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Detective Byron #1
Among The Shadows
Fall in Portland, Maine usually arrives as a welcome respite from summer’s sweltering temperatures and, with the tourists gone, a return to normal life—usually. But when a retired cop is murdered, things heat up quickly, setting the city on edge.
Detective Sergeant John Byron, a second-generation cop, is tasked with investigating the case—at the very moment his life is unraveling. On the outs with his department’s upper echelon, separated from his wife, and feeling the strong pull of the bottle, Byron remains all business as he tries to solve the murder of one of their own. And when another ex-Portland PD officer dies under suspicious circumstances, he quickly realizes there’s much more to these cases than meets the eye. The closer Byron gets to the truth, the greater the danger for him and his fellow detectives.
This taut, atmospheric thriller will appeal to fans of Michael Connelly and John Sandford.
Detective Sergeant John Byron, a second-generation cop, is tasked with investigating the case—at the very moment his life is unraveling. On the outs with his department’s upper echelon, separated from his wife, and feeling the strong pull of the bottle, Byron remains all business as he tries to solve the murder of one of their own. And when another ex-Portland PD officer dies under suspicious circumstances, he quickly realizes there’s much more to these cases than meets the eye. The closer Byron gets to the truth, the greater the danger for him and his fellow detectives.
This taut, atmospheric thriller will appeal to fans of Michael Connelly and John Sandford.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2016
620 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Robert Coffin
22 books261 followersBruce Robert Coffin is the award-winning author of the Detective Byron Mysteries. A former detective sergeant, he supervised all homicide and violent crime investigations for Maine's largest city. Following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, Bruce spent 4 years investigating counter-terrorism cases for the FBI, earning the Director's Award, the highest award a non-agent can receive.
His short fiction appears in a number of anthologies, including Best American Mystery Stories 2016.
www.brucerobertcoffin.com
His short fiction appears in a number of anthologies, including Best American Mystery Stories 2016.
www.brucerobertcoffin.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
February 17, 2020
This police-procedural mystery earned 5 shiny badges from me!
My “tease” for AMONG THE SHADOWS…
Distinguishing friend from foe is challenging “among the shadows,” especially when those at greatest risk from a cop-killer already share a tragic history.
That’s the struggle Detective Sergeant John Bryon of the Portland (Maine) Police Department finds himself in.
Someone is murdering former members of the department’s elite 1980’s Special Reaction Team—the team responsible for a botched arrest-attempt that left one police detective dead, three of the four bad-guys killed, the fourth robber on the loose, and the stolen 1.4 million never to be found.
A teenager at the time, Byron suffered the cost of the infamous blunder first-hand. His father was one of the SRT detectives involved in the arrest attempt and he committed suicide shortly after the debacle.
Now, when ex-SRT members start dying, the 30-year-old cold case heats up to a boiling point, with Bryon as the lead detective. And the more he starts to stir the pot, the more obscure the shadows get.
Does the killer have a connection to the cold case? And is the threat from the inside or out? Will Byron shed light on the case before more detectives die?
Thoughts…
This story immersed me in the world of investigative police work, and I loved it! I wanted to solve the case as much as Detective Sergeant Bryon did. A gripping read, I didn’t want to put the book down :)
There is an authenticity to the dialogue that I really appreciated. Description was also excellent. Here’s an example:
LOVED this book! I highly recommend AMONG THE SHADOWS!
My “tease” for AMONG THE SHADOWS…
Distinguishing friend from foe is challenging “among the shadows,” especially when those at greatest risk from a cop-killer already share a tragic history.
That’s the struggle Detective Sergeant John Bryon of the Portland (Maine) Police Department finds himself in.
Someone is murdering former members of the department’s elite 1980’s Special Reaction Team—the team responsible for a botched arrest-attempt that left one police detective dead, three of the four bad-guys killed, the fourth robber on the loose, and the stolen 1.4 million never to be found.
A teenager at the time, Byron suffered the cost of the infamous blunder first-hand. His father was one of the SRT detectives involved in the arrest attempt and he committed suicide shortly after the debacle.
Now, when ex-SRT members start dying, the 30-year-old cold case heats up to a boiling point, with Bryon as the lead detective. And the more he starts to stir the pot, the more obscure the shadows get.
Does the killer have a connection to the cold case? And is the threat from the inside or out? Will Byron shed light on the case before more detectives die?
Thoughts…
This story immersed me in the world of investigative police work, and I loved it! I wanted to solve the case as much as Detective Sergeant Bryon did. A gripping read, I didn’t want to put the book down :)
There is an authenticity to the dialogue that I really appreciated. Description was also excellent. Here’s an example:
“The black livery-service hearse was parked in the driveway, its rear door open like something waiting to be fed.”Byron’s character was someone I rooted for throughout the book. My heart ached for him as he relived the death/suicide of his father. This and his commitment to justice—at all costs—connected me to him.
LOVED this book! I highly recommend AMONG THE SHADOWS!
March 21, 2019
Another mini-review as I attempt to help my kindle lose weight in time for bikini season....
Well, well, well....a hidden gem that was lurking in the depths. Being such a fan of police procedurals, I'm embarrassed to admit this is the first time I've read this author. Clearly need to crawl out from under my rock more often because this guy knows how to tell a story.
Set in Portland, Maine, we follow Detective John Byron as & his team as they face their worst nightmare...the murder of a cop. The investigation is soon compounded by further deaths that seem to link to an infamous bank robbery that took place 30 years ago. Oddly, no one involved seems particularly keen to talk. For John, the case becomes personal when he discovers ties to his long deceased father.
In a nutshell it's a smart, pacy read with well placed twists that will have you questioning what you thought you knew. The cast is colourful & diverse with strong characterizations that ensure you become invested in their fates.
My only complaint is that I had to have book #2 & picked it up right after I finished *sigh* My kindle may have to settle for wearing a one-piece.
Well, well, well....a hidden gem that was lurking in the depths. Being such a fan of police procedurals, I'm embarrassed to admit this is the first time I've read this author. Clearly need to crawl out from under my rock more often because this guy knows how to tell a story.
Set in Portland, Maine, we follow Detective John Byron as & his team as they face their worst nightmare...the murder of a cop. The investigation is soon compounded by further deaths that seem to link to an infamous bank robbery that took place 30 years ago. Oddly, no one involved seems particularly keen to talk. For John, the case becomes personal when he discovers ties to his long deceased father.
In a nutshell it's a smart, pacy read with well placed twists that will have you questioning what you thought you knew. The cast is colourful & diverse with strong characterizations that ensure you become invested in their fates.
My only complaint is that I had to have book #2 & picked it up right after I finished *sigh* My kindle may have to settle for wearing a one-piece.
September 15, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this police thriller. I can tell Coffin knows police procedure, the politics of police departments, and the character of detectives. The plot, character action and dialog have that sense of authenticity from the very beginning. He starts out the novel with a murder that draws us into the plot right away. And the action continues, practically nonstop. Coffin does a great job with the interactions and dialog among the policemen (and women).
My favorite part of the novel was Byron. He's a great flawed character. On the positive side, he is relentless in investigating a murder, no matter who in the department he irritates. On the negative side, he is fighting his addiction to alcohol and suffering through the loss of his marriage.
I really liked how the plot was developed. The murders of the ex-cops have their origin in a police event from years ago. Byron unravels the truth bit by bit as he pursues the facts of the case. He has a personal interest in the case since his father, also a policeman, committed suicide shortly after that police procedure years ago.
I recommend this novel to those who like an authentic police procedure novel full of suspense. I think readers of John Sandford and Michael Connelly would enjoy this book. It is a page turner that kept me reading way too late at night.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime book Tours for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
My favorite part of the novel was Byron. He's a great flawed character. On the positive side, he is relentless in investigating a murder, no matter who in the department he irritates. On the negative side, he is fighting his addiction to alcohol and suffering through the loss of his marriage.
I really liked how the plot was developed. The murders of the ex-cops have their origin in a police event from years ago. Byron unravels the truth bit by bit as he pursues the facts of the case. He has a personal interest in the case since his father, also a policeman, committed suicide shortly after that police procedure years ago.
I recommend this novel to those who like an authentic police procedure novel full of suspense. I think readers of John Sandford and Michael Connelly would enjoy this book. It is a page turner that kept me reading way too late at night.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime book Tours for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
July 11, 2018
Detective John Byron of the Portland Police in Maine became everything he promised himself he wouldn’t become when he grew up. He has a fondness for Bushmills, often he’s in a bad mood, and a divorce to add to the stripes on his sleeve. Still, John is a decent guy, means well, and he’s good at his job. Very good. Called to the scene of a deceased cop nobody liked, a man with cancer, John’s one clue that not all is right is a feather. This is a procedural of the first caliber, and if you’re looking for a slice of crime and corruption New England style then ride shotgun with John Byron. There’s action, a good pace, and clear writing that doesn’t take the easy way out in a traveled genre. Tight dialogue, the way Byron wheedles information out of suspects and fellow officers is a masterclass in technique for others. Fans of crime fiction are in good hands with Bruce Robert Coffin.
February 28, 2019
Among the Shadows by Bruce Robert Coffin is a decent police procedural that introduces Detective Sergeant John Byron of the Portland, Maine police department. Two other novels featuring this character follow Among The Shadows.
Early on it is revealed someone is killing former Portland police department police officers and John Byron and his group of detectives are tasked with figuring out who and the reason why.
Byron is also haunted by his father's suicide from years prior, especially since he was the one that discovered his father's body after the suicide.
Among the Shadows is an entertaining police procedural that hits the notes typically found in such novels. For example, Byron's personal life is in shambles and he drinks a bit too much, the higher-ups don't care too much for him and he is a dogged investigator that won't quit. Some parts of the mystery will be figured out by many readers before being revealed by the author and the novel does have a few factual errors, but overall, this first novel in the series should engage readers that enjoy these sort of crime fiction novels.
Recommended to those that enjoy writers like Michael Connelly.
Early on it is revealed someone is killing former Portland police department police officers and John Byron and his group of detectives are tasked with figuring out who and the reason why.
Byron is also haunted by his father's suicide from years prior, especially since he was the one that discovered his father's body after the suicide.
Among the Shadows is an entertaining police procedural that hits the notes typically found in such novels. For example, Byron's personal life is in shambles and he drinks a bit too much, the higher-ups don't care too much for him and he is a dogged investigator that won't quit. Some parts of the mystery will be figured out by many readers before being revealed by the author and the novel does have a few factual errors, but overall, this first novel in the series should engage readers that enjoy these sort of crime fiction novels.
Recommended to those that enjoy writers like Michael Connelly.
May 16, 2018
If you follow my blogs then you'll know about my project "Cops Writing Crime" - so far I've collected over 100 crime fiction authors who have been cops or law enforcement. (See the page on my website).
I've only read a small handful of these authors, so one of my reading goals for this year was to start getting into the works produced by my fellow former officers from around the world.
So, number one on my Cops Writing Crime TBR pile was Bruce Robert Coffin, a former cop of nearly 30 years service in the US.
Coffin's debut novel is Among the Shadows, and centres on Detective Sergeant John Byron. It sits pretty firmly in the crime thriller camp, and it has that very most important quality any novel in this sub-genre should have - I didn't want to put it down. I don't do spoilers, so you're not going to get bits of the story here. Suffice to say the plot is gripping.
Of course, my interest with my Cops Writing Crime project revolves around the sheer realism cops-turned-authors can, and do, bring to writing crime fiction, whichever sub-genre they're creating in. The great Joseph Wambaugh was my first ever exposure to this, whilst still a serving officer myself. It resonated so much.
Coffin's work is right up there on the realism scale. Hardly surprising given his long service as an officer. But aside from the realistic crime story and details, it is all those brushstrokes of police life that define such writing. Among the Shadows is right up there with Wambaugh in its superb characterization of police and how they interact, both with their "clients" and with each other. And each other on so many levels - professional and personal are inseparable in real police life, and Coffin captures this flawlessly. What's not flawless, of course, are the cops themselves, and again this aspect is perfectly crafted in this novel. The conflicts for the characters here are both external and internal, and drive their motivations, for good and bad. There's no shortage of corruption in this tale, just as there isn't in real policing. No doubt Coffin had to survive that dark side of the Force, and I can relate to that. In fact, every aspect of this novel simply oozes evidence of bearing personal witness.
I really, really enjoyed this novel and Coffin's direct and realistic prose. If you like your police thrillers realistic, it doesn't come better than Bruce Robert Coffin. Read him.
His second novel is out now, so I'm ordering that ASAP.
Cheers,
ABP
I've only read a small handful of these authors, so one of my reading goals for this year was to start getting into the works produced by my fellow former officers from around the world.
So, number one on my Cops Writing Crime TBR pile was Bruce Robert Coffin, a former cop of nearly 30 years service in the US.
Coffin's debut novel is Among the Shadows, and centres on Detective Sergeant John Byron. It sits pretty firmly in the crime thriller camp, and it has that very most important quality any novel in this sub-genre should have - I didn't want to put it down. I don't do spoilers, so you're not going to get bits of the story here. Suffice to say the plot is gripping.
Of course, my interest with my Cops Writing Crime project revolves around the sheer realism cops-turned-authors can, and do, bring to writing crime fiction, whichever sub-genre they're creating in. The great Joseph Wambaugh was my first ever exposure to this, whilst still a serving officer myself. It resonated so much.
Coffin's work is right up there on the realism scale. Hardly surprising given his long service as an officer. But aside from the realistic crime story and details, it is all those brushstrokes of police life that define such writing. Among the Shadows is right up there with Wambaugh in its superb characterization of police and how they interact, both with their "clients" and with each other. And each other on so many levels - professional and personal are inseparable in real police life, and Coffin captures this flawlessly. What's not flawless, of course, are the cops themselves, and again this aspect is perfectly crafted in this novel. The conflicts for the characters here are both external and internal, and drive their motivations, for good and bad. There's no shortage of corruption in this tale, just as there isn't in real policing. No doubt Coffin had to survive that dark side of the Force, and I can relate to that. In fact, every aspect of this novel simply oozes evidence of bearing personal witness.
I really, really enjoyed this novel and Coffin's direct and realistic prose. If you like your police thrillers realistic, it doesn't come better than Bruce Robert Coffin. Read him.
His second novel is out now, so I'm ordering that ASAP.
Cheers,
ABP
December 17, 2018
This first book sets up a terrific premise for an ongoing procedural series, with an interesting team of supporting characters, a great location in Portland, Maine, and a strong central lead in Byron. I am looking forward to the rest of the stories!
October 23, 2025
A serial killer hunting detectives
The hunt for who is knocking them off
Set in Maine. Think steamed Maine lobster served with a side of potatoes.
Pretty good for a first time author
The hunt for who is knocking them off
Set in Maine. Think steamed Maine lobster served with a side of potatoes.
Pretty good for a first time author
February 9, 2022
Loved this book! So many unexpected twists and turns, but in the end, it all makes sense. Among the Shadows is impossible to put down and such an entertaining read. I highly recommend it.
January 7, 2021
DNF @ chapter 4.
I'm obviously in the minority here. There is a shocking lack of low ratings for this series, so maybe that lead me to have much higher expectations than I should have.
Byron is unlikable. He is misogynistic, he gripes about his bosses, his ex-wife, the "parking-control Nazis".... and I'll tell you, I'm not a fan of comparing nags to Nazis. He thinks he's a smart guy, with wit and sarcasm, but he just came off as someone with a huge chip on his shoulder to me.
There are a ridiculous amount of characters thrown out there in the first few chapters, and I honestly couldn't keep them straight.
The writing is very clunky. It reads more like a report than a piece of literature. Could use more editing.
I'm obviously in the minority here. There is a shocking lack of low ratings for this series, so maybe that lead me to have much higher expectations than I should have.
Byron is unlikable. He is misogynistic, he gripes about his bosses, his ex-wife, the "parking-control Nazis".... and I'll tell you, I'm not a fan of comparing nags to Nazis. He thinks he's a smart guy, with wit and sarcasm, but he just came off as someone with a huge chip on his shoulder to me.
There are a ridiculous amount of characters thrown out there in the first few chapters, and I honestly couldn't keep them straight.
The writing is very clunky. It reads more like a report than a piece of literature. Could use more editing.
October 26, 2016
Wow! One of the few books that I have read where I did not want it to end! What a tremendous debut for Bruce Robert Coffin and now I want more! John Byron is a real and totally believable character and not a "super-hero" like some characters are portrayed. The writing is very descriptive and puts you in the "moment" where you can visualize the surroundings, smell the smells and feel the emotion of the characters. You won't want to miss this one!
April 8, 2018
Great book!
December 19, 2021
This book was recommended to me by the owner of my favorite bookstore, The Bibliophile Bookshop & Coffeehouse in Raymond, ME. My bookclub also chose to read this book for the month of November and I couldn’t have been more pleased! If you love detective novels do not miss an opportunity to read this book! The way Bruce brings these characters to life is incredible. He has a way of writing that allows you to feel what it is like to be a detective on the force. The struggles, thoughts, emotions and triumphs come to life for you and I can not wait to read the second book in this series to see what happens to Detective Sergeant John Byron!!
February 23, 2017
Great book. Written by an obviously talented former cop
December 12, 2019
Detective John Byron is like Maine's version of Harry Bosch. I am "on the job" myself and I always appreciate when someone with a law enforcement background can write a good police procedural as it just feels more 'real' to me. Great first novel and I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series!
March 7, 2018
Always looking for great police procedurals, I stumbled upon this first book by Bruce Robert Coffin; and I must admit I wasn’t disappointed. Not that it was as outstanding as any Michael Connelly or John Davenport read, but it held my attention nonetheless. The story had a great built-up and the nearer we came to the conclusion the more captivated I became.
The lead character, Detective Sergeant John Byron, in the Portand, ME, Police dept. is quite a compelling character, who doesn’t trust the police politics. All that matters to him is solving his case and the politics just get in the way. That’s what I liked about him. Furthermore, he turns out to be more ethical than others give him credit for.
This promising debut focuses on Byron investigating the murders of two former police officers, who served with his father, 3 decades ago. Little by little, John starts to understand that there’s a lot more at play than he initially thought – even thinking that it might be an inside job. One of the things John didn’t count on discovering was his father’s suicide, thirty years ago, might not have been a self-inflicted death, after all.
In all honesty, I’m looking forward to the following book. Overall 3,5 stars.
The lead character, Detective Sergeant John Byron, in the Portand, ME, Police dept. is quite a compelling character, who doesn’t trust the police politics. All that matters to him is solving his case and the politics just get in the way. That’s what I liked about him. Furthermore, he turns out to be more ethical than others give him credit for.
This promising debut focuses on Byron investigating the murders of two former police officers, who served with his father, 3 decades ago. Little by little, John starts to understand that there’s a lot more at play than he initially thought – even thinking that it might be an inside job. One of the things John didn’t count on discovering was his father’s suicide, thirty years ago, might not have been a self-inflicted death, after all.
In all honesty, I’m looking forward to the following book. Overall 3,5 stars.
February 12, 2020
As a Portland, Maine native, I found this book not only entertaining and thrilling, but also accurate with regard to place, history, and specific locations. Names are changed for some local hangouts, but most are real. John Byron is a Detective Sergeant who is pummeled on a daily basis by politicians and ambitious climbers within the police department, yet his desire to get to the truth doesn’t let him give up. When first one, then a second retired cop is murdered, Byron is determined to find the killer. When his father, himself a cop who was known to have committed suicide years before, becomes implicated in an old conspiracy, Byron won’t stop digging through the past to find out why his father did what he did and who is knocking off the former team of crime fighters, of which Byron’s father was an integral part.
July 23, 2018
Someone is killing retired cops in Portland, Maine and making it look like suicides. DS John Byron, whose own cop father died by suicide many years ago, gets the case but soon discovers things just don't add up and the suspects are many. Byron was a good lead character and the mystery was OK but there were far too many characters for my liking........and it led to the 2nd half of the book being a tad tedious and confusing at times.
April 13, 2020
Among the Shadows: A Detective Bryon Mystery by Bruce Robert Coffin is the first book in a police procedural series. Set in Portland, Maine, and the surrounding area, it features Detective Sergeant John Bryon and his team of detectives. Internal politics and rivalries play a role in this complicated police procedural where former officers are dying a variety of ways.
Detective Sergeant John Byron is your classic hard-working detective who drinks a lot, has a failing marriage, can’t get along with the bosses, and has a slowly building attraction to his female partner. He is also a very good detective and does not know how to back off in his search for the truth.
He is called out in this far too warm September morning to the house of Mr. James O’Halloran. At least he is missing the weekly time wasting CompStat meeting that does nothing to suppress crime, but does give the bosses an illusion that they are doing something and practicing effective leadership while chewing out those under them. Mr. James O’Halloran was under hospice care thanks to terminal bone and lung cancer, so his death is not a surprise. However, as the body is examined in place in the home, it quickly becomes clear that this was no suicide or natural caused death. Somebody decided to speed up the process by forcefully applying a pillow over his face and suffocating him. His current nurse is on the short list of possible suspects, but nobody seems to be likely including her and she found the body.
Then a second retired former officer is also killed, and Detective Sergeant John Bryon realizes that something far more sinister is going on. Something that may also link back to his own father’s time on the job decades ago and sudden death.
This is a classic police procedural that uses many of the tropes familiar to readers and yet manages to twist them in ways that create a highly entertaining read. Politics and rivalries serve as the backdrop to an increasingly violent murder investigation that puts Bryon as well as many members of his detective team at substantial risk. A solidly good read well worth your time Among the Shadows: A Detective Bryon Mystery by Bruce Robert Coffin is recommended.
My reading copy came by way of the Skillman Southwestern Branch of the Dallas Public Library System. The second book in the series, Beneath the Depths, is now on my hold list.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2020
Detective Sergeant John Byron is your classic hard-working detective who drinks a lot, has a failing marriage, can’t get along with the bosses, and has a slowly building attraction to his female partner. He is also a very good detective and does not know how to back off in his search for the truth.
He is called out in this far too warm September morning to the house of Mr. James O’Halloran. At least he is missing the weekly time wasting CompStat meeting that does nothing to suppress crime, but does give the bosses an illusion that they are doing something and practicing effective leadership while chewing out those under them. Mr. James O’Halloran was under hospice care thanks to terminal bone and lung cancer, so his death is not a surprise. However, as the body is examined in place in the home, it quickly becomes clear that this was no suicide or natural caused death. Somebody decided to speed up the process by forcefully applying a pillow over his face and suffocating him. His current nurse is on the short list of possible suspects, but nobody seems to be likely including her and she found the body.
Then a second retired former officer is also killed, and Detective Sergeant John Bryon realizes that something far more sinister is going on. Something that may also link back to his own father’s time on the job decades ago and sudden death.
This is a classic police procedural that uses many of the tropes familiar to readers and yet manages to twist them in ways that create a highly entertaining read. Politics and rivalries serve as the backdrop to an increasingly violent murder investigation that puts Bryon as well as many members of his detective team at substantial risk. A solidly good read well worth your time Among the Shadows: A Detective Bryon Mystery by Bruce Robert Coffin is recommended.
My reading copy came by way of the Skillman Southwestern Branch of the Dallas Public Library System. The second book in the series, Beneath the Depths, is now on my hold list.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2020
August 19, 2019
Well-written police procedural. A tiny bit predictable, but very enjoyable. Four thumbs up.
October 27, 2016
Maine author Bruce Coffin’s newest novel is an enjoyable read. Detective Sergeant John Byron of the Portland, Maine Police Department investigates a series of murders linking retired Portland cops. Is a serial killer targeting former members of Portland’s finest? Byron, whose father was also a cop, committed suicide many years ago. Could this tragic event in Byron’s past hold a clue? Byron must confront his past, reaching out among the shadows, to stop a killer or he may be next.
Readers of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch and Ed McBain’s 87th precinct will enjoy this police procedural set in Portland, Maine. Byron, a flawed protagonist (aren’t they all?), drinks heavily, is facing a divorce, upsets his superiors often, and is falling in love with his partner. In the hands of Coffin this all works to create a detective to root for and a memorable supporting cast. The plotting is brisk, the turns surprising, and the setting is unique. Picturesque Portland becomes another character in the book, both in its beauty and its flaws (much like Byron). An inevitable showdown at the one place in Portland you’d suspect caps this wonderful debut. Looking forward to more.
Readers of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch and Ed McBain’s 87th precinct will enjoy this police procedural set in Portland, Maine. Byron, a flawed protagonist (aren’t they all?), drinks heavily, is facing a divorce, upsets his superiors often, and is falling in love with his partner. In the hands of Coffin this all works to create a detective to root for and a memorable supporting cast. The plotting is brisk, the turns surprising, and the setting is unique. Picturesque Portland becomes another character in the book, both in its beauty and its flaws (much like Byron). An inevitable showdown at the one place in Portland you’d suspect caps this wonderful debut. Looking forward to more.
February 24, 2017
I read this for my Maine author selection for Winter Book Bingo 2017. I think this is Coffin's first published novel. I like the Portland setting and the story was pretty good though it took a little too long for much progress in the case to begin. I wasn't crazy about some of what I thought was sexist language and behavior among co-workers. Not necessary and not integral to the story. Editing wasn't great- a T-shirt that's black on one page is gray a few pages later, use of "anyway" when it should have been "any way" that kind of thing. But, it was a pretty good introduction of Detective Byron and maybe there will be more and over time things will just get better. I'd read a follow up.
June 14, 2018
Bruce Robert Coffin has entered the world of Robert Parker and Michael Connelly with his first police procedural, murder mystery. Coffin knows Portland, Maine and police work, and both are on display in this well crafted story. A thirty-year-old open case lurks in the background as someone sets out to kill Portland police officers. John Byron is a compelling character and I look forward to reading more in this series. Coffin was recommended to me by a fellow writer friend, but I did not expect to be as impressed as I was by the writing, character development and plot twists. If you are a regional murder mystery fan you need to add Bruce Robert Coffin to your list.
November 9, 2021
The author’s long career in law enforcement shows in the authenticity of this book. The plot is tight and complex, and the life and thinking of a police detective are bare-bones real. Call it Maine Noir—there are no truly light moments, no breaks from the stress and the threats, even in the romantic subplot. Though I didn’t like Detective John Byron, I came to understand him. The crime he investigates is personal to him, since it involves not only his police department, but events that took place when his late father was on the force. To say much more would be a spoiler. And in this spare, fast-paced book, there are no components that don’t play a role in the plot.
August 25, 2021
This debut novel from retired Detective Sergeant Bruce Coffin of the Portland (ME) PD is a page-turner from the start. Det. John Byron is, as expected, smart, tough, and determined; but his human failings are raw and real, making him the kind of character you want to meet up with again, if for no other reason than to see if he's going to make it. Are his demons going to consume him? Will decisions made on passion and principle be his undoing? The ending here was more surprising than I anticipated. I'm hoping for many more Byron novels to come.
April 14, 2017
Excellent! Couldn't put it down.
February 9, 2021
In this, the first of four (so far) in the Det. John Byron Mysteries, Byron's investigation into the death of a former police officer is complicated by his own crumbling marriage, inappropriate romantic urges, antagonistic colleagues, and his old friend booze. I'll say no more about the plot, save that as the case becomes, inevitably, more curious and deadly, Byron's relationships expose him to more drama and danger.
Bruce Robert Coffin brings the kind of authenticity and grit that you'd hope from a decorated detective and near 30-year veteran of the Portland, Maine, Police Department. He knows his city, and he paints Portland vividly as Byron hops from one location to the next. His language colours the descriptions and patois of the job; the dialogue, the trust, the abrasive clashes, the slang, the detail of investigations. It's a window into how a unit of detectives might attack a case and break it, but this isn't a dry procedural. There is a mystery to be solved here, but this is also a fast-moving thriller. The action is tough and the consequences brutal.
The plot appears straightforward at first: a crime is committed, the cops investigate, clues emerge, a picture begins to form... then the twists. Curve balls fly, and you realise you fell for the red herrings that no-one in the pages did, because no-one in the pages did. ("I know who the killer is" I boasted to my wife after a third of the book... what an idiot!).
A very satisfying and clever reveal and an exciting climax in what I imagine is a Portland landmark. The hero is human, and so is flawed; seriously flawed, really - I can not imagine Bruce Coffin behaved anything like John Byron when he was a detective, but I can imagine there being enough of him in his creation to make Byron, his team, and his world, live and breath convincingly in this gripping, gritty thriller. The next three are already on my list, and if you enjoy a good cop thriller, you should try Bruce Robert Coffin.
Bruce Robert Coffin brings the kind of authenticity and grit that you'd hope from a decorated detective and near 30-year veteran of the Portland, Maine, Police Department. He knows his city, and he paints Portland vividly as Byron hops from one location to the next. His language colours the descriptions and patois of the job; the dialogue, the trust, the abrasive clashes, the slang, the detail of investigations. It's a window into how a unit of detectives might attack a case and break it, but this isn't a dry procedural. There is a mystery to be solved here, but this is also a fast-moving thriller. The action is tough and the consequences brutal.
The plot appears straightforward at first: a crime is committed, the cops investigate, clues emerge, a picture begins to form... then the twists. Curve balls fly, and you realise you fell for the red herrings that no-one in the pages did, because no-one in the pages did. ("I know who the killer is" I boasted to my wife after a third of the book... what an idiot!).
A very satisfying and clever reveal and an exciting climax in what I imagine is a Portland landmark. The hero is human, and so is flawed; seriously flawed, really - I can not imagine Bruce Coffin behaved anything like John Byron when he was a detective, but I can imagine there being enough of him in his creation to make Byron, his team, and his world, live and breath convincingly in this gripping, gritty thriller. The next three are already on my list, and if you enjoy a good cop thriller, you should try Bruce Robert Coffin.
Read
July 4, 2019Detective John Byron has issues. Personally, his marriage is falling apart and he's still coming to grips with his father's suicide that happened years ago when he was only fifteen years old. Professionally, he's trying to catch and convict a cop killer, but the lines between the good guys and bad guys become blurred as he digs deeper into the current investigation and a case dating back to 1985, involving his father a former detective and a group of cops who were part of the Special Reaction Team (SRT). Who can he trust? There were times when I felt the answer was, "No one."
The author did an excellent job of drawing me into the investigation and the lives of the former cops, creating a cloud of suspicion around them and also the current Detective Byron assembled to solve the crime.
I had listened to an interview of Bruce Robert Coffin on Public Display of Imagination hosted by Mark DeWayne Combs, and after hearing he'd worked in law enforcement for over thirty years, I knew this was going to be an incredible crime fiction, page turner.
If you like police procedural novels this is a great read.
The author did an excellent job of drawing me into the investigation and the lives of the former cops, creating a cloud of suspicion around them and also the current Detective Byron assembled to solve the crime.
I had listened to an interview of Bruce Robert Coffin on Public Display of Imagination hosted by Mark DeWayne Combs, and after hearing he'd worked in law enforcement for over thirty years, I knew this was going to be an incredible crime fiction, page turner.
If you like police procedural novels this is a great read.
November 19, 2017
I loved this! I have been reading, almost exclusively lately, British and Irish crime dramas. But Bruce Coffin has given us a new cop hero in John Byron and he's a Mainer!
This was great. The perpetrator could have been any of several people. The final result surprised me a bit.
The locale was especially attractive to me. Portland is my hometown. Although my only run-in with the Portland PD was a misunderstanding (actually a lie on another's part 😡 - honest) it was fun to read about places I know.
This was a fabulous first book and I anxiously look forward to the next book which, thankfully, is sitting next to me.
This was great. The perpetrator could have been any of several people. The final result surprised me a bit.
The locale was especially attractive to me. Portland is my hometown. Although my only run-in with the Portland PD was a misunderstanding (actually a lie on another's part 😡 - honest) it was fun to read about places I know.
This was a fabulous first book and I anxiously look forward to the next book which, thankfully, is sitting next to me.
January 18, 2018
I read this book straight through and thought it was a great book. It kept me guessing, and while I thought I might have know what was going on, I really didn't. The author doesn't spend a lot of time on character development, but we get right into the nitty gritty of what's happening with the case right away and I was hooked from the start. My guess is we will get to know Detective John Byron in more detail in the next book and I hope more to come after that.
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