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Ron Ketchum Mystery #3
Impaled
Ron Ketchum gets a nighttime phone call from Clay Steadman, movie icon and the man who saved Ron’s career as a cop. Clay says he’s dying and wants to ask Ron for a favor or two before he goes.
Ron races through a Sierra Nevada blizzard to Clay’s house, but he’s too late. Clay is already dead. Someone has driven a wooden stake through Clay’s heart. Impaled him.
Things get even more macabre. Marlene Flower Moon, Clay’s production partner on his latest film, slips past a police guard and enters the murder scene. She sniffs the body, picking up the killer’s scent in the most literal way.
If that’s not enough, an earthquake hits, triggering a number of avalanches. Ron hopes Mother Nature has trapped the killer in Goldstrike, the mountain resort town where he’s now mayor.
Maybe she has. Because a screenwriter Clay talked to about collaborating with him on his final script soon turns up dead. So now there are two murder cases to solve.
Ron races through a Sierra Nevada blizzard to Clay’s house, but he’s too late. Clay is already dead. Someone has driven a wooden stake through Clay’s heart. Impaled him.
Things get even more macabre. Marlene Flower Moon, Clay’s production partner on his latest film, slips past a police guard and enters the murder scene. She sniffs the body, picking up the killer’s scent in the most literal way.
If that’s not enough, an earthquake hits, triggering a number of avalanches. Ron hopes Mother Nature has trapped the killer in Goldstrike, the mountain resort town where he’s now mayor.
Maybe she has. Because a screenwriter Clay talked to about collaborating with him on his final script soon turns up dead. So now there are two murder cases to solve.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 12, 2015
159 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Flynn
69 books197 followersJoseph Flynn has been published both traditionally — Signet Books, Bantam Books and Variance Publishing — and through his own imprint, Stray Dog Press, Inc. Both major media reviews and reader reviews have praised his work. Booklist said, “Flynn is an excellent storyteller.” The Chicago Tribune said, “Flynn [is] a master of high-octane plotting.” The most repeated reader comment is: Write faster, we want more.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 3, 2024
On a great Joseph Flynn binge, this is the second series I have completed with its publications to date. Flynn pens this as a solid police procedural series, with relatable characters and strong plots, sure to keep the reader in the driver’s seat. Flynn delivers another great novel focussed on Ron Ketchum, turning things around little as the protagonist has a new role in Goldstrike, California. The death of a local celebrity has Ketchum and the local police trying to make sense of it. With a recent meteorological event, no one is leaving town, but this does not make the investigation any easier. As the truth about the town and Ketchum’s populace comes to light, no one is free from being considered a potential suspect in the murder. Flynn does well in what appears to be the end (or long-term pause) of the series!
Ron Ketchum has seen a great deal of growth in Goldstrike, California since he was lured here to be its chief of police. Now, having recently been elected its next mayor, Ketchum is getting things in order before taking the reins. When he receives a panicked phone call from his predecessor in the mayor’s office, Clay Steadman, Ketchum accepts that the former movie icon may be in trouble. The content of the discussion includes that Steadman is dying and wants to ask for a few favours from Ketchum before the end.
With a blizzard. raging outside, Mayor-elect Ketchum rushes to Steadman’s home. He’s too late, as Clay Steadman is dead, though not by natural causes. Someone has driven a stake through his heart, the most dramatic of deaths the movie mogul could have scripted. What’s even more troubling is that Steadman’s co-producer on his last film, Marlene Flower Moon, somehow slipped past the police and chose to inhale the air around the body before leaving once more, perhaps on the killer’s trail. This is highly troubling and suspicious, which keeps Ketchum on guard.
When an earthquake jostles the town and leads to a number of avalanches, , Goldstrike is closed down, with no way in our out. Ketchum has a newborn at home and his new wife is out of town, leaving him to play the sole parent role, while this case gains momentum. Another body is found on the outskirts of town, with ties to the movie production, providing a potential connection between the two victims. Working alongside his former partner and the new chief of police, Ron Ketchum tries to find out who might have killed Clay Steadman before the roads open up once more and the killer might be able to slip away. Two murders and a town as uneasy as they come, Mayor-elect Ron Ketchum will have to do all he can while remaining calm. Flynn does well with this piece, which has all the elements for a strong mystery.
After a long reading journey through Joseph Flynn’s stellar Jim McGill political thriller series, this was a great change of pace, with topics and ideas that are just as addictive. Flynn develops this police procedural series with curious elements of mystery. A decent narrative base helps propel the story forward and keeps the reader on the edge of their seats. The story gains momentum as Flynn expands on some of the characters who appeared in past novels, including those from the Jim McGill collection. Great narrative pacing and a thoroughly captivating storyline keep the reader flipping pages, if only to learn a little more. Utilising a technique of longer chapters, Flynn creates vignettes within the larger story to provide. a longer and more detailed reading experience. This is something that I noticed around this same time in the McGill series, which has its usefulness.
Flynn creates a story foundation with key plot points, shaping the larger narrative in an obvious manner. Pairing a core mystery with some well-developed secondary stories, Flynn keeps the reader hungering for more throughout and provides just the right element of surprise to keep the reader wondering. There are some predictable portions of the story, but these are offset with twists that the reader will not have seen coming. I enjoyed this novel and all three in the collection. It is hard to say if there will be more, as Flynn has expanded on some other series he’s penned while leaving this one alone. While Ron Ketchum quickly moved from chief of police to mayor, his presence is not lost on the attentive reader and those who have ventured into other series by the author.
Kudos, Mr. Flynn, for wonderful story development across the board.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Ron Ketchum has seen a great deal of growth in Goldstrike, California since he was lured here to be its chief of police. Now, having recently been elected its next mayor, Ketchum is getting things in order before taking the reins. When he receives a panicked phone call from his predecessor in the mayor’s office, Clay Steadman, Ketchum accepts that the former movie icon may be in trouble. The content of the discussion includes that Steadman is dying and wants to ask for a few favours from Ketchum before the end.
With a blizzard. raging outside, Mayor-elect Ketchum rushes to Steadman’s home. He’s too late, as Clay Steadman is dead, though not by natural causes. Someone has driven a stake through his heart, the most dramatic of deaths the movie mogul could have scripted. What’s even more troubling is that Steadman’s co-producer on his last film, Marlene Flower Moon, somehow slipped past the police and chose to inhale the air around the body before leaving once more, perhaps on the killer’s trail. This is highly troubling and suspicious, which keeps Ketchum on guard.
When an earthquake jostles the town and leads to a number of avalanches, , Goldstrike is closed down, with no way in our out. Ketchum has a newborn at home and his new wife is out of town, leaving him to play the sole parent role, while this case gains momentum. Another body is found on the outskirts of town, with ties to the movie production, providing a potential connection between the two victims. Working alongside his former partner and the new chief of police, Ron Ketchum tries to find out who might have killed Clay Steadman before the roads open up once more and the killer might be able to slip away. Two murders and a town as uneasy as they come, Mayor-elect Ron Ketchum will have to do all he can while remaining calm. Flynn does well with this piece, which has all the elements for a strong mystery.
After a long reading journey through Joseph Flynn’s stellar Jim McGill political thriller series, this was a great change of pace, with topics and ideas that are just as addictive. Flynn develops this police procedural series with curious elements of mystery. A decent narrative base helps propel the story forward and keeps the reader on the edge of their seats. The story gains momentum as Flynn expands on some of the characters who appeared in past novels, including those from the Jim McGill collection. Great narrative pacing and a thoroughly captivating storyline keep the reader flipping pages, if only to learn a little more. Utilising a technique of longer chapters, Flynn creates vignettes within the larger story to provide. a longer and more detailed reading experience. This is something that I noticed around this same time in the McGill series, which has its usefulness.
Flynn creates a story foundation with key plot points, shaping the larger narrative in an obvious manner. Pairing a core mystery with some well-developed secondary stories, Flynn keeps the reader hungering for more throughout and provides just the right element of surprise to keep the reader wondering. There are some predictable portions of the story, but these are offset with twists that the reader will not have seen coming. I enjoyed this novel and all three in the collection. It is hard to say if there will be more, as Flynn has expanded on some other series he’s penned while leaving this one alone. While Ron Ketchum quickly moved from chief of police to mayor, his presence is not lost on the attentive reader and those who have ventured into other series by the author.
Kudos, Mr. Flynn, for wonderful story development across the board.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 10, 2021
Review of Impaled.
Book number three in the Ron Ketchum series Hasan interesting storyline, involving Alzheimers and suicide. The Hollywood Superstar turned mayor of the ritzy town * Goldstrike) is dying of Alzheimers and before he goes he wants to finish one last picture. He receives an unorthodox treatment from a Swedish Doctor which allows him to finish the picture, he calls Ketchum to come over to his house and when Ketchum finds him he's dead. He died because of Stake being driven through his heart. That's not the only problem facing The New Mayor, a Record setting Blizzard blankets the town followed by a massive earthquake. Another person from Hollywood is brutally murdered and Ketchum and his Police Chief are struggling with whose in charge. Great storyline, and the next book in the series will be awesome
Book number three in the Ron Ketchum series Hasan interesting storyline, involving Alzheimers and suicide. The Hollywood Superstar turned mayor of the ritzy town * Goldstrike) is dying of Alzheimers and before he goes he wants to finish one last picture. He receives an unorthodox treatment from a Swedish Doctor which allows him to finish the picture, he calls Ketchum to come over to his house and when Ketchum finds him he's dead. He died because of Stake being driven through his heart. That's not the only problem facing The New Mayor, a Record setting Blizzard blankets the town followed by a massive earthquake. Another person from Hollywood is brutally murdered and Ketchum and his Police Chief are struggling with whose in charge. Great storyline, and the next book in the series will be awesome
May 23, 2020
Ron is now the mayor since Clay Steadman is ill. In this book Ron is called to Clay's house but when he arrives he finds Clay dead. Then a snowstorm, avalanche and earthquake trap everyone in the town. Lots of outsiders are there for a film premiere of Clay's last film. Even though he is the Mayor, Ron takes on the investigation, putting Oliver's nose out of joint. Then someone else is murdered and outside tabloid writers get involved. Both cases have twists and turns along with manipulation by the press to get a better story. The ending was a surprise but is very good.
October 19, 2018
Good series
I have come to expect certain things from Joseph Flynn’s books:
good characters, a good story, usually with a subplot included, lots of action. Got all the above with, not only, this book, but the series as well. I don’t like to give details for fear of spoiling something for the next reader so I will just say that it’s a good read and I recommend it. Then when you finish this series, go read about the President’s Henchman or John Tall Wolf.
I have come to expect certain things from Joseph Flynn’s books:
good characters, a good story, usually with a subplot included, lots of action. Got all the above with, not only, this book, but the series as well. I don’t like to give details for fear of spoiling something for the next reader so I will just say that it’s a good read and I recommend it. Then when you finish this series, go read about the President’s Henchman or John Tall Wolf.
October 2, 2023
Another Delightful tall and snowy tale!
Ron as Mayor was expected and a new Police Chief is in town. The community has suffer heavy snow storm now blocking all of the roads. Everyone is now hoping for all roads to be cleaned up and normality to reign. Meanwhile, Clay has been apparently murdered, and one of his writers has also been killed. So besides worrying about the citizens having power and heat, Ron is now tasked with protecting his Community.
Ron as Mayor was expected and a new Police Chief is in town. The community has suffer heavy snow storm now blocking all of the roads. Everyone is now hoping for all roads to be cleaned up and normality to reign. Meanwhile, Clay has been apparently murdered, and one of his writers has also been killed. So besides worrying about the citizens having power and heat, Ron is now tasked with protecting his Community.
September 30, 2021
A legend
Another good one which can stand alone but is also a carry on from previous books
I love the characters they each stand alone and yet blend
I could feel the cold of all that snow
Another good one which can stand alone but is also a carry on from previous books
I love the characters they each stand alone and yet blend
I could feel the cold of all that snow
March 18, 2023
I HAD MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THE OUTCOME, I GUESS I JUST WISH EVERONE I LIKED COULD HAVE CONTINUED ON. I'VE READ THE OTHER TWO BOOKS IN THE SERIES AND I REALLY LIKED ALOT OF THE CHARACTERS. GUESS IT WAS A LITTLE TOO REAL FOR ME. BUT I STILL LIKED IT, JUST MADE ME A LITTLE SAD. ;D
August 7, 2018
Riveting
Just when I thought his books couldn't get more intense. I am really enjoying all of this author's books. Next
Just when I thought his books couldn't get more intense. I am really enjoying all of this author's books. Next
October 22, 2018
Another winner
Characters develop and you feel like you could sit down and talk to them. The mysteries are clever and fun to read!
Characters develop and you feel like you could sit down and talk to them. The mysteries are clever and fun to read!
December 10, 2018
Fabulous
I really enjoy this author's writings . I have thoroughly enjoyed all the series . The author knows how to entertain.
I really enjoy this author's writings . I have thoroughly enjoyed all the series . The author knows how to entertain.
June 20, 2019
Good read
Good read just to smart for policemen and woman. One two how come we have to leave such a long review
Good read just to smart for policemen and woman. One two how come we have to leave such a long review
April 27, 2022
Wow! If only there were more!
Loved these three books! The last one was so awesome even in the end! I miss the excitement of knowing that there is one more to read!
Loved these three books! The last one was so awesome even in the end! I miss the excitement of knowing that there is one more to read!
March 11, 2016
I could not put Impaled down. Read it in one day!!
What I liked: The more of each book in a series I read by Mr. Flynn, the most engrossed I am in all the characters. Yup, love character driven books with some sly humor and the interactions between all of the characters. Believe me, there's not a scarcity of characters either. They are all well developed and each is clever.
Having never lived in any town like Goldstrike, I find the author has built a unique community and a league of characters to fill it. The last book, Defiled, revealed Mayor Steadman's illness and his request that Chief of Police Ron Ketchum run for mayor. Impaled seems to take place approximately a year later. Finding Steadman murdered after being asked to come over, Ron is finding it hard to let the current Chief of Police, Oliver Gosden, take the reins. Not to worry, with the town full of celebrities to view the premier of what is Steadman's last film, Texas Mean, another murder occurs, so Ketchum and Oliver have to divide forces to find the killers, or are the murders connected?
To make things even worse, Goldstrike has been cut off from the outside by avalanches and then to top things off, an earthquake hits, pretty much assuring the town of a long couple of days.
I really couldn't figure out the killer(s) or the reasoning behind each one. I had a bit of a clue on the previous mayor's murder, but not the "who dun it". The second murder just really seemed random until Mr. Flynn began to reveal more information. In the meantime, Ketchum's new wife, Keely, is caught on the outside looking in as she's unable to get past the closed roads into Goldstrike. This might be a good thing as Ketchum is having her chase leads and do interviews he and Oliver are unable to do.
The death of a major film star and the people whose lives he touched is endearingly captured. Steadman could be a control freak and loved being in charge but he was extremely generous with his family, friends, the town of Goldstrike and many others. So the town is fighting to find the murderer while dealing with the pain of loss. I enjoyed Steadman's character immensely and was saddened at the end of the last book when his condition was revealed.
What I didn't like: There were several changes of POVs and some readers might not like that aspect. For me, I enjoyed it as I love the characters and their idiosyncrasies. Each character deserved their moment to keep the story flowing.
While this is only book three in the Ron Ketchum Mystery Series, I sincerely hope Mr. Flynn continues on. Yes, there are changes looming but I hope to see it through to a logical, happy conclusion.
Highly Recommended. (While I enjoyed the previous two books in this series, Impaled is by far my favorite but you need to read the first two to thoroughly enjoy this one).
What I liked: The more of each book in a series I read by Mr. Flynn, the most engrossed I am in all the characters. Yup, love character driven books with some sly humor and the interactions between all of the characters. Believe me, there's not a scarcity of characters either. They are all well developed and each is clever.
Having never lived in any town like Goldstrike, I find the author has built a unique community and a league of characters to fill it. The last book, Defiled, revealed Mayor Steadman's illness and his request that Chief of Police Ron Ketchum run for mayor. Impaled seems to take place approximately a year later. Finding Steadman murdered after being asked to come over, Ron is finding it hard to let the current Chief of Police, Oliver Gosden, take the reins. Not to worry, with the town full of celebrities to view the premier of what is Steadman's last film, Texas Mean, another murder occurs, so Ketchum and Oliver have to divide forces to find the killers, or are the murders connected?
To make things even worse, Goldstrike has been cut off from the outside by avalanches and then to top things off, an earthquake hits, pretty much assuring the town of a long couple of days.
I really couldn't figure out the killer(s) or the reasoning behind each one. I had a bit of a clue on the previous mayor's murder, but not the "who dun it". The second murder just really seemed random until Mr. Flynn began to reveal more information. In the meantime, Ketchum's new wife, Keely, is caught on the outside looking in as she's unable to get past the closed roads into Goldstrike. This might be a good thing as Ketchum is having her chase leads and do interviews he and Oliver are unable to do.
The death of a major film star and the people whose lives he touched is endearingly captured. Steadman could be a control freak and loved being in charge but he was extremely generous with his family, friends, the town of Goldstrike and many others. So the town is fighting to find the murderer while dealing with the pain of loss. I enjoyed Steadman's character immensely and was saddened at the end of the last book when his condition was revealed.
What I didn't like: There were several changes of POVs and some readers might not like that aspect. For me, I enjoyed it as I love the characters and their idiosyncrasies. Each character deserved their moment to keep the story flowing.
While this is only book three in the Ron Ketchum Mystery Series, I sincerely hope Mr. Flynn continues on. Yes, there are changes looming but I hope to see it through to a logical, happy conclusion.
Highly Recommended. (While I enjoyed the previous two books in this series, Impaled is by far my favorite but you need to read the first two to thoroughly enjoy this one).
January 14, 2016
Poor editing
Another good story despite editing errors. Good action and some believability. Goldstein citizens would not put up with so many days of shut down. No citizen reaction to events depicted?
Another good story despite editing errors. Good action and some believability. Goldstein citizens would not put up with so many days of shut down. No citizen reaction to events depicted?
July 11, 2016
Great Story with Lots of Twists
The best Ron Ketchum story so far. Unusual twists and a real surprise ending make this the best Ron Ketchum story Joseph Flynn has written to date. This story keeps you guessing and is a page turner from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
The best Ron Ketchum story so far. Unusual twists and a real surprise ending make this the best Ron Ketchum story Joseph Flynn has written to date. This story keeps you guessing and is a page turner from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
August 27, 2015
a fast and enjoyable read - a great book in a great series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews