The Redemption File

by Marc Sinibaldi

Detective Brandon Sidney is one of the most accomplished detectives in East Hill City, a thriving metropolis with its fair share of crime. Living in the wake of a personal tragedy, Sidney is dealt another emotional hardship when his partner and best friend, Derek Hill, is murdered. When evidence surfaces that shows Derek was on the take, Sidney must maneuver through an underworld of weapon smugglers, drug dealers, mob bosses, and rival cops to try and solve Derek’s murder and clear his partner’s tarnished name. If Sidney survives long enough to solve the case, it will push him to the edge of his own moral limitations, and force him to confront his own traumatic past.

Genres: Crime, Mystery

386 pages, Paperback

Published January 6, 2026

Reviews

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Brandon Sidney has been thrown a huge curb ball. His best friend and partner Derek Hill has been murdered. As Sidney deals with his loss, he is thrust into clearing Derek's tarnished reputation. Sidney will have to go into the deepest darkest places of East Hill City and find out the truth.

What a magnificent read. A great and different plot which deals with redemption, gray areas, the complexity of justice and survival. I enjoyed the fast-paced action but also the portrayal of humanity that the main character has. Sidney has his own personal struggles and must face some bad characters while trying to right some wrongs. Sidney's character has depth, integrity, moral compass and determination which are great qualities that make this story even better.
Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Kathryn E Hagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could imagine “The Redemption Files” being made into a movie. It has everything you’d want in a police action movie. Drugs, killings, gun running, kidnapping, crime families, a mole in the department, false imprisonment, even forcing someone to sign a contract: Marc Sinibaldi has filled his book with all sorts of malfeasance.

I’m hoping it’s the first of a series.

“The Redemption Files” is a fast-paced story set in the present-day East Hill neighborhood. Some of the area is pretty nice. You would not want to be caught dead in the other part. It’s even difficult to know which police officers to trust. Not all endings are happy ones. It’s an exciting read, and the twists were significant.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.

[ines · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story kicks off with strong tension that rolls forward from the first chapter through steady momentum and clear emotional hits. The premise follows a detective who works to clear his partner’s name while carrying the weight of his past so the plot stays grounded and easy to stay invested in.

Its greatest strength lies in the gritty atmosphere and the emotional depth driving Detective Sidney, whose loyalty and determination keep the narrative engaging. The cast can feel a little crowded at times which occasionally pushes Sidney out of the spotlight although characters like Shield and Stacy leave a memorable impact with traits that feel ready for further development.

Also, the main climax doesn’t hit as hard as it builds up to. The payoff feels a bit softer than expected but Sidney’s whole journey through the case still stands out. The way he digs into every lead while wrestling with a past he keeps trying to bury gives the investigation a pull that lingers long after the last page.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detectives Brandon Sidney and Derek Hill were partners with a high rate of success on their cases until they were called to a crime scene at Sidney’s home. Hill was reassigned to another area as Sidney found solace in drinking. When Hill arranges a meet with a confidential informant it is a set up and he is killed. The murder is assigned to detectives Shield and Jameson, who find evidence that Hill was on the take. It is an accusation that Sidney refuses to believe and sets out to prove that Hill was innocent. As he investigates, signs point to someone within their own department working with the criminals who killed Hill. Before his death, Hill texted a case number to Sidney that was tied to their last case together and may finally offer him a solution to his wife’s murder as well as those responsible for Hill’s death.

Marc Sinibaldi has written a police procedural that involves drugs, human trafficking and weapons smuggling. Sidney, his main character, is guided by a moral compass that forces him to go against all of the findings of his department. He knows that Hill was a responsible detective who put his job and family first. While he has let his drinking affect his performance, this investigation offers him a chance to prove himself and clear his former partner. With several surprising twists and a final confrontation that reveals a betrayal and a second chance, this debut novel will have you hoping to see more from Sinibaldi. I would like to thank NetGalley and Books Go Social for providing this book.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marc Sinibaldi’s The Redemption Files is a taut, emotionally charged thriller that plunges readers into the shadowed alleys of East Hill City, where loyalty and betrayal blur into indistinguishable shades of gray. At its heart lies Detective Brandon Sidney, a man scarred by personal tragedy and thrust into a labyrinth of corruption when his partner—and closest friend—is murdered under suspicious circumstances.

Sinibaldi deftly balances the grit of crime fiction with the poignancy of human struggle. Sidney’s quest to clear his partner’s tarnished name is not merely a procedural chase; it is a descent into the underworld of smugglers, mob bosses, and rival cops, where every revelation threatens to unravel his own fragile morality. The prose carries a cinematic weight, evoking the smoky atmosphere of classic noir while maintaining the urgency of a modern thriller.

What elevates the novel is its exploration of redemption—not as a neat resolution, but as a jagged, uncertain path. Sidney’s confrontation with his own past lends the narrative a haunting resonance, reminding us that justice is rarely pure, and survival often demands compromise.

Perfect for readers who savor the moral complexity of Don Winslow or the relentless pace of Steve French, The Redemption Files is both a gripping mystery and a meditation on grief, loyalty, and the cost of truth.

With thanks to Marc Sinibaldi, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery has Detective Brandon Sidney living in the wake of a personal tragedy had to dealt with the murder of his best friend and partner Derek Hill. It seemed evidence showed Derek was on the take. Not believing this to be so, Brandon maneuvers through an underworld of drug dealers, rival cops, weapon smugglers to solve not only Derek’s murder but also to clear his name….

I was on the edge of my seat following Brandon confronting a labyrinth of corruption while dealing with his personal drama. The author deftly balances the crime and personal struggle and by doing so he has expertly penned an emotionally charge thriller for us to enjoy.

The fast paced and tightly woven narrative is vividly said and very engaging. The tension is relentless and never lets go, needless to say I was hooked from the start. I love the gritty plot line and how Brandon tackled the investigation leaving no stone unturned.

Drugs, murders, smugglings, kidnappings, mole in the department, mob boss and it goes on and on….what is not to like when you have a story filled with all kinds of excitements.

Well said and well done

Thank you Lisa from Swell Media for this ARC which I received via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

This story begins with Derek Hill meeting with his CI when they are overtaken by another group. Derek was trying to fight them off when they were overwhelmed and they wound up surrendering. In the end Derek was killed. Sidney, Derek's partner, had suffered a major event and was in a bar drinking. He gets a call from his captain telling him that Derek had been killed. Later Sidney was told that Derek was dirty, but did not believe. Sidney then started his own investigation to clear Derek's name. Later Sidney was called to respond to a scene where a delivery truck had been blown. This event was later identified as being associated with Derek's death as well as something that happened 6 months earlier.

Read along and follow Sidney in his search and meet detectives Shield and Jameson who were the leads on Derek's murder. Discover who was behind Derek's death, how the events that happened 6 months earlier and the bombed delivery truck came into play. Find out who was the party responsible and what action that took to try and upend Sidney's hunt.

The ending is well done and will answer many questions that are presented in the story. This story is well worth reading, don't miss out!

[Ganesh Subramanian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Redemption File offers a steady and familiar police thriller. The story starts strong with the murder of a key detective. The main mystery is clear and easy to follow.
Sydney is a troubled lead character. His personal loss adds weight to the story. At times, his struggle with alcohol feels repetitive, but it does explain his actions. The friendship between Sydney and Derek helps drive the plot.
The investigation follows standard police procedures. Some twists are expected, while others hold interest. The idea of corruption within the force adds tension, but is not deeply explored.
The writing style is simple and readable. The pace is mostly even, though a few sections slow down. The villains are clear, but not very complex.
Overall, the book delivers what it promises. It may not surprise seasoned readers of the genre, but it remains engaging. A decent choice for fans of straightforward crime stories.
Thank you, NetGalley, for sharing an advanced reader copy of the book for review.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good police procedure mystery, especially for a debut effort. The plot works well with an opening hook and intriguing revelations as the story unfolds. There is the typical combination of police action and personal story. There is a good deal of suspense throughout the novel. Issues addressed include human trafficking and police corruption.

Sinibaldi's writing style is to have some action then a great deal of background information or description. Paragraphs of it. I started skimming those passages as I felt they did not move the plot forward. The information could have been better spread out in smaller amounts, interspersed in the action. I think about fifty pages could have been cut from the novel without losing anything essential. Since this is a debut novel, I think that problem will be addressed in future books.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Swell Media. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A police procedural, The Redemption Files (2026) by Marc Sinibaldi, is his debut crime novel. Detective Brandon Sidney is struggling after the death of his wife and the disappearance of his daughter. When his former police partner is killed, Detective Sidney is assigned to investigate his bank records. As the Major Crime Unit chases up the various leads, there are more killings and a possible link to a truck explosion on the wharf. With Sidney battling his personal demons, he discovers a possible connection to his missing daughter and is relentless in his pursuit. An enjoyable, if at times bloody, action-packed thriller that has a three star crime read rating. Although I received an ARC in exchange for an independent review, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given without obligation.

[Paula Lyle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't believe that this book was written by a human being. I don't know much about AI, but I believe that is what should be listed as the author.

The writing has no life or style. There are very strange homophonic misspellings, if read aloud it sounds right, but the spelling doesn't match at all. Conceded used as "his conceded grin".
Waived used as "He waived out the window." There is no sense or motive for anything that happens. Just a whole bunch of words that sort of tell a story. The publishing company, which may be in Nigeria, seems to be a publishing site for pamphlets or whatever else you want printed.

If I'm wrong, I'm sorry, but this is really bad.

I received copy through NetGalley.

[Bruce Raterink · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing premise with interesting characters but the writing seemed a little stilted. I felt like I was reading a journalistic view of the story instead of being caught up in the characters and the storyline. It seems that each time the story would be going along at a good pace, a character's backstory would interrupt, taking up several pages. Characters need back stories but I prefer if they are woven into the narrative and reveal themselves without slowing down the pace of the book. I realize this is a debut novel and I enjoyed the story overall.

Thanks to NetGalley and Glendale Publishing for an advanced reader copy.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many plus points in this convoluted crime novel, but also it could have done with a severe edit and being cut by at least 50 or 60 pages. A detective loses his wife and child, goes off the rails, and so far so cliched. But then we add in police corruption, a lot of side hustles, and drips of back story. Good storytelling and characters get a bit lost in complex plotting with changes of focus.

There are a lot of characters in this book and not all are necessary or well developed, but there is also good storytelling and an exciting ending.

If this becomes a series, I’d give it another try.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were so many lies so much deceit in the precint and among the cases they worked that was hard to believe there was someone spilling secrets of investigations to those who were esponsible for the wrongdoings. Too many paid with their lives, and a little girl almost got trafficked so a new kingpin could raise, however, right he might have thought his reasons were. Although this is a work of fiction, it might well resemble real life in many ways.
I thank the author, and Netgalley for this ARC.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced, tightly woven and tense thriller which left me gasping out loud at times. The tension builds right from the start and the pacing is relentless, with a plotline centred around drugs, kidnapping and organised crime to mention just a few! I loved Sydney, he is relentless in his quest for the truth and in his loyalty to his partner. This is an easy 5* from me and a new author but a book which I can highly recommend to lovers of crime thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Emziethebookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a real good mystery behind this book, along with the crime theme in the book also.
The books plot did have me gripped but then I felt it got a little slow for some reason but picked back up again.
The characters were very likeable apart from a few a just couldn't click or get attached to.
Will be reading more from this author in the near future and hopefully try and read this from the start again.
Thank you netgallery for allowing me to read this book.

[Pattyh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the opportunity to preview The Redemption Files.
Police procedural novel and also a debut.
Good plot with a solid backstory for the characters.
This is definitely not for the weak of heart. Plenty of blood, drugs, and bad guys.
Slow at parts but all in all a good book. 3.5