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David Wolf #8
Dire
Just as Detective David Wolf and his new girlfriend get started, so does the killing. The International Bestselling series continues with an edge of your seat mystery thriller. When a man careens off the road into the frigid waters of the Chautauqua River, Chief Detective David Wolf risks his own life to bring the man to shore. News of Wolf’s bravery travels fast through the burgeoning ski town of Rocky Points, Colorado, and before long he’s pulled into the political grinder, where candidates are eager to exploit Wolf’s character for their own gain.Injured as well in the process, it seems his heroic deed was some cruel twist of fate, that is, until he meets Lauren Coulter, a new girl in town and a nurse at the local hospital. Lauren is smart, beautiful, and just Wolf’s type. The connection between them is there. But just as they get started, so does the killing. And as bodies start emerging, so do the secrets from Lauren’s troubled past. Has fate steered Wolf to the wrong woman? Or is someone more devious behind the wheel? Lives will depend on how fast Wolf can come up with the answer, and this time, living with failure will prove to be something much worse than death.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2016
6885 people are currently reading
867 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Carson
44 books676 followersJeff Carson is from the Front Range of Colorado where he lives with his wife and two sons. His David Wolf series of books takes place in the fictional ski town of Rocky Points, Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
April 22, 2019
This is the 8th book in the series; I have four more to go, plus the latest is out tomorrow. Great series.
Fells like visiting old friends.
It starts with a daring rescue by Chief Detective Wolf in an ice-cold river flowing between the mountains in Colorado. The rest of the book is filled with action and many familiar characters. Wolf may have a new girlfriend, but of course, it gets complicated. There are murder, kidnapping, ransoms, family heirlooms worth a lot, family jealousy and infighting, plus a new election for sheriff is coming up in two years and some outsiders are already making moves to try and oust the current sheriff which could mean Wolf losing his job.
Never a dull moment, this one is as good as the rest. It’s time for me to read number nine.
Have a great day and if you haven’t tried it yet, start with book one, Foreign Deceit, and take then in order.
Fells like visiting old friends.
It starts with a daring rescue by Chief Detective Wolf in an ice-cold river flowing between the mountains in Colorado. The rest of the book is filled with action and many familiar characters. Wolf may have a new girlfriend, but of course, it gets complicated. There are murder, kidnapping, ransoms, family heirlooms worth a lot, family jealousy and infighting, plus a new election for sheriff is coming up in two years and some outsiders are already making moves to try and oust the current sheriff which could mean Wolf losing his job.
Never a dull moment, this one is as good as the rest. It’s time for me to read number nine.
Have a great day and if you haven’t tried it yet, start with book one, Foreign Deceit, and take then in order.
March 22, 2018
The opening scene was strong, but really not realistic. The main character was hurt time after time and kept going. When a key figure is perfect, I lose interest too.
February 18, 2023
Detective David Wolf meets a new nurse in town, Lauren, she's quiet, secretive, A mystery. Again, the small town of Rocky Points starts having bodies pile up, Lauren and her daughter are missing, and Wolf and his team are tasked with finding out where Lauren is, can they find her daughter, and who is behind these murders. Lauren is Dire, dire to get money, Dire to get a family pendant, and Dire to get her daughter, Ella back. Wolf needs to find Lauren and get answers, Lauren has to follow orders, and save her child.
February 15, 2016
Must read series.
First book Gut Decision to Dire, fell in love with David Wolf character. Department politics still going on, and always puts his life in danger. From freezing waters to gun and knife fights again injured. New nurse in town with her little girl Ella, Wolf is interested and his dog Jet, also his deceased wife Star approves his romantic interest. Can't wait for the next book.
First book Gut Decision to Dire, fell in love with David Wolf character. Department politics still going on, and always puts his life in danger. From freezing waters to gun and knife fights again injured. New nurse in town with her little girl Ella, Wolf is interested and his dog Jet, also his deceased wife Star approves his romantic interest. Can't wait for the next book.
May 6, 2020
99.9% of the books I read are mystery/suspense/thrillers. After all of these books you would think the stories would start to be the same or begin all run together...or would be hard to find one that's just different enough to keep me guessing. Jeff Carson was able to do this in spades with this story. There were some twists in the story...most of which I guessed and they kept the book fast paced. A really good series for fans of fast paced adventures.
May 16, 2019
This one was about the kidnapping of Lauren’s 5-year-old daughter and David’s attraction to the child’s mother and all he did to rescue her, a lot of murder and mayhem. AND it was about the rescue of a man from an over-turned SUV in the river in the middle of January and the ass-wipe detective who took the credit for it and made David Wolf look like he was a coward who stood by while this other jerk saved the man. I couldn’t stand Barker, so it shows well for an author who can write that kind of character.
There was drink-date between David and Lauren before all hell broke loose and a passionate kiss at the end of the book but that was all the romance. AND the F-bomb was used 3 times.
AS to the narration: In 8 books you’d think Sean Patrick Hopkins would put a little emotion in his voice when he reads but there was none in any of the books. Everyone sounded sooo bored, no matter what is going on.
June 18, 2022
David Wolf finds himself in another precarious situation. When he and Baxter, another detective in the Sluice County Sherriff's office, find tracks leading to a car that went over the edge of a hill and into an icy river. That is just a side story of the adventure that lands Wolf next to a new woman in his life, Lauren, that has a history that is catching up with her. Wolf is having to defend his name while the same time flirting with the line on being too involved with Lauren on her dire needs to save her daughter. A kidnapped child, drug abused killers and then, David Wolf. Through the mystery of what Lauren is hiding in her past and trying to keep as few people as possible in the "know"; Wolf has to find a way to make everything right.
Great read as always and recommend the whole series thus far. This book was a bit off the beaten path , just like To The Bone, but it is still aligned with the plot of the Sluice County, the Sherriff's office, the politics, and all.
Great read as always and recommend the whole series thus far. This book was a bit off the beaten path , just like To The Bone, but it is still aligned with the plot of the Sluice County, the Sherriff's office, the politics, and all.
July 23, 2019
Solid series
Like many others in the David Wolf series, I finished this book in almost no time. After a somewhat slow start, the pace picked up considerably and did not let up. I enjoy these books despite the often repeated theme of cases being tied to Wolf personally and the ever-present office politics. Carson is an excellent writer and knows how to keep the story moving. I recommend this and all of the books in this series.
Like many others in the David Wolf series, I finished this book in almost no time. After a somewhat slow start, the pace picked up considerably and did not let up. I enjoy these books despite the often repeated theme of cases being tied to Wolf personally and the ever-present office politics. Carson is an excellent writer and knows how to keep the story moving. I recommend this and all of the books in this series.
December 25, 2017
The author didn’t set the characters in the book. You couldn’t get a feel for them, or get to know/like them . Settings weren’t easy to follow and his introduction to new characters was bad.
The story line was far fetched. Ok read, but there are other reads out there that you actually can’t wait to pick the book back up and read. This is NOT one of those.
The story line was far fetched. Ok read, but there are other reads out there that you actually can’t wait to pick the book back up and read. This is NOT one of those.
January 12, 2018
Wolf a detective, the main character sounds like an interesting guy. I find myself rooting for him regarding his job and personal life. Plus he has great co-workers that has his back. He meets a woman Lauren who is a nurse that he finds himself attracted to. He asks her out on a date and is to meet her and her daughter at her home.
When he gets to her house, no one is home but doors are unlocked, there are foot prints in the snow that tell him that Lauren and her daughter left earlier with someone, then he finds the body of a dead woman who isn’t Lauren. So Wolf calls 911 and begins his investigation to find out what has happened to Layren and her daughter Ella and why was the woman who they discover is the nanny.
Interesting Read. Would definitely recommend to my friends.
When he gets to her house, no one is home but doors are unlocked, there are foot prints in the snow that tell him that Lauren and her daughter left earlier with someone, then he finds the body of a dead woman who isn’t Lauren. So Wolf calls 911 and begins his investigation to find out what has happened to Layren and her daughter Ella and why was the woman who they discover is the nanny.
Interesting Read. Would definitely recommend to my friends.
September 6, 2021
More action in the small town, this time a kidnapping and tangled plot!
December 31, 2018
Action-packed, suspenseful yet believable. I'll be reading more in this series set in the Colorado Rockies (I love a mountain setting!).
February 19, 2016
I have enjoyed the David Wolf series, but this one wasn't as interesting as some of the others have been. Carson does have a smooth writing style with few grammar errors compared to other self-published books I've read on Kindle.
December 3, 2016
Another great Wolf book!
I have read Jeff Carson's books, all of them. Dire, his latest, is just as good as the others, with each character becomming more and more like my own friends
I have read Jeff Carson's books, all of them. Dire, his latest, is just as good as the others, with each character becomming more and more like my own friends
Want to read
November 27, 2017💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/27/2017)! 💝
July 21, 2022
Great
I love these characters and their backstories. Jeff Carson has become one of my favorite authors. After I finish a book, I can't wait to start the next in the series.
I love these characters and their backstories. Jeff Carson has become one of my favorite authors. After I finish a book, I can't wait to start the next in the series.
November 13, 2022
The depiction of women in Jeff Carson’s books as either Madonnas or whores is getting old. Not only is it extremely outdated, but it’s boring. The slut-shaming has me disappointed in the trajectory of this series. The depth of his female characters is shallow.
For example, some quotes that capture this include:
Page 25-26: « He should have never agreed to that drink with her two months ago, and he definitely shouldn’t have drunk as much as he had, which ended with him between the sheets with her. That next morning, waking up in her over-soft bed, watching her study him with a triumphant smile while she slipped on her pantsuit, Wolf had never felt so ashamed of himself. Sure, he’s gotten laid, but at what cost? The woman was the town bicycle and she seemed proud of it, courting men in public like it was part of her job description. »
Page 108: « Inside, he leaned back and laughed at a joke the blonde told him. The bimbo looked proud and pressed her tits into his arm. »
Page 131: « She relived those final moments in the board meeting when she’d quit. That group of chauvinist assholes couldn’t have looked happier if she’d stripped naked and danced on the table for them. »
The town bicycle? Trying to demonstrate a group of males’ contentment by using an analogy of a woman stripping for them? How old is the author?
These overly simplistic depictions of women come off as juvenile.
For example, some quotes that capture this include:
Page 25-26: « He should have never agreed to that drink with her two months ago, and he definitely shouldn’t have drunk as much as he had, which ended with him between the sheets with her. That next morning, waking up in her over-soft bed, watching her study him with a triumphant smile while she slipped on her pantsuit, Wolf had never felt so ashamed of himself. Sure, he’s gotten laid, but at what cost? The woman was the town bicycle and she seemed proud of it, courting men in public like it was part of her job description. »
Page 108: « Inside, he leaned back and laughed at a joke the blonde told him. The bimbo looked proud and pressed her tits into his arm. »
Page 131: « She relived those final moments in the board meeting when she’d quit. That group of chauvinist assholes couldn’t have looked happier if she’d stripped naked and danced on the table for them. »
The town bicycle? Trying to demonstrate a group of males’ contentment by using an analogy of a woman stripping for them? How old is the author?
These overly simplistic depictions of women come off as juvenile.
January 26, 2023
Checks ALL the Boxes
Jeff Carson knows how to write action/thriller stories. He also knows how to create a hero, which he proves again with another great David Wolf adventure. Wolf is one of those characters that's easy to identify with. He's smart, strong, moral, and imperfect. He's constantly going above and beyond because it's simply what he believes: he'll do whatever it takes to keep people safe and bring the bad guys to justice. Simple and sweet.
While Wolf's goals are easily defined, he, as a man, is not. He's more complex than people realize. Actually, he's probably more complex than he would admit. I have a feeling he would consider himself a simple man. But his actions toward his family, colleagues, friends, and lawbreakers suggest differently.
This story introduces us to a new character and possible love interest for Wolf. She's a nurse, and definitely his type... including all the skeletons she's hiding in her closet. This woman has as much baggage, as many demons, as Wolf himself. Sounds like a match to me. But fans know how his love life works. Someone catches his eye, and that's when the bullets start to fly. I would suggest he give celibacy a try, but what would be the fun in that? This way we, the readers, get all the adventure, deceit, politics, and bittersweet romance. No question why this series is so popular.
Jeff Carson knows how to write action/thriller stories. He also knows how to create a hero, which he proves again with another great David Wolf adventure. Wolf is one of those characters that's easy to identify with. He's smart, strong, moral, and imperfect. He's constantly going above and beyond because it's simply what he believes: he'll do whatever it takes to keep people safe and bring the bad guys to justice. Simple and sweet.
While Wolf's goals are easily defined, he, as a man, is not. He's more complex than people realize. Actually, he's probably more complex than he would admit. I have a feeling he would consider himself a simple man. But his actions toward his family, colleagues, friends, and lawbreakers suggest differently.
This story introduces us to a new character and possible love interest for Wolf. She's a nurse, and definitely his type... including all the skeletons she's hiding in her closet. This woman has as much baggage, as many demons, as Wolf himself. Sounds like a match to me. But fans know how his love life works. Someone catches his eye, and that's when the bullets start to fly. I would suggest he give celibacy a try, but what would be the fun in that? This way we, the readers, get all the adventure, deceit, politics, and bittersweet romance. No question why this series is so popular.
October 27, 2019
How Author Jeff Carson can keep up the pace of producing books after books that are extraordinarily, creative to the point of being unique, and entertaining in this Mystery Thriller Series fascinates me! Main character, and I confess, now my “book hero”, David Wolf, just keeps capturing my heart, just as he does in Book #8 in the David Wolf Mystery Thriller Series. David’s selfless nature to protect and serve is portrayed so well with Author Jeff Carsons wonderful ability to write great fiction. His mastery over words sends readers on journeys David Wolf takes, albeit vicariously for the reader, time after time. Always a compelling read when Author Jeff Carson puts pen to paper to gift the reader with yet another thrilling, and satisfying read in this series. I do not wish to ever miss another of Author Jeff Carsons books in this series, or any book he pens his name to. Dire = more than just a wonderful read. Don’t miss this one, or any of the others, in Jeff Carson’s Mystery Thriller Series. NO disappointments, only satiated reading desires....always.
February 8, 2025
Dire was number eight in the David Wolf series, and I read the previous seven. This may have been my favorite of the first eight. In this installment Jeff Carson introduces a new love interest for David Wolf, and, Lauren, becomes central to the plot. Wolf injures his ankle while rescuing an overturned car in the river near the town of Rocky Point, and Lauren is his nurse, when he visits the hospital for X-rays. There is an instant attraction, but before Wolf can open his advances, Lauren's daughter gets kidnapped. The rest, as they say, can only be revealed by reading the book. The same cast of characters from the police force returns. There is Patterson, Rachette, Hernandez, Munford, Barker and MacLean. As usual. Wolf endures conflict with MacLean, as MacLean continues to play the political game, while Wolf is a purist and only wants to protect citizens and pursue criminals. Patterson is quite pregnant, but she works up until the bitter end. I loved this book, and hopefully we will see more of Lauren in upcoming novels from the David Wolf series.
April 28, 2022
okay, I got hooked after book one. for me its like a television series which I follow, like Law and Order, CSI, Blue Bloods, and a few others. You get hooked on the characters and want to know more. I know this is fiction but I love "justice" and this (these) books deliver. Can't imagine why some reviews are negative. We read to escape, don't need and get an educational award from reading. Its fiction ( unless you are reading non fiction biographies and so on) People, its a good book if you like detective, police stories. I jump to the next book as soon as I finish the current one I am reading. Like Wold, Rachette, Patterson and enjoy the suspense which is in every book so far. Yea, sure, he gets beat up pretty much and is still walking. He is the "road runner", my man Wolf.
Ease up negatives, its a story! and if you can write it better, go ahead, I might read it too.
Thanks Mr. Carson, keep on writing.
Ease up negatives, its a story! and if you can write it better, go ahead, I might read it too.
Thanks Mr. Carson, keep on writing.
July 30, 2018
David Wolf, Chief Detective out of the Rocky Points, CO sheriff's office is on his way back from a seminar when he spots an SUV overturned below the snowy road partially submerged in the river below. That's only the start of his problems. While being treated for injuries he endures in saving the driver, he meets a nurse in the hospital. And, that will lead to many more problems.
The nurse and her daughter are missing when Wolf goes to her house for a lunch-time date. He finds the conditions troubling at the house, then finds the nanny murdered in the woods beyond the house. The pursuit and hunting begin amid the turmoil of office politics and conflict, not to mention his most dependable deputy is 8 months pregnant.
All this must be solved in the midst of a snow storm only the mountains can create. A good read.
The nurse and her daughter are missing when Wolf goes to her house for a lunch-time date. He finds the conditions troubling at the house, then finds the nanny murdered in the woods beyond the house. The pursuit and hunting begin amid the turmoil of office politics and conflict, not to mention his most dependable deputy is 8 months pregnant.
All this must be solved in the midst of a snow storm only the mountains can create. A good read.
December 1, 2017
Snow Covered Mysteries in Colorado
David Wolf has his hands full fighting small town politics. He is placed with a lowdown partner who plays on the other side and will lie to make himself look better and Wolf look bad. The race isn’t for two years and the heat is on. Also, a first date turns out to be a major case when the females daughter is kidnapped and held for ransom. The whole department is trying to get her and her family back safely in the midst of snow storms and babies being born early. This David Wolf Novel is action packed and will keep you guessing the whole time around the twists and turns. I always wish that they lasted longer but than again there is always the next one. They always make me want to go to Colorado and play in the snow!
David Wolf has his hands full fighting small town politics. He is placed with a lowdown partner who plays on the other side and will lie to make himself look better and Wolf look bad. The race isn’t for two years and the heat is on. Also, a first date turns out to be a major case when the females daughter is kidnapped and held for ransom. The whole department is trying to get her and her family back safely in the midst of snow storms and babies being born early. This David Wolf Novel is action packed and will keep you guessing the whole time around the twists and turns. I always wish that they lasted longer but than again there is always the next one. They always make me want to go to Colorado and play in the snow!
August 3, 2018
Decent Police Procedural With Super-Cop
Overall, a good police procedural—from a new-to-me author—that I read as a stand-alone. The plot was happily complex, but the protagonist is a super-cop who takes a beating but keeps on policing.
I liked several police officers who were good secondary characters, but I didn’t like the politicking sheriff and other politicians in the uninteresting side-side-story. Some characters needed more fleshing out, but I haven’t read any earlier books in this series.
When I read a police procedural, I don’t expect to read about sappy insta-love romance, especially with this specific detective protagonist.
Stars dinged for insta-romance and politicking sub-subplot.
Overall, a good police procedural—from a new-to-me author—that I read as a stand-alone. The plot was happily complex, but the protagonist is a super-cop who takes a beating but keeps on policing.
I liked several police officers who were good secondary characters, but I didn’t like the politicking sheriff and other politicians in the uninteresting side-side-story. Some characters needed more fleshing out, but I haven’t read any earlier books in this series.
When I read a police procedural, I don’t expect to read about sappy insta-love romance, especially with this specific detective protagonist.
Stars dinged for insta-romance and politicking sub-subplot.
July 23, 2019
This may have been my favorite installment in the David Wolf mystery series. Reading the blurb I wasn't even sure I wanted to read it.... murders, kidnapping, psycho villains, just seemed like too much (not to mention the ongoing political crap between the Sheriff's Department and County Council). But I read it in one day, unable to put it down!
Poor David. He gets way to many injuries in his job and seems to be in pain much of the time. I hope he gets healed up at long last otherwise he'll be out on disability and that would ruin the story.
David has a new love interest in this book that adds to the plot. I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
Poor David. He gets way to many injuries in his job and seems to be in pain much of the time. I hope he gets healed up at long last otherwise he'll be out on disability and that would ruin the story.
David has a new love interest in this book that adds to the plot. I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
January 18, 2020
Generally I like the the David Wolf series - but Lauren had stunning green eyes, instead of his ex wife's stunning blue eyes. He gets hurt but keeps going, oh the snow was bad as was the cell reception...again. The crime seemed a little complicated. The political goings on of the department is getting old (and Barker would get fired or reassigned to another city job not kept on the force) I like Tom R and Heather Patterson and like when they have bigger roles - Heather did great this book. I thought Tom's car died 2 books ago and anyone living in a 4 weather down deals with an unreliable car but I will keep reading
July 4, 2023
Another fun David Wolf story! In this one, Wolf's new girlfriend finds herself and her daughter being blackmailed and held for ransom. Wolf and his investigators must help her escape before the kidnappers kill her daughter and vanish into the Colorado mountains. Nice pace and a fun story. The only downside to this is that I felt like Carson wrote himself into a corner at the end of the book. Suddenly Wolf just knows how the whole scenario played out after a brainstorming session or something and he reveals the kidnappers evil plot and solves the crime. This could have been a 4 or 5 star book with a better ending, but it's not stopping me from tackling the next Wolf novel now!
April 14, 2019
A JC. Mystery Action Thriller (DWB. -8)/A River Rescue/Politics/A new Woman/To Many Secrets
JC. has. penned the eighth novel in the David Wolf series. This novel begins with DW. pulling a drowning man from a car that has run off the road. Once the man was saved and transported to the hospital then the politicians wanted to rub elbows with DW. At the hospital he meets a new woman, who is a nurse, and she become his new lady. After spending some time with her he realizes there are to many srcrets. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
JC. has. penned the eighth novel in the David Wolf series. This novel begins with DW. pulling a drowning man from a car that has run off the road. Once the man was saved and transported to the hospital then the politicians wanted to rub elbows with DW. At the hospital he meets a new woman, who is a nurse, and she become his new lady. After spending some time with her he realizes there are to many srcrets. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
July 9, 2018
Good read with one caveat
Once again Jeff has written a good David Wolf mystery. Ancillary characters remain true and believable. My one caveat is STOP making every woman he is interested in "the most perfect, beautiful creature". It is very unreal and makes the character sound shallow and slightly unlikable. Let's have some realism along with our fiction. You want the reader to become immersed in the story, not feel excluded.
Once again Jeff has written a good David Wolf mystery. Ancillary characters remain true and believable. My one caveat is STOP making every woman he is interested in "the most perfect, beautiful creature". It is very unreal and makes the character sound shallow and slightly unlikable. Let's have some realism along with our fiction. You want the reader to become immersed in the story, not feel excluded.
May 19, 2020
The plot is intriguing, as the plots have been throughout the series. The characters, however, are two-dimensional. Female characters are either beautiful and curvaceous or ugly, with missing teeth and greasy hair; male characters are usually manly men or wimpy drug addicts. I would find myself wondering how long it would be before a woman's breasts or butt was going to be admired by a male character. It definitely detracts from the story. I'm not sure if I'll continue on with the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews