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Mr. Finn #2
Scar Tissue
EVERYONE PAYS FOR THEIR MISTAKES. SOME PAY MORE THAN OTHERS.
Underground private investigator, Finn Harding, returns in this fast-paced, gripping crime thriller. When Finn discovers an acquaintance, Dr. Daryl Jennings, is entangled in a fentanyl smuggling operation, he negotiates a deal with the head of an Indianapolis criminal organization to earn the doctor’s freedom. But freedom doesn’t come cheap.
To fulfill his obligation, Finn must locate an anonymous criminal banker who skipped town with $5 million of the organization’s money. But how do you find a man with no name, no identity, and no known location?
In his toughest case yet, Finn must rely on his skill, cunning, and an unlikely connection from his past to find the banker and the cash before Dr. Jennings’ time runs out. Along the way Finn discovers that loyalties run deep, everyone has secrets, and some mistakes can never be forgiven.
SCAR TISSUE is the follow-up to Conger’s award-winning debut novel, THE SHADOW BROKER.
Underground private investigator, Finn Harding, returns in this fast-paced, gripping crime thriller. When Finn discovers an acquaintance, Dr. Daryl Jennings, is entangled in a fentanyl smuggling operation, he negotiates a deal with the head of an Indianapolis criminal organization to earn the doctor’s freedom. But freedom doesn’t come cheap.
To fulfill his obligation, Finn must locate an anonymous criminal banker who skipped town with $5 million of the organization’s money. But how do you find a man with no name, no identity, and no known location?
In his toughest case yet, Finn must rely on his skill, cunning, and an unlikely connection from his past to find the banker and the cash before Dr. Jennings’ time runs out. Along the way Finn discovers that loyalties run deep, everyone has secrets, and some mistakes can never be forgiven.
SCAR TISSUE is the follow-up to Conger’s award-winning debut novel, THE SHADOW BROKER.
- GenresCrime
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2015
14 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Trace Conger
24 books60 followersTrace Conger is an award-winning author in the crime, thriller, and suspense genres. He writes the Connor Harding (Thriller) series and the Mr. Finn (PI) series.
His Connor Harding series follows freelance “Mirage Man” Connor Harding as he solves problems for the world’s most dangerous criminals. The Mr. Finn series follows private investigator Finn Harding as he straddles the fine line between right and wrong.
Conger won a Shamus Award for his debut novel, THE SHADOW BROKER. His suspense novella, THE WHITE BOY, won the Fresh Ink Award for Best Novella of 2020.
He is known for his tight writing style, dark themes, and subtle humor. Trace lives in Cincinnati with his wonderfully supportive family.
Visit him online at www.traceconger.com.
Sign up for his newsletter to receive free fiction and exclusive updates at www.traceconger.com/freebies.
His Connor Harding series follows freelance “Mirage Man” Connor Harding as he solves problems for the world’s most dangerous criminals. The Mr. Finn series follows private investigator Finn Harding as he straddles the fine line between right and wrong.
Conger won a Shamus Award for his debut novel, THE SHADOW BROKER. His suspense novella, THE WHITE BOY, won the Fresh Ink Award for Best Novella of 2020.
He is known for his tight writing style, dark themes, and subtle humor. Trace lives in Cincinnati with his wonderfully supportive family.
Visit him online at www.traceconger.com.
Sign up for his newsletter to receive free fiction and exclusive updates at www.traceconger.com/freebies.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 14, 2016
Once a Private Investigator, he got mixed up with some nefarious people and ultimately lost his license. Now working in the shadows, he specializes in finding people ... usually people who don't want to be found. And his clients don't care if he has a license or not.
Dr. Daryl Jennings, Finn's ex-wife's live in boyfriend, is in big trouble. Seems like he was intimidated into getting some fentanyl, a powerful painkiller used to cut with heroin, for a criminal organization. But the doctor wants out. And when the bad guys come after Finn's ex and their young daughter, he vows to make it right.
In order to secure the doctor's freedom from his unholy alliance with a drug king, Finn must find an anonymous banker who has disappeared with a large amount of the organization's money. How do you find a man with no name, no background, no location?
This is another well-written crime thriller by this author. The characters are finely drawn and leap from the page to live a life of their own. This is second in the series and introduces the reader to Conner, Finn's brother who has been missing for the past five years.
His books, I have found, are full of action and full of violence. The story line is exceptional and easy to follow.
Although working well as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading this series in order.
5 stars for the book, 5 stars for the series.
I chose to read SCAR TISSUE and all opinions expressed are unbiased and entirely my own.
Many thanks to the author who provided a digital copy.
Dr. Daryl Jennings, Finn's ex-wife's live in boyfriend, is in big trouble. Seems like he was intimidated into getting some fentanyl, a powerful painkiller used to cut with heroin, for a criminal organization. But the doctor wants out. And when the bad guys come after Finn's ex and their young daughter, he vows to make it right.
In order to secure the doctor's freedom from his unholy alliance with a drug king, Finn must find an anonymous banker who has disappeared with a large amount of the organization's money. How do you find a man with no name, no background, no location?
This is another well-written crime thriller by this author. The characters are finely drawn and leap from the page to live a life of their own. This is second in the series and introduces the reader to Conner, Finn's brother who has been missing for the past five years.
His books, I have found, are full of action and full of violence. The story line is exceptional and easy to follow.
Although working well as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading this series in order.
5 stars for the book, 5 stars for the series.
I chose to read SCAR TISSUE and all opinions expressed are unbiased and entirely my own.
Many thanks to the author who provided a digital copy.
May 25, 2017
Trying to make ends meet with a revoked PI license, Cincinnati detective Finn Harding is forced to represent criminals for cash payments and has evolved into a highly effective outlaw himself. The sequel to "Shadow Broker" takes Mr. Finn and Co. to another level of Private Eye fiction in this smart, fast moving thriller. Many fictional detectives are in the business of finding people that don't want to be found but Finn Harding leads the league. His father Albert, ex wife Brooke, daughter Becca and his estranged ex-green beret brother all get caught up in Brooke's anesthesiologist boyfriend who sources drugs for the Indianapolis mob.
Cincinnati is a wonderfully unique locale for Mr Finn's adventures and totally on target. I had the opportunity to work for a division of major company based in Cincinnati and spent a lot of time there. The residents are so fiercely loyal to their city that many quit their jobs rather than relocate to Chicago when the company consolidated. I loved the area myself and can still taste the ribs at the Montgomery Inn on the river.
Cincinnati is a wonderfully unique locale for Mr Finn's adventures and totally on target. I had the opportunity to work for a division of major company based in Cincinnati and spent a lot of time there. The residents are so fiercely loyal to their city that many quit their jobs rather than relocate to Chicago when the company consolidated. I loved the area myself and can still taste the ribs at the Montgomery Inn on the river.
November 7, 2015
A few months ago I reviewed the first volume in a new PI series, The Shadow Broker by Trace Conger. At the time it was a finalist for the Shamus Award for best independently published novel. Since then, it has won the award. So congratulations to Mr. Conger for the win. It was well deserved. I’d also like to say thank you to him for the review copy of Scar Tissue.
The story picks up about three months after the end of The Shadow Broker. Finn has moved from his house boat into an apartment in Cincinatti that he shares with his father. He still spends weekends with his daughter. He also spends a considerable amount of time with his new girlfriend, who just happens to be the nurse at his daughter’s school. His ex-wife is still living with the doctor she left him for, but that’s about to change. It seems the doctor has a little secret.
That secret is that he’s been stealing drug for one of the largest herion dealers in the area. He didn’t intend to be in this position, he just sort of found himself in it. Now he wants out. The dealer has other ideas, and his muscle pays a visit to the doctor’s house one evening. They beat up Finn’s ex-wife, Brooke, and threaten his daughter. As you might guess, this does not go over well with Finn.
Finn tries to put a stop to things, but in order to do so, he has to agree to find a man who has diasppeared with over $5M of the dealer’s money, and to find him with almost no information on the man. Nobody ever said life would be easy
Things are complicated by the appearance of Finn’s older brother, who he hasn’t seen or heard from in 5 years. Seems Finn’s dad isn’t the only one in the family who is other than he appears. Truth be told, Finn seems to be the lightweight in the family where shady pasts are concerned.
If you paid attention in The Shadow Broker, you would naturally ask some questions. Why was Finn’s father living in a nursing home when he is perfectly healthy? (We find out) Where did his father get all that money and why did he hide it at the bottom of a lake? (We find out.) What secrets does Finn’s father have? (We find out some of his secrets. There’s a secondary storyline dealing with some of this.) Does Finn listen to radio station WKRP? (We don’t find out.)
I thought the cliffhanger at the end of The Shadow Broker was resolved a little too easily, but Conger did make that resolution fit the story he was telling. That’s a minor point, though. The family dynamics in this series are shaping up to be some of the most complex I’ve seen in a while. Things could easily slide off into soap opera or melodrama territory, but they don’t. Trace Conger keeps the tension racheted up. These are some of the most fully realized characters I’ve encountered in a long time, and this is one of the best detective series I’ve ever read. The Mr. Finn series breathes new life into the PI genre. Too many hardboiled/noir novels tend to lapse into self-parody, but not this one. There’s humanity in this one to the core.
The tension just kept buiding all the way through the book. I thought the way Finn and his brother brought down the bad guys at the end was brilliant. Insanely reckless, but brilliant. I’m not sure their scheme would have worked in reality, but I loved it. And what secrets is his brother hiding?
I strongly recommend this series to fans of the private investigator novel. You won’t be disappointed.
The story picks up about three months after the end of The Shadow Broker. Finn has moved from his house boat into an apartment in Cincinatti that he shares with his father. He still spends weekends with his daughter. He also spends a considerable amount of time with his new girlfriend, who just happens to be the nurse at his daughter’s school. His ex-wife is still living with the doctor she left him for, but that’s about to change. It seems the doctor has a little secret.
That secret is that he’s been stealing drug for one of the largest herion dealers in the area. He didn’t intend to be in this position, he just sort of found himself in it. Now he wants out. The dealer has other ideas, and his muscle pays a visit to the doctor’s house one evening. They beat up Finn’s ex-wife, Brooke, and threaten his daughter. As you might guess, this does not go over well with Finn.
Finn tries to put a stop to things, but in order to do so, he has to agree to find a man who has diasppeared with over $5M of the dealer’s money, and to find him with almost no information on the man. Nobody ever said life would be easy
Things are complicated by the appearance of Finn’s older brother, who he hasn’t seen or heard from in 5 years. Seems Finn’s dad isn’t the only one in the family who is other than he appears. Truth be told, Finn seems to be the lightweight in the family where shady pasts are concerned.
If you paid attention in The Shadow Broker, you would naturally ask some questions. Why was Finn’s father living in a nursing home when he is perfectly healthy? (We find out) Where did his father get all that money and why did he hide it at the bottom of a lake? (We find out.) What secrets does Finn’s father have? (We find out some of his secrets. There’s a secondary storyline dealing with some of this.) Does Finn listen to radio station WKRP? (We don’t find out.)
I thought the cliffhanger at the end of The Shadow Broker was resolved a little too easily, but Conger did make that resolution fit the story he was telling. That’s a minor point, though. The family dynamics in this series are shaping up to be some of the most complex I’ve seen in a while. Things could easily slide off into soap opera or melodrama territory, but they don’t. Trace Conger keeps the tension racheted up. These are some of the most fully realized characters I’ve encountered in a long time, and this is one of the best detective series I’ve ever read. The Mr. Finn series breathes new life into the PI genre. Too many hardboiled/noir novels tend to lapse into self-parody, but not this one. There’s humanity in this one to the core.
The tension just kept buiding all the way through the book. I thought the way Finn and his brother brought down the bad guys at the end was brilliant. Insanely reckless, but brilliant. I’m not sure their scheme would have worked in reality, but I loved it. And what secrets is his brother hiding?
I strongly recommend this series to fans of the private investigator novel. You won’t be disappointed.
July 19, 2017
Excellent!
I love this series and look forward to reading the 3rd installment. Keep up the good work Trace! By far one of my favorite writers!
I love this series and look forward to reading the 3rd installment. Keep up the good work Trace! By far one of my favorite writers!
August 18, 2016
Marvelous story! I loved finding out what Finn has been up to, finding out more about his father Albert and meeting his brother Connor. The Harding men are a force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure!
Finn is approached by his wife to help the man she is living with out of a sticky situation. Finn might have said no except that if he does not help out his ex-wife and daughter will suffer. His brother’s assistance comes in handy as they unravel a mystery or two, deal with some very bad men and come into some money while getting to know one another again after not seeing each other for five years.
I love the family dynamics of the Mr. Finn stories. He loves his daughter and is willing to do just about anything to keep her safe. His father is an interesting character in his own right and I would love to hear more about his brother and hope he will show up in future books of the series. I am a bit up in the air about the ex-wife but have a feeling she will show up from time to time, too, since she and Finn are co-parenting their daughter. Finn continues to walk the line between good and evil while tap dancing to stay alive when confronting elements he knows are more than willing to kill him. And, the end of the book concludes with no loose ends but with me eager to read the next book in the series.
Thank you to the author for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Finn is approached by his wife to help the man she is living with out of a sticky situation. Finn might have said no except that if he does not help out his ex-wife and daughter will suffer. His brother’s assistance comes in handy as they unravel a mystery or two, deal with some very bad men and come into some money while getting to know one another again after not seeing each other for five years.
I love the family dynamics of the Mr. Finn stories. He loves his daughter and is willing to do just about anything to keep her safe. His father is an interesting character in his own right and I would love to hear more about his brother and hope he will show up in future books of the series. I am a bit up in the air about the ex-wife but have a feeling she will show up from time to time, too, since she and Finn are co-parenting their daughter. Finn continues to walk the line between good and evil while tap dancing to stay alive when confronting elements he knows are more than willing to kill him. And, the end of the book concludes with no loose ends but with me eager to read the next book in the series.
Thank you to the author for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 19, 2015
Another winner from Conger
Trace Conger has done it again, and for that matter, so has his lead character, Finn Harding. Finn is an unlicensed private investigator who gets embroiled with large ruthless criminal organizations. Finn's bravado, quick wit, command of the internet and research, and generally ingenious and devious mind, as he works to solve the case while saving his own skin, make for a fast-paced and riveting read.
One of the things that sets Conger's crime fiction apart is his integration of the humanity of Finn. We see Finn's fierce devotion and protectiveness to a precious daughter and his estranged wife, who is not only hot but has the right mix of vulnerability and sass. And perhaps even more entertainingly, we get to witness the escapades of Finn's father Albert and his old codger vigilante friends up at Meddybemps Lake in Maine who provide us with a second, equally fascinating, storyline.
With the addition of Finn's long-lost brother Conner, who plays a significant role in Scar Tissue, we are offered a deeper look into Finn's engaging character through his family ties. And as we watch the interactions of the Harding brothers, we realize these two apples did not fall far from the tree.
I loved it. I can't wait for the next. Highly recommended.
Trace Conger has done it again, and for that matter, so has his lead character, Finn Harding. Finn is an unlicensed private investigator who gets embroiled with large ruthless criminal organizations. Finn's bravado, quick wit, command of the internet and research, and generally ingenious and devious mind, as he works to solve the case while saving his own skin, make for a fast-paced and riveting read.
One of the things that sets Conger's crime fiction apart is his integration of the humanity of Finn. We see Finn's fierce devotion and protectiveness to a precious daughter and his estranged wife, who is not only hot but has the right mix of vulnerability and sass. And perhaps even more entertainingly, we get to witness the escapades of Finn's father Albert and his old codger vigilante friends up at Meddybemps Lake in Maine who provide us with a second, equally fascinating, storyline.
With the addition of Finn's long-lost brother Conner, who plays a significant role in Scar Tissue, we are offered a deeper look into Finn's engaging character through his family ties. And as we watch the interactions of the Harding brothers, we realize these two apples did not fall far from the tree.
I loved it. I can't wait for the next. Highly recommended.
November 26, 2015
Exceptional momentum!
If you're interested in a edge of your seat mystery and suspense novel, Trace Conger is for you. Mr. Finn is an excellent character. I can't wait for the 3rd in this series. Trace, I wish you wrote as fast as I read!
If you're interested in a edge of your seat mystery and suspense novel, Trace Conger is for you. Mr. Finn is an excellent character. I can't wait for the 3rd in this series. Trace, I wish you wrote as fast as I read!
September 1, 2023
Mr. Finn, PI who lost his license now works on finding the elusive (people/things/Money). In this case, his ex-wife's live-in boyfriend Dr Jennings is mixed up with supplying fentanyl he is stealing from the hospital. He has decided to stop but Finn's ex and daughter are being threatened.
Finn makes a deal with the dealer that if he find's money they are missing, they will leave Dr. Jennings alone. The problem becomes finding the money- it takes longer than usual and his family is threatened more than once. He is helped along the way by his brother Connor whom he hasn't seen in 5 yrs and has suddenly reappeared in his life.
It's a long hunt for small threads to lead him to find the missing money and get safety for his family
A 3.5 (it would be higher if it wasn't for the other stories about his father/brother storylines ) that detract from the main one.
Finn makes a deal with the dealer that if he find's money they are missing, they will leave Dr. Jennings alone. The problem becomes finding the money- it takes longer than usual and his family is threatened more than once. He is helped along the way by his brother Connor whom he hasn't seen in 5 yrs and has suddenly reappeared in his life.
It's a long hunt for small threads to lead him to find the missing money and get safety for his family
A 3.5 (it would be higher if it wasn't for the other stories about his father/brother storylines ) that detract from the main one.
April 21, 2019
What an exceptional and well-written book. Finn Hardy is like an anti-hero. He's technically a criminal himself, but for what the author makes you feel is for a good reason. The suspense in the book is played out masterfully. There are also interesting subplots throughout the book. The author of the book is award winning for a good reason. This book doesn't pull any punches. This book went for the knock out punch and delivered. If you're into crime, thriller, and suspense type books, I feel you will be in mob heaven with this book. Happy reading!
May 15, 2017
A very pleasant change in the action thriller genre. While there is some violence and killing, it is there as a small part of the basic story, not the reason for the story.
A nice read for anyone who, like me, is tired of reading pages and pages useless violence with a small plot between fights.
A nice read for anyone who, like me, is tired of reading pages and pages useless violence with a small plot between fights.
February 15, 2020
Finn has a revoked PI license and now is a high paid outlaw. These stories deal with unsavory characters and risky adventure. If cash is paid he will do the job. Good Story I enjoyed the audio which added to this for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
November 23, 2024
Excellent. Mr. Finn is an unusual lead character. He’s a complicated character, not quite on the side of law and order, but the reader relates to him.
Conger’s writing is clean ( in the sense of no unnecessary fluff or repetition). The action is suspenseful.
I look forward to the next one.
Conger’s writing is clean ( in the sense of no unnecessary fluff or repetition). The action is suspenseful.
I look forward to the next one.
November 10, 2017
The second installment of this crime caper series is as much fun as the first. Mr. Finn is a likeable protagonist, and his father is a hoot. I'll likely read the subsequent volumes.
May 27, 2020
slow first half, but finished nicely.
January 16, 2021
I liked this book too. A second book in a three series read and it’s captured my attention. Quick reads too.
July 14, 2024
I love Trace Conger’s style of writing. It is always an unexpected surprise to see how Mr. Finn can got out of some sticky situations! Can’t wait to start book 3 of the Mr. Finn series!
December 13, 2015
Finn Harding is back as a P.I. who lost his licence but works privately for people that want people found who don't want to be found. The people who hire Finn don't care if he has a licence as long as he gets the job done.
When Finn finds out that his ex-wife's husband, Dr. Daryl Jennings, has been getting fentanyl for a criminal organization and is now missing he sets up a meeting with the organization to make a deal to get his release. They have also been hassling and threatening Finn's ex and his daughter making him even more anxious to solve this problem. In exchange for Daryl's release Finn has to find a man known as the Banker who has disappeared with $5 million of the organization's money.
I couldn't help but like Finn. He's always trying to help his family even when it puts him in a dangerous situation. This time, he didn't care much what happened to Daryl but once his daughter and ex got caught up in the dangerous mess, Finn couldn't stand back and do nothing.
There was another story line about Finn's father, Albert, and one of his old friends who decided to settle an old score. These men are in their 70s but behaving like they were 20 years younger. Albert took this mission very seriously and acted accordingly, but it was really funny.
This crime thriller is well written with a great story line. Trace Conger wrote the scenes and character's actions clearly making it easy to follow the plot. Adding Finn's brother, Conner, who had been missing for several years was a nice touch. The "boys" worked well together. Of course, trying to keep Albert under control was not easy - but humorous (Albert that is). I did find the description of how Finn and his wife met at the beginning of the story to be a bit drawn out and slow moving. The information was necessary but it was just too much at one time.
I'm so glad that I received a copy of Scar Tissue from the author in exchange for an honest review. I love Trace Conger's books and can't wait for the next one.
When Finn finds out that his ex-wife's husband, Dr. Daryl Jennings, has been getting fentanyl for a criminal organization and is now missing he sets up a meeting with the organization to make a deal to get his release. They have also been hassling and threatening Finn's ex and his daughter making him even more anxious to solve this problem. In exchange for Daryl's release Finn has to find a man known as the Banker who has disappeared with $5 million of the organization's money.
I couldn't help but like Finn. He's always trying to help his family even when it puts him in a dangerous situation. This time, he didn't care much what happened to Daryl but once his daughter and ex got caught up in the dangerous mess, Finn couldn't stand back and do nothing.
There was another story line about Finn's father, Albert, and one of his old friends who decided to settle an old score. These men are in their 70s but behaving like they were 20 years younger. Albert took this mission very seriously and acted accordingly, but it was really funny.
This crime thriller is well written with a great story line. Trace Conger wrote the scenes and character's actions clearly making it easy to follow the plot. Adding Finn's brother, Conner, who had been missing for several years was a nice touch. The "boys" worked well together. Of course, trying to keep Albert under control was not easy - but humorous (Albert that is). I did find the description of how Finn and his wife met at the beginning of the story to be a bit drawn out and slow moving. The information was necessary but it was just too much at one time.
I'm so glad that I received a copy of Scar Tissue from the author in exchange for an honest review. I love Trace Conger's books and can't wait for the next one.
November 9, 2015
Trace Conger has created with the Mr. Finn character what I believe is going to be a popular series of books. In Scar Tissue, Finn’s story builds momentum. You find out a little bit more about his family and the complications that result from their past actions; yet, the characters he is pursuing (and those who pursue him) are just as scary. I read this in just a couple days, I was so hooked. If you liked his first book, The Shadow Broker, you’ll like the second even more! I’m looking forward to reading what comes next.
May 11, 2016
I think I enjoyed this book more than Finn #1, so I'm really looking forward to the next one. The book is fast-paced, well written and smart without being snarky. This book introduces Finn's brother and sends Albert off to have an adventure on his own. It's difficult to resist liking these characters, even when you think you probably shouldn't - they KILL people, after all. (But clearly, they only kill people who need killing.)
February 21, 2016
Grown to like Finn.
I enjoyed reading this latest installment of Finn's adventures. The parallel story lines make the reading even m o re interesting. Good book. Looking forward to his next one.
I enjoyed reading this latest installment of Finn's adventures. The parallel story lines make the reading even m o re interesting. Good book. Looking forward to his next one.
January 28, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It was a page turner. There was always something going on. I enjoyed the characters in this book. I can't wait to read the next book!
January 28, 2016
Loved the local setting (Cincinnati) and the characters. Really loved the ending:)
December 12, 2015
Great read
Exciting, fast-paced, lots of twists and turns, and hard to put down.I read it in less than 24 hours! Great fun.
Exciting, fast-paced, lots of twists and turns, and hard to put down.I read it in less than 24 hours! Great fun.
January 28, 2016
very good book can't wait for the third one
February 12, 2016
This Book was amazing!! Love his writing, first time reading something from this author and it will not be the last! hope there is More from him coming soon :)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews