows her way around crime stories. In addition, she way a way with plot and characters that is smooth yet thrilling. This is the fourth book in the Jane Ryland series set in Boston, and while it will please established fans of the series, it will also bring in first-time readers without leaving them feeling like they should not have read this one unless they read the previous three novels.
In What You See, Jane is “between jobs,” having quit her job at the newspaper due to their ethical lapses. Considering a return to TV news journalism, she is in the middle of an interview with a local station Channel 2 when a story breaks in front of City Hall. There is (conveniently) no one else available at the station, so the news director who is interviewing her sends Jane. Also conveniently, her boyfriend Detective Jake Brogan is also involved in the same case. The scene at City Hall is chaotic and Jake and his partner Paul DeLuca are already on the scene giving out assignments and trying to keep control when Jane arrives. A young man who wants to make a name for himself as a photographer latches onto Jane and steers her toward an alley where Jake and DeLuca (again conveniently) are involved investigating the case with one suspect claiming to have captured the killer and the other suspect unconscious from being beaten.
Conveniently, Jane and Jake meet up in the alley, and their apparently long-standing issue about old maintaining their romantic relationship while dealing with conflicting interests re-emerges. As if this isn’t enough, Jane’s sister calls her during the chaos, telling her that her fiancée’s daughter is missing, and it is just a few days before Jane and Jake are scheduled to travel to the Midwest of Jane’s sister’s wedding.
Neither the murder victim nor the injured man in the alley has any ID on them, making things very complicated for Jane AND Jake! Jane is trying to get a new job, and her family situation turns into a possible kidnapping. Without spoiling the plot, there is a fast-moving story with well-defined characters, interesting plotlines, and ongoing development of the Jane-Jake relationship. Again, this is the fourth in a series but it stands alone quite well.
It’s another success for this author I have happily discovered thanks to NetGalley!
Ms. Ryan’s “day job” as an investigative reporter in Boston has been incredibly successful (30+ Emmys and a dozen or so Murrow awards), so she knows her way around crime stories. In addition, she way a way with plot and characters that is smooth yet thrilling. This is the fourth book in the Jane Ryland series set in Boston, and while it will please established fans of the series, it will also bring in first-time readers without leaving them feeling like they should not have read this one unless they read the previous three novels.
In What You See, Jane is “between jobs,” having quit her job at the newspaper due to their ethical lapses. Considering a return to TV news journalism, she is in the middle of an interview with a local station Channel 2 when a story breaks in front of City Hall. There is (conveniently) no one else available at the station, so the news director who is interviewing her sends Jane. Also conveniently, her boyfriend Detective Jake Brogan is also involved in the same case. The scene at City Hall is chaotic and Jake and his partner Paul DeLuca are already on the scene giving out assignments and trying to keep control when Jane arrives. A young man who wants to make a name for himself as a photographer latches onto Jane and steers her toward an alley where Jake and DeLuca (again conveniently) are involved investigating the case with one suspect claiming to have captured the killer and the other suspect unconscious from being beaten.
Conveniently, Jane and Jake meet up in the alley, and their apparently long-standing issue about old maintaining their romantic relationship while dealing with conflicting interests re-emerges. As if this isn’t enough, Jane’s sister calls her during the chaos, telling her that her fiancée’s daughter is missing, and it is just a few days before Jane and Jake are scheduled to travel to the Midwest of Jane’s sister’s wedding.
Neither the murder victim nor the injured man in the alley has any ID on them, making things very complicated for Jane AND Jake! Jane is trying to get a new job, and her family situation turns into a possible kidnapping. Without spoiling the plot, there is a fast-moving story with well-defined characters, interesting plotlines, and ongoing development of the Jane-Jake relationship. Again, this is the fourth in a series but it stands alone quite well.
It’s another success for this author I have happily discovered thanks to NetGalley!
November 22, 2016
Jake and Jane are at it again. Jane's left her job at the Register and their relationship is out in the open now. But that can't last long - she's got an interview with a tv station and that quickly turns into an impromptu assignment, putting her on the scene of a murder that Jake is investigating (of course). The main murder is a twisty-turny puzzle, but as if that's not enough, Jane is also dealing with the arrival in town of her sister, Melissa, who is about to be married. Melissa is meeting her fiance, Daniel, in Boston and they are collecting Daniel's daughter, Gracie, from her mother to take to the wedding. Except Gracie isn't home when Melissa arrives. It seems like Gracie's stepfather, Lewis, isn't so keen on letting the little girl go to Chicago for the wedding.
The Gracie subplot was the only drawback to the novel for me. At times it was distracting. Always it was irritating because the obvious solution, to me, was CALL THE FREAKIN POLICE, and everyone involved kept refusing to do that.
The end leaves me eager to read the next in this series! What is in that box? What will Jane do about her career? Can these two ever catch a break and get to be together, openly, without all the nonsense about her being a reporter and him being a cop? I loved the little cameo from Ryan's other protagonist, Charlotte McNally, at the every end.
The Gracie subplot was the only drawback to the novel for me. At times it was distracting. Always it was irritating because the obvious solution, to me, was CALL THE FREAKIN POLICE, and everyone involved kept refusing to do that.
The end leaves me eager to read the next in this series! What is in that box? What will Jane do about her career? Can these two ever catch a break and get to be together, openly, without all the nonsense about her being a reporter and him being a cop? I loved the little cameo from Ryan's other protagonist, Charlotte McNally, at the every end.
May 10, 2018
So interesting how the stories all eventually wound together. The author has crafted each subplot into one bigger one. The book was v-e-r-y slow getting started, but then became a real page turner.
In Boston, in the middle of a public square, a man has been stabbed and Detective Jake Brogan is called to the case. Several people have photographed the incident including Bobby Land, a wanna-be news photographer who might have gotten the best shots. Jane Ryland, girlfriend of Jake and former news reporter who happens upon the chance to get back in the business while lucking into this case for Channel 2 News, meets Bobby Land and they are chasing after the developing story without Jane realizing that Jake is involved. Should she roll film or be a girlfriend? Meanwhile, Jane's sister Melissa is getting married very soon, and her fiance's daughter who is set to be their flower girl is kidnapped by her stepfather. And then we have Tenley, whose sister has been dead for a year and mother is an administrative assistant to the mayor, who works on surveillance filming at City Hall, may have gotten the incident on illegal film, and might be more involved than she knows with all of it. Will the killer and also the 9-year old girl be found without careers being ruined?
In Boston, in the middle of a public square, a man has been stabbed and Detective Jake Brogan is called to the case. Several people have photographed the incident including Bobby Land, a wanna-be news photographer who might have gotten the best shots. Jane Ryland, girlfriend of Jake and former news reporter who happens upon the chance to get back in the business while lucking into this case for Channel 2 News, meets Bobby Land and they are chasing after the developing story without Jane realizing that Jake is involved. Should she roll film or be a girlfriend? Meanwhile, Jane's sister Melissa is getting married very soon, and her fiance's daughter who is set to be their flower girl is kidnapped by her stepfather. And then we have Tenley, whose sister has been dead for a year and mother is an administrative assistant to the mayor, who works on surveillance filming at City Hall, may have gotten the incident on illegal film, and might be more involved than she knows with all of it. Will the killer and also the 9-year old girl be found without careers being ruined?
May 6, 2019
What you see is what you get - a GREAT read!
This is the 4th book in this series. Jane is a reporter (currently unemployed) in Boston and Jake Brogan is a BPD detective. They have an on-again, off-again relationship and trying to keep it away from their respective supervisors.
This book involves a murder in broad daylight and a possible child abduction. Jake is investigating the murder. Jake's case has too many witnesses but could it have been recorded? It took place right outside City Hall and they have surveillance cameras but were the cameras actually recording? Did any of the witnesses see anything or capture anything on their own phones?
Jane is in the office of a TV station when the call comes in about the murder and she agrees to cover the story for the station "per diem". While she's at the site of the murder, her sister (Melissa) frantically calls her to inform Jane that Melissa's fiancee's daughter has been abducted.
While Jane focuses on solving her family issues, Jake, running on pure adrenaline, attempts to solve the murder.
This is the 4th book in this series. Jane is a reporter (currently unemployed) in Boston and Jake Brogan is a BPD detective. They have an on-again, off-again relationship and trying to keep it away from their respective supervisors.
This book involves a murder in broad daylight and a possible child abduction. Jake is investigating the murder. Jake's case has too many witnesses but could it have been recorded? It took place right outside City Hall and they have surveillance cameras but were the cameras actually recording? Did any of the witnesses see anything or capture anything on their own phones?
Jane is in the office of a TV station when the call comes in about the murder and she agrees to cover the story for the station "per diem". While she's at the site of the murder, her sister (Melissa) frantically calls her to inform Jane that Melissa's fiancee's daughter has been abducted.
While Jane focuses on solving her family issues, Jake, running on pure adrenaline, attempts to solve the murder.
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