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The Tenth Caller
He’d been up there with the biggest of them, shock-jock extraordinaire, on the biggest stations, in syndication in every major market in the country. It had been quite the fall, all right, his last gig ending when the station manager didn’t accept the fact that jail time was a valid excuse for not showing up for work. With good behavior, he was out in two years, but he’d become a media scum at that point, blackballed and forgotten, doomed to doing the graveyard shift on godforsaken AM at a 5,000-watt piss-ant station in Andersonville, Indiana, home to a million cold crows, where the highest rated program was the tornado report.
Andersonville, Indiana—not exactly the center of the radio broadcast universe, but at night and under the right atmospheric conditions, the “mega-signal of the Midwest” can be heard for a thousand miles, and in the wee hours between midnight and six a.m., the lonely, the depressed, and the depraved gather on the broadcast doorstep of Gulliver McKnight to confide in his wisdom. Some call it a cult following. Others call it a radio freak parade. At 3:16 a.m. on November 8th, Gulliver takes the tenth call, but the caller isn’t interested in the chicken dinner Gulliver is giving away. He’s into murder.
There hasn’t been a murder in Andersonville in twenty years, and now there are two in as many months. After some investigation, it’s discovered that the killings are but the most recent in a string that goes back decades, and it’s Julie Hernandez’s job (Julie’s a he, not a she) and Sam Olsen’s job (Sam’s a she, not a he) to stop this serial killer who’s found that calling in to Gulliver’s show is an interesting new way to get his jollies. The killer calls repeatedly, he’s always the tenth call, and he knows Gulliver from way back. The question becomes: who is he, and how is he always the tenth call? Oh, he’s into riddles too.
Ultimately The Tenth Caller is a story of inner conviction, or stubbornness, depending on one’s point of view, with enough insight thrown in so that it could be interpreted as persistence. Good thing for Julie, for the last intended victim turns out to be his own fiancée.
Andersonville, Indiana—not exactly the center of the radio broadcast universe, but at night and under the right atmospheric conditions, the “mega-signal of the Midwest” can be heard for a thousand miles, and in the wee hours between midnight and six a.m., the lonely, the depressed, and the depraved gather on the broadcast doorstep of Gulliver McKnight to confide in his wisdom. Some call it a cult following. Others call it a radio freak parade. At 3:16 a.m. on November 8th, Gulliver takes the tenth call, but the caller isn’t interested in the chicken dinner Gulliver is giving away. He’s into murder.
There hasn’t been a murder in Andersonville in twenty years, and now there are two in as many months. After some investigation, it’s discovered that the killings are but the most recent in a string that goes back decades, and it’s Julie Hernandez’s job (Julie’s a he, not a she) and Sam Olsen’s job (Sam’s a she, not a he) to stop this serial killer who’s found that calling in to Gulliver’s show is an interesting new way to get his jollies. The killer calls repeatedly, he’s always the tenth call, and he knows Gulliver from way back. The question becomes: who is he, and how is he always the tenth call? Oh, he’s into riddles too.
Ultimately The Tenth Caller is a story of inner conviction, or stubbornness, depending on one’s point of view, with enough insight thrown in so that it could be interpreted as persistence. Good thing for Julie, for the last intended victim turns out to be his own fiancée.
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 8, 2010
9 people are currently reading
961 people want to read
About the author
Michael Bronte
18 books137 followersMichael Bronte is a graduate of Union College in Schenectady, New York, and George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and lives in Monroe, New Jersey. "All of the heroes in my novels are everyday people," says Bronte. "Any of them could be your next door neighbor. None of us really know what we're capable of until the time comes for us to reach beyond the boundaries of our everyday lives. Remarkable feats of courage are performed everyday, by everyday people. It's amazing."
As a young teenager I remember reading paperback mysteries under a huge oak tree outside my parents’ neighborhood grocery store in Dalton, Massachusetts, a small town located in the heart of the Berkshires. I can recall pulling a book from the rack and getting locked in to those novels as the fragrant summer breeze of Berkshire County tried to turn the page before I was done reading it. I don’t know why, but I was greatly affected by a book titled The Fan Club, by Irving Wallace. When I was done reading it, I can still recall thinking that someday I’d be able to write a book like that on my own; I knew I could do it.
Well, the idea stayed dormant for over thirty years while I did what I thought I should have been doing for a living (looking back, it all seems so trivial sometimes) until I rekindled my infatuation with writing novels. Now, many years after that, and many mistakes and many failures later, there are nine Michael Bronte novels available. They are: The Dealership, Presidential Risk, Porchball, The Tenth Caller, Lost Friday, The Brothers, Call Me Crash, and The Handyman, and Homicide: Party of Twelve
As a young teenager I remember reading paperback mysteries under a huge oak tree outside my parents’ neighborhood grocery store in Dalton, Massachusetts, a small town located in the heart of the Berkshires. I can recall pulling a book from the rack and getting locked in to those novels as the fragrant summer breeze of Berkshire County tried to turn the page before I was done reading it. I don’t know why, but I was greatly affected by a book titled The Fan Club, by Irving Wallace. When I was done reading it, I can still recall thinking that someday I’d be able to write a book like that on my own; I knew I could do it.
Well, the idea stayed dormant for over thirty years while I did what I thought I should have been doing for a living (looking back, it all seems so trivial sometimes) until I rekindled my infatuation with writing novels. Now, many years after that, and many mistakes and many failures later, there are nine Michael Bronte novels available. They are: The Dealership, Presidential Risk, Porchball, The Tenth Caller, Lost Friday, The Brothers, Call Me Crash, and The Handyman, and Homicide: Party of Twelve
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 4, 2017
By Tony Parsons on February 15, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Andersonville, IA. Timeline: 11/8-20, 12/6-29, 1/3-19.
Detective Juliano “Julie” Hernandez (Andersonville P/D), & Detective Sam Olsen (Mount Holyoke, criminal psychology, John Jay college) were investigating Amanda Aldrich murder.
Why did she write “Angels of the night” in her diary?
Gulliver McKnight (WXKO, AM Classic Rock, aka midnight cowboy, aka prince of darkness, Gordon Powers) had a nightly call-in talk show.
Next Meagan Phillips was body found.
Now FBI Special Agent Fordrow, & FBI Special Agent Bill Gilkey were involved in the case.
The next victim was Sister Imana Salazar.
Barbara Anne Holden (17, SF, CA.) name came up she was a cold case.
Why was Daniel “Dan” Lester (50+, Gordon’s former history teacher, Vice Principal, Harbor HS, Santa Cruz) being interviewed?
FBI Special Agent Vic Massimiano (intelligence communication specialist, Chicago) was brought in to help solve the murder cases.
Who is Miranda Harrison?
Would the murder cases get solved & someone brought to justice?
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A fairly well written murder mystery book. It wasn’t always very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or mini TV series. 1 book you must read to the very end. It was just OK for me so I will rate it at 4/f 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Smashwords; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Format: Kindle Edition
Andersonville, IA. Timeline: 11/8-20, 12/6-29, 1/3-19.
Detective Juliano “Julie” Hernandez (Andersonville P/D), & Detective Sam Olsen (Mount Holyoke, criminal psychology, John Jay college) were investigating Amanda Aldrich murder.
Why did she write “Angels of the night” in her diary?
Gulliver McKnight (WXKO, AM Classic Rock, aka midnight cowboy, aka prince of darkness, Gordon Powers) had a nightly call-in talk show.
Next Meagan Phillips was body found.
Now FBI Special Agent Fordrow, & FBI Special Agent Bill Gilkey were involved in the case.
The next victim was Sister Imana Salazar.
Barbara Anne Holden (17, SF, CA.) name came up she was a cold case.
Why was Daniel “Dan” Lester (50+, Gordon’s former history teacher, Vice Principal, Harbor HS, Santa Cruz) being interviewed?
FBI Special Agent Vic Massimiano (intelligence communication specialist, Chicago) was brought in to help solve the murder cases.
Who is Miranda Harrison?
Would the murder cases get solved & someone brought to justice?
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A fairly well written murder mystery book. It wasn’t always very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or mini TV series. 1 book you must read to the very end. It was just OK for me so I will rate it at 4/f 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Smashwords; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
February 15, 2024
Great book.
At first the book was a bit slow and it was hard trying to learn all the many characters.
Then it really started picking up, and it was hard to put down. It sure kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept trying to figure out who did it, and well, I was partly right. The other part...I had not a clue.
At first the book was a bit slow and it was hard trying to learn all the many characters.
Then it really started picking up, and it was hard to put down. It sure kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept trying to figure out who did it, and well, I was partly right. The other part...I had not a clue.
June 11, 2021
I will not be giving it a good review - for the following reasons
1. It is not my cup of tea
2. Do not appreciate explicit blood / gore / sex scenes - skip them
3. So TRAGIC that most modern authors have such a Very Limited Vocabulary! They - for some unknown reason - abuse words that belong only to GOD viz. HOLY, JESUS, GOD, CHRIST. In this context, they also use horrific oxymorons. This is blasphemy and Will be severely punished in due course. Believe it!
4. Desperately needs formatting
1. It is not my cup of tea
2. Do not appreciate explicit blood / gore / sex scenes - skip them
3. So TRAGIC that most modern authors have such a Very Limited Vocabulary! They - for some unknown reason - abuse words that belong only to GOD viz. HOLY, JESUS, GOD, CHRIST. In this context, they also use horrific oxymorons. This is blasphemy and Will be severely punished in due course. Believe it!
4. Desperately needs formatting
December 16, 2020
The Tenth Caller
Michael Bronte
Michael Bronte, once again, blew my mind with the amazingly penned, creepy, and suspense-filled book, The Tenth Caller. It is a gripping Murder Mystery novel which takes the readers on the ride of their lives. The book revolves around a call that a radio jockey receives late at night. It is always the tenth call of the night and to add on to the spice in the novel, this particular caller is a deranged killer. From there starts a journey of uncovering the identity of the people and saving the people on their hit list.
Oh. My. God. This is practically the only thing I can say over and over since the time I have finished reading this book. The plot was phenomenal and the way the author has delivered the story is commendable. The language is lucid and the dialogue delivery is reader friendly.
The story line was different and kept me engrossed throughout. There was not even a single dull moment. There were no typos or any sort of errors that I found in the book. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, I don’t know why, but I constantly find the essence of James Patterson in Michael’s novels. All the books I’ve read by Michael are penned to perfection and I’ve loved every one of them. If I had to choose, I’d say that this is my favourite book by him.
The story was full of twists and turns and the pace was also really fast. There is a perfect amalgamation of thrill, suspense, eeriness and spice in this novel. The cover, in particular, does justice to this book.
The characters were vivid and I loved the character of Julie (who is a he, by the way). He came across as a narcissistic person and has his own way of solving crimes. The character of Sam was also commendable yet, my favourite character was Julie.
I would recommend this book to all the Murder Mystery fans because if you haven’t read this, you are missing out on a lot. I also think that this book would make an amazing short Web series and I truly hope it does get signed up for something like this.
Michael Bronte
Michael Bronte, once again, blew my mind with the amazingly penned, creepy, and suspense-filled book, The Tenth Caller. It is a gripping Murder Mystery novel which takes the readers on the ride of their lives. The book revolves around a call that a radio jockey receives late at night. It is always the tenth call of the night and to add on to the spice in the novel, this particular caller is a deranged killer. From there starts a journey of uncovering the identity of the people and saving the people on their hit list.
Oh. My. God. This is practically the only thing I can say over and over since the time I have finished reading this book. The plot was phenomenal and the way the author has delivered the story is commendable. The language is lucid and the dialogue delivery is reader friendly.
The story line was different and kept me engrossed throughout. There was not even a single dull moment. There were no typos or any sort of errors that I found in the book. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, I don’t know why, but I constantly find the essence of James Patterson in Michael’s novels. All the books I’ve read by Michael are penned to perfection and I’ve loved every one of them. If I had to choose, I’d say that this is my favourite book by him.
The story was full of twists and turns and the pace was also really fast. There is a perfect amalgamation of thrill, suspense, eeriness and spice in this novel. The cover, in particular, does justice to this book.
The characters were vivid and I loved the character of Julie (who is a he, by the way). He came across as a narcissistic person and has his own way of solving crimes. The character of Sam was also commendable yet, my favourite character was Julie.
I would recommend this book to all the Murder Mystery fans because if you haven’t read this, you are missing out on a lot. I also think that this book would make an amazing short Web series and I truly hope it does get signed up for something like this.
May 6, 2021
Review of Tenth Caller by Michael Bronte
A most excellent mystery written by Bronte. Bronte is very good at developing characters you can believe in and in setting scenes so that you are there with the characters. You can feel the cold, smell the stale cigarette smoke, and want to cling to something or someone during the tensest times.
Officer Juliano Hernandez gets to take the lead (at least some the time) in solving the horrific murder of a young woman. Since this is a small town the murder takes on quite a sensational role. When a second murder of a woman is discovered, the big wigs are called in and Hernandez's role as the lead seems to be on and off, as things typically go when a capable local person becomes overshadowed by out-of town big wigs.
In this small town there is a late night radio show, hosted by Gulliver, who calls the people listening Angels of the Night, even though it would be a stretch to call some of them angels. Gulliver spins philosophy, sometimes gives a small reward to the tenth caller reaching out to him with a comment about the program, and seems to relish an argument, sometimes even with himself! In addition to the talk show with listeners, the show offers music and advertising spots.
The tenth caller often seems to be the same person and engages in a heated arguments with Gulliver. How is this one person so often the tenth caller? Why does he argue so vehemently and nastily with Sullivan? Is this caller tied in any way to the women who have been murdered? Those are some of the questions Hernandez sets out to answer.
If you like a fast paced mystery with complex layers and one which will keep you reading past your bed time, this is one for you.
A most excellent mystery written by Bronte. Bronte is very good at developing characters you can believe in and in setting scenes so that you are there with the characters. You can feel the cold, smell the stale cigarette smoke, and want to cling to something or someone during the tensest times.
Officer Juliano Hernandez gets to take the lead (at least some the time) in solving the horrific murder of a young woman. Since this is a small town the murder takes on quite a sensational role. When a second murder of a woman is discovered, the big wigs are called in and Hernandez's role as the lead seems to be on and off, as things typically go when a capable local person becomes overshadowed by out-of town big wigs.
In this small town there is a late night radio show, hosted by Gulliver, who calls the people listening Angels of the Night, even though it would be a stretch to call some of them angels. Gulliver spins philosophy, sometimes gives a small reward to the tenth caller reaching out to him with a comment about the program, and seems to relish an argument, sometimes even with himself! In addition to the talk show with listeners, the show offers music and advertising spots.
The tenth caller often seems to be the same person and engages in a heated arguments with Gulliver. How is this one person so often the tenth caller? Why does he argue so vehemently and nastily with Sullivan? Is this caller tied in any way to the women who have been murdered? Those are some of the questions Hernandez sets out to answer.
If you like a fast paced mystery with complex layers and one which will keep you reading past your bed time, this is one for you.
March 18, 2021
This is a very intense and atmospheric thriller. A serial killer starts a reign of terror in a small mid-west town. Detective Hernandez gets the case. The culprit is very ingenious and likes to taunt the police with his intelligence. Hernandez is a pig-headed and stubborn cop that is willing to cut corners. Because of the nature of the case, he is saddled with a woman partner and the FBI. After being jerked around by the killer, who openly targets his girlfriend, Hernandez decides he knows who it is. Unfortunately, he can't prove it in any way. His by-the-book partner finally agrees with him. In desperation, they look for ways in which to trap the killer. A very enjoyable read. Lot's of disappointments, dead ends and twists. Recommended reading.
August 28, 2017
This book was terrific read.
I kept trying to guess who was the Tenth Caller and when I thought that I finally had it figured out, the plot took a twist.
It just kept me guessing. Julie, the main character, seemed like a bit of an egotistical narcissist who just thought that everyone else was wrong and he was the only one who was right.
The ending was a perfect ending which brought the whole story together.
If you like thrillers, I truly believe that you will enjoy "The Tenth Caller".
I kept trying to guess who was the Tenth Caller and when I thought that I finally had it figured out, the plot took a twist.
It just kept me guessing. Julie, the main character, seemed like a bit of an egotistical narcissist who just thought that everyone else was wrong and he was the only one who was right.
The ending was a perfect ending which brought the whole story together.
If you like thrillers, I truly believe that you will enjoy "The Tenth Caller".
January 24, 2022
Michael Bronte is an incredible writer. His style is impeccable, his pace is incedible in most of his books and I forsee him being a very well known author in the future. This is a murder mystery beautifully set out and spaced without you ever guessing the ending. All his work is beautifully written. I am most definitely a fan.
August 5, 2023
Very complicated
Original plot but too thick with the number of characters to keep track of! Add to this more than one name for some. And countless recapping of story line by characters is time consuming of what was just read. This could have been half as long and gotten the story told......plus the sky was always charcoal???
Original plot but too thick with the number of characters to keep track of! Add to this more than one name for some. And countless recapping of story line by characters is time consuming of what was just read. This could have been half as long and gotten the story told......plus the sky was always charcoal???
April 12, 2022
Wow, what a great read. Bronte is a very versatile writer. His stories are populated with deeply developed characters with great dialogue. I've read 3 of them and all were great. Looking for more. This would have been 5 stars but I figured it out before the ending.
September 22, 2023
Arc received courtesy of Goodreads.com first reads giveaway.
I found The Tenth Caller to a good read. This did keep me guessing who it was and I was never right.
I found The Tenth Caller to a good read. This did keep me guessing who it was and I was never right.
November 25, 2023
I liked the story but found the flow a bit disrupted at times.
December 28, 2022
An excellent suspense thriller from the pen of Michael Bronte. A serial killer is on the loose and takes great delight in calling a local radio station to gloat and torment the 'shock-jock' graveyard-shift DJ.
One of those books that is difficult to put down and has the reader constantly readjusting their thoughts on just who the perpetrator is.
Plenty of twists and suspense as detectives Julie and Sam track down the killer to an explosive finale
One of those books that is difficult to put down and has the reader constantly readjusting their thoughts on just who the perpetrator is.
Plenty of twists and suspense as detectives Julie and Sam track down the killer to an explosive finale
April 3, 2016
I'd like to start off this review by thanking the author, Michael Bronte, for sending me this book. I really appreciate this wonderful opportunity!! Now... onto the review!
I think this is a wonderful book. It's intense, mysterious, creepy, and it is very appealing to people who love high action books with lots of intense moments. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. There's minimal character development, making it perfect for people who like to get right to the action.
However, as per my personal taste- I didn't like it. I just found it really boring and although there isn't anything really wrong with the book, it just wasn't my type of book so I found it extremely hard to focus and get through it. It didn't capture my attention, or hold it for a long enough time. I kept taking breaks while reading it and I thought the storyline was pretty straightforward. I would have preferred more character development and a more hooking start.
Overall, I would recommend you this book if you liked any of Michael Bronte's other books, and if you're a fan of James Patterson and Dan Brown. Very similar style of writing.
I think this is a wonderful book. It's intense, mysterious, creepy, and it is very appealing to people who love high action books with lots of intense moments. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. There's minimal character development, making it perfect for people who like to get right to the action.
However, as per my personal taste- I didn't like it. I just found it really boring and although there isn't anything really wrong with the book, it just wasn't my type of book so I found it extremely hard to focus and get through it. It didn't capture my attention, or hold it for a long enough time. I kept taking breaks while reading it and I thought the storyline was pretty straightforward. I would have preferred more character development and a more hooking start.
Overall, I would recommend you this book if you liked any of Michael Bronte's other books, and if you're a fan of James Patterson and Dan Brown. Very similar style of writing.
February 22, 2016
As usual, Bronte grips me from the first page. We are enrolled in the story and captured by the suspence of the radiohost who gets a mystery call that leads to a murder.
The detective Julie is a fascinating character who has his own special ways of solving crime.
Great writing, good story, nice twist and again, Bronte sets the mood in this book, so we are sucked into the story.
A real pageturner :)
The detective Julie is a fascinating character who has his own special ways of solving crime.
Great writing, good story, nice twist and again, Bronte sets the mood in this book, so we are sucked into the story.
A real pageturner :)
January 10, 2016
The cover makes you think this book is spooky and that's exactly how the characters in this book come across. I like it a lot.
November 7, 2016
Genuinely suspenseful and surprising! The author knows how to get into a creepy, villainous mind.
May 1, 2026
I thought that this overall was a good read. This was an engaging and well-paced thriller with an intriguing plot. Note, some darker subject matter was covered in this story.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews