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Louis Kincaid #4
Thicker Than Water
The Wait Is OverLouis Kincaid Is BackOn a hot summer night in Florida, a beautiful young woman is brutally raped and murdered. . .Twenty years later, the man convicted of her slaying is released from prison--only days before another horrific crime is committed. . .Now, Louis Kincaid must follow a trail of death that connects a decades-old case with a new murder--and leads him into a web of secrets and lies surrounding a twisted killer. As one sweltering day melts into the next, the scent of blood hangs thick in the air. . .Praise for the novels of P. J. Parrish"Dead Of Winter is a wild ride with a really fine writer."--John Sandford"A deft, fast-paced plot, knowledgeable writing on police procedures and an interesting lead character propel you through the book."--Miami Herald"Fast paced. . .well-conceived."--Chicago Tribune"Full of intrigue and edge-of-the-seat suspense."--Michael Connelly
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2003
18 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Parrish
26 books270 followersP.J. Parrish is the New York Times bestselling author of ten Louis Kincaid and Joe Frye thrillers. The author is actually two sisters, Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols. Their books have appeared on both the New York Times and USA Today best seller lists. The series has garnered 11 major crime-fiction awards, and an Edgar® nomination. Parrish has won two Shamus awards, one Anthony and one International Thriller competition. Her books have been published throughout Europe and Asia.
Parrish's short stories have also appeared in many anthologies, including two published by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Harlan Coben and the late Stuart Kaminsky. Their stories have also appeared in Akashic Books acclaimed Detroit Noir, and in Ellery Queen Magazine. Most recently, they contributed an essay to a special edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works edited by Michael Connelly.
P.J. Parrish as children
Before turning to writing full time, Kristy Montee was a newspaper editor and dance critic for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Nichols previously was a blackjack dealer and then a human resources specialist in the casino industry. Kris in Tallahassee FL and Traverse City MI and Kelly resides in Traverse City as well.
The sisters were writers as kids, albeit with different styles: Kelly's first attempt at fiction at age 11 was titled The Kill. Kristy's at 13 was The Cat Who Understood. Not much has changed: Kelly now tends to handle the gory stuff and Kristy the character development. But the collaboration is a smooth one, thanks to lots of ego suppression, good wine, and marathon phone calls via Skype.
The first eleven books in the series, in order, are: Dark of the Moon, Dead of Winter, Paint it Black, Thicker than Water, Island of Bones, A Killing Rain, An Unquiet Grave, A Thousand Bones, South of Hell, The Little Death and Heart of Ice. They also wrote three stand-alone thrillers: A Thousand Bones, The Killing Song and She's Not There.
Parrish's short stories have also appeared in many anthologies, including two published by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Harlan Coben and the late Stuart Kaminsky. Their stories have also appeared in Akashic Books acclaimed Detroit Noir, and in Ellery Queen Magazine. Most recently, they contributed an essay to a special edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works edited by Michael Connelly.
P.J. Parrish as children
Before turning to writing full time, Kristy Montee was a newspaper editor and dance critic for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Nichols previously was a blackjack dealer and then a human resources specialist in the casino industry. Kris in Tallahassee FL and Traverse City MI and Kelly resides in Traverse City as well.
The sisters were writers as kids, albeit with different styles: Kelly's first attempt at fiction at age 11 was titled The Kill. Kristy's at 13 was The Cat Who Understood. Not much has changed: Kelly now tends to handle the gory stuff and Kristy the character development. But the collaboration is a smooth one, thanks to lots of ego suppression, good wine, and marathon phone calls via Skype.
The first eleven books in the series, in order, are: Dark of the Moon, Dead of Winter, Paint it Black, Thicker than Water, Island of Bones, A Killing Rain, An Unquiet Grave, A Thousand Bones, South of Hell, The Little Death and Heart of Ice. They also wrote three stand-alone thrillers: A Thousand Bones, The Killing Song and She's Not There.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 16, 2013
If I could give this book more stars I would. I have been reading the series ever since the first book and I know his author has more but I absolutely loved this book. I thought I had it all figured out and when I read further in the book the story became more twisted than ever. I loved the characters in the book and I can't wait to read more of this authors books because the ending wasn't an ending to me. Somehow this story is gonna play some future to another book down the road if not it was still a good book just a cliff hanging ending. LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS BOOK.
August 31, 2025
Lots of stereotypical characters and situations, but compelling nonetheless. The last 20% of the book had my head spinning with all the twists in the plot. The book is loaded with dirt ball characters, but at least many of them get what's coming to them. A fast read and a nice distraction.
The whole "Thicker Than Water" thing gets beat into the ground. We get it. But the author doesn't let up on the mention of it (and the ironies behind it.)
The whole "Thicker Than Water" thing gets beat into the ground. We get it. But the author doesn't let up on the mention of it (and the ironies behind it.)
February 7, 2013
Just barely made 3 stars. I have another Louis Kincaid novel and I can't say I'm just particularly in a hurry to read it. I can't really pinpoint any one thing that I didn't care for in this novel, I just found it slightly boring. Don't get me wrong. It wasn't a bad novel. It was more something I would read while waiting for a new release from one of my favorite authors.
I don't really have much more to say about this one. Not much of a review, I know. I don't know that I would recommend this one to anyone.
On a hot summer night in Florida, a beautiful young woman is brutally raped and murdered...
Twenty years later, the man convicted of her slaying is released from prison-only days before another horrific crime is committed........
Now, Louis Kincaid must follow a trail of death that connects a decades-old case with a new murder-and leads him into a web of secrets and lies surrounding a twisted killer. As one sweltering day melts into the next, the scent of blood hangs thick in the air...
I don't really have much more to say about this one. Not much of a review, I know. I don't know that I would recommend this one to anyone.
On a hot summer night in Florida, a beautiful young woman is brutally raped and murdered...
Twenty years later, the man convicted of her slaying is released from prison-only days before another horrific crime is committed........
Now, Louis Kincaid must follow a trail of death that connects a decades-old case with a new murder-and leads him into a web of secrets and lies surrounding a twisted killer. As one sweltering day melts into the next, the scent of blood hangs thick in the air...
July 28, 2010
This is a good, solid mystery, with a lot of twists and turns that keep you guessing pretty much to the very end. The only problems were a tendency near the end to over-explain some things (have some faith in your readers who've stuck with you this long) and some glaring errors in facts. The novel takes place in two times: 1966 and 1986. In both times, one of the character's alibi is that he was home watching either "Star Trek" in 1966 or "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in 1986. Problem is, in April '66 "Star Trek" wasn't on the air yet as it debuted in September 1966 and "TNG" wasn't on the air in November '86 as it debuted in September of 1987. I thought this might come up as important later, but it never went anywhere.
September 22, 2023
There were so many twists in the story in the final 50 pages that it overwhelmed me. I also had a hard time liking Louis Kincaid.
The mystery began with the murder of a lawyer who represented a disgusting man named Cade who had been released from prison after 20 years for a murder he said he didn't commit. Kincaid spent the book irritating everybody involved in the original closed case to say they got it all wrong and that he believed Cade.
I almost felt sorry for Susan, who hired Kincaid to help her represent Cade on the new murder charges, but Kincaid was just focused on the past.
In some respects, the book confused me. There seemed to be a number of minor characters who were linked to this mess in some way or another, but I often couldn't tell them apart.
I truly hated how Kincaid responded to the big reveal at the end. He knows how to dig his own holes, that's for certain. Throughout the book, I felt Kincaid needed to take an anger management class. He is not always above board in his actions.
These Kincaid books are hit or miss with me. You can say that about anything but some are better than others. This one rubbed me the wrong way and I considered not finishing it. I don't like leaving things unfinished. So I gave it a low rating.
The mystery began with the murder of a lawyer who represented a disgusting man named Cade who had been released from prison after 20 years for a murder he said he didn't commit. Kincaid spent the book irritating everybody involved in the original closed case to say they got it all wrong and that he believed Cade.
I almost felt sorry for Susan, who hired Kincaid to help her represent Cade on the new murder charges, but Kincaid was just focused on the past.
In some respects, the book confused me. There seemed to be a number of minor characters who were linked to this mess in some way or another, but I often couldn't tell them apart.
I truly hated how Kincaid responded to the big reveal at the end. He knows how to dig his own holes, that's for certain. Throughout the book, I felt Kincaid needed to take an anger management class. He is not always above board in his actions.
These Kincaid books are hit or miss with me. You can say that about anything but some are better than others. This one rubbed me the wrong way and I considered not finishing it. I don't like leaving things unfinished. So I gave it a low rating.
October 26, 2018
I started this back in 2016 and put it aside, as it started out slowly and a lot of other things were going on in my life at the time. I picked it up again about a week ago, restarted it, and finished it.
I am a retired laboratory technologist. I must say that the scientific aspects of this (the blood typing part) seemed rather shaky to me, but I never worked in a forensic lab. I am assuming that she researched it before she wrote it, and this story took place pre-DNA. It seemed like she was stretching lab capabilities a bit.
Be that as it may, the last half of the book moved much more quickly than the first half, and the twisty turny conclusion seemed a bit too neat. However, I really like PJP and Louis and will definitely read another one of her mysteries.
I am a retired laboratory technologist. I must say that the scientific aspects of this (the blood typing part) seemed rather shaky to me, but I never worked in a forensic lab. I am assuming that she researched it before she wrote it, and this story took place pre-DNA. It seemed like she was stretching lab capabilities a bit.
Be that as it may, the last half of the book moved much more quickly than the first half, and the twisty turny conclusion seemed a bit too neat. However, I really like PJP and Louis and will definitely read another one of her mysteries.
July 4, 2017
Another good mystery with Louis Kincaid, now PI, but still in Florida. He gets focused on a twenty year old mystery of a young girl whose killer is just getting released from prison. Then the killer's lawyer gets killed and of course nothing is ever as it seems. This one has a double twist at the end, just when you think it is over and everything is solved. Can't wait to see what Louis investigates next!
March 16, 2018
Not crazy about Louis....it took me a while to figure if he was on the side of right instead of wrong...Louis seems very undecided...first he accuses two people of murder with no evidence, then he turns around and changes his mind.....crazy!!!
March 4, 2025
Fast-paced, this is the story of investigating a brutal crime from years before and a crime just newly committed. The person convicted of the old crime was recently released from prison. Is there a connection between the two killings and will Louis Kincaid solve them? 4 stars
February 23, 2018
A great mystery with lots of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
March 7, 2018
A long ago read that I gave 8 out of 10 stars. Who killed Kitty Jagger twenty years ago, and why is it related to the murder of a lawyer now?
Read
June 20, 2019Alot of twist and turns A must read
May 4, 2020
Kincaid is still in FL and getting involved in more PI work. Looking forward to his next job.
September 5, 2020
It was a good read but the author spends way too much time rehashing other books in the series.
July 19, 2022
I love the Louis Kincaid books. It's like reading a true crime documentary. It's also a quick and easy read with no dull points.
February 14, 2024
Enjoyed the writing. Worked out the plot part way through.
July 29, 2025
Nope, I'll wait for the books I have ordered instead
March 1, 2017
PROTAGONIST: PI Louis Kincaid
SETTING: South Florida
SERIES: #4 of 11
RATING: 3.25
SETTING: South Florida
SERIES: #4 of 11
RATING: 3.25
March 17, 2015
When a lawyer is found murdered in his office-Louis Kincaid is hired by a man, who years ago went to prison for raping and killing a young teen. Louis has reservation about taking this on, but he soon discovers not all is what it is seems. Parrish definitely takes one on twists and turns in this book. I hope to read more of his books. I like Kincaid as a PI. I see similarities between him and the character Backstrom on Fox.
April 19, 2015
I am not totally convinced I know what actually happened here but it was fun to read all the same.
I guess Kincaid is going to start picking up his own "I had to" crimes along the way. Sort of a hero for the little guy, and not because he's a crusader but just because that is the kind of guy he is.
I guess Kincaid is going to start picking up his own "I had to" crimes along the way. Sort of a hero for the little guy, and not because he's a crusader but just because that is the kind of guy he is.
June 15, 2009
Thisa was a good book if you enjoy a fast-paced, twisty, murder mystery. The characters are believable. The characters are not what they seem as this novel develops. If you like mysteries, this is a good one.
December 6, 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, but her writing is intelligent and she shows that she has great knowledge of how the law and investigations work. She is very realistic as well in her development of characters and their emotional state when dealing with certain crimes.
June 9, 2010
PJ Parrish is just good readin'...There has not been one of the sisters books that I have not given a minimum of 4 stars to I believe. The Louis Kincaid character is one that a reader can easily buddy up to and looks forward to getting to know more and more!
March 16, 2016
4th book in series. Louis Kincaid has stayed in Florida, picking up some jobs as a P.I. A man is released from jail and days later his lawyer is killed. Louis must prove that his client didn 19t commit murder. Good read.
July 15, 2016
Good Story
I am and have read all 4 of the books now and it just a good reed the story keeps you reading cause you want to find out the who did it and the main character in the book is a man with soul.
I am and have read all 4 of the books now and it just a good reed the story keeps you reading cause you want to find out the who did it and the main character in the book is a man with soul.
April 16, 2009
Kincaid is growing on me. I really enjoy the Lee County Florida setting for these books. This particular novel had enough twists and turns to satisfy the most picky mystery reader.
January 18, 2011
quick read - entertaining, but not entirely original
May 5, 2011
Good plot twists and turns. Did not figure this one out. I like this series. Very good character development.
Read
July 28, 2011Really into cold cases! I'm still hanging out on the Gulf Coast with pleasure. Think the next one is in the Glades.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews