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(Duncan Cochrane #1
They Tell Me You Are Wicked
Evolved Publishing presents the first book in the "Duncan Cochrane" series of crime mysteries set in the underbelly of Chicago politics. [DRM-Free]
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Duncan Cochrane is set on being the next governor of Illinois, until his daughter is murdered six weeks before the election. Then the candidate can only focus on finding her killer.
As the police investigation follows a trio of unlikely leads, Duncan realizes that his best shot at justice is the bully pulpit of the campaign trail, so he returns to the race and makes crime fighting his mantra.
Soon he discovers that his own ambitions may have caused her death, yet by then he knows that he must win the election or risk political and personal failure.
"They Tell Me You Are Wicked" is the first in a trio of novels detailing Duncan’s rise to prominence and the personal cost of his public ambitions.
~~~~~
Duncan Cochrane is set on being the next governor of Illinois, until his daughter is murdered six weeks before the election. Then the candidate can only focus on finding her killer.
As the police investigation follows a trio of unlikely leads, Duncan realizes that his best shot at justice is the bully pulpit of the campaign trail, so he returns to the race and makes crime fighting his mantra.
Soon he discovers that his own ambitions may have caused her death, yet by then he knows that he must win the election or risk political and personal failure.
"They Tell Me You Are Wicked" is the first in a trio of novels detailing Duncan’s rise to prominence and the personal cost of his public ambitions.
- GenresMystery
246 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2015
47 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
David Hagerty
20 books12 followersStories about crimes have always resonated with me, whether it was Crime and Punishment or The Quiet American. Maybe it’s because I started my career as a police reporter, or because I worked for a time as a teacher in the county jail.
More than a decade ago, when I decided to finally get serious about writing, I started with short stories based on real misdeeds I’d witnessed. I wrote one about my next door neighbor, who’d been murdered by a friend, another about an ambitious bike racer who decides to take out the competition, and a bunch of others based on characters I met in jail.
Over time these got picked up by various magazines online and in print. More than a dozen now exist, with most of the latest in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Big Pulp.
For my debut novel, They Tell Me You Are Wicked, I drew inspiration from the most infamous event in the history of my hometown: the killing of a political candidate’s daughter (though I made up all the details).
Since then, I have added two more books to the series and have the fourth nearly completed..
More than a decade ago, when I decided to finally get serious about writing, I started with short stories based on real misdeeds I’d witnessed. I wrote one about my next door neighbor, who’d been murdered by a friend, another about an ambitious bike racer who decides to take out the competition, and a bunch of others based on characters I met in jail.
Over time these got picked up by various magazines online and in print. More than a dozen now exist, with most of the latest in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Big Pulp.
For my debut novel, They Tell Me You Are Wicked, I drew inspiration from the most infamous event in the history of my hometown: the killing of a political candidate’s daughter (though I made up all the details).
Since then, I have added two more books to the series and have the fourth nearly completed..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
November 20, 2016
A governor's race and murder mystery in 1978 isn't the norm for my genre reading coziness, but this one became quite cozy as I rushed through to the end to find the killer. Strong use of the time period in setting and character was enhanced as we felt the main character's pressures from society and family in his attempt to balance winning an election while solving the mystery of a lost loved one. I was glad to see in the end that this will be a series because I'm excited to experience another story in this world and through Duncan's family.
*Full disclosure, I am an author with the same publishing company, Evolved Publishing. However, this is my honest appreciation of a high-quality story.
*Full disclosure, I am an author with the same publishing company, Evolved Publishing. However, this is my honest appreciation of a high-quality story.
August 27, 2020
Bored with this book. It sounded like it was going to be a suspenseful store, but I'm halfway through and couldn't care less about any of the characters.
July 28, 2019
This is a gripping story that pulled me right in the very first page, and kept me guessing and on my toes to the very end. It is a fast-paced, engrossing political thriller and mystery featuring Duncan Cochran, a candidate for the governor of Illinois, a pleasingly complex character with a good moral compass but challenged with flaws and various short-comings. As if running for the top Illinois seat is not enough, Duncan and his family face grief and devastation when they find their daughter murdered. In the final stretch of his campaign, Duncan wrestles with the question of completing the race while also being caught up in question of who did it? The mafia? A political enemy? Someone from his meat-packing days? A stranger or someone closer?
I particularly enjoyed the book's setting of late 70s Chicago, and its uppercrust suburbs. The author is skilled in painting scenes from that storied city with its notorious winds, shady political and crime past, plus the sprinkling in of famed restaurants and public art pieces. This a good read set in pre-computer times which added the enjoyment as we follow Duncan hunting down pay phones and writing hand-written notes and letters.
Though set in the not-so-distant 1970s, the book's central themes and moral questions remain current and relevant today. "They Tell Me You Are Wicked" is the first in four featuring Duncan Cochrane. Start off with the firstone and enjoy the series. It's well written and well worth the time.
I particularly enjoyed the book's setting of late 70s Chicago, and its uppercrust suburbs. The author is skilled in painting scenes from that storied city with its notorious winds, shady political and crime past, plus the sprinkling in of famed restaurants and public art pieces. This a good read set in pre-computer times which added the enjoyment as we follow Duncan hunting down pay phones and writing hand-written notes and letters.
Though set in the not-so-distant 1970s, the book's central themes and moral questions remain current and relevant today. "They Tell Me You Are Wicked" is the first in four featuring Duncan Cochrane. Start off with the firstone and enjoy the series. It's well written and well worth the time.
February 18, 2017
They tell me you are wicked by David Hagerty is an interesting read for me because I generally don't do the political crim stuff. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed this story very much. The writing style was something I had to get used to but I did enjoy it.
The characters were very well developed. There was drama within the story but not so much that it took away from the main story line. Well done Hagerty! Well done. This is one that I would definitely recommend to others that enjoy this genre of story!
The characters were very well developed. There was drama within the story but not so much that it took away from the main story line. Well done Hagerty! Well done. This is one that I would definitely recommend to others that enjoy this genre of story!
September 3, 2015
What a great read! It grabbed hold of me on the first page and didn't let go until the very end. Well-written, suspenseful and made me think (about the choices we make as parents, among other things) long after the book was over. Looking forward to the next book.
Merged review:
What a great read! It grabbed hold of me on the first page and didn't let go until the very end. Well-written, suspenseful and made me think (about the choices we make as parents, among other things) long after the book was over. Looking forward to the next book.
Merged review:
What a great read! It grabbed hold of me on the first page and didn't let go until the very end. Well-written, suspenseful and made me think (about the choices we make as parents, among other things) long after the book was over. Looking forward to the next book.
August 15, 2025
They Tell Me You Are Wicked is a mystery and political thriller novel that details the life of Illinois gubernatorial candidate Duncan Cochrane. After his daughter Lindsay is murdered right under his nose, Duncan must use his remaining six weeks to win over the people of Illinois and ultimately seek justice for his daughter.
When it comes to the mystery itself, I have mixed feelings. This is my first murder mystery novel, so I am admittedly not too familiar with the conventions of the genre. Despite this, I still do not feel like the reveal at the end was “earned”. My main justification for this is that . Even if the reveal may not have felt “earned”, though, I still believe it made sense and explained everything without leaving any plot holes. Also, I appreciate how the ending .
While half of They Tell Me You Are Wicked is dedicated to unmasking Lindsay’s killer, the other half is focused on Duncan’s campaign to the governor’s mansion. I found these sections of the book—which appear in every other chapter—interesting, and Hagerty must have felt the same way, since it seems like they get more emphasis than the murder mystery sections. Duncan’s political life is composed of mundane moments such as strategizing, fundraising, touring, and lawmaking. Despite this, none of these details feel boring to read, which I believe is due to Hagerty’s incredible knowledge of these political processes. Hagerty seems to be well-versed in the historical, political, and cultural context of 1970s Illinois in general, and the plot definitely benefits from its immersive setting as a result! Plus, even though the novel is set in 1978, I was surprised to see how similar the conversations then were to the conversations now in terms of women in politics, racial disparities in the justice system, and more.
As for the characters, they are developed to an extent, and we are not just following blank slates for the entire campaign and murder investigation. Duncan is disorganized, Josie is stern, Aden is well-meaning, and Glynis is gloomy, to make it simple. The one issue I take with the characters is that they were rather rude to the investigators at times, dismissing their questions and telling them to find the real killer instead of answering them. I get that they had already been interrogated for hours, but I do not think most people in real life would behave this way in front of the police.
Finally, while Hagerty’s knowledge of the subject matter made They Tell Me You Are Wicked enjoyable to read, his prose also played a role in helping me sail smoothly through the story. It is not completely plain like I would have expected from a piece of genre fiction, but rather, is quite literary at times when it comes to imagery. However, there are a handful of minor errors throughout the text such as the misspelling of “must have” as “must of”, and these occasionally detracted me from the reading experience.
Overall, They Tell Me You Are Wicked provides an incredible story about a man’s rise to fame in politics while interweaving how the death of his daughter impacted it. There are three more novels that continue Duncan Cochrane’s journey, but I personally plan to stop the series here. Regardless, if Hagerty writes other mystery novels in the future, I will consider checking them out.
When it comes to the mystery itself, I have mixed feelings. This is my first murder mystery novel, so I am admittedly not too familiar with the conventions of the genre. Despite this, I still do not feel like the reveal at the end was “earned”. My main justification for this is that . Even if the reveal may not have felt “earned”, though, I still believe it made sense and explained everything without leaving any plot holes. Also, I appreciate how the ending .
While half of They Tell Me You Are Wicked is dedicated to unmasking Lindsay’s killer, the other half is focused on Duncan’s campaign to the governor’s mansion. I found these sections of the book—which appear in every other chapter—interesting, and Hagerty must have felt the same way, since it seems like they get more emphasis than the murder mystery sections. Duncan’s political life is composed of mundane moments such as strategizing, fundraising, touring, and lawmaking. Despite this, none of these details feel boring to read, which I believe is due to Hagerty’s incredible knowledge of these political processes. Hagerty seems to be well-versed in the historical, political, and cultural context of 1970s Illinois in general, and the plot definitely benefits from its immersive setting as a result! Plus, even though the novel is set in 1978, I was surprised to see how similar the conversations then were to the conversations now in terms of women in politics, racial disparities in the justice system, and more.
As for the characters, they are developed to an extent, and we are not just following blank slates for the entire campaign and murder investigation. Duncan is disorganized, Josie is stern, Aden is well-meaning, and Glynis is gloomy, to make it simple. The one issue I take with the characters is that they were rather rude to the investigators at times, dismissing their questions and telling them to find the real killer instead of answering them. I get that they had already been interrogated for hours, but I do not think most people in real life would behave this way in front of the police.
Finally, while Hagerty’s knowledge of the subject matter made They Tell Me You Are Wicked enjoyable to read, his prose also played a role in helping me sail smoothly through the story. It is not completely plain like I would have expected from a piece of genre fiction, but rather, is quite literary at times when it comes to imagery. However, there are a handful of minor errors throughout the text such as the misspelling of “must have” as “must of”, and these occasionally detracted me from the reading experience.
Overall, They Tell Me You Are Wicked provides an incredible story about a man’s rise to fame in politics while interweaving how the death of his daughter impacted it. There are three more novels that continue Duncan Cochrane’s journey, but I personally plan to stop the series here. Regardless, if Hagerty writes other mystery novels in the future, I will consider checking them out.
March 21, 2022
It's 1976, and the race for Governor of Illinois is getting heated. Duncan Cochrane never thought his family would be a target with crime running rampant in Chicago.
During Duncan's campaign for Governor, his daughter is brutally murdered, and the police have leads... The labor union is one of Duncan's most prominent financial supporters, but their ties to organized crime have the police suspecting them of nefarious deeds. The other suspects questioned by police have a long history of repeat prison sentences.
Duncan now has a new platform for his campaign: Shut the revolving door on prisons. This crackdown could make or break his campaign, but Duncan only cares about one thing - finding his daughter killer, and putting him away for life.
They Tell Me You Are Wicked is thrilling, fast-paced, and a mystery you want to solve. This book is written by David Hagerty, who was a police reporter. He took his knowledge of investigations and police procedures into this story.
Duncan is the typical 1970s family man with a spotlight on his back. When his daughter is murdered, Duncan decides to move on with his campaign in her honor. Hagerty does a great job painting a picture of the mid-70s. The reader sees his conflicts, but from Duncan's point of view, we watch his family start to collapse. His other daughter developed depression, and in the 1970s, mental healthcare was minimal. Technology is limited, meaning DNA evidence is not an option in determining his daughter's killer.
Hagerty also touches on the racial issues of Chicago in the 70s. When Duncan decides to crack down on crime, he self-investigates his daughter's murder and finds many of the suspects are disproportionately black.
Duncan is self-centered. The story is from his perspective, but he tends to choose paths in his best interest rather than that of his family. Instead of focusing on healing and supporting his family, Duncan continues his race for governor. His wife starts to become withdrawn, his daughter develops depression, and his son, who was sent to military school, is insensitive and hostile. I understand grief and emotions were a sign of weakness in the 70s, but the family unit doesn't seem to be restored by the final page.
I give this book 4/5 stars because it is engaging, edgy, and a good political thriller.
During Duncan's campaign for Governor, his daughter is brutally murdered, and the police have leads... The labor union is one of Duncan's most prominent financial supporters, but their ties to organized crime have the police suspecting them of nefarious deeds. The other suspects questioned by police have a long history of repeat prison sentences.
Duncan now has a new platform for his campaign: Shut the revolving door on prisons. This crackdown could make or break his campaign, but Duncan only cares about one thing - finding his daughter killer, and putting him away for life.
They Tell Me You Are Wicked is thrilling, fast-paced, and a mystery you want to solve. This book is written by David Hagerty, who was a police reporter. He took his knowledge of investigations and police procedures into this story.
Duncan is the typical 1970s family man with a spotlight on his back. When his daughter is murdered, Duncan decides to move on with his campaign in her honor. Hagerty does a great job painting a picture of the mid-70s. The reader sees his conflicts, but from Duncan's point of view, we watch his family start to collapse. His other daughter developed depression, and in the 1970s, mental healthcare was minimal. Technology is limited, meaning DNA evidence is not an option in determining his daughter's killer.
Hagerty also touches on the racial issues of Chicago in the 70s. When Duncan decides to crack down on crime, he self-investigates his daughter's murder and finds many of the suspects are disproportionately black.
Duncan is self-centered. The story is from his perspective, but he tends to choose paths in his best interest rather than that of his family. Instead of focusing on healing and supporting his family, Duncan continues his race for governor. His wife starts to become withdrawn, his daughter develops depression, and his son, who was sent to military school, is insensitive and hostile. I understand grief and emotions were a sign of weakness in the 70s, but the family unit doesn't seem to be restored by the final page.
I give this book 4/5 stars because it is engaging, edgy, and a good political thriller.
April 1, 2022
I got this book from Barnes&Noble by mistake.. Not their fault, I was in a hurry and clicked on tte wrong book. Instead of paying postage to return it, I decided to read it. The title was intriguing so I figured it might be la pretty good read. AAUGH! Definitely not for me. The writing was just bad. I mean, who in Chicago says "besmirch" and no American calls a flashlight a torch. The characters were flat plastic people. Josie and Glynis were melodramatic, and Duncan, the candidate for Governor of Illinois was a stereotyped politician throwing his weight around. The son was a spoiled privileged white kid. I didn't see much of Lyndsey, from what I did see I didn't like her.
I figured out the mystery at the beginning because it seemed pretty obvious to.me. The title didn't seem to fit the story but did catch one's interest. To.me, they were all wicked. My take is that it doesn't matter which political party you represent, you can still be a jerk.
I figured out the mystery at the beginning because it seemed pretty obvious to.me. The title didn't seem to fit the story but did catch one's interest. To.me, they were all wicked. My take is that it doesn't matter which political party you represent, you can still be a jerk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2022
I love a thriller with twists and turns that I don't see coming - and this kinda delivered. The setting of the late 70s wasn't really clear for me, as the story could arguably have been set in any time period. The story centred on Duncan Cochrane, as the title series suggests and I bought into him quite quickly. Some of the other characters were given less to buy into, but supported the story telling.
It's a page turner, as I was keen to know what happened, or rather who made it happen...
I found the ending a little disappointing - not the outcome, but the abruptness...I guess it's left to pick up in the next book in the series.
An easy read that keeps you interested.
It's a page turner, as I was keen to know what happened, or rather who made it happen...
I found the ending a little disappointing - not the outcome, but the abruptness...I guess it's left to pick up in the next book in the series.
An easy read that keeps you interested.
June 22, 2020
Duncan Cochrane is running for Governor of Illinois. . . then his daughter gets murdered six weeks before the election. Now he is more intent on catching her murderer than he is on chasing his political dream. But he soon discovers that his best chance of finding the murderer may be from his campaign podium - fighting crime becomes his prime focus, and is winning him lots of voters in this corrupt state. But sometimes you are better off not knowing, as he will soon learn. A fascinating look at Chicago back in the days when the mob ruled and politics was king.
August 18, 2020
I received this book through Voracious Readers. Duncan appeared to be a good person at the beginning of this book. The murder of his daughter was a terrible blow but did not prevent him contuing with his political ambitions. By the end of the book he had become a politician. His daughter's death was less important gthan keeping family secrets in case his followers found out. He is not yet actually corrupt but I gather there are other books coming and if it follows the pattern of this, he will become the typical corrupt politician that American writers so frquently portray.
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April 8, 2021
*book provided by voracious readers in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this suspense filled mystery. I found the mix of the governor's candidacy, family complexity and perspectives of crime and poverty a really compelling background to this sad story. The story is well told, with some interesting pauses, reflections and the reader has plenty of potential suspects until at least half way through the book.
I'd recommend it as a good, swift read.
I really enjoyed this suspense filled mystery. I found the mix of the governor's candidacy, family complexity and perspectives of crime and poverty a really compelling background to this sad story. The story is well told, with some interesting pauses, reflections and the reader has plenty of potential suspects until at least half way through the book.
I'd recommend it as a good, swift read.
June 6, 2021
A murder mystery that takes place during a race for State Governor set in 1978. As a child of the 70's I enjoyed the references to clothing, bands, and songs. This story will have you guessing until the very end... when it becomes a "what would I do ?".
I can hardly wait to read the next book to see what life has in store for Duncan and his family.!!
I can hardly wait to read the next book to see what life has in store for Duncan and his family.!!
August 30, 2021
I received this book through Voracious Readers. Sadly although the book was well written I found the heavy bias on the politics a little monotonous. The way Duncan approached his quest to find the truth was unrealistic in my opinion and as a Brit, American politics can be a tricky genre. Sadly I found the family storyline too weak to create a balance.
March 20, 2022
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only
This was an interesting political thriller set in the 70s. I love the musical references of the time. I did pick the killer early on, but I was second guessing myself along the way. The story ended a bit abruptly for my liking.
This was an interesting political thriller set in the 70s. I love the musical references of the time. I did pick the killer early on, but I was second guessing myself along the way. The story ended a bit abruptly for my liking.
January 28, 2020
Written by a colleague, the first of this mystery series is a fun read. The narration brings the reader into Chicago politics, specifically the back story of a Chicago politician. There are twists and turns that keep the pages turning, and a true surprise at the end.
April 15, 2021
This was a well written book, but not for me I'm afraid - whilst nominally a crime novel, the balance between crime and politics swayed too far to the latter for my tastes; and being a Brit, the Amercan politics did not resonate.
May 3, 2021
Great writing. I sure wasn’t expecting who the killer would be!
The story moves along quite well.. A good mix of politics and murder. Looking forward to the next 3 books in the They Tell Me You are....series.
The story moves along quite well.. A good mix of politics and murder. Looking forward to the next 3 books in the They Tell Me You are....series.
July 28, 2019
Excellent page turner in my state of Illinois. This could be a true story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2019
A gripping story, placed in a particularly fragile period in American history and wonderfully written. Sadly, I picked the culprit just from the beginning , so no surprises there.
December 11, 2020
I wasnt quite sure where this book was going.. it was a strange type of book for me.. but I definitely enjoyed it and would read another one in the series
March 24, 2023
audible:I really didn't care for this book.It was dry.The characters were not nice people.Narration was dry.
February 16, 2017
They Tell Me You Are Wicked by David Hagerty is a good political crime thriller. It's the first book in the Duncan Cochran series. I found it to be engaging. There are some twists and turns that I was not so sure about but they ended up working well. I did guess the "who done it" before the big reveal though. It did not make the book any less enjoyable though. The characters were believable and well developed. Some were likable while others were just ok. I found some of the decisions made by the main character to be interesting and others were clearly wrong...though not surprising in politics. I would recommend They Tell Me You are Wicked to others especially those who enjoy political crime thrillers.
November 12, 2015
The first in the new ‘Duncan Cochrane’ series is a murder mystery come political thriller. Reminiscent of the TV show BOSS, we follow the Windy City’s electioneering and political manoeuvring as the race to be the next governor of Illinois hots up.
The Cochrane family are a complex bunch. Duncan’s wife seemingly more politically driven than he is, his son a troubled rebel, and his daughter struggling to come to terms with the event that rocks the Cochranes at the start of the book when Lindsay, another daughter, is killed.
In the aftermath of his daughter’s death, and with the election on the horizon, Duncan must decide if he’s going to run at all. And if so, on what ticket? An opportunity opens up as, however disastrous for his personal life, losing his daughter could be the best thing to happen to his campaign. The killing, and Lindsay’s potential murderer, brings to the fore the struggles the police have with repeat offenders. Could a tougher stance on crime help Duncan get justice for his daughter and help win the election?
This is the first of a trilogy. It’s well paced with the procedural investigation and political campaign handled with precision. The impact of grief doesn’t come across strongly enough for me, with some of Duncan and Josie’s actions a little cold to ring true. But I guess that’s politicians for you; and the scenes with the advisors, the press and the political rivals are interesting and believable. The crime provides the likely suspects of a secretive boyfriend, a local offender, dangerous criminal gangs and, of course, there are political conspiracies abound. It works as a who-dunnit but it’s the Cochranes story and political life that’ll provide the fuel for this series.
The Cochrane family are a complex bunch. Duncan’s wife seemingly more politically driven than he is, his son a troubled rebel, and his daughter struggling to come to terms with the event that rocks the Cochranes at the start of the book when Lindsay, another daughter, is killed.
In the aftermath of his daughter’s death, and with the election on the horizon, Duncan must decide if he’s going to run at all. And if so, on what ticket? An opportunity opens up as, however disastrous for his personal life, losing his daughter could be the best thing to happen to his campaign. The killing, and Lindsay’s potential murderer, brings to the fore the struggles the police have with repeat offenders. Could a tougher stance on crime help Duncan get justice for his daughter and help win the election?
This is the first of a trilogy. It’s well paced with the procedural investigation and political campaign handled with precision. The impact of grief doesn’t come across strongly enough for me, with some of Duncan and Josie’s actions a little cold to ring true. But I guess that’s politicians for you; and the scenes with the advisors, the press and the political rivals are interesting and believable. The crime provides the likely suspects of a secretive boyfriend, a local offender, dangerous criminal gangs and, of course, there are political conspiracies abound. It works as a who-dunnit but it’s the Cochranes story and political life that’ll provide the fuel for this series.
March 7, 2017
They Tell Me You Are Wicked was a really good murder mystery. I loved the plot twists and turns and how it kept me on the edge of my seat. I could not put this book down. It was full of suspense and was very engaging. The characters were well developed and relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good murder mystery.
Duncan Cochrane wanted to be governor, or rather his wife wanted him in office because she never thought she could make it herself. When his daughter is murdered in her bedroom though, he doesn't know what to do. After witnessing the investigation of her murder first hand, he knows that he needs to become governor in order to crack down on the justice system and continues his campaign with crime fighting as his main focus. But could this focus be to his own detriment?
Duncan Cochrane wanted to be governor, or rather his wife wanted him in office because she never thought she could make it herself. When his daughter is murdered in her bedroom though, he doesn't know what to do. After witnessing the investigation of her murder first hand, he knows that he needs to become governor in order to crack down on the justice system and continues his campaign with crime fighting as his main focus. But could this focus be to his own detriment?
May 3, 2020
The first book in the Duncan Cochrane series left me with indifference as to whether or not to continue. It's the story of a working class man attempting to enter the world of politics only for tragedy to strike his family. Although well written, I struggled to be entertained by the political story line and was disappointed with the story of the murder. It was obvious early in the story as to whom the killer was and disgraceful that the outcome was what one would expect in todays' politics - namely, the cover up of the real killer. The characters also left me wanting to find an emotional connection to any of them, yet, I couldn't. After the murder of the political candidate's daughter, I still struggled to feel any empathy for them as the story moved on to the end when I wanted to understand the choices that were made but which left me feeling with a bad taste in my mouth.
December 24, 2015
I just finished reading "They Tell Me you are Wicked" by David Hagerty, and was quite impressed. The characterization was quite good, especially that of the protagonist, Duhcan Cochrane, CEO of a sausage company, husband, and father, who's running for the office of Governor. The premise was believable, the pacing was good, and, if you have spent any time in the "Windy City," the story's setting, you will enjoy the author's knowledge of Chicago's diversity as the story unfolds. Clearly, the author seems to have a good understanding of the criminal justice system, the people that use its services, and those that might be in need of it, too. An enjoyable read - I look forward to the coming sequels and plot twists.
October 22, 2016
Duncan Cochrane is running for governor of Illinois, not because he wants to, but because his ambitious wife Josie feels that she could never win such an office herself because she is a woman. Shortly after his political campaign begins, someone enters their lovely home and murders their younger daughter Lindsey. Who killed his daughter and why? Should he continue his campaign or not? These are the questions Duncan asks himself. The emphasis on details of Chicago, surrounding suburbs, and the state of Illinois are worked into the story and seem to work well, until the author gets it wrong. Many readers won't notice, but those who live in any of the areas described will, and the credibility of the author will be at stake.
January 26, 2021
Full Review: https://megs-world.com/they-tell-me-y...
I really enjoyed this book because it was so different front most of the crime books I head read in the past. What sets this apart from many others is the fact that is was following Duncan’s life. Most crime books are written from the point of view of the detective or at least follows them as they solve the crime. This book follows Duncan and is race for Governor as well as the tragic death of his daughter. In my opinion, this book was cleverly written. Despite following Duncan, the book was very much centred around the murder and you are constantly reminded of this.
I really enjoyed this book because it was so different front most of the crime books I head read in the past. What sets this apart from many others is the fact that is was following Duncan’s life. Most crime books are written from the point of view of the detective or at least follows them as they solve the crime. This book follows Duncan and is race for Governor as well as the tragic death of his daughter. In my opinion, this book was cleverly written. Despite following Duncan, the book was very much centred around the murder and you are constantly reminded of this.
December 10, 2016
This wasn't a bad book.. not really my thing and some spots seemed a bit odd for me but overall I enjoyed the mystery and murder to it.. I enjoyed seeing how the politics played into the mystery of this story. I am not a bit political person so that might have been part of my not being as into it as I normally would be.. however the murder mystery part of it kept me interested and invested. the writing did have some amazing feelings and emotions.. I felt with duncan on his daughters death... I felt his confusion and fear and pain. I am glad i got to review this one
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews