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The Advocate #story
Deadly Secrets
JP has been a favorite character of The Advocate Series. The women love him, the men want to be him. He is the character I get the most remarks about in all my books. A lot of my readers have asked for more JP, so here it is. I have written a short story about JP when he was young.....
Seven-year-old JP Torn witnessed a murder.
Eighteen years later he attempts to clear the name of the man wrongfully imprisoned for the murder, only to discover a string of lies that lead to more painful, DEADLY SECRETS.
Seven-year-old JP Torn witnessed a murder.
Eighteen years later he attempts to clear the name of the man wrongfully imprisoned for the murder, only to discover a string of lies that lead to more painful, DEADLY SECRETS.
25 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Burrell
35 books426 followersTeresa Burrell maintained a private law practice where her work focused on abused minors. She has received several awards for her countless hours of pro bono work with children and their families. Burrell has also enjoyed a satisfying career as a teacher, working with children of all ages with diverse backgrounds and special needs. Now in semi-retirement, Burrell continues to educate groups about social issues impacting children and write novels, many of which are inspired by actual cases.
She has written 22 mystery novels: 17 in The Advocate Series, 4 in the Tuper Mystery Series, and one standalone, co-authored with LJ Sellers.
She has written 22 mystery novels: 17 in The Advocate Series, 4 in the Tuper Mystery Series, and one standalone, co-authored with LJ Sellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 7, 2018
In this fascinating short story, Teresa Burrell created a single plot storyline that made quite a stir by making it difficult to put down. This murder mystery was laced with twists and turns that kept me asking for more. The scenes were well-developed and took me through the troubled mind of the main protagonist laced with a maze of hope, fear and determination. Imagine, all this cleverly defined into a short story.
The well-written narrative harkened back to the early days of JP's childhood. He came to bear witness of his neighbor's death at the hands of one of his family. Though only seven years old at the time, he was left with many unanswered questions that shook him to his very core enduring well into adulthood. For many years, he felt guilt for his role of not coming forward and telling the truth, at least, what he thought was the truth. In the end he came face-to-face with the real killer. It was a culmination of events he never saw coming.
The well-written narrative harkened back to the early days of JP's childhood. He came to bear witness of his neighbor's death at the hands of one of his family. Though only seven years old at the time, he was left with many unanswered questions that shook him to his very core enduring well into adulthood. For many years, he felt guilt for his role of not coming forward and telling the truth, at least, what he thought was the truth. In the end he came face-to-face with the real killer. It was a culmination of events he never saw coming.
September 12, 2018
This is a novella (prequel) featuring a character of The Advocate Series. JP Torn is man's man. Men want to be like him .. and women just want him.
Eighteen years ago, when he was only 7 years old, JP saw a man shot to death. He has been haunted by this death ever since .. he was never questioned by the police and he never told what he saw.
Now that he's a detective, he has access to those police records and what he finds is not what he remembers.
This novella is only available through the author's website or by direct request to the author at www.teresaburrell.com ..... or Instafreebie.
For a short read, it's packed with lots of information.. with a surprising ending. JP is so likeable, I can understand why he's a popular character.
If you've read or are reading The Advocate Series, this will be a great addition. If this is a new author or series, this is a really good place to start.
Eighteen years ago, when he was only 7 years old, JP saw a man shot to death. He has been haunted by this death ever since .. he was never questioned by the police and he never told what he saw.
Now that he's a detective, he has access to those police records and what he finds is not what he remembers.
This novella is only available through the author's website or by direct request to the author at www.teresaburrell.com ..... or Instafreebie.
For a short read, it's packed with lots of information.. with a surprising ending. JP is so likeable, I can understand why he's a popular character.
If you've read or are reading The Advocate Series, this will be a great addition. If this is a new author or series, this is a really good place to start.
November 29, 2018
This short story is enticing and well written. It was absolutely worth reading this book, I could not put it down. I will surely take a look at this author and read other books she wrote.
April 30, 2016
Interesting to get the back story on JP. I like this line near the end: "Break out your blue crayons and color me gone."
November 20, 2017
This is a 3.5 star read.
A completely new author for me, this short story tells the tale of JP Torn's early childhood and how a tragic crime committed by a family member has tainted his whole life. I haven't read the series that featured this character but I don't think that diminishes what is an enticing short read this is - easily read as a stand alone and to introduce readers to a new author.
A completely new author for me, this short story tells the tale of JP Torn's early childhood and how a tragic crime committed by a family member has tainted his whole life. I haven't read the series that featured this character but I don't think that diminishes what is an enticing short read this is - easily read as a stand alone and to introduce readers to a new author.
November 12, 2017
This was an interesting read. You can't wait to see what is revealed. Well worth the time to read. Can't wait for more with this character. I received a free copy for an honest review.
May 31, 2017
Loving JP's character in the Advocate series, it was nice to get a glimpse into his background. I wish it were longer though!!
June 26, 2020
Gene (9, brother) told Johnny Phillip Torn (7) he was getting up to go see Elvis Torn (father).
BANG! BANG!
Johnny hollered at Gene to put the gun down.
JP Torn had gotten out of the USMC where he had survived the 1983, Beirut barracks attack.
2 yrs.-later, San Diego, CA. Detective/Sheriff Johnny Phillip Torn (25) was quite proud of his accomplishment.
Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility cell. Detective/Sheriff Torn went to talk with Elvis.
San Diego, CA. Next, Detective/Sheriff Torn went to talk with Matthew Oakes (attorney).
Matthew agreed to take the case.
Detective/Sheriff Torn went too visit Gene who is in the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) prison in Norco, CA.
Will Elvis’ case be overturned?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written crime thriller (short story) book. It was extremely easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & 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 description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Creative Magnolia; Silent Thunder Publishing; BookFunnel; PDF book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
BANG! BANG!
Johnny hollered at Gene to put the gun down.
JP Torn had gotten out of the USMC where he had survived the 1983, Beirut barracks attack.
2 yrs.-later, San Diego, CA. Detective/Sheriff Johnny Phillip Torn (25) was quite proud of his accomplishment.
Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility cell. Detective/Sheriff Torn went to talk with Elvis.
San Diego, CA. Next, Detective/Sheriff Torn went to talk with Matthew Oakes (attorney).
Matthew agreed to take the case.
Detective/Sheriff Torn went too visit Gene who is in the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) prison in Norco, CA.
Will Elvis’ case be overturned?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written crime thriller (short story) book. It was extremely easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & 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 description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Creative Magnolia; Silent Thunder Publishing; BookFunnel; PDF book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
May 14, 2021
This story start with an event which happened in the early part of JP's life. JP awoke when he heard his brother leave the bedroom. JP went to see where he was going. He went outside where he saw his father and brother arguing at the neighbor's house. He also heard a gunshot and then saw that they were still arguing when another shot was fired that ultimately killed the neighbor. The police arrived and eventually arrested JP's father who was then convicted.
The story picks up where JP has been made a detective and then is able to look into his father's conviction. Jp, based on his recollection of that night, believes his father was innocent and his brother Gene was the killer. He made arrangements with a lawyer to look into reopening the case. The lawyer assigned JP several tasks that needed to be done to support the filing. As JP began his quest and interviewed both his father and brother, in addition to going through the evidence that was collected, he was able to come to a conclusion of who the real killer was. This piece of evidence brought the missing piece together.
To discover who the real killer was, what the piece of evidence presented and whether JP was able to get a new trial, then you must read this book. You will learn the reason for the killing as well.
The story picks up where JP has been made a detective and then is able to look into his father's conviction. Jp, based on his recollection of that night, believes his father was innocent and his brother Gene was the killer. He made arrangements with a lawyer to look into reopening the case. The lawyer assigned JP several tasks that needed to be done to support the filing. As JP began his quest and interviewed both his father and brother, in addition to going through the evidence that was collected, he was able to come to a conclusion of who the real killer was. This piece of evidence brought the missing piece together.
To discover who the real killer was, what the piece of evidence presented and whether JP was able to get a new trial, then you must read this book. You will learn the reason for the killing as well.
January 5, 2019
I love short stories, especially when it’s a good mystery and you can’t figure it out. I got to the end chapter and was blown away by the truth. My favorite lines was “Elvis’ son has left the building and break out your blue crayons and color me blue”. Teresa Burrell is a new author to me and if the rest of her books are anything like this one, I’m in for the long haul of mystery!
Have you ever seen something as a kid that you kept quiet about, even though you and your families life will change forever? JP did as a kid and because of it, he became a cop then detective. Now able to prove innocence in what happened all the years before, he reopens the case to find the truth. But the truth isn’t always what you remember as a kid. The truth isn’t how you thought it happened and what lead up to the unthinkable. The truth may not prove the innocence, but show the guilty. Be careful what the truth will show you!
Excellent storyline! Great mystery! Best twists and turns!
Have you ever seen something as a kid that you kept quiet about, even though you and your families life will change forever? JP did as a kid and because of it, he became a cop then detective. Now able to prove innocence in what happened all the years before, he reopens the case to find the truth. But the truth isn’t always what you remember as a kid. The truth isn’t how you thought it happened and what lead up to the unthinkable. The truth may not prove the innocence, but show the guilty. Be careful what the truth will show you!
Excellent storyline! Great mystery! Best twists and turns!
March 10, 2020
Let’s try to set the scene. Brothers Gene 9, JP 7, & Troy 5 share a bunk bed and a cot in a single room. Mother works long late shifts to support the family. Father is an ugly drunk. Middle brother sees his older Gene sneak out at night and hears a gunshot, then witnesses a struggle between father and son but is told to go back to bed and hide. Father is convicted of murder and after years of crime and drug abuse the 18-year-old Gene loses the battle of sibling rivalry to the taller and fitter 16-year-old JP and leaves home permanently. JP joins the military and follows up with law enforcement rising to detective at 25. Father and older brother share separate greybar hotels. Two decades later Johnny seeks to sort through the mess that is his father’s life. A father long since habituated to jail.
April 13, 2020
No good can come of lies and when each person in a family only sees a part of what’s going on and fills in the gap‘s with their own ideas of what happened, no good can come of that either. Young JP saw the middle of an altercation between his father, his brother and their neighbor. When the police put the story together it was wrong too but they didn’t have all the facts. Now as a cop JP wants to get to the bottom of what happened. Ms Burrell has woken a complicated story of each person covering their own back and not taking responsibility for their own actions. I’ve read that a lot of her stories are from her real life court experiences. The story was well written and so intriguing I couldn’t put the book down.
March 1, 2024
Deadly Secrets (JP Short Story), my seventh enjoyable short (25 page) read from author Teresa Burrell that I finished in under 30-minutes. In this one the focus shifts to investigator JP Torn when he was a newly promoted detective. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author, The Advocate's Geocache: Legal Suspense Murder Mystery (The Advocate Series Book 7) is next on my TBR list. I guess I'm on a mission to read all the books I own in the series, they're that good! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
December 4, 2018
An entertaining and exciting short story about JP in his very young years. This book shows a multitude of characters combined to create a story of recessed memories. As a grown up man JP tries to right that he thought he created in his youth. He believes his Dad is in jail because of him. This story leaves you wishing for from this man as the detective he has become. I recommend this book very highly to any and everyone who loves crime stores.
January 7, 2021
Great short story prequel of Teresa Burrell's JP Torn series. This one goes back to when Torn was younger, and trying to discover what really happened between his dad and older brother Gene the night their neighbor was shot to death.
It was suspenseful, and the characters, who kept offering false information, or telling only partial truths, kept me guessing as to what really happened until the very end. I'm ready to read more about JP Torn in the rest of the series!
It was suspenseful, and the characters, who kept offering false information, or telling only partial truths, kept me guessing as to what really happened until the very end. I'm ready to read more about JP Torn in the rest of the series!
February 5, 2020
This is a great short story about a son who wants to correct a wrong that happened he feels occurred when he was a child.
He's worked his way to become a detective at an early age so that he can review the material from the trial. After multiple conversations with his Dad and his older brother, he learns the truth.
He's worked his way to become a detective at an early age so that he can review the material from the trial. After multiple conversations with his Dad and his older brother, he learns the truth.
February 20, 2020
A new to me author. I found it interesting and enjoyable. I seem to have read it differently to most people and what was most interesting to me was the writing style had a stiltedness which I have found quite common in those in law enforcement. It added a very authentic element to the story for me. An enjoyable short story with complex characters and plot twist.
May 12, 2018
I could not put this novella down. I can't wait to read the
Advocate. Story line and characters the the
opposite of trite and shallow. I devoured the book and I am hungry for another. This was my first book of the author.
Advocate. Story line and characters the the
opposite of trite and shallow. I devoured the book and I am hungry for another. This was my first book of the author.
June 5, 2018
A tightly scripted story of murder and false interpretation of what a witness saw. A seven year old thinks he saw his nine year old brother kill a man. Did he? Now an adult, and a detective, he reopens the case. He finds unexpected truths. A quick read.
August 31, 2018
Teresa Burrell's Deadly Secrets was a great short story. The twists and turns kept me guessing. I hate to say that I had it right just the wrong reason.
I will be reading more from this lovely ladi in the future.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers
Lynn
I will be reading more from this lovely ladi in the future.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers
Lynn
February 25, 2019
A small sweet story for those that like JP, the detective from Teresa Burrell's mystery books. it is a short story that the writer has written and gives frequently for free to those that love the series giving a small insight of JP's character.
June 6, 2024
A short story to introduce me to a new series. JP Torn is a detective who believes that his father was wrongly convicted of killing their neighbour. He thinks he saw his brother do it and sets out to find the truth. Needless to say he does. I may read some more of this series.
January 30, 2018
Great little story about the early days of JP.
June 18, 2018
First time reading this author. Good short story. Made me want to read more about the main character, JP. Am going to add Ms. Burrell's Advocate series to my TBR pile.
August 10, 2018
Nicely done.
September 16, 2018
Good short story. Made me want to read more books by this author.
November 16, 2018
Allow a full afternoon for this family-friendly police procedural. I read an ARC and this voluntary review is my own opinion.
February 10, 2019
The plot was full of twists and turns. It really kept me guessing. This is a well-written prequel to the Advocate series. I recommend this book and want to read more books in the series!
March 26, 2019
Loved it! Keep me reading till I was done!
June 3, 2019
A wonderful story about a child who witnesses a murder, but doesn't tell what he saw. Now, as an adult and a detective, he looks into the case with a surprise ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews