At What Cost

Detective Penley #1

by James L'Etoile

What would you do to save your child?

Detective John Penley and his new partner, Detective Paula Newberry, of the Sacramento Police Department are tasked with leading the investigation into a local serial killer who has dumped three bodies in the past six weeks--and all of them are missing their internal organs. But while pursuing a lead, the detectives stumble upon a personal message the killer left behind for Penley. And it's attached to a human kidney.

How could the killer know Penley's son is on the kidney transplant waiting list? Now Penley's baited into an impossible trap that could jeopardize his entire career. Will the detective take down the killer and place his faith in the medical establishment to heal his son? Or, will he make a deal with the devil for the transplant organ his son needs to live?

At What Cost, James L'Etoile's engrossing new mystery, is a heart-stopping thrill ride that will keep readers guessing at every turn. Fans of Michael Connelly and Thomas Perry won't be able to put this down.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Book Club, Crime

298 pages, Hardcover

Published December 13, 2016

About the author

James L’Etoile uses his twenty-nine years behind bars as an influence in his novels, short stories, and screenplays. He is a former associate warden in a maximum-security prison, a hostage negotiator, facility captain, and director of California’s state parole system. He is a nationally recognized expert witness on prison and jail operations. He is a two-time Silver Falchion Award nominee and shortlisted for the Bill Crider Award for short fiction. His published novels include: Dead Drop( Lefty Award nominee), Black Label (Silver Falchion winner), At What Cost, Bury the Past, and Little River -The Other Side of Paradise. You can find out more at www.jamesletoile.com

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of At What Cost through the Giveaways on Goodreads. My thanks to Crooked Lane Publishing and to James L'Etoile for the opportunity.

Although my internal register rates this at 3.5, I'm kicking it up a notch to 4 stars.

As I carefully step through the number of corpses (and not all fully intact I might add), I am brought full and center into the dastardly brutal reality of detective work. Now, ladies and gentlemen, this stuff doesn't always happen within the pages of a book. But it's ringing the doorbell of real more than we know.

Sacramento Police Detective John Penley and his new partner, Detective Paula Newberry, have been presented with a case that will make you almost taste your lunch twice. Three bodies have been found during a six week period in which crucial internal organs are missing. An evil that is certainly missing quite a few brain cells is lurking out there. This evil seems to possess the skill of an off the wall, demented surgeon. And there may be a connection through some local gang members as well.

But this becomes personal for Detective Penley. His son, Tommy, has been on the kidney transplant list for some time. Ask any parent who experiences the agony of watching and waiting alongside their seriously ill child. Penley receives a note from this evil one. But is this a trap separating the operative nature of a detective against the passion of an obsessed parent? The mind can be a tricky thing......

James L'Etoile implements his background in criminal justice to the fore here. His characters are, indeed, believable and deeply flawed. It's the dialogue that pulled me in. It's raw and tinged with bitterness. L'Etoile swirls the words back and forth in the air between detective and criminal with an intentional edge. No sugar-coated, polished words. The characters and the storyline take quite the bite. Know this going in.

I'm looking forward to the next offering from L'Etoile. Perhaps a series involving Detective Penley may be on the horizon. This character certainly has a lot to offer......and L'Etoile absolutely does as well.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective John Pently and his partner Detective Paula Newberry are stationed in Sacramento Police Department. They are investigating a serial killer who has dumped 3 bodies in the past 6 weeks. They are all missing their internal organs. While pursuing a lead they discover a message left behind for Pently which was attached to a human kidney. Does the killer know Pently's son needs a kidney transplant? The race is on to find the killer.

Another fast paced action packed novel with a few twists along the way.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author James L'Etoile for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins when Detective John Penley is called to the riverside when a torso of a man is found. This is the third such discovery. But this time Penley recognizes a tattoo on the man's chest. Turns out he was a local gang member who has distanced himself from the gang and found a new way to make money since his daughter was diagnosed with cancer.

Penly and his partner Detective Paula Newberry, formerly from Internal Affairs, are soon following a trail the leads to black market organ sales. Not so coincidentally, Penley's nine-year-old son Tommy is on the waiting list for a kidney transplant which makes this case even more important for him to solve.

The action was fast-paced and furious in this story as Penley and Newberry follow the clues left by a criminal who seems to always be at least two steps ahead of them. Things get even more tense when the criminal kidnaps Penley's son.

This was a real page turner. I read it in one day because I just couldn't put it down until I knew how everything worked out. Block out some time for this one, you won't be able to put it down either.

[Coleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder mystery involving a serial killer and organ harvesting. Warning! Some of the images are gruesome, but overall Detective Penley and his sidekick detective Paula Newberry handle the cases without getting overemotional [translation- not throwing up over the corpses]. Some twists and turns in the book and some not totally unpredictable developments. The dialysis parts and the explanations of how transplant recipients are wait-listed were as interesting to me as the murder solving.

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Carl Vonderau · Rating 5 out of 5]

L'Etoile writes a very sympathetic protagonist. Detective John Penley is investigating a bizarre series of murders. The dumped bodies are missing their internal organs. But the killer may be able to help him. Penley's own son needs a kidney transplant. L'Etoile fashions some surprising plot twists around this terrific ethical dilemma.

[Elena Hartwell]

High stakes thriller, with a twist on the lone rogue homicide detective. L'Etoile gives protagonist John Penley a partner, Paula Newberry, a recent addition to the squad with baggage of her own. The clock is ticking when a serial killer gets a hold of Penley's son. How far will he go to save him? And is Paula going to help or hinder? Graphic violence, not for cozy readers. Don't miss my interview of James L'Etoile on Feb 4, 2018. www.elenahartwell.com/blog

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 3 out of 5]

a quick easy read. a detective in Sacramento and his partner become involved in a murder spree where organs are going missing. detective Penleys son is in desperate need of a kidney and it bcomes personal. thanks to Netgalley and crooked lane books for a copy of this book to read and review

[Yellagirlgc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serial killer harvesting organs. What would you do to save your child in need of a kidney transplant? Would you make a deal with the devil. Its a hard question to answer when the devil doesn't play fair or by the rules!

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From beginning to end, this is one fast paced, adrenaline rush. Wow!!

[Di Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up because it is set in Sacramento, my hometown.

Detectives John Penley and Paula Newberry hunt for a killer that is harvesting organs and manipulating the transplant database. I thought I would recognize some of the locals used in the book. That was an understatement. Most of the action takes place within about 3 miles of where I live. Gave it a little more of a creep factor. Good read. I am sure I will finish the series.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come! Excellent debut! 4 stars!

[Garrett Calcaterra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read thriller's or detective novels, but I'm glad I picked this one up. At What Cost is a fast paced, fun read, and I appreciated that it dispensed with the macho lead detective stereotype. There are certainly some echos of the tradition—with Detective Penley being tight-lipped about his work and emotions—but there's a much more personal layer to it.

That, of course, ties into the plot of Penley being a family man that's dealing with one of the worst nightmares that a parent can face: the sudden illness and potential death of a child. When this conflict intersects with one of Penley's ongoing cases, it becomes a personal and family crisis, and as a result, Penley is highly relatable as a lead character.

I also enjoyed the setting of the novel, mostly for personal reasons since I grew up near the Sacramento area, a region that's not commonly portrayed in novels.

[Helle Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I have to disclose that I won this book in a Good reads give away in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book and since it's a first book from this author, I am looking forward to all his books to come. The book is about what lengths and cost you would go to save your sick child. It is one of those books that once you start you can't put it down. I have only two minor details which is why I didn't rate it 5 stars. It is a tad unbelievable that between two detectives neither had ever heard of Christian Bernard especially the detective who is intimate with the world of transplants. The other thing I found unbelievable was that knee replacements are done in prison. Other than that and the fact that the detective's is such a small part of the book, I really liked and will absolutely read other books from this author.

[JMM · Rating 5 out of 5]

L’Etoile’s At What Cost offers tension, gritty reality, and a stay-up-late plot involving a serial killer, black-market organ sales, and a detective with a child in need of a kidney transplant. Its strong storyline keeps things lively (I was compelled to read it straight through), but what I liked best was that the characters, major and minor, are drawn so well. It’s the first in a series and I look forward to more!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

At What Cost is my fiftieth book read this year!! That’s incredible and unbelievable to think about! I can’t remember where I found this one but I’m sure it was at my local public library’s used bookstore, and I’m so happy I did!!

This was a fantastic police procedural story. A short description of the author, James L’etoile, is in the front of the book and it explains that he has twenty-nine years of experience in prisons and jails and has worked in a great number of criminal justice related fields. It's safe to say that he absolutely knew what he was doing with the telling of this story. It felt way more grounded and natural than some of the other mystery and police procedural novels I’ve read this year. Plus the two main characters are instantly likable to the point that you will be looking forward to the moments of dialogue between them!

This story opens with Detective John Penley standing over a torso that is found to be headless, limbless and missing its organs. It’s the third case of finding something like this in the past six weeks and the upper brass is worried about the big S word, serial killer. He and his partner, Detective Paula Newberry, continue to dive into the case. It’s a classic story that goes from one person who knew the victim to another. After making their way to a warehouse that may be being used by the killer John finds a message addressed to him, alluding to the fact that this maniac is aware that John’s son, Tommy, is on the organ transplant list and awaiting a new kidney.

At this point the two are beginning to think that organ harvesting is the driving force behind these murders. I remember the point in the book where things really started to pick up and that was page one hundred forty. From then on the writing really throws in some major loops and surprises! Though even before that point in the book I was thoroughly intrigued and wanted to keep reading. Not only to appreciate the banter and work relationship between the two main characters but to see what this story was going to be like as each new surprise and layer was revealed! Act two and three are absolutely fantastic and really makes you feel for the characters and you start to really feel their desperation.

For a debut novel, this is a tour de force and gets a well deserved five star rating from me! I read it in three days and on day two I managed to read over two hundred pages. Safe to say I was hooked! I see that there is a sequel titled Bury the Past! I’m very much so looking forward to seeing these two standout characters again!!

[Kevintipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

A serial killer is active in At What Cost: A Detective Penley Mystery by James L’Etoile. Not just your average run of the mill serial killer either as West Sacramento Police Detective John Penley and his partner, Detective Paula Newberry, have discovered. They already knew a killer was dumping bodies and those bodies were found missing organs. The latest victim, a well-known gang member going back many years, and a guy who did a lot of horrible stuff in his past regardless of what he was doing in the here and now, is missing his head and his limbs. His extremely distinctive tattoo on his chest made what is left of him easy to identify.

Evidence leads them to believe more and more that the killer is also a collector. They think he is collecting body parts from the kills. In a way, he is. In another way, he is a harvester. He, somehow, is aware of the needs of patients on the national transplant list. He is harvesting organs to fill those needs and others on the black market.

He soon makes it very clear that he knows Penley’s son is on the transplant list for a kidney and the need is critical. His disease progression is such that the window for his son to survive the surgery is closing a little each day. The killer makes it very clear that he can get a kidney for Penley’s son, but it is going to cost in many different ways.

What follows is a complex and often disturbingly intense police procedural. For those of us who have been through the transplant process, the read can be a bit much at times. While it is all fiction, one wonders just how strong are the safeguards to prevent what happens in the read.

At What Cost: A Detective Penley Mystery by James L’Etoile is the first book of this police procedural series. Published in 2016 by Crooked Lane Books, the read is just as powerful and relevant today.

Strongly Recommended.

My hardback reading copy came from the Central, or Downtown Branch, of the Dallas Public Library System. Book two of the series, Bury the Past, is on hold for me at the library.


Kevin R. Tipple ©2025

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In At What Cost by James L'Etoile, Detective John Penley's investigation of several gang members' murders turns personal when he and his family are seemingly targeted by the killer.

Penley and his partner Detective Paula Newberry have not made much progress in their investigation of several recent murders of known gang members. With each of the deceased belonging to different gangs, they cannot help but speculate that the deaths might be retaliation but this line of inquiry soon leads to a dead end. A series of startling discoveries connected to the most recent murder leads Penley and Newberry to believe the killer is harvesting the victims' organs. Unfortunately, Penley has intimate knowledge of the donation process since his nine year old son Tommy is waiting for a kidney transplant. Despite assurances there is no way anyone could be access the donor list, Penley and Newberry soon learn the killer is manipulating the donor list. Will they capture the murderer before it is too late?

John Penley tries to keep his professional and personal lives separate, but maintaining his objectively on his current case is virtually impossible. Using his insider's knowledge of the donation process proves invaluable but there are limitations to what information can be obtained without jeopardizing patient confidentiality. Quickly realizing that Tommy might be at risk, John is faced with a moral dilemma that could help him flush out the killer but will doing so put his son in danger?

Newly transferred to homicide, Paula is not exactly welcomed by her co-workers due to her previous assignment. She and John work well together but when their current case heats up, John's trust in his partner is soon put to the test. Despite John's anger over a perceived betrayal, Paula is undeterred as she continues trying to track down a killer who always seems to be two steps ahead of them during their investigation.

At What Cost by James L'Etoile is a fast-paced police procedural with a refreshingly unique storyline. There is plenty of suspense as Penley and Newberry try to make sense of the murders. Once the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, their investigation takes on new urgency once they realize John and his family are in danger. With unexpected plot twists, a twisted motive for the murders and a seemingly demented killer, the novel races to a pulse-pounding conclusion. An absolutely chilling first installment in the John Penley Mystery series that fans of the genre absolutely do not want to miss.

[Lynn Ph.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pick this up at the library because I was out of books to read and we were going into another dirty hot air and I did not feel like reading books on my phone - I wanted one to hold in my hand. The reason I picked this one is because I had this absolutely funny memory of when my son was younger and we were at our local library in DC and he grabbed a book with an image of blood all over the cover and he said "here mommy, one of your kind of books."

Correct I enjoyed that book. So when I saw the bloody handprint on this book I just left I said to the friend I was with I have to take this one and repeated the story about my son and just like the book my son picked out for me this one was really good. It's a new author not somebody on my list of people life read because this I think is his first block and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the book and how well written it was. Well except for the first Heart. For some reason I have trouble getting into the book but once I really got into it I read it nonstop it's that kind of good.
Heart. For some reason, I had trouble getting into the book but once I really got into it I read it nonstop - it's that kind of good.

For some reason I have trouble getting into the book but once I really got into it - I read it nonstop it's that kind of good.

[Sheila Sobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful debut by author James L'Etoile. At first glance Sacramento Detective John Penley and his new partner, Paula Newberry, appear to be complete opposites, he's organized, she's messy, he's married, she's single, he's a respected detective, she's former IA. But with no time to get to know each other, they find common ground in their hunt for a local serial killer, one who has a penchant for removing organs before dumping the bodies. With three bodies in six weeks, the clock is ticking. The clock is also ticking on Detective Penley's son, who is desperately in need of a kidney. The killer ups the ante considerably when he leaves a note for Detective Penley attached to a human kidney. With well-developed characters, heart-pounding pacing and an intense keep-you-awake plot, you will be more than ready to read James L'Etoile's follow-up novel, "Bury the Past."

[SB Senpai Manga · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a debut writer in crime fiction, this is a surprisingly well written book and the start of a new series. It moves at am extremely quick pace with plenty of great deductive action. John&Paula make a pretty good team and I love how they don't play the stereotypical detective and give him difficult choices all throughout this case. Not to mention, I know exactly where each location in this book takes place; it helps to be from the city and adds to the realism.

[Ursula S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I started reading this series backwards. Book #2 was engaging and had more Sacramento scenery in it, plus lots of information the author had expertise in. This one -- a little odd and somewhat disconcerting. Sometimes I didn't feel as upset about certain things as perhaps I should have.

However, I did keep going and if there's a book #3 in this series, I'm in. I'd love to see more of the California prison scene in future books, as this author has special expertise.

[Sue Hieber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has everything it ghoulish, gritty, and positively gory. Terrific look into the tfrue way a case unravels through hard work, dedication And the intelligence of the detectives if you like a good cop novel this is your book! I won this book free from good reads giveaways thanks good reads!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this from NetGalley. It's a serial murderer/detective novel in which black market organ harvesting plays a central role, so it's kind of a grim one. And the lead detective, of course, has a son who is in need of a kidney transplant. I thought it was decent overall, not terrific. It looks like it may be the first of a series, and I would give the series a second shot. -

[Erika Mailman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping and enveloping. Excellent, realistic police detective dialogue and a plot that draws you in until you're turning pages at 2 a.m. because you just have to make sure everything turns out okay for Tommy. The main character is engaging and funny, and I loved the partner Paula. Can't wait to read more in this series.

[Amanda Languirand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good, especially for a first novel. I felt the reasoning as to why this person was murdering people was rushed at the end, almost like an after thought of ‘oh yes, I should finish connecting all of the dots.’ Otherwise I really liked it, good plot, enough suspense without being over done. I would definitely read the next book in the series.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting more from this, based upon the fact it is a police procedural set in Sacramento. Despite the references to Raley Field (go RiverCats!) it could have been set anywhere.

I never connected with the characters, although there were many thrilling moments.

Very graphic and violent.

I borrowed a copy from the public library.

[Bette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart wrenching story!

Hard to put this book down as the reader follows the life and death story of a young boy, his family, and dedicated cops, wrestling with evil, soulless criminals.

[Jan Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a great moral dilemma at the heart of this novel; Detective Penley is a character you can relate to immediately; and the author knows his police procedures. I felt it was a fair mystery for an author's first book.

[Bruce Raterink · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent police procedural with great characters and some unexpected twists. The only thing that kept this from being five stars is that the bad guys were a little over the top and not fully believable. I'll definitely be reading more of James L'Etoile's books. Strongly recommended.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway.

I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend to anyone who likes a good thriller.