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Shattered Triangle
"An uncommonly well-characterized murder mystery about the friendship between a politician, a priest and a police lieutenant…" –Best Thrillers
Three friends, inseparable as children, take very different paths toward adulthood. In spite of the distances that emerge among them, they are thrust together by the tragedy of death. Each affected in different ways. Giuseppe Lozano, a candidate for U.S. Senate, returns home one night to find his wife and three children mysteriously murdered. There seems to be no motive, and little evidence is left at the scene. How will this affect him and his run for office? Giovanni Lozano, a Catholic priest, is forced to look beyond the violence to find the presence of God. As a brother and uncle, he feels anger and a desire for revenge. As a priest, he is torn by the call of a God who loves all people-good and bad. Can he forgive? Tom Moran, a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, is charged with finding the murderer and building a case for justice. He feels no call to forgive. Nor is he driven by ambition. This case is personal. But can he deliver?
Three lives. Three friends. Will the bonds of friendship survive?
Three friends, inseparable as children, take very different paths toward adulthood. In spite of the distances that emerge among them, they are thrust together by the tragedy of death. Each affected in different ways. Giuseppe Lozano, a candidate for U.S. Senate, returns home one night to find his wife and three children mysteriously murdered. There seems to be no motive, and little evidence is left at the scene. How will this affect him and his run for office? Giovanni Lozano, a Catholic priest, is forced to look beyond the violence to find the presence of God. As a brother and uncle, he feels anger and a desire for revenge. As a priest, he is torn by the call of a God who loves all people-good and bad. Can he forgive? Tom Moran, a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, is charged with finding the murderer and building a case for justice. He feels no call to forgive. Nor is he driven by ambition. This case is personal. But can he deliver?
Three lives. Three friends. Will the bonds of friendship survive?
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 24, 2019
3.5 Stars
September 8, 2016
An uncommonly well-characterized murder mystery about the friendship between a politician, a priest and a police lieutenant.
Readers looking for a classic police procedural will find much more than they bargained for in Shattered Triangle. Author William P. Messenger plays with traditional story structure, flashing back and forth in time, and revealing telling details of the actual crime itself far before the end. Still, Messenger still manages to deliver a shocker of an ending that sets up the second book in the series nicely.
Check out the rest of my review at BestThrillers.com
Readers looking for a classic police procedural will find much more than they bargained for in Shattered Triangle. Author William P. Messenger plays with traditional story structure, flashing back and forth in time, and revealing telling details of the actual crime itself far before the end. Still, Messenger still manages to deliver a shocker of an ending that sets up the second book in the series nicely.
Check out the rest of my review at BestThrillers.com
February 8, 2017
Timely.
Good read, however it leaves me convinced cheaters always win, evil always beats good, and we are doomed. I'd like to share a nice bottle of wine with the author as his words express our current climate perfectly!
Good read, however it leaves me convinced cheaters always win, evil always beats good, and we are doomed. I'd like to share a nice bottle of wine with the author as his words express our current climate perfectly!
May 15, 2013
This book was very enjoyable. The characters are engaging, well developed and have a complexity that keeps the reader wanting to learn more about each character. There is an abundance of Los Angeles history in this book and I have always been drawn to novels that include the history of the Los Angeles area. This novel does not disappoint as it paints a nostalgic picture of historic Los Angeles.
March 15, 2013
Shattered Triangle is a detailed mix of Los Angeles history and murder mystery. The author has a very intimate knowledge of the City of Angeles and takes the reader on a tour, showing how the city shaped the lives of three friends. If you're looking for a murder mystery with a great twist and have a love of LA, this is a great book for you!
March 6, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this novel.
What an interesting bunch of characters that were well thought out and interesting. I liked the direction the story took and it had just the right amount of twists and turns that kept my interest and it didn't feel overdone. I look forward to reading more books from this author.
What an interesting bunch of characters that were well thought out and interesting. I liked the direction the story took and it had just the right amount of twists and turns that kept my interest and it didn't feel overdone. I look forward to reading more books from this author.
February 17, 2015
My former college priest at the University of Southern California (USC), Fr. Bill Messenger (retired from the priesthood for the past 5 years now), has written a doozy of a first novel, a first-rate detective novel and murder mystery.
As a disclaimer, I will admit that I don’t agree with the author’s political views expressed in the novel, just like I disagreed with the political viewpoints he espoused in his homilies at the USC Catholic Center back in the day. But that aside, just as there was certainly never a dull moment during Fr. Bill’s homilies, there’s nary a dull moment in “Shattered Triangle,” and the politics does nothing to detract from the entertainment value of the book. The novel’s plotline and characters and engaging, thought-provoking, and engrossing from start to finish. And it has some excellent insights into L.A. life and culture than anybody who grew up in SoCal during the latter half of the 20th century can appreciate.
The three main characters are three old childhood friends who grew up together in Southern California: Tom Moran, who eventually becomes an LAPD detective and Lieutenant, Giovanni “Gio” Lozano, who grows up to be a Catholic priest, and Gio’s brother Giuseppe “Sep” Lozano, who ends up as an extremely wealthy entrepreneur cum U.S. Senate candidate. It’s interesting to see that the author, his real-life ministerial background notwithstanding, decided to Tom the cop, a lapsed Catholic and agnostic no less(!) as the first-person protagonist rather than Gio the priest. However, if you know the author personally like I do, you will still see that there is a quite a bit of Fr. Bill’s real-life personality traits built into Fr. Gio (such as his belief in universal salvation, disbelief in the existence of Hellfire and the Devil, and his eschewing of much of the formality of the priesthood).
The old childhood friends are reunited, in a manner of speaking, by a horrific tragedy, the mysterious and shocking murder of Giuseppe’s wife and three children (the “Consequential Murder” referenced in the subtitle of the novel). Tom Moran ends up leading the investigation, struggling with keeping his personal feelings and sense of loss from interfering with his professional duty. And is if the murder weren’t disturbing enough in and of itself, it takes an even more disturbing and sinister turn….and (at the risk of a bit of a spoiler here), it ended leaving me with a bit of an eerie feeling on unfinished business—but as the saying goes, “Them’s the breaks,” as unlike in Hollywood, not every murder case is always solved in such a cut-and-dried manner.
Speaking myself as a former criminal investigator (albeit at the Federal level as opposed to a local/municipal level of law enforcement), the author did a pretty accurate job of describing investigative procedures—of course, it helped having a real-life LAPD resource, my old buddy and former fellow USC Catholic Center parishioner Adolfo Batres (noted in the book’s Acknowledgements section) as a resource. And from my personal experience, I can empathize with the protagonist’s desire to avoid the FBI’s seemingly insatiable desire to meddle in, and take over, the high-profile case; it’s not just local L.E. agencies that are leery of FBI involvement, other Federal agencies aren’t too keen on the Fat Boys Institute. Back when I was a student at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), my instructors poked at the FBI whenever and wherever I could; indeed, I had one instructor who *was* a former FBI agent, and, true to stereotype, he was the most arrogant, condescending, and sense of humour-challenged of all the instructors I met at the schoolhouse.
And my aforementioned political differences with the author and the protagonist alike notwithstanding, it looks like Fr. Bill, Lt. Moran, and I concur on disdain and distrust for the mainstream media; my single favorite line in the book is on p. 184 wherein he refers to those vultures as “a bunch of f*cking *$$holes.” Spot-on!
I just have a few technical nitpicks from the standpoint of a lifelong firearms enthusiast who has been studying ballistics for 25 years:
(1) “With the suppressor attached, the only audible sound was the slide of the chamber clip ejecting the bullet casing.” The slide is indeed the name of the part of an autopistol that cycles back and forth atop the frame (receiver), but it is the ejector that spits the empty casing out of the ejection port; “chamber clip” is not a correct piece of firearms nomenclature.
(2) Two of the victims are shot in the head, while two are shot in the heart. On page 175, the author/protagonist says that “these were not messy or gory murders” and that the deaths were “painless and instantaneous.” Actually, as a close personal friend of mine who’s a recently retired LAFD Paramedic (25 years on the job, and among other things received the Medal of Valor from the Department for saving the life of a young boy victimized by the shooting at a North Valley Jewish Center back in 1999) pointed out to be, head wounds tend to bleed profusely. Moreover, head shots do not necessarily kill instantly, until the bullet strikes the medulla oblongata (brain stem). And last but not least, heart shots are no guarantor of instant death either; it’s a medically proven fact that, provided there is a sufficient amount of oxygenated blood in the brain, a person shot in the heart can move and fight for up to 14 seconds.
Those nitpicks aside, an excellent first effort by William P. Messenger, highly recommended, and I hope to see more novel from him in the future. God bless and Fight On, Fr. Bill!
As a disclaimer, I will admit that I don’t agree with the author’s political views expressed in the novel, just like I disagreed with the political viewpoints he espoused in his homilies at the USC Catholic Center back in the day. But that aside, just as there was certainly never a dull moment during Fr. Bill’s homilies, there’s nary a dull moment in “Shattered Triangle,” and the politics does nothing to detract from the entertainment value of the book. The novel’s plotline and characters and engaging, thought-provoking, and engrossing from start to finish. And it has some excellent insights into L.A. life and culture than anybody who grew up in SoCal during the latter half of the 20th century can appreciate.
The three main characters are three old childhood friends who grew up together in Southern California: Tom Moran, who eventually becomes an LAPD detective and Lieutenant, Giovanni “Gio” Lozano, who grows up to be a Catholic priest, and Gio’s brother Giuseppe “Sep” Lozano, who ends up as an extremely wealthy entrepreneur cum U.S. Senate candidate. It’s interesting to see that the author, his real-life ministerial background notwithstanding, decided to Tom the cop, a lapsed Catholic and agnostic no less(!) as the first-person protagonist rather than Gio the priest. However, if you know the author personally like I do, you will still see that there is a quite a bit of Fr. Bill’s real-life personality traits built into Fr. Gio (such as his belief in universal salvation, disbelief in the existence of Hellfire and the Devil, and his eschewing of much of the formality of the priesthood).
The old childhood friends are reunited, in a manner of speaking, by a horrific tragedy, the mysterious and shocking murder of Giuseppe’s wife and three children (the “Consequential Murder” referenced in the subtitle of the novel). Tom Moran ends up leading the investigation, struggling with keeping his personal feelings and sense of loss from interfering with his professional duty. And is if the murder weren’t disturbing enough in and of itself, it takes an even more disturbing and sinister turn….and (at the risk of a bit of a spoiler here), it ended leaving me with a bit of an eerie feeling on unfinished business—but as the saying goes, “Them’s the breaks,” as unlike in Hollywood, not every murder case is always solved in such a cut-and-dried manner.
Speaking myself as a former criminal investigator (albeit at the Federal level as opposed to a local/municipal level of law enforcement), the author did a pretty accurate job of describing investigative procedures—of course, it helped having a real-life LAPD resource, my old buddy and former fellow USC Catholic Center parishioner Adolfo Batres (noted in the book’s Acknowledgements section) as a resource. And from my personal experience, I can empathize with the protagonist’s desire to avoid the FBI’s seemingly insatiable desire to meddle in, and take over, the high-profile case; it’s not just local L.E. agencies that are leery of FBI involvement, other Federal agencies aren’t too keen on the Fat Boys Institute. Back when I was a student at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), my instructors poked at the FBI whenever and wherever I could; indeed, I had one instructor who *was* a former FBI agent, and, true to stereotype, he was the most arrogant, condescending, and sense of humour-challenged of all the instructors I met at the schoolhouse.
And my aforementioned political differences with the author and the protagonist alike notwithstanding, it looks like Fr. Bill, Lt. Moran, and I concur on disdain and distrust for the mainstream media; my single favorite line in the book is on p. 184 wherein he refers to those vultures as “a bunch of f*cking *$$holes.” Spot-on!
I just have a few technical nitpicks from the standpoint of a lifelong firearms enthusiast who has been studying ballistics for 25 years:
(1) “With the suppressor attached, the only audible sound was the slide of the chamber clip ejecting the bullet casing.” The slide is indeed the name of the part of an autopistol that cycles back and forth atop the frame (receiver), but it is the ejector that spits the empty casing out of the ejection port; “chamber clip” is not a correct piece of firearms nomenclature.
(2) Two of the victims are shot in the head, while two are shot in the heart. On page 175, the author/protagonist says that “these were not messy or gory murders” and that the deaths were “painless and instantaneous.” Actually, as a close personal friend of mine who’s a recently retired LAFD Paramedic (25 years on the job, and among other things received the Medal of Valor from the Department for saving the life of a young boy victimized by the shooting at a North Valley Jewish Center back in 1999) pointed out to be, head wounds tend to bleed profusely. Moreover, head shots do not necessarily kill instantly, until the bullet strikes the medulla oblongata (brain stem). And last but not least, heart shots are no guarantor of instant death either; it’s a medically proven fact that, provided there is a sufficient amount of oxygenated blood in the brain, a person shot in the heart can move and fight for up to 14 seconds.
Those nitpicks aside, an excellent first effort by William P. Messenger, highly recommended, and I hope to see more novel from him in the future. God bless and Fight On, Fr. Bill!
March 25, 2017
Sorry for Shattered Triangle
I continued to read this book, even though it took too long to get to the heart of the story. In my opinion, the characters were less than truthful, and the story itself a little too contrived. I doubt I will continue on to no. 2, it just wasn't that enjoyable for me to read.
I continued to read this book, even though it took too long to get to the heart of the story. In my opinion, the characters were less than truthful, and the story itself a little too contrived. I doubt I will continue on to no. 2, it just wasn't that enjoyable for me to read.
August 9, 2016
A very enjoyable read which I would recommend. A bit of L.A. history and a bit of crime thriller thrown in for good measure. Based around three engaging characters who have been friends since childhood. Thank you Net Galley for my copy.
March 15, 2016
This was fascinating storytelling with extraordinary twists in the plot that kept me turning pages. I gobbled it up on vacation. I highly recommend Shattered Triangle.
March 19, 2018
I read Shattered Triangle by William Messenger some time ago and forgot to post a review so this will be my recollection combined with a minimal amount of notes I took. While I gave a middle of the road rating it could easily, for me, have been lower.
I generally don't mind background in a story, I am not one of those who must always have action and violence the entire way through a novel. This, however, even considering the background serves as the background for a series (trilogy?), was too detailed. The information given could have been given far more efficiently and effectively.
Once the procedural started it still did not compel me to make time to read it. If how a book stays in your memory serves as a good indication, and it usually does, I remember just wanting to get through it. No more and no less. Unless a novel is just terrible, which this one was not, I want to give the book a chance all the way to the end. I will stop short of saying I regret finishing it, there were moments of interest, but between questionable characterization, some implausible events, and what appeared to have been social/political statements from the author disguised as opinions of the characters I was so happy to be able to never have to open it again. Needless to say I won't be reading the other volumes.
I usually have some idea what types of people would like a book but I can't seem to think of any easily definable group. Not readers of a specific genre or author, not readers who like character-driven novels (I am one of those and this was too much fluff for me). There will be plenty who like this book but I simply can't recommend it to any particular group or sub-group. If you like games of chance then you might want to take a chance on this one. I did and was disappointed.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss.
I generally don't mind background in a story, I am not one of those who must always have action and violence the entire way through a novel. This, however, even considering the background serves as the background for a series (trilogy?), was too detailed. The information given could have been given far more efficiently and effectively.
Once the procedural started it still did not compel me to make time to read it. If how a book stays in your memory serves as a good indication, and it usually does, I remember just wanting to get through it. No more and no less. Unless a novel is just terrible, which this one was not, I want to give the book a chance all the way to the end. I will stop short of saying I regret finishing it, there were moments of interest, but between questionable characterization, some implausible events, and what appeared to have been social/political statements from the author disguised as opinions of the characters I was so happy to be able to never have to open it again. Needless to say I won't be reading the other volumes.
I usually have some idea what types of people would like a book but I can't seem to think of any easily definable group. Not readers of a specific genre or author, not readers who like character-driven novels (I am one of those and this was too much fluff for me). There will be plenty who like this book but I simply can't recommend it to any particular group or sub-group. If you like games of chance then you might want to take a chance on this one. I did and was disappointed.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss.
May 9, 2021
INTRODUCTION
'A Consequential Murder' is the first book in the series, 'Shattered Triangle'.
This novel speaks with the POV of Lt. Tom Moran, and progress with introduction of the protagonists of the series, twin brothers Giovanni and Giuseppe Lozano, and Tom himself. The beginning chapters, though lengthy, are an integral part of the successful series, to know the characters and how their actions are stemmed from their childhood and adolescence. The conversations provide an insight on how the characters develop and grow their personalities, which later affects each one of them, with a consequence.
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY
William Messenger's dexterity with words begins the adventure, or rather, paths, towards a murder trilogy, one without any reliable evidence, and, eerily, without any motive.
The blurb of 'Shattered Triangle: A Consequential Murder', itself was enough to hook me right in the book. I was certainly expecting a lot from this read, and am glad to say that I had a fulfilling time, and the end left me speechless. It was very unexpected, and made me want to read the whole book again, just to understand how and why the plot twisted in such a manner.
THE BARE BONES
'A Consequential Murder' is an uncommon and unique book with complex characters and plots.
After detailed introductions of the three protagonists, the plot turns sinister, when Giuseppe Lozano's wife and three innocent children are killed, without any mercy. Giuseppe is dazed, Giovanni is devastated, and Tom is stunned.
Tom Moran is determined to punish the cruel murderer, and takes up the charge of solving the tough case. There is, but one evidence, which may not be so reliable in finding the murderer, but is a step forward nonetheless.
The words make readers to keep going and try to figure out the horrific murder tragedy.
THE CHARACTERS
Lt. Tom Moran, in the very start of the story, is a rogue cop, but is a determined person, and with a brilliant outlook.
Fr. Giovanni Lozano, is a Catholic priest, whose faith never wavers, and has an insightful set of principles that he follows.
Giuseppe Lozano, a successful businessman, is a candidate for the U.S. Senate, who is driven by ambition and is one of the people who always think of the 'big picture'.
Giovanni and Giuseppe Lozano are identical twin brothers, but have a very different personality, as is reflected in the further story. Tom Moran is their childhood friend, and they are inseparable as children.
The characters are engaging, and I especially like that the situation depicted, and the characters as well, are true to the present circumstances of the world.
THE SETTING
'A Consequential Murder' takes place in Los Angles, California. The book deals with a lot of history of the city, and is quite informative about it. I personally, am intrigued about the city, due to the descriptive words about Los Angles. Tom Moran was a local resident of the city, while Giovanni and Giuseppe Lozano moved in the neighborhood in 1960. The setting has contributed a lot to the story, and it speaks of the beginning of the friendship of a triangle, its three vertices being Tom, Giovanni and Giuseppe.
The question is, will the triangle remain enact? Or will it 'shatter'? And to know the reason for my queer question, reading the book is the key!
MY FAVORITE LINE
In the end, it was only a friendship. Except it wasn't.
'A Consequential Murder' is the first book in the series, 'Shattered Triangle'.
This novel speaks with the POV of Lt. Tom Moran, and progress with introduction of the protagonists of the series, twin brothers Giovanni and Giuseppe Lozano, and Tom himself. The beginning chapters, though lengthy, are an integral part of the successful series, to know the characters and how their actions are stemmed from their childhood and adolescence. The conversations provide an insight on how the characters develop and grow their personalities, which later affects each one of them, with a consequence.
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY
William Messenger's dexterity with words begins the adventure, or rather, paths, towards a murder trilogy, one without any reliable evidence, and, eerily, without any motive.
The blurb of 'Shattered Triangle: A Consequential Murder', itself was enough to hook me right in the book. I was certainly expecting a lot from this read, and am glad to say that I had a fulfilling time, and the end left me speechless. It was very unexpected, and made me want to read the whole book again, just to understand how and why the plot twisted in such a manner.
THE BARE BONES
'A Consequential Murder' is an uncommon and unique book with complex characters and plots.
After detailed introductions of the three protagonists, the plot turns sinister, when Giuseppe Lozano's wife and three innocent children are killed, without any mercy. Giuseppe is dazed, Giovanni is devastated, and Tom is stunned.
Tom Moran is determined to punish the cruel murderer, and takes up the charge of solving the tough case. There is, but one evidence, which may not be so reliable in finding the murderer, but is a step forward nonetheless.
The words make readers to keep going and try to figure out the horrific murder tragedy.
THE CHARACTERS
Lt. Tom Moran, in the very start of the story, is a rogue cop, but is a determined person, and with a brilliant outlook.
Fr. Giovanni Lozano, is a Catholic priest, whose faith never wavers, and has an insightful set of principles that he follows.
Giuseppe Lozano, a successful businessman, is a candidate for the U.S. Senate, who is driven by ambition and is one of the people who always think of the 'big picture'.
Giovanni and Giuseppe Lozano are identical twin brothers, but have a very different personality, as is reflected in the further story. Tom Moran is their childhood friend, and they are inseparable as children.
The characters are engaging, and I especially like that the situation depicted, and the characters as well, are true to the present circumstances of the world.
THE SETTING
'A Consequential Murder' takes place in Los Angles, California. The book deals with a lot of history of the city, and is quite informative about it. I personally, am intrigued about the city, due to the descriptive words about Los Angles. Tom Moran was a local resident of the city, while Giovanni and Giuseppe Lozano moved in the neighborhood in 1960. The setting has contributed a lot to the story, and it speaks of the beginning of the friendship of a triangle, its three vertices being Tom, Giovanni and Giuseppe.
The question is, will the triangle remain enact? Or will it 'shatter'? And to know the reason for my queer question, reading the book is the key!
MY FAVORITE LINE
In the end, it was only a friendship. Except it wasn't.
May 30, 2019
Good book to a point. Every major city and state having major problem with drugs the homeless are run by the democrats they also have more millionaires then republicans are given to lie miss lead as in the phony charges against trump a total lie just like what happened in Florida all though years ago it was the democrats who control those counties that problem was in. It was the democrats who owned the slaves in the south. Maybe the real truth needs to be told
I read the book it becomes very clear the democrats are very full of them selves. Look around every major city and state run by the democrats are out of control major crime is up shooting are away up the homeless are increasingly growing at alarming rate drugs never ending. Worse is the lack of morale foundation. They were the slave owners of the now they are becoming the slave owners by laws they pass. They are the millionaires who control the working class it's not the republicans who cause the problem it's the democrats. My dad's family came from a country like what the democrats want here. The cLaimed that's coming is all on the democrats and the hand writing is on the wall. Not in this phony cartoon character you have in the but by the Selfridges character who think they have all the right answers. All three of them are phony as a three dollar bill. The good guy's have lost this country and your helping it alone by fake portrayal of the republicans and miss using facts to fit your self. I've learned the one who calls the others out like the democrats did Trump for the last two years are liers and phony people who should no be in office as any other bad office holder.
I read the book it becomes very clear the democrats are very full of them selves. Look around every major city and state run by the democrats are out of control major crime is up shooting are away up the homeless are increasingly growing at alarming rate drugs never ending. Worse is the lack of morale foundation. They were the slave owners of the now they are becoming the slave owners by laws they pass. They are the millionaires who control the working class it's not the republicans who cause the problem it's the democrats. My dad's family came from a country like what the democrats want here. The cLaimed that's coming is all on the democrats and the hand writing is on the wall. Not in this phony cartoon character you have in the but by the Selfridges character who think they have all the right answers. All three of them are phony as a three dollar bill. The good guy's have lost this country and your helping it alone by fake portrayal of the republicans and miss using facts to fit your self. I've learned the one who calls the others out like the democrats did Trump for the last two years are liers and phony people who should no be in office as any other bad office holder.
March 25, 2019
Most of the mysteries I read do not have what I consider to be beautifully developed characters. Shattered Triangle is the happy exception, as all three main characters are extremely well drawn. Three childhood friends are thown together again by tragedy. Tom Logan, LAPD detective, is put in charge of a multiple homicide. The victims are the wife and children of a childhood friend, Giuseppe Lorenzo, now a senatorial candidate. Also in the picture is Giuseppe's twin brother Giovanni, a Catholic priest. The author takes us back into each life, showing how each character developed. And I love that all three of the men are deeply flawed. I figured out fairly early what had happened to the family, so I wasn't as surprised as some of the other reviewers were. The book careens from character study to theological debate to political thriller, but you enjoy every minute of the ride. And, as an added bonus, the book is full of Los Angeles history, so I actually learned something along the way. The only part I found midly annoying were the numerous political and theological views of the author, as they were on display often - and were not subtle. But that alone is not enough to deter me from giving this a solid recommend.
November 20, 2019
Actually 3 1/2 ***
The story line was interesting about the relationship of 2 brothers & a childhood friend (all brought up Catholic) as they find their way in life. One brother becomes a priest, the other brother, a businessman turned politician & the friend, a police detective. The story centers around the murders of the politician's wife & 2 children. The detective is placed in charge of the investigation. It's a good story that explores not only the murder case but issues of faith. I found some of the writing a bit stiff at times but it was an overall good read.
The story line was interesting about the relationship of 2 brothers & a childhood friend (all brought up Catholic) as they find their way in life. One brother becomes a priest, the other brother, a businessman turned politician & the friend, a police detective. The story centers around the murders of the politician's wife & 2 children. The detective is placed in charge of the investigation. It's a good story that explores not only the murder case but issues of faith. I found some of the writing a bit stiff at times but it was an overall good read.
March 3, 2019
Way to wordy..
I forced myself to read this book. It could have been shortened by at least 100 pages. The only redeeming quality is the author did not use filthy language and smut as fillers. There was to much in depth of people's beliefs that has nothing to do with the story. And then, of course an ending that leaves the reader hanging. If you want to know you have to buy the next book. No thanks, I won't be reading anymore books by this author.
I forced myself to read this book. It could have been shortened by at least 100 pages. The only redeeming quality is the author did not use filthy language and smut as fillers. There was to much in depth of people's beliefs that has nothing to do with the story. And then, of course an ending that leaves the reader hanging. If you want to know you have to buy the next book. No thanks, I won't be reading anymore books by this author.
April 12, 2019
Good story line didn't appreciate the stand at Republicans
Author very good at background/character development. Story line flowed well. Couldn't overlook the blatant stabs at Republican party--this could have been left out as well as the support for Democrats. It would be nice to not have to deal with that. When I read, I want to get away from all of the mess of the world. Story would have flowed quite well without. Not sure if I will continue series of he continues.
Author very good at background/character development. Story line flowed well. Couldn't overlook the blatant stabs at Republican party--this could have been left out as well as the support for Democrats. It would be nice to not have to deal with that. When I read, I want to get away from all of the mess of the world. Story would have flowed quite well without. Not sure if I will continue series of he continues.
February 28, 2019
I almost never leave reviews, I think generally a reader should make up her own mind about a book. Unhappily, I have to tell you this was a slog for me. The writing was almost all passive voice. It was like reading a really long 8th grade report.
I love book series, but I will not be reading the rest of this one.
I love book series, but I will not be reading the rest of this one.
March 2, 2019
A MUST read for everyone !!
Wow !! What a fantastic book and story - it gripped me until the very last page !! Of which I was unaware was coming so quickly and so unexpected an ending ! BRAVO Mr Messenger , I haven't been duped into being so astonished at not guessing a conclusion in years !! I'll be avidly following you , trust !! Oh and thank you !! A bientot ..... !
Wow !! What a fantastic book and story - it gripped me until the very last page !! Of which I was unaware was coming so quickly and so unexpected an ending ! BRAVO Mr Messenger , I haven't been duped into being so astonished at not guessing a conclusion in years !! I'll be avidly following you , trust !! Oh and thank you !! A bientot ..... !
July 19, 2019
Brilliant Read
Very well written thriller with a surprising ending this author has done his research into the running of the police and the political scene at the time. I loved the used of factual alongside the fictional to give a deeper understanding of the plot etc thoroughly enjoyed and recommend you read this book you will be pleasantly surprised!
Very well written thriller with a surprising ending this author has done his research into the running of the police and the political scene at the time. I loved the used of factual alongside the fictional to give a deeper understanding of the plot etc thoroughly enjoyed and recommend you read this book you will be pleasantly surprised!
July 28, 2019
I was disappointed. The first half of the book was backstory. Very little of it was even relevant to the story. You find out who the killer was but there is no resolution. It's like you get only half of the real story and way too much back story. I guess they want you to buy additional volumes but I wouldn't waste your time.
April 4, 2019
Extremely slow to get to the story
Starts with a bang then takes more than half the book to give detailed background stories to try to set the stage. Throw in some Republican & Catholic bashing for good measure.
Starts with a bang then takes more than half the book to give detailed background stories to try to set the stage. Throw in some Republican & Catholic bashing for good measure.
April 30, 2019
A good descriptive story which took quite a while to get to any action. However the character building in first two thirds was both necessary and beautifully written and it kept me fully engrossed.#I would definitely look for more by this author
May 7, 2019
I really liked the beginning of the book. It pulled me in, but then the author spends way too much time developing detailed profiles of the main characters. The Catholic and Republican bashing really turned me off. I can handle some bias of the author showing through, but this was rediculous.
June 16, 2019
I wanted to like this book. It starts out with a great premise. Then the first 3/4 of the book is spent providing detailed historical background. It read more like a history lesson of LA than a book.
January 9, 2019
Shattered!
I did not like this book. Reason, because it's damned true. It was well written, so good you can not out it down. Kept thinking, this is not real, it can't!
I did not like this book. Reason, because it's damned true. It was well written, so good you can not out it down. Kept thinking, this is not real, it can't!
March 5, 2019
Tough
The main character seems tough however it was one of the toughest books I have read in a long time. It is well written and weaves a tale of friendship and evil.
The main character seems tough however it was one of the toughest books I have read in a long time. It is well written and weaves a tale of friendship and evil.
March 15, 2019
ShAttered Triangle
A good book,a bit to deep,and very indulgent.but readable.only to. spoil by the most rubb ish ending ever.obviously cliff hanger stuff
A good book,a bit to deep,and very indulgent.but readable.only to. spoil by the most rubb ish ending ever.obviously cliff hanger stuff
March 23, 2019
Very good
Very interesting mystery with a surprise ending. Will defiantly read the next book. I will be willing to pay top dollar for it.
Very interesting mystery with a surprise ending. Will defiantly read the next book. I will be willing to pay top dollar for it.
March 31, 2019
Rabbit Trails
A good story but filled with many rabbit trails that were very distracting! Way too much unnecessary details. Could have been a great short story!
A good story but filled with many rabbit trails that were very distracting! Way too much unnecessary details. Could have been a great short story!
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