Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Martin Rhodes #2

Cross Your Heart

Rate this book
Martin Rhodes is a former police detective who spent years in prison for murder. He is flawed but honorable. He always gets his man...

Someone is luring married men to motel rooms where they are executed for their infidelity.

Former Detective Martin Rhodes spent ten years in prison for murder. After his last assignment he is introduced to a man who wants Rhodes to find his only son. To complicate matters, the man's son died in a horrific car crash many years ago. Meanwhile, Special Agent Jo Pullinger is pulled into a case where married men are found with a bullet in their head.

Bodies pile up and secrets are revealed as Rhodes and Jo end up on a collision course with a cold-blood killer.

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2016

974 people are currently reading
105 people want to read

About the author

Thomas Fincham

77 books152 followers
pen name for Mobashar Qureshi

THOMAS FINCHAM holds a graduate degree in Economics. His travels throughout the world have given him an appreciation for other cultures and beliefs. He has lived in Africa, Asia, and North America. An avid reader of mysteries and thrillers, he decided to give writing a try. Several novels later, he can honestly say he has found his calling. He is married with two kids, and he lives in a hundred-year-old house. He is the author of LEE CALLAWAY series, the HYDER ALI series, the MARTIN RHODES series, and the ECHO ROSE series.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
653 (58%)
4 stars
309 (27%)
3 stars
118 (10%)
2 stars
27 (2%)
1 star
13 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Sean Peters  (A Good Thriller).
824 reviews116 followers
July 12, 2018
It is great to find a new author, well for me.

After reading the first Martin Rhodes book Close Your Eyes, I knew I had to start number two in the series as the story continues, but are also great thrillers on there own right.

Someone is luring married men to motel rooms where they are executed for their infidelity. Former Detective Martin Rhodes spent ten years in prison for murder. After his last assignment he is introduced to a man who wants Rhodes to find his only son. To complicate matters, the man’s son died in a horrific car crash many years ago. Meanwhile, Special Agent Jo Pullinger is pulled into a case where married men are found with a bullet in their head. Bodies pile up and secrets are revealed as Rhodes and Jo end up on a collision course with a cold-blood killer.

This second book in the series is even stronger than the first, as we have more suspense, more loose ends, more shocks, more questions, more guessing, but also some great comic moments with Jo and her FBI Team.

Some great characters with Martin Rhodes dad Sully, a Police Detective , romance elements, and great strength in the story.

Just could not put this book down, number three starting today. First time in a long time where I have read three books in a series, one after the other.

Clear five stars for such great gripping story, fast paces, different and strong characters, full of tension and suspense. Good story telling
1,116 reviews23 followers
July 12, 2018
This series is so good and I'm only on the second book. Hated to put it down. My only complaint is that it ended with a cliffhanger. Martin Rhodes, former detective, spent ten years in prison for killing a man in cold blood. The man had molested a young boy, was a pedophile, and the justice system let him walk so Martin delivered his own brand of justice. Now that he's out of prison, he's settled in the town of Bridgeton and is looking for work. The problem is no one wants to hire an ex-con and those who do aren't the kind of people Rhodes wants to work for. Strangely enough, someone hires him for his investigative skills and is willing to pay quite handsomely for Rhodes to use those skills to find the client's missing son. All indications are the son is dead, having died in an accident, his body burned beyond recognition. DNA tests confirmed the young man's identity. In spite of that, the father has his doubts and hires Rhodes.

In the meantime, FBI agent Jo Pullinger is still looking for the Train Killer and once again her path is destined to cross Rhodes's. Excellent storytelling with a plot that grabs and keeps your attention all the way through. I like the addition of Rhodes's father, Sully, providing more background on Martin's past and the strained relationship between the two men. Tess, the teenage neighbor of Martin's also adds color and flavor to the story. While young, Tess is smart beyond her years and she loves spending time with Martin as he is a father figure to her. She gets to help with his investigation which gives her something to do and keeps her out of trouble. Tess's mom is an alcoholic and totally neglectful of her daughter most of the time.

This story is fast paced and doesn't drag at all like some stories seem to do in places. It kept me enthralled throughout trying to figure out what was happening. Again, the characters were the driving force that kept me turning pages. Martin is someone I'd like to get to know if he actually existed. Even though he made a mistake, he did his time and is now trying to get his life back together. While he isn't actively looking for cases to solve, he admits he misses being a detective and utilizing his skills. Strange how the cases keep finding him. Hmmmm. . . Wonder what's next?
Profile Image for Sonya Fuller-Campbell.
94 reviews4 followers
August 1, 2017
And Hope Not To Die......

EXCELLENT! Absolutely as great as the first book, perhaps more so. Rhodes is one of the coolest male characters I have read about in a while and he's not even trying to be. He is solving cases without even the benefit of a weapon!! How awesome is this? I want to strangle Sully, his father, most of the time, but the more Rhodes reveals about him the more likely I am to give him the benefit of the doubt. I am absolutely certain I want Rhodes to end up with Jo!! They are a romance looking for a place to happen if she can just stay alive long enough for a heart transplant and admit she needs it! This read was just as smooth but exciting as the first and I am prepared to purchase the 3rd installment!! I'm not tired yet and there are still too many loose ends that need tied up. I recommend you join me or you might just get behind!!




Profile Image for Patiscynical.
287 reviews4 followers
November 10, 2018
Interesting, but..

This is an interesting story, but there are several editing/spelling/grammar errors that were annoying. And if you've ever read The Count of Monte Cristo then you kinda know what's happening.
Martin Rhodes is an ex-detective who spent ten years in prison after killing a child murderer. He has a deadbeat dad that is always getting him into trouble, and as he is unable to get a private investigator license, he is working as a consultant.
He helped Jo, an FBI agent who is also a main character, and their cases often overlap.
Results: although I did enjoy this, there are the editing problems, and the plot that makes it too obvious about what's happening. So it's kind of up to personal preference as to whether you'll want to read this or not. I'd give this a PG rating. You wouldn't be embarrassed by reading it aloud to teenagers or grandmothers.
Profile Image for Meghan.
3,388 reviews7 followers
October 23, 2024
Twisty connections

Martin finds himself consulting on what seems like an odd job to determine if someone’s child is dead or not. Jo is working on another serial case but is worried it is connected to the previous one. Slowly the clues come out to see them the two cases are connected. The story takes breaks to delve into family and romantic relationships as well. Jo had me worried in this book for her emotional and physical health. Martin is a teddy bear when it comes to family or the youth, especially Tess. Another easy and fun read!
783 reviews10 followers
February 12, 2018
Easy read

This was a pretty good ...It keeps you guessing and turning pages. There are many, many characters in the book and a carry over from the previous book but it doesn't take long to figure them all out. Some you like and some you hope are written out soon. I usually don't like loose ends, unanswered questions and a cliff hangar but I will get the next one.
19 reviews
October 15, 2018
Great story but needs better proofreading

I love this main character, Martin Rhodes. The story held my interest to the very end ..... in fact, I'm starting g the next one in this series in moments. My only complaint is with the editing. I guess no one proofreads for spelling, grammar, or punctuation any longer.
1,992 reviews23 followers
June 13, 2019
T. Fincham never fails

So intrigued with this series. Really glad I have come late to Ex-detective Rhodes journey. Why? Because I don't have to wait for the next installment to come out. These are standalone stories but it does help if you read them in order. Hopefully the conclusion and results are a giant l!is for Rhodes.
Profile Image for Bradley L. Stout.
104 reviews
July 14, 2017
Entertaining

Entertaining read, if you can get past the numerous errors and omissions. Don't publishers and writers proof read before they publish? I hope book #3 is easier than the first two.
1,507 reviews7 followers
January 10, 2018
Cross Your Heart

I am really enjoying this series. This is the second book in this series. I am really loving Thomas Fincham 's series . They are well written and really keep you in suspense until the end of the book. I recommend this book.
332 reviews1 follower
May 16, 2019
A Fascinating Mystery

The characters in this book are very likeable and the many plot twists and turns will keep you guessing. Mr. Fincham is an excellent author and his books are well worth reading.
665 reviews6 followers
May 28, 2019
Great detective

Martin Rhodes is good . He is hired to find out if Mathias Lotta is really dead . Jo of the FBI is now looking into a series of motel murders. Still a cliff hanger , but good . Much better editing .
285 reviews2 followers
July 11, 2019
This is a very good story!

This was really a good story with the twist and turns of the characters I was not able to figure out the person until close to the end. I cannot wait to see what next happens.
79 reviews1 follower
May 27, 2022
Another great read!

As in the other book Jo and Rhodes were very believable and the story twists kept you attention. Although I’m sorry I didn’t know this was a series that was not stand alone, you keep having to buy the next one to get a vital answer. Bait & Hook 😡
Profile Image for Mary Rowe.
2,623 reviews8 followers
July 19, 2022
whoa! thought maybe this book would tell us who the Bridgeton killer was

but no. At least one mystery is solved, although at an irreplaceable loss, without any sort of resolution between Martin and his father, either.
184 reviews
March 22, 2023
The this author.

His books keep you entwined from beginning to end. Each one has nail-biting twists and roller-coaster stomach churning bumps and keeps you yelling for more. Great characters and storylines.
Profile Image for gwen graves.
1,227 reviews3 followers
March 24, 2025
A really Intesting story

I like Thomas Fincham's

stories because they always have a twist and this one was no exception. Although there about two thirds of the way thru I began to except who the killer was, but wasn't certain. I was right! I guess I read to many mysteries.
Profile Image for corey cox.
2 reviews
March 2, 2018
Good but

It repeated a lot from the first book
That we already knew about
But still good
Thanks you OK hi
82 reviews
March 22, 2018
Excellent book

Well written crime mystery that keeps you guessing. I would recommend this book to my friends and family. Excited to be starting the third book.
4 reviews
May 9, 2018
Quick read, doesn't take itself too seriously! I enjoy his work>
289 reviews9 followers
January 1, 2019
Cross Your Heart

I just love this series. The character's are believable in the book world. This story is easy to follow and holds my interest. On to the next😊
4 reviews
January 11, 2019
Great read

I started read this series because it was free, I continued to read because it held my interest. Now I'm starting on book three, can't wait to see what happens next.
Profile Image for Margaret Pollard.
20 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2020
Brilliant

Another brilliant book by this author. Thoroughly recommend it.


Another brilliant book by this author. Thoroughly recommend it. I found it unputdownable



Profile Image for Jean.
1,437 reviews8 followers
June 2, 2020
Really enjoyed this finished in one day
621 reviews4 followers
September 6, 2020
Great plot!

Plenty of twists and turns of suspense that keeps the pages turning. Will look forward to the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Tammi.
52 reviews
April 6, 2022
Page turner

This was a quick read. Has some twists you don't expect. I liked how first and second books tie together
471 reviews1 follower
March 2, 2024
More to come

There's quite a bit of setup before the end. Fincham weaves together plot lines with surprises. Of course, not everything is tied together.
Profile Image for Sharon Bell tabbert.
564 reviews6 followers
October 12, 2024
This story is very good. Thomas Fincham knows how to wtite. I love the characters. On to number 3
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.