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Justice: A Gritty Crime Thriller/Police Procedural
Not yet published
Expected 15 May 26Welcome to St. Louis, where justice comes from the barrel of a gun.
When a sadistic gang leader is murdered, Detective Darren Cutright suspects old-fashioned street justice. But when more criminals turn up dead, he discovers a chilling pattern. Someone is hunting the predators the courts refuse to prosecute.
And the list of victims keeps growing.
While Darren and his wisecracking partner debate if they should even stop the killer, rookie cop Mike Clark gets an education in the broken legal system—with a front-row seat to the shadowy vigilante’s brutal handiwork.
As more offenders meet unsanctioned justice, everyone becomes a suspect—or a target. But as Darren closes in on the culprit, he draws a terrifying conclusion.
Written by a former St. Louis police officer and inspired by real events, Justice is a relentless crime thriller that blends the authenticity of Joseph Wambaugh with the page-turning momentum of Michael Connelly.
When a sadistic gang leader is murdered, Detective Darren Cutright suspects old-fashioned street justice. But when more criminals turn up dead, he discovers a chilling pattern. Someone is hunting the predators the courts refuse to prosecute.
And the list of victims keeps growing.
While Darren and his wisecracking partner debate if they should even stop the killer, rookie cop Mike Clark gets an education in the broken legal system—with a front-row seat to the shadowy vigilante’s brutal handiwork.
As more offenders meet unsanctioned justice, everyone becomes a suspect—or a target. But as Darren closes in on the culprit, he draws a terrifying conclusion.
Written by a former St. Louis police officer and inspired by real events, Justice is a relentless crime thriller that blends the authenticity of Joseph Wambaugh with the page-turning momentum of Michael Connelly.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 15, 2026
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
A.W. Morisseau
2 books10 followersGet a FREE eBook here: awmorisseau.com
Andrew (Andy) William Morisseau was born in Belleville, Illinois, and fell in love with books at a young age. He has always enjoyed storytelling and found the inspiration to take up novel writing while reading classic tales from Tolkien and C.S. Lewis to his children. He writes in multiple genres including science fiction, fantasy, crime, and young adult comedy.
Andy is a husband, father of two, former police officer, pastor, and world traveler. His hobbies include: playing guitar, working out, chess, combat sports, and reading. He loves stories of all genres, but science fiction and fantasy are his favorite. His favorite book of all time is the Bible.
Andrew (Andy) William Morisseau was born in Belleville, Illinois, and fell in love with books at a young age. He has always enjoyed storytelling and found the inspiration to take up novel writing while reading classic tales from Tolkien and C.S. Lewis to his children. He writes in multiple genres including science fiction, fantasy, crime, and young adult comedy.
Andy is a husband, father of two, former police officer, pastor, and world traveler. His hobbies include: playing guitar, working out, chess, combat sports, and reading. He loves stories of all genres, but science fiction and fantasy are his favorite. His favorite book of all time is the Bible.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy
St Louis is a great setting for crime stories and Justice delivers. In this police procedural, somebody is killing career street criminals, bad guys who nobody will miss, the worst of the worst. Homicide detective Darren Cutright and partner Chris Thompson first suspect these murders are a gang thing, street justice for and by thugs. After the fifth murder, maybe that's not what's really going on.
Rookie cop Mike Clark is working the night shift, paired with a field training officer during his probationary phase. He wants to be a good cop and put his training to good use. Growing up in the suburbs, seeing the gritty side of inner-city crime is at first a shock. Adding insult to injury is seeing how prosecutors with the Circuit Attorney's office duck behind bureaucratic rules to decline prosecuting some of these monsters. A few of them are soon enough among the dead as the story progresses.
Tensions between the police and the Circuit Attorney run high, the cops thinking the CA is letting too many thugs walk, and the CA thinking the cops are too rough.
This atmosphere prevails as Cutright and Thompson investigate. Things get messy with Thompson getting fired for something unrelated and Clark seeing things on patrol that don't sit well with him.
Darren Cutright is a strong character, and the teaming with Thompson and their complementary personalities makes for a memorable friendship among colleagues. These guys are more than partners, and they are damn good investigators. Clark's character is also memorable and sympathetic, a rookie cop earnestly wanting to do the right thing in tough circumstances.
The suspicion as to who the murderer is shifts around: is it Thompson? Or Sarah Hawkins, a clerk in the CA office and Clark's new girlfriend? Walker, Clark's new training officer? Somebody else? The evidence points to the killer being a cop or somebody in government. In time, Cutright puts the clues together.
Overall, Justice makes for an entertaining police procedural set in a place that works well for crime stories and populated with characters that fit this milieau. It's a very good read.
I received a free advance reader copy, and I'm voluntarily writing this review.
Rookie cop Mike Clark is working the night shift, paired with a field training officer during his probationary phase. He wants to be a good cop and put his training to good use. Growing up in the suburbs, seeing the gritty side of inner-city crime is at first a shock. Adding insult to injury is seeing how prosecutors with the Circuit Attorney's office duck behind bureaucratic rules to decline prosecuting some of these monsters. A few of them are soon enough among the dead as the story progresses.
Tensions between the police and the Circuit Attorney run high, the cops thinking the CA is letting too many thugs walk, and the CA thinking the cops are too rough.
This atmosphere prevails as Cutright and Thompson investigate. Things get messy with Thompson getting fired for something unrelated and Clark seeing things on patrol that don't sit well with him.
Darren Cutright is a strong character, and the teaming with Thompson and their complementary personalities makes for a memorable friendship among colleagues. These guys are more than partners, and they are damn good investigators. Clark's character is also memorable and sympathetic, a rookie cop earnestly wanting to do the right thing in tough circumstances.
The suspicion as to who the murderer is shifts around: is it Thompson? Or Sarah Hawkins, a clerk in the CA office and Clark's new girlfriend? Walker, Clark's new training officer? Somebody else? The evidence points to the killer being a cop or somebody in government. In time, Cutright puts the clues together.
Overall, Justice makes for an entertaining police procedural set in a place that works well for crime stories and populated with characters that fit this milieau. It's a very good read.
I received a free advance reader copy, and I'm voluntarily writing this review.
Review of advance copy
4.5 ⭐ A Brilliant, Dark Series Starter! How do you draw the distinction between justice and vengeance when the law itself is broken?
A.W. Morisseau delivers a gritty, uncompromising look into the St. Louis criminal underbelly with this debut crime thriller.
"Justice" propels us into the shadows of inner-city deprivation, capturing a world-weary police force caught between a vigilante executing the city’s worst criminals and the corrupt higher echelons of the Justice system.
The partnership between Darren and Chris provides a sharp, witty anchor amidst the grim reality of their work, while rookie Mike's arrival adds a fresh layer of vulnerability.
The story excels at exploring the murky, uncomfortable territory where the law ends and personal retribution begins. It expertly builds a heavy, suffocating atmosphere that mirrors the moral ambiguity of the choices and dilemmas faced every day.
By blurring the line between sanctioned justice and cold vengeance, the narrative forces us to confront the dark sacrifices made in an effort to protect a broken city.
This is a tense, haunting start to what promises to be a compelling series.
My thanks to Booksirens for the ARC. This is my own opinion.
A.W. Morisseau delivers a gritty, uncompromising look into the St. Louis criminal underbelly with this debut crime thriller.
"Justice" propels us into the shadows of inner-city deprivation, capturing a world-weary police force caught between a vigilante executing the city’s worst criminals and the corrupt higher echelons of the Justice system.
The partnership between Darren and Chris provides a sharp, witty anchor amidst the grim reality of their work, while rookie Mike's arrival adds a fresh layer of vulnerability.
The story excels at exploring the murky, uncomfortable territory where the law ends and personal retribution begins. It expertly builds a heavy, suffocating atmosphere that mirrors the moral ambiguity of the choices and dilemmas faced every day.
By blurring the line between sanctioned justice and cold vengeance, the narrative forces us to confront the dark sacrifices made in an effort to protect a broken city.
This is a tense, haunting start to what promises to be a compelling series.
My thanks to Booksirens for the ARC. This is my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Great Read.
Rookie cop Mike Clark gets his feet wet quick when he is pulled in and accused of
ruthlessly attacking a suspect. Facing removal from the force and possible criminal charges,as,well,
he goes on leave and intends to fight back.
At the same time a seasoned detective Darren Cutright, starts honing in on a series of killings that seem too similar to him to just be coincidental.
Mike and Darren continue to cross paths as they deal with homicides that overlap and Cutright is determined to find the connector.
Just a really, really good story of the gritty side of life that homicide cops face every single day in our cities.
Clark's idealism, as a rookie seeking to make a difference is tempered by the rough, underbelly of street thugs and drug dealers and the years hardened experienced Cutright.
Unraveling the mystery makes for a riveting read.
Good, strongly defined characters that jump off the pages, make it even better.
Five stars all the way.
Rookie cop Mike Clark gets his feet wet quick when he is pulled in and accused of
ruthlessly attacking a suspect. Facing removal from the force and possible criminal charges,as,well,
he goes on leave and intends to fight back.
At the same time a seasoned detective Darren Cutright, starts honing in on a series of killings that seem too similar to him to just be coincidental.
Mike and Darren continue to cross paths as they deal with homicides that overlap and Cutright is determined to find the connector.
Just a really, really good story of the gritty side of life that homicide cops face every single day in our cities.
Clark's idealism, as a rookie seeking to make a difference is tempered by the rough, underbelly of street thugs and drug dealers and the years hardened experienced Cutright.
Unraveling the mystery makes for a riveting read.
Good, strongly defined characters that jump off the pages, make it even better.
Five stars all the way.
Review of advance copy
I am from the St. Louis area, and I thought oh a book set in St. Louis let's see how accurate it can be. I loved it!! The accuracy of the sites, the streets and of course the crimes. When the book opens with a shooting I had to laugh because that is what the news here focuses on. That being said, I loved the characters. The relationship the partners had with each other. The newby cop trying to make his way on the streets.
Now don't get me wrong, I didn't guess the vigilante killer correctly. I had about 4 people that I THOUGHT it might be, but it wasn't any of them. I hope this really turns into a series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Now don't get me wrong, I didn't guess the vigilante killer correctly. I had about 4 people that I THOUGHT it might be, but it wasn't any of them. I hope this really turns into a series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book works as a good police procedural and the whodunnit aspect kept me guessing until the reveal. The main characters, Mike and Darren, are relatable and likeable, but Thompson steals every scene he is in.
The downsides are that some of the procedural scenes were too technical for someone not well-versed in police lingo, the IA investigation ended too abruptly, one important character is not as fleshed out as she could be and the ending was anticlimactic.
This book works as a good police procedural and the whodunnit aspect kept me guessing until the reveal. The main characters, Mike and Darren, are relatable and likeable, but Thompson steals every scene he is in.
The downsides are that some of the procedural scenes were too technical for someone not well-versed in police lingo, the IA investigation ended too abruptly, one important character is not as fleshed out as she could be and the ending was anticlimactic.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A gritty police crime thriller in a similar vein to David Simon's "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets," Justice takes readers into a tangled world of inner-city crime, law enforcement, and the blurry line between justice and revenge. The novel nicely captures the chaos, moral ambiguity, and emotional strain that come with policing violent neighborhoods. What makes the story especially compelling (and disturbing) is that many of the episodes are inspired by real events.
Review of advance copy received from Author
It was a privilege to be a beta reader!
I don't read a lot of crime thrillers but this book is great. The world of police life is masterfully displayed. The pace is perfect (I wish I didn't have to finish it so fast). The story is captivating. I loved the weave of personal development (Mike with his boxing), romance, the justice system problems and the tough life of being a cop.
I thought Sarah was the killer until her house was raided.
I don't read a lot of crime thrillers but this book is great. The world of police life is masterfully displayed. The pace is perfect (I wish I didn't have to finish it so fast). The story is captivating. I loved the weave of personal development (Mike with his boxing), romance, the justice system problems and the tough life of being a cop.
I thought Sarah was the killer until her house was raided.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you like realistic crime thrillers, this is your perfect read. The story’s inspiration comes from my time as a police officer in St. Louis, and you can see that authenticity on every page. Many of the characters and events are rooted in lived experience, albeit remade as fiction. This book is not what Hollywood makes the streets out to be—this is what the streets really are.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A gripping, fast-paced thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Justice by A. W. Morisseau delivers sharp twists, strong characters, and thought-provoking moral tension. Very intense and impossible to put down—highly recommended for thriller fans.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews