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Finn O'Brien #1
Severed Relations
Murder behind the gates of Fremont Place was unusual; two children and a nanny slaughtered in the home of a rich young lawyer and his beautiful wife was unheard of. When Detective Finn O'Brien, recently cleared of murder charges in the death of a fellow officer, catches the call it creates a political nightmare. The cops want him to fail, Angeleno's want him to save them from the monster in their midst, and Finn wants to come face-to-face with a child killer so he can put his personal demons to rest. Paired up with his old partner, Cori Anderson, the Irish ex-pat and the Texas blond work Los Angeles from the mansions of Fremont Place to Miracle Mile high-rises and the dive bars of Hollywood; they connect the dots between the ladies-who-lunch, lawyers who skate on the edge of the law, pornographers, and freaks. Following a trail of bodies and shattered relationships, they uncover the horrific truth behind the murders only to be faced with a situation that is both personal and deadly. What comes next will either bind Cori and Finn together for eternity or severe their relationship in the cruelest cut of all.
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First published June 1, 2016
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About the author
Rebecca Forster
48 books516 followersRebecca Forster began writing on a crazy dare and found her passion.
Now with over 40 books to her name, she is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling thriller author. Rebecca likes hands-on research and is a graduate of the DEA and ATF Citizens Academies. She is an avid court watcher, has taken numerous weapons courses, and even landed by tail hook on the USS Nimitz to make sure she has lived what she writes.
Rebecca is married to a Superior Court judge and is the mother of two grown sons. She resides in Southern California
Now with over 40 books to her name, she is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling thriller author. Rebecca likes hands-on research and is a graduate of the DEA and ATF Citizens Academies. She is an avid court watcher, has taken numerous weapons courses, and even landed by tail hook on the USS Nimitz to make sure she has lived what she writes.
Rebecca is married to a Superior Court judge and is the mother of two grown sons. She resides in Southern California
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
March 20, 2019
a powerful read ... the solutions are well hidden (at least to me) ... some loose ends which I guess is typical in a series where new stories will follow ... some areas where more showing of emotions was possible, especially in some of the interactions between O'Brien and Cori ... overall: recommended
April 12, 2023
The beautiful old home in a rich gated community, gives the reader no idea as to what had taken place on the second floor. Soon we learn that the nanny lay in a pool of blood, dead from a gunshot wound. The two girls were butchered with a knife and bore no resemblance to the laughing, carefree kids that they once were. Detectives Finn O'Brien and Cori Anderson were called to try to make some sense of the chaotic mess and above all to find whoever had committed this atrocity. As the lead detectives O'Brien and Anderson investigate the case and soon discover that it is anything but cut and dried. The parents, Sam and Elizabeth Barnett, are wealthy upstanding people in the community so the murders make no sense. They wondered if it was retribution for something that the killer perceived that the parents had done or perhaps it was simply a horrible, random act of violence. O'Brien is just one false step from losing his job because he'd been ostracized by his fellow community of cops for killing a fellow officer. It was justified but that didn't seem to matter. Anderson is a single mother and grandmother who has her problems as well. As they each fight their own demons, they work to solve this case. Eventually the supposed killers are caught but something doesn't fit right about the case to Finn. Soon another suspect, and one that I thought was the killer from the start is looked at much closer and they find that this person has had dirty dealings that resulted in him becoming a millionaire. The surprise ending will catch you off guard even when you think you have it all figured out. I want more.
December 25, 2017
I like Rebecca Forster’s Josie Bates series. I can’t say the same here.
I had a hard time getting into this book. Nothing in the main character, Finn O’Brien, made me like him or hate him, want to see him succeed or see him fail. Readers want to feel something toward a character. They want to root for ones they like to become heroes and ones they hate to get their comeuppance. Indifference to a character’s fate is a sure-fire interest killer.
Many places in the book the characters were in one place (a yard, say) and in the next paragraph were in another (a bedroom, say) with no indication of them moving from one to the other. Every time Forster did it, it caused a ‘When did they go there?’ stumble in reading the story. The same happened in places where the dialog seems to leap from one topic to another with no transition, as if a line or two of dialog had been omitted.
Forster indulges in some purple prose. Dusk slid into home hard and it was dead dark in the Coulter stadium… is one example. Prose should convey an image, not intrude on the reader’s mind.
Then there’s the victim’s mother’s hair going from ebony to grey overnight. Can’t happen. Hair is dead, the color fixed. The only ways the character’s black hair could have turned grey overnight is if all her black hairs fell out or with help from Clairol. Which raises the question: How many other things did the author get wrong?
This book isn’t a mystery, isn’t really about the murder of two children and their nanny. It’s the story of the emotions and reactions of Finn, his partner Cori, and the murdered children’s parents. And while the story has an ending, it has no resolution.
All this adds up to Forster trying too hard here to create characters and a milieu totally different from that of her Josie Bates novels. And it doesn’t work.
I won’t be back for more featuring Finn O’Brien.
This book, too, is another example of Amazon being able to tell me how many pages are in a book but unable to number the same pages in the download. Come on, Amazon, it can’t be that difficult!
I had a hard time getting into this book. Nothing in the main character, Finn O’Brien, made me like him or hate him, want to see him succeed or see him fail. Readers want to feel something toward a character. They want to root for ones they like to become heroes and ones they hate to get their comeuppance. Indifference to a character’s fate is a sure-fire interest killer.
Many places in the book the characters were in one place (a yard, say) and in the next paragraph were in another (a bedroom, say) with no indication of them moving from one to the other. Every time Forster did it, it caused a ‘When did they go there?’ stumble in reading the story. The same happened in places where the dialog seems to leap from one topic to another with no transition, as if a line or two of dialog had been omitted.
Forster indulges in some purple prose. Dusk slid into home hard and it was dead dark in the Coulter stadium… is one example. Prose should convey an image, not intrude on the reader’s mind.
Then there’s the victim’s mother’s hair going from ebony to grey overnight. Can’t happen. Hair is dead, the color fixed. The only ways the character’s black hair could have turned grey overnight is if all her black hairs fell out or with help from Clairol. Which raises the question: How many other things did the author get wrong?
This book isn’t a mystery, isn’t really about the murder of two children and their nanny. It’s the story of the emotions and reactions of Finn, his partner Cori, and the murdered children’s parents. And while the story has an ending, it has no resolution.
All this adds up to Forster trying too hard here to create characters and a milieu totally different from that of her Josie Bates novels. And it doesn’t work.
I won’t be back for more featuring Finn O’Brien.
This book, too, is another example of Amazon being able to tell me how many pages are in a book but unable to number the same pages in the download. Come on, Amazon, it can’t be that difficult!
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April 9, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (4/9/2018)!💝
July 28, 2016
Very well written mystery. A bit gory, but it does keep you reading until the, somewhat, bitter end. I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for an honest review, and I'm glad I took a chance with it, as it's not my usual genre. Even though I thought I had it pretty much figured out by the middle of the book, the ending still came as surprise. Recommend for a good mystery.
May 27, 2018
You will be drawn in by each chapter wanting more. Forster will keep you guessing and you will be pleasantly shock you at the very end.
August 10, 2020
An interesting procedural.
Finn is a detective in the Wilshire division of the LAPD. He is also the cop who killed another cop justifiably to everyone except his coworkers. He is called in to the brutal murder of two young children in their bedroom and their nanny in her room. His new partner turns out to be his former partner who has volunteered to work with him because she believes in him and because no one else will work with him. The rest of the novel deals with their investigation and the fact that nothing is exactly what it appears to be. It is well done and has an unforgettable ending. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-galley for an honest review.
Finn is a detective in the Wilshire division of the LAPD. He is also the cop who killed another cop justifiably to everyone except his coworkers. He is called in to the brutal murder of two young children in their bedroom and their nanny in her room. His new partner turns out to be his former partner who has volunteered to work with him because she believes in him and because no one else will work with him. The rest of the novel deals with their investigation and the fact that nothing is exactly what it appears to be. It is well done and has an unforgettable ending. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-galley for an honest review.
August 3, 2016
Interesting plot. Had me going for a while but figured it out 2/3 thru. Not so much my acuity but that it's foreshadowed in that direction. Okay summer read or in between book. I doubt I would read any others in the series as I liked the way " the bad guys" were written better than the "the good guys".
July 20, 2016
4.5/5.0
Ms. Forster sure knows her way around a thrilling tale!
Read full review in the 2016 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Ms. Forster sure knows her way around a thrilling tale!
Read full review in the 2016 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.
June 26, 2017
Rambled, but Held My Interest
I didn't like the ending, though. I hope Finn can resolve it. People shouldn't get away with murder. Oh, well.
I didn't like the ending, though. I hope Finn can resolve it. People shouldn't get away with murder. Oh, well.
August 24, 2018
It's been a few years since I read a couple of this author's Josie Bates stories and I greatly enjoyed them so when I saw this free download of a newer series by her I thought I was onto a winner. However, I didn't get on with this in the slightest.....you'd think it was a totally different writer !! It's all really disjointed and peculiar, the way it's written, and I just found it mostly baffling. It made it way too hard-going for me, I'm afraid, and I packed it in at 16%.
Firstly, we're aware Finn has a PAST but we're getting fed little snippets without being given his story in one go, which I'd have preferred. Finn and his partner Cori both happen to pass their boss's office as they leave the building at one point and Finn stops to listen to a phonecall he was on.....then said boss says "See the woman. Fremont Place" and you have no idea whatsoever what he's talking about....then this sentence, which is perhaps a football analogy ? "Dusk slid into home hard and it was dead dark in the Coulter stadium" just means nothing to me whatsoever and neither did this sentence-"Sickened by half over what had happened to his child, their father stood tall while he wept"......THEN we're told that Sam is cowardly apropos of sod all till a couple of pages further on and I gave up at this juncture. It's just too much like hard work.
For some reason she spells bannister like this on one page, as banister on the next and then back again to bannister on the next mention !! Barnett's should've been Barnetts' as well. They were the only couple of errors I spotted but the writing itself was just way too confusing for me.
Firstly, we're aware Finn has a PAST but we're getting fed little snippets without being given his story in one go, which I'd have preferred. Finn and his partner Cori both happen to pass their boss's office as they leave the building at one point and Finn stops to listen to a phonecall he was on.....then said boss says "See the woman. Fremont Place" and you have no idea whatsoever what he's talking about....then this sentence, which is perhaps a football analogy ? "Dusk slid into home hard and it was dead dark in the Coulter stadium" just means nothing to me whatsoever and neither did this sentence-"Sickened by half over what had happened to his child, their father stood tall while he wept"......THEN we're told that Sam is cowardly apropos of sod all till a couple of pages further on and I gave up at this juncture. It's just too much like hard work.
For some reason she spells bannister like this on one page, as banister on the next and then back again to bannister on the next mention !! Barnett's should've been Barnetts' as well. They were the only couple of errors I spotted but the writing itself was just way too confusing for me.
November 23, 2018
Severed Relations (The Finn O’Brien Thriller Series Book 1) by Rebecca Forster
Create Space 2016 ISBN 9781533275516
Every day is great, until it’s not. And one often boasts of their nice neighbors and safe neighborhood…until something happens.
The Barnetts, a well-to-do family on upscale Fremont Place are living the dream: great house, successful husband, stay-at-home mom, two lovely daughters, and a live-in nanny.
One happy family of five.
Enter Detective Finn O’Brien to investigate the triple murder that turns their dream into a nightmare. As one of the characters in the story says, “this falls on the far of side of hell.”
Ostracized by his fellow officers for violating the blue code when he killed one of their own: a bad cop, Finn is forced to track down the killer, or killers, on his own. And he can’t count on back-up if things get rough.
Detective Cori Anderson, with ‘feelings’ of her own toward Finn, agrees to partner with him on the case. Together, they attempt to unravel the hideous mystery. Nothing stolen. No apparent enemies. Unlikely targets. It wasn’t the butler, they don’t even have one.
In Severed Relations, Rebecca Forster leads us on a page-turning, suspense-filled, unnerving journey into the heart of darkness that reflects real life. Feelings can sometimes blind and mislead you, and events and people are not always what they seem.
Veronica Jorge
Create Space 2016 ISBN 9781533275516
Every day is great, until it’s not. And one often boasts of their nice neighbors and safe neighborhood…until something happens.
The Barnetts, a well-to-do family on upscale Fremont Place are living the dream: great house, successful husband, stay-at-home mom, two lovely daughters, and a live-in nanny.
One happy family of five.
Enter Detective Finn O’Brien to investigate the triple murder that turns their dream into a nightmare. As one of the characters in the story says, “this falls on the far of side of hell.”
Ostracized by his fellow officers for violating the blue code when he killed one of their own: a bad cop, Finn is forced to track down the killer, or killers, on his own. And he can’t count on back-up if things get rough.
Detective Cori Anderson, with ‘feelings’ of her own toward Finn, agrees to partner with him on the case. Together, they attempt to unravel the hideous mystery. Nothing stolen. No apparent enemies. Unlikely targets. It wasn’t the butler, they don’t even have one.
In Severed Relations, Rebecca Forster leads us on a page-turning, suspense-filled, unnerving journey into the heart of darkness that reflects real life. Feelings can sometimes blind and mislead you, and events and people are not always what they seem.
Veronica Jorge
April 11, 2018
Will you always be painted with the cop killer brush? Finn just wants to move on but it is really hard when the rest of the cops blame him for the death of another cop. Finn had no choice but to protect himself & others and he will always pay for that. His partner Cori just wants him to move on and hopefully one day she can tell him how she really feels. Finn & Cori have just picked up a new case where the nanny & two young children were murdered. What was the motive as only two necklaces were taken with the children's name on them. Who hated the parents that much? The more they dig the harder the case becomes as Finn feels for the mother and Elizabeth uses him to get what she wants. He just can't see her having anything to do with the deaths, her husband Sam yes but why?
Sam likes the good life, he has money, a beautiful home and a loving family so who wanted to destroy that? Did Sam's business have anything to do with the murders or was the nanny the main victim? She wasn't so innocent but did her sideline job really get them killed? Will they ever find the killers and bring justice for the victims? Will Finn ever be able to move forward? What will trip the killers up?
A good solid read. I hope that one day Cori can tell Finn how she feels and hopefully Finn can find his way back to the living.
Sam likes the good life, he has money, a beautiful home and a loving family so who wanted to destroy that? Did Sam's business have anything to do with the murders or was the nanny the main victim? She wasn't so innocent but did her sideline job really get them killed? Will they ever find the killers and bring justice for the victims? Will Finn ever be able to move forward? What will trip the killers up?
A good solid read. I hope that one day Cori can tell Finn how she feels and hopefully Finn can find his way back to the living.
June 7, 2025
First off, I have to give the author props for finishing a book, that’s not easy. But this book had me rolling my eyes constantly. Sexism, misogyny, ridiculous analogies that don’t make sense. The story jumps around in ways that you miss important information, and are just told about the aftermath with no time spent on it again later in the book. Also they never use contractions, ever. People don’t talk like that irl.
The one thing I can definitely praise about this book is at the beginning, when the bodies are discovered. There’s a small scene that made me emotional. But that’s totally undercut later in the story with the reveal, that really wasn’t much of a reveal tbh
TLDR - don’t read this book unless you like half baked stories and reading about detectives being the worst detectives ever
The one thing I can definitely praise about this book is at the beginning, when the bodies are discovered. There’s a small scene that made me emotional. But that’s totally undercut later in the story with the reveal, that really wasn’t much of a reveal tbh
TLDR - don’t read this book unless you like half baked stories and reading about detectives being the worst detectives ever
June 20, 2018
Severed Relations: The Finn O'Brien Thriller Series, Book #1.
Wow! A hard-hitting, gut-punching, suspenseful thriller. Take a triple murder that includes a nanny and her two young charges, add in burly, handsome detective Finn O'Brien (with an Irish brogue that can either charm or slice like a knife) and his no-nonsense partner Cori Anderson (keeping her feelings for him close to her heart... so she thinks), and you have the setting for a crime that you know will be exposed with fireworks. This story is very well written; I couldn't put it down until the end, and now simply have to continue with the rest of the series! I love really great thrillers that have lots of action and make you think: this is definitely 5 stars and counting! 👍👍👍👍👍
Wow! A hard-hitting, gut-punching, suspenseful thriller. Take a triple murder that includes a nanny and her two young charges, add in burly, handsome detective Finn O'Brien (with an Irish brogue that can either charm or slice like a knife) and his no-nonsense partner Cori Anderson (keeping her feelings for him close to her heart... so she thinks), and you have the setting for a crime that you know will be exposed with fireworks. This story is very well written; I couldn't put it down until the end, and now simply have to continue with the rest of the series! I love really great thrillers that have lots of action and make you think: this is definitely 5 stars and counting! 👍👍👍👍👍
December 8, 2022
In this, the fifth novel by Rebecca Forster featuring her enduing protagonist, Finn O’Brien, the author has crafted yet another fascinating case for O’Brien and his partner, Cori Anderson, to delve into. As always with this author, there are plenty of twists and turns along the way, with the mystery eventually wending its way to a conclusion we don’t see coming. Forster is a master at developing ingenious, highly original plots, then peopling the story with well-drawn characters. It’s a winning formula that consistently makes a Finn O’Brien thriller a treat to experience. Distant Relations is an outstanding novel. If you haven’t yet started reading the Finn O’Brien thrillers, it’s time dive in.
November 4, 2018
Finn O'Brien, LAPD homicide detective, is a complex character with more than his share of personal and professional problems. He's given the lead on a gruesome murder investigation and is partnered with Detective Cori O'Brien because no other detective in the division will work with him. Cori's also more than she appears to be.
This face-paced, hard-edged mystery is a compelling read. The characters and settings are richly portrayed, the point-of-view gets down deep into their heads. It's a real page-turner. As good a mystery as I've ever read and better than many I've read from big-name authors.
If you like mystery and suspense, I highly recommend this book.
This face-paced, hard-edged mystery is a compelling read. The characters and settings are richly portrayed, the point-of-view gets down deep into their heads. It's a real page-turner. As good a mystery as I've ever read and better than many I've read from big-name authors.
If you like mystery and suspense, I highly recommend this book.
April 21, 2019
Hard to put down, at times
I have rated Severed Relations as 4 stars because it is a really good read. The storyline is very good and some parts were so tachometer I struggled to put the book down when I had things to do. The downside however, is that whilst I didn't figure out the ending in full, I did work out who did it, which sort of spoiled it for me. It's like when you watch a television drama unfold but they try to throw you off a scent in a way that is a little obvious. Or maybe I watch and read that many crime drama that I now have a knack for figuring things out. That said, still an excellent read and fun getting to know the major characters.
I have rated Severed Relations as 4 stars because it is a really good read. The storyline is very good and some parts were so tachometer I struggled to put the book down when I had things to do. The downside however, is that whilst I didn't figure out the ending in full, I did work out who did it, which sort of spoiled it for me. It's like when you watch a television drama unfold but they try to throw you off a scent in a way that is a little obvious. Or maybe I watch and read that many crime drama that I now have a knack for figuring things out. That said, still an excellent read and fun getting to know the major characters.
November 7, 2018
Severed Relations introduces Finn O'Brien as the main detective. He's Irish all the way and Ms. Forster makes him sound like he comes from the auld country (which he does). His brogue is genuine and makes him even more likeable than he is anyway. But his good looks and winning personality aren't the only things to admire about him—he's a darn good detective. He and his partner, Cori, discover the murderer in this first book through hard work and instinct. I really enjoyed this book and will be reading more of the series.
December 14, 2020
Ah yeah, we’re supposed to love Finn because of his big Irish heart. He’s supposed to be a great investigator. Nothing he did wrapped up the case. The clues fell in his lap and he read them wrong. He made so many mistakes, costing lives. He fingered the wrong person as the killer. He didn’t feel so so so sorry for Elizabeth because she was a broken hearted mother, he felt sorry for her because he was attracted to her, found her beautiful.
I liked the story but I wish it wasn’t all about “poor” Finn.
I liked the story but I wish it wasn’t all about “poor” Finn.
May 4, 2018
Finally found another book I really liked. The plot was good; kept me guessing right to the end. Both main characters, Cori and Finn, were believable and very likeable. Their relationship appeared realistic ant true.
I have to admit, I didn't guess who the villain was; usually I can. So hats off to Ms. Forster for the ending.
I like Finn O'Brian alot and will search out some other stories including him.
I have to admit, I didn't guess who the villain was; usually I can. So hats off to Ms. Forster for the ending.
I like Finn O'Brian alot and will search out some other stories including him.
May 18, 2018
"Severed Relations" by Rebecca Forster clearly showed the psychological dynamics at work today between most working US police detectives & the: victims, criminals, and other interviewees. Although the book was a little lengthy , Forster had me coming back until the story was completely told. I really enjoyed the writers insight and character development & look forward to reading other books by her.
June 19, 2018
I liked the main characters, male & female cop team, O'Brien & Cori. They were well-developed characters, interesting, human and funny. The good guys and the bad guys were well described and the main couple well-developed. The plot was a good one, well laid out and twisty at the end. There was some violence but it's brief. It was a real page-turner. I strongly recommend it. Be aware, it is book one in a series of three.
June 18, 2021
Rebecca Forster is a masterful story teller. Each book in the series features Finn O’Brien and Cori Anderson, detectives in Los Angeles, who figure out intriguing murder mysteries. The chemistry between the two sizzle and spark, making their banter exceptional. The vivid characters and remarkably clever, page-gripping plot, make each a fast paced read that I had trouble putting down. I loved the stories so much, that I now have all of Rebecca’s books on my “to be read” list.
November 1, 2017
Very completing thriller/mystery. The characters are well-drawn and the plot moves quickly. Numerous twists and turns as a gruesome scenario unfolds in the midst of the” perfect” neighborhood of wealthy residents. The two protagonists -LAPD detectives - are worth another look—in later installments of the Finn O’Brien series. I’d recommend it.
May 10, 2018
Good as a stand-alone story , or a part of a series.
This book has everything that I enjoy – a storyline that keeps you hooked , interesting and believable characters , and good writing. I found I had to slow myself down and re-read the start a few times, to familiarize myself with the characters and get them straight. Once I did, the rest of the book kept a great pace .
This book has everything that I enjoy – a storyline that keeps you hooked , interesting and believable characters , and good writing. I found I had to slow myself down and re-read the start a few times, to familiarize myself with the characters and get them straight. Once I did, the rest of the book kept a great pace .
June 5, 2018
Finn would come off way better on the big screen or TV. I never did get a clear picture of his waspish partner. I am not sorry I read the book, but parts of it were very slow & disturbing. This author enjoyed the gore, spousal abuse, and killings of children. I don't think the mentally ill person needing treatment was just in the book.
June 25, 2018
Severed Relations interested me so I bought it, and I am glad I did! I am pleased at how well the story flows, the believable characters, and the real dialogue. I am left with the question of "why", but not frustratingly so. Finn O'Brien is a great character, exacting in his investigations, and his sixth sense is keen.
August 25, 2018
Having recently been cleared of killing a fellow police officer Detective Finn O'Brien is back on duty much to the disgust of the other officers. With Cori Anderson the only person ready to partner him they are sent to investigate the killing of a nanny and her two young charges.
An enjoyable and interesting mystery.
An enjoyable and interesting mystery.
December 20, 2018
Severed Relations
A well to do family, a disgraced detective, a detective female temporary partner ( because no one will work with the disgraced guy), and two murdered children, plus their nanny makes for a good read! Well written, characters you'll love and hate. Another hit book from Rebecca Forster! Twists, and blarney make a great read. Enjoy!
A well to do family, a disgraced detective, a detective female temporary partner ( because no one will work with the disgraced guy), and two murdered children, plus their nanny makes for a good read! Well written, characters you'll love and hate. Another hit book from Rebecca Forster! Twists, and blarney make a great read. Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews