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Detective Elouise Norton #4
City of Saviors
Los Angeles Homicide Detective Elouise Norton encounters her toughest case yet in City of Saviors, the fourth installment in the critically acclaimed mystery series from author Rachel Howzell Hall.
After a long Labor Day weekend, seventy-three-year-old Eugene Washington is found dead in his Leimert Park home. At first blush, his death seems unremarkable―heatwave combined with food poisoning from a holiday barbecue. But something in the way Washington died doesn’t make sense. LAPD Homicide Detective Elouise "Lou" Norton is called to investigate the death and learns that the only family Washington had was the 6,000-member congregation of Blessed Mission Ministries, led by Bishop Solomon Tate.
But something wicked is lurking among the congregants of this church.
Lou’s partner, Detective Colin Taggert, thinks her focus on the congregation comes from her distrust of organized religion. But Lou is convinced that the murderer is sitting in one of those red velvet pews―and that Bishop Tate may be protecting the wolf in the flock. Lou must force the truth into the light and confront her own demons in order to save another soul before it’s too late.
After a long Labor Day weekend, seventy-three-year-old Eugene Washington is found dead in his Leimert Park home. At first blush, his death seems unremarkable―heatwave combined with food poisoning from a holiday barbecue. But something in the way Washington died doesn’t make sense. LAPD Homicide Detective Elouise "Lou" Norton is called to investigate the death and learns that the only family Washington had was the 6,000-member congregation of Blessed Mission Ministries, led by Bishop Solomon Tate.
But something wicked is lurking among the congregants of this church.
Lou’s partner, Detective Colin Taggert, thinks her focus on the congregation comes from her distrust of organized religion. But Lou is convinced that the murderer is sitting in one of those red velvet pews―and that Bishop Tate may be protecting the wolf in the flock. Lou must force the truth into the light and confront her own demons in order to save another soul before it’s too late.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2017
210 people are currently reading
1358 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Howzell Hall
34 books2,456 followersRACHEL HOWZELL HALL l is the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She’s Gone, which was also nominated for the Lefty-, Barry-, Shamus- and Anthony Awards and the Audible Originals bestseller How It Ends. A New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, Rachel is an Anthony-, International Thriller Writers- and Lefty Award nominee and the author of They All Fall Down, Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. Her next thriller, These Toxic Things, out in September 2021, recently received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, calling the novel ‘cleverly-plotted’ and ‘a refreshing take on the serial killer theme.’
Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit www.rachelhowzell.com
Her next novel And Now She’s Gone will be published in September 2020. You can find her at www.rachelhowzell.com and on Twitter @RachelHowzell.
Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit www.rachelhowzell.com
Her next novel And Now She’s Gone will be published in September 2020. You can find her at www.rachelhowzell.com and on Twitter @RachelHowzell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
September 23, 2017
City of Saviors is the fourth book by Rachel Howzell Hall involving homicide Det. Elouise Norton and returning characters of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Norton has now been promoted to a detective sergeant, allowing Hall to weave this change into the story to bring additional layers to her story telling. Norton's promotion, along with other issues, bring new complexities to the life of the lead character.
In this novel, the tale starts with the investigation into the death of an elderly man. Some believe it was either an accidental or natural death. The investigation of the hoarder slowly develops, with Norton being forced to persuade others of her gut instincts that this is more than an accident or mere food poisoning.
Along the way, Norton is forced to deal with skeptical co-workers and bosses and even her own partner, Colin Taggert. Norton is also facing personal health issues and other conflicts in her life, while Hall has allowed her to keep her humor.
When it comes to the dialog in her novels, one thing I enjoy about Hall's writing is how, just as in real life, she doesn't always make exactly clear what full intentions are meant in conversations between characters.
In her Norton novels, she has also allowed her main character to grow and has not created characters that are not believable or in the possession of superhuman skills.
This is an interesting series that includes gender, racial and office issues, but not in a overly distracting way that allows Hall to tell her stories while keep the reader interested and looking forward to her next novel.
I forgot to add - each time I read a book in this series, my mind's eye pictures the great, underrated actress Michael Hyatt (Brianna Barksdale from The Wire) as Elouise Norton and the actor Chris Evans (Captain America) as Colin Taggert.
Highly recommended, especially to fans of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series.
Norton has now been promoted to a detective sergeant, allowing Hall to weave this change into the story to bring additional layers to her story telling. Norton's promotion, along with other issues, bring new complexities to the life of the lead character.
In this novel, the tale starts with the investigation into the death of an elderly man. Some believe it was either an accidental or natural death. The investigation of the hoarder slowly develops, with Norton being forced to persuade others of her gut instincts that this is more than an accident or mere food poisoning.
Along the way, Norton is forced to deal with skeptical co-workers and bosses and even her own partner, Colin Taggert. Norton is also facing personal health issues and other conflicts in her life, while Hall has allowed her to keep her humor.
When it comes to the dialog in her novels, one thing I enjoy about Hall's writing is how, just as in real life, she doesn't always make exactly clear what full intentions are meant in conversations between characters.
In her Norton novels, she has also allowed her main character to grow and has not created characters that are not believable or in the possession of superhuman skills.
This is an interesting series that includes gender, racial and office issues, but not in a overly distracting way that allows Hall to tell her stories while keep the reader interested and looking forward to her next novel.
I forgot to add - each time I read a book in this series, my mind's eye pictures the great, underrated actress Michael Hyatt (Brianna Barksdale from The Wire) as Elouise Norton and the actor Chris Evans (Captain America) as Colin Taggert.
Highly recommended, especially to fans of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series.
January 10, 2018
A pure distillation of everything that makes Elouise Norton books great - all of the sass and the sincerity, all of the darkness and all of the heart. This is nearly perfect, both laugh out loud funny and creepy as all hell.
September 13, 2017
*frustrated sigh*
Listen, I really love this series. It's interesting, gritty, and I can relate to Lou on a personal level. I love that when I'm reading this, I don't think of her as a character.
This book is my favorite of the series so far and I hope it's continued. After the events of the last book, if Lou didn't have PTSD, I would have stopped reading and never picked it up again. I was shown that she was having a hard time. I was shown that she's still battling racism and sexism and I can relate to that being a black woman in a white male dominated field myself. I fell deeply in love with this series for that exact reason: Show, not tell.
Know what I wasn't shown that keeps being pushed? These feelings Lou and Sam supposedly have for each other. Even when Sam was featured in the last book, he didn't have a personality outside of being a potential LI for Lou. Know what I was shown? Colin supporting Lou when people she's known longer didn't. I was shown them taking care of each other even when they didn't like each other very much in the moment. I was shown their respect for each other increasing as they navigated the personal and the professional. I was shown Lou paying attention to who Colin flirts with and who he wears a shirt to try to impress. I was shown Colin and Lou being vulnerable with each other. I was shown Lou and Colin being in love with each other and as oblivious to that as the sun is bright.
So, no. I'm not buying that she wants Sam. That she needs Sam as her friends keep telling her. As she keeps telling herself. Nope.
Listen, I really love this series. It's interesting, gritty, and I can relate to Lou on a personal level. I love that when I'm reading this, I don't think of her as a character.
This book is my favorite of the series so far and I hope it's continued. After the events of the last book, if Lou didn't have PTSD, I would have stopped reading and never picked it up again. I was shown that she was having a hard time. I was shown that she's still battling racism and sexism and I can relate to that being a black woman in a white male dominated field myself. I fell deeply in love with this series for that exact reason: Show, not tell.
Know what I wasn't shown that keeps being pushed? These feelings Lou and Sam supposedly have for each other. Even when Sam was featured in the last book, he didn't have a personality outside of being a potential LI for Lou. Know what I was shown? Colin supporting Lou when people she's known longer didn't. I was shown them taking care of each other even when they didn't like each other very much in the moment. I was shown their respect for each other increasing as they navigated the personal and the professional. I was shown Lou paying attention to who Colin flirts with and who he wears a shirt to try to impress. I was shown Colin and Lou being vulnerable with each other. I was shown Lou and Colin being in love with each other and as oblivious to that as the sun is bright.
So, no. I'm not buying that she wants Sam. That she needs Sam as her friends keep telling her. As she keeps telling herself. Nope.
December 3, 2018
I discovered this series about a year ago and have finally made it through all four books...and I want more! This is one of my favorite contemporary mystery series right now and it's just SO good. I'm excited to read Rachel Howzell Hall's new standalone book next year, but I sure hope we get to see more of Lou after that.
This installment of the series starts with the death of a man during a heat wave. He's old and he's a hoarder and it's not even clear that it's a murder at first. But as Lou and Colin start to dig, the story gets dark and convoluted with some very WTF revelations about the victim's life. Throughout all this, Lou kids dealing with PTSD following the events of the last book, as well as drama with her ex and her father, and the fact that she can't get deeper into her relationship with Sam, lest he appear to have a conflict of interest in the case he's on.
In every one of these reviews, I gush about how much I love Lou, and every book just keeps getting better. I won't rehash everything I love admit her, but the thing that really brings me back to mystery series are the characters, and Lou is one of the best. Her voice is incredibly compelling--the author has done such a great job writing her, and I hope we see more of her very soon. I highly recommend this series to all fans of police procedurals, but start at the beginning, as each story builds off the last one.
This installment of the series starts with the death of a man during a heat wave. He's old and he's a hoarder and it's not even clear that it's a murder at first. But as Lou and Colin start to dig, the story gets dark and convoluted with some very WTF revelations about the victim's life. Throughout all this, Lou kids dealing with PTSD following the events of the last book, as well as drama with her ex and her father, and the fact that she can't get deeper into her relationship with Sam, lest he appear to have a conflict of interest in the case he's on.
In every one of these reviews, I gush about how much I love Lou, and every book just keeps getting better. I won't rehash everything I love admit her, but the thing that really brings me back to mystery series are the characters, and Lou is one of the best. Her voice is incredibly compelling--the author has done such a great job writing her, and I hope we see more of her very soon. I highly recommend this series to all fans of police procedurals, but start at the beginning, as each story builds off the last one.
March 18, 2018
Just. So. Good.
Especially for those of us mourning Sue Grafton, this is a great series. You don't HAVE TO start at the beginning of the series. But I would (and I did).
Especially for those of us mourning Sue Grafton, this is a great series. You don't HAVE TO start at the beginning of the series. But I would (and I did).
August 10, 2017
Absolutely perfect.
I love love love me some Sergeant Lou Norton! She's like a Timex... takes a locking and keeps on ticking! This book was so worth the wait. Fabulous job, Ms. Hall!
I love love love me some Sergeant Lou Norton! She's like a Timex... takes a locking and keeps on ticking! This book was so worth the wait. Fabulous job, Ms. Hall!
March 8, 2018
This installment of the Detective Elouise Norton series gave me the heebie jeebies in more ways than one. Lou also started to get on my nerves, but that is mostly because anyone who is physically hurt but refusing to take care of themselves by sitting down somewhere, grinds my gears.
The book starts off with Lou emerging from a terrible car crash in which she almost died. She's been promoted, and some people are not happy about taking orders from a Black woman, which fuels her desire to keep up her hustle, even though she hasn't yet fully healed from her accident. Dying or suffering from a preventative medical issue because you're trying to prove a point to people who don't give a damn about you is not cute and very annoying.
Outside of that, I enjoyed this as much as the other three installments and I'm sad there are no more to pick up to continue the series.
The book starts off with Lou emerging from a terrible car crash in which she almost died. She's been promoted, and some people are not happy about taking orders from a Black woman, which fuels her desire to keep up her hustle, even though she hasn't yet fully healed from her accident. Dying or suffering from a preventative medical issue because you're trying to prove a point to people who don't give a damn about you is not cute and very annoying.
Outside of that, I enjoyed this as much as the other three installments and I'm sad there are no more to pick up to continue the series.
October 20, 2017
But, but, where's the next one? I need more!
So good. Want to know what happened the next day. Now!
So good. Want to know what happened the next day. Now!
May 30, 2018
Sigh. Now I have to wait in real time for the next Lou Norton book.
I loved the mystery in this one. Very twisty and actually kinda gross in places but it was fun to read through.
It was also nice to see Colin getting saltier and giving back full quips. *dashes away a tear* My goodness how the boy has grown since the first book.
The hardest thing to read, though, was Lou's personal issues. In the aftermath of the previous book -- which ended with her ramming her car into a truck to stop the serial killer of young girls who just so happened to be sitting in her passenger seat with a gun to her head -- Lou is going through some major PTSD. It is affecting her sleep, her relationships, and even more importantly her work. But she is under it all a great detective and despite getting a case that looks like nothing but a death by natural causes, hr instincts tell her there is more to what is going on. She is right of course and it leads to a twisty quagmire of insurance fraud, murder, identify theft and the aforementioned spoiler.
Not only does she get her perp in the end but she manages to wrestle many of her demons to the ground.
So yeah can't wait til the next one to see what happens next with Lou.
I loved the mystery in this one. Very twisty and actually kinda gross in places but it was fun to read through.
It was also nice to see Colin getting saltier and giving back full quips. *dashes away a tear* My goodness how the boy has grown since the first book.
The hardest thing to read, though, was Lou's personal issues. In the aftermath of the previous book -- which ended with her ramming her car into a truck to stop the serial killer of young girls who just so happened to be sitting in her passenger seat with a gun to her head -- Lou is going through some major PTSD. It is affecting her sleep, her relationships, and even more importantly her work. But she is under it all a great detective and despite getting a case that looks like nothing but a death by natural causes, hr instincts tell her there is more to what is going on. She is right of course and it leads to a twisty quagmire of insurance fraud, murder, identify theft and the aforementioned spoiler.
Not only does she get her perp in the end but she manages to wrestle many of her demons to the ground.
So yeah can't wait til the next one to see what happens next with Lou.
April 23, 2019
Elouise Norton is a newly promoted LAPD Sargent, just returned from short-term disability and still suffering from PTSD, hiding her continued symptoms to avoid being put behind a desk. Her case is Gene Washington, an old man found dead in his house—full of trash, cats, and old food. Elouise, Lou, treats this as a murder investigation. The others disagree, but she’s the Sargent, so it is her call. The two lead suspects are his new, younger, girlfriend Bernice Parrish and his old friend Oswald Little, both of whom received significant bequests from his recent will. A third suspect is a local megachurch.
If you’re looking for a fast-moving mystery with lots of suspects and a few surprises, City of Saviors by Rachel Howzell Hall could be the book for you. Caveat: I started with number four of the series, so Lou’s personal life didn’t make much sense. I’d recommend starting at the beginning.
For my expanded report: https://1book42day.blogspot.com/2019/...
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20... for book recommendations.
If you’re looking for a fast-moving mystery with lots of suspects and a few surprises, City of Saviors by Rachel Howzell Hall could be the book for you. Caveat: I started with number four of the series, so Lou’s personal life didn’t make much sense. I’d recommend starting at the beginning.
For my expanded report: https://1book42day.blogspot.com/2019/...
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20... for book recommendations.
August 1, 2018
Lou is a great kickass character but she is gravely wounded at the end of book 3. In this followup, she's back on the job too soon and a bit shaky. This book revealed genuine character development and struggle. A great book even with less action and a slightly diminished (and vulnerable) hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2017
Lou is back!!! She is wounded after catching her last killer but pushing through in true Lou fashion. In this fourth installment, we continue to really get to know Lou. She is a little like all of us when we have work to do, we push through and get it done. She’s got a murderer to catch. This time it isn’t a missing child but another vulnerable member of our society who is preyed upon by those who should be helping and not profiting. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the pages turning. It is great to see Lou advancing in her profession against some stacked odds and resistance by her peers, standing her ground where she can and giving in when she must. In the end, as always, we are rooting for Lou to find peace within herself, real love and ultimately her health.
If you are in Denver, Rachel will be at the Tattered Cover on Colfax on August 27th at 2pm
If you are in Denver, Rachel will be at the Tattered Cover on Colfax on August 27th at 2pm
September 7, 2017
Rachel Hall has to be my favorite AA female author of mystery right now. And she did not disappoint in the 4th installment of the Elouise Norton novels. The only complaint I have is that there are not enough titles by her (Rachel) yet. I'm a fan of all of her works , even the first book I read years ago. I can say if you enjoyed the first three, you'll like this one. If you haven't read her other titles do yourself a favor and do so.
December 27, 2017
'City of Saviors' is Rachel Howzell Hall's latest crime novel starring homicide detective Eloise 'Lou' Norton. It's a competently executed 'whodunnit & why' with an interesting twist at the end. Lest you miss the constant reminders throughout the story (and all previous ones in the stack as well), Lou is African-American.
It begins with a 'hoarder' found dead in his severely overstuffed home. It appears to be by natural causes, but something doesn't look right to the detectives so they begin to poke around. What appears to be a fairly straightforward investigation in the beginning quickly morphs into something much messier, as the victim's strange eating habits and other anomalies pop up. In the midst of all this, Lou continues to have physical problems related to her last case that threaten to limit or stop her participation in the activity. Throw in a megachurch, various other parties interested in what the police are finding, and internecine conflict among the investigators and it becomes a tough nut to crack. They eventually figure it out, though, and Lou's able to take some time off to mend herself.
On the plus side, the writing is competent. The dialogue varies, though, with some passages being spot on and others rather stilted. The Colin character isn't portrayed as being quite as clueless as in previous novels in the series, although his hinted-at romantic interest in one of the women under investigation didn't make a lot of sense and was never resolved. The plot at a high level was pretty interesting, but I had a few minor quibbles with some of the investigatory work and the sort of rush at the end to wrap things up. It's a nice mystery but not a whole lot of explanation of what ended up to be a very complicated affair at the end.
It begins with a 'hoarder' found dead in his severely overstuffed home. It appears to be by natural causes, but something doesn't look right to the detectives so they begin to poke around. What appears to be a fairly straightforward investigation in the beginning quickly morphs into something much messier, as the victim's strange eating habits and other anomalies pop up. In the midst of all this, Lou continues to have physical problems related to her last case that threaten to limit or stop her participation in the activity. Throw in a megachurch, various other parties interested in what the police are finding, and internecine conflict among the investigators and it becomes a tough nut to crack. They eventually figure it out, though, and Lou's able to take some time off to mend herself.
On the plus side, the writing is competent. The dialogue varies, though, with some passages being spot on and others rather stilted. The Colin character isn't portrayed as being quite as clueless as in previous novels in the series, although his hinted-at romantic interest in one of the women under investigation didn't make a lot of sense and was never resolved. The plot at a high level was pretty interesting, but I had a few minor quibbles with some of the investigatory work and the sort of rush at the end to wrap things up. It's a nice mystery but not a whole lot of explanation of what ended up to be a very complicated affair at the end.
September 8, 2017
3.5 stars.
Another solid entry to this newish series. I really appreciate the author's efforts in conveying the difficulties that Sgt. Elouise Norton has with her struggles in race and gender within the LAPD. And trying to hide her ptsd while juggling a really icky case and knowing that there is some sort of underlying issue at work. I also liked her support system. The case itself, while a solid procedural, was slightly predictable. There were some steps that I'm surprised that the detectives didn't first pursue.
Another solid entry to this newish series. I really appreciate the author's efforts in conveying the difficulties that Sgt. Elouise Norton has with her struggles in race and gender within the LAPD. And trying to hide her ptsd while juggling a really icky case and knowing that there is some sort of underlying issue at work. I also liked her support system. The case itself, while a solid procedural, was slightly predictable. There were some steps that I'm surprised that the detectives didn't first pursue.
July 13, 2018
This is the 4th and most recent book in the Elouise Norton crime series. Detective, no, now Sargeant Lou Norton is working the streets of Los Angeles busting heads while solving crime.
This was my least favorite of the books thus far. A large chunk of this focused on her personal life and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, the story seemed to repeat itself and not advance forward. Hopefully if there’s a book 5 in the series it’ll be better.
2.5 stars
This was my least favorite of the books thus far. A large chunk of this focused on her personal life and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, the story seemed to repeat itself and not advance forward. Hopefully if there’s a book 5 in the series it’ll be better.
2.5 stars
May 21, 2019
After having finished this, I can say that I am absolutely, madly, in love with Rachel H. Hall's writing and the character of Lou that she has created. But besides Lou, there is another character in these books that is so beautifully and profoundly captured: The City of Angels.
There is no one, since Raymond Chandler, who has captured the the gritty beauty that is Los Angeles, in such gorgeous, masterful prose--always the perfect phrase, capturing the essence, without every resorting to cliches.
There is no one, since Raymond Chandler, who has captured the the gritty beauty that is Los Angeles, in such gorgeous, masterful prose--always the perfect phrase, capturing the essence, without every resorting to cliches.
April 1, 2019
Another great Detective Elouise Norton novel by Rachel Howzell Hall. I've read the 3 previous books in this series, this one is my favorite. The story contained a few novel plot twists, as well as great character development. I was intrigued by Hall's look at the tension Lou faces as a black woman in a male dominated field. The interactions between Lou and her colleagues were indicative of the issues surrounds black women in the workplace. Overall, Hall does an excellent job with the complex and ever evolving Lou Norton.
February 17, 2020
This is a nice little murder mystery set in LA, with a black female cop as protagonist. Hoarding, family drama, surrogacy, cannibalism, and a mega church thrown in for fun. I listened to this one, and the reader was good. This book is at the end of the series, so sometime in the future, I’ll definitely go back and try the first.
December 4, 2017
For my written review, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
July 9, 2018
Can't wait to read more in the Detective Elouise Norton series. Hall is my favorite new crime fiction writer. Lou Norton is a badass detective with a likeable, vulnerable human side.
July 23, 2018
Loved it! Mystery was great and very hard to guess!
August 8, 2017
City of Saviours is the fourth book in the series to feature Lou Norton but the first that I have read. Obviously, there is a lot of back story but it didn’t stop me enjoying the book and it was easy to read as a standalone. If anything, the back story has made me intrigued about what I have missed.
Lou is my new favourite heroine. A female, black police officer, she has to prove herself more than necessary that she can do her job. She does get respect from her immediate team, although she isn’t entirely trusting of them. There are a few in the force who would be happy to see her fail.
The murder is a strange one. Lou insists that it isn’t natural causes immediately and demands that the property and Eugene’s life is thoroughly investigated. It is when I read books like this that I am reminded that I would be useless working in forensics. With the vivid description of what they had to work through in the property, I could practically see, smell and taste everything. My skin was crawling at times even though living in the North West of England the weather was slightly different to a Los Angeles heatwave.
It wasn’t all about the crime, there was also focus on her private life, the relationship with her ex-husband, best friends and a tentative relationship with Sam. It was this part of the novel where I noticed the back story more.
It is a brilliant introduction to an established series that I plan on catching up with.
Lou is my new favourite heroine. A female, black police officer, she has to prove herself more than necessary that she can do her job. She does get respect from her immediate team, although she isn’t entirely trusting of them. There are a few in the force who would be happy to see her fail.
The murder is a strange one. Lou insists that it isn’t natural causes immediately and demands that the property and Eugene’s life is thoroughly investigated. It is when I read books like this that I am reminded that I would be useless working in forensics. With the vivid description of what they had to work through in the property, I could practically see, smell and taste everything. My skin was crawling at times even though living in the North West of England the weather was slightly different to a Los Angeles heatwave.
It wasn’t all about the crime, there was also focus on her private life, the relationship with her ex-husband, best friends and a tentative relationship with Sam. It was this part of the novel where I noticed the back story more.
It is a brilliant introduction to an established series that I plan on catching up with.
December 16, 2020
I like the protagonist a lot. Flawed and struggling because of her minority status and insecurity there from. The character development and description is believable and compelling.
The story is complicated yet plausible.
Some great back and forth banter with much racial innuendos and sarcasm.
I’m a white male and this work makes me smile.
Try it, folks!
The story is complicated yet plausible.
Some great back and forth banter with much racial innuendos and sarcasm.
I’m a white male and this work makes me smile.
Try it, folks!
October 31, 2017
A very good addition to Hall's Elouise Norton series. This well-written book had enough plot twists to keep me turning the pages and enough red herrings to keep me guessing until the end. Glimpses into Lou's personal life also continue to add depth to a her character. A nice tease on the last couple of pages had me looking forward to the next book in the series with a smile on my face.
July 8, 2017
I am definitely a fan of Rachel Howzell Hall and her Detective Elouise Norton series. The first three books in the series are stellar, and the fourth, City of Strangers, may just outrank them.
In City of Saviors, Lou has just returned to work full time after an accident and the killing of a heinous murderer. She is still dealing with the physical and emotional fallout of that as well as the resentment of some of the other detectives as Lou was promoted to detective sergeant after the case.
Unfortunately some men in the LAPD resent strong and smart women.
Following the Labor Day weekend, Lou and her partner Colin Taggert are called to investigate the death of Eugene Washington, a 73 year old Vietnam Vet apparently living alone in a cat infested- trash filled home.
Although a gun was found near Eugene's body- there was no blood or visible gunshot wound to suggest murder. Lou's gut was another story, it said murder.
So begins the investigation and the questions keep coming. Could Bernice Parrish, Eugene's on and off girlfriend and housekeeper killed him? Could his membership in the mega Blessed Mission Church generate any suspects? What actually happened to Eugene?
The case is always the heart of these novels, however Lou still has to deal with her ex- husband Greg, her two best friends Syeeda and Lena and of course her mom and her new beau. Added to that mix is her dad who left the family years ago and is now trying to ingratiate himself into Lou's life.
If you enjoy a hard broiled mystery that captures and holds your interest from the first page to the last, I highly recommend City of Saviors. It definitely can be read as a stand-alone, however there are occasional references to the previous books. They are excellent too; you won't be disappointed.
* I received an ARC of City of Saviors; it in no way impacted my review.*
In City of Saviors, Lou has just returned to work full time after an accident and the killing of a heinous murderer. She is still dealing with the physical and emotional fallout of that as well as the resentment of some of the other detectives as Lou was promoted to detective sergeant after the case.
Unfortunately some men in the LAPD resent strong and smart women.
Following the Labor Day weekend, Lou and her partner Colin Taggert are called to investigate the death of Eugene Washington, a 73 year old Vietnam Vet apparently living alone in a cat infested- trash filled home.
Although a gun was found near Eugene's body- there was no blood or visible gunshot wound to suggest murder. Lou's gut was another story, it said murder.
So begins the investigation and the questions keep coming. Could Bernice Parrish, Eugene's on and off girlfriend and housekeeper killed him? Could his membership in the mega Blessed Mission Church generate any suspects? What actually happened to Eugene?
The case is always the heart of these novels, however Lou still has to deal with her ex- husband Greg, her two best friends Syeeda and Lena and of course her mom and her new beau. Added to that mix is her dad who left the family years ago and is now trying to ingratiate himself into Lou's life.
If you enjoy a hard broiled mystery that captures and holds your interest from the first page to the last, I highly recommend City of Saviors. It definitely can be read as a stand-alone, however there are occasional references to the previous books. They are excellent too; you won't be disappointed.
* I received an ARC of City of Saviors; it in no way impacted my review.*
February 23, 2018
This was maybe the weakest of her novels to me. I love her alliterative skills. She writes in an excellent style. She rushed back, in the novel, from a devastating accident in her last book. She is having nightmares and not getting proper rest. The plot for the story was a retired military man who was found dead in a roach infested apartment with serious riches. A holy church with a secret was the backdrop. Eugene Washington also had a crazy secret. I love the L.A. based novels but the ending was somewhat predictable.
October 25, 2020
I have so enjoyed the (now Sergeant) Detective Elouise (Lou) Norton series, and City of Saviors is my second favorite of the books, just behind book #1.
Lou is barely healed from a shattering physical and emotional experience, and is trying to show a brave face while still doing her job. She isn't doing very well with the self-healing, but is gangbusters at solving a disgusting series of murders.
I especially loved the ending, but no spoilers here!
I hope that the author writes more Lou Norton stories, because they are fun and gripping with the perfect amount of city-centric detail.
Lou is barely healed from a shattering physical and emotional experience, and is trying to show a brave face while still doing her job. She isn't doing very well with the self-healing, but is gangbusters at solving a disgusting series of murders.
I especially loved the ending, but no spoilers here!
I hope that the author writes more Lou Norton stories, because they are fun and gripping with the perfect amount of city-centric detail.
April 20, 2019
City Of Saviors is the fourth book in the Detective Elouise Norton Series by Rachel Howzell Hall and has the hoarder problem as a key part of the case. As such there are graphic descriptions of the house where a hoarder has died. If, like me, you quickly flip the channel when the ad for a show on the topic comes on the television as it makes you sick, this is a read that you may want to skip a few pages here or there. You can do that and not lose the story. While you can skip the graphic and frequently gross descriptions of the house in this one, you should be aware that this is also the fourth book in a series that builds substantially on the earlier books in the series and therefore should be read in order.
It is September 1st as the novel begins and Detective Norton is back on the job after the violent events at the conclusion of Trail of Echoes. She hurts and has numerous issues going on, but is faking things fairly well so those in charge have no actionable reason to put her back out on medical leave. The heat is on in Los Angeles in a big way and the dead man in the house at 8711 Victoria is awaiting them in all his glory. She knows the scene is bad when firefighters are being sick out in the trash strewn yard and her fellow officers are standing outside as far away from the house as possible.
Eugene Washington lived alone in the house and was found deceased by Bernice Parrish who claims to be his girlfriend. Beyond the fact that she is far younger than the deceased, the fact that EMTs found a gun near the body is a concern. While the body is in slightly worse shape than the house so the detectives and others can’t see signs of a gunshot, at least they got there before the cats that are everywhere started working on him.
A former Vietnam vet who just turned 73, Mr. Washington deserved far more than to be living his last days this way. Detective Norton has nothing more than her currently very shaky gut feeling that it is a murder, but that is enough for her to treat the case as a murder case. A feeling that is reinforced by the behavior of one Bernice Parrish as well as numerous others in the police procedural, City Of Saviors: A Detective Elouise Norton Novel.
Very graphic at times in terms of the hoarding problem, overall City Of Saviors is a good read though a tough one in spots. Story arcs from the first book in the series have made their way through the preceding ones and continue here. Those various situations have a tendency to dominate the current case at times resulting in a book that is not quite at the same enjoyment level of the proceeding book. Thrown in the subject of hoarding and the very graphic living conditions and it would be a mistake to read much of this book anywhere in proximity to food or meal planning.
Good, but not great, City Of Saviors: A Detective Elouise Norton Novel seems to tie up various loose ends to a certain extent while also serving as springboard for the next one. It will be interesting to see how author Rachel Howzell Hall will solve the cliffhanger problem she left readers with here how she will send Detective Norton forward.
City Of Saviors: A Detective Elouise Norton Novel
Rachel Howzell Hall
http://www.rachelhowzell.com
Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
http://www.tor-forge.com
August 2017
ISBN# 978-0-7653-8119-4
Hardback (also available in paperback and digital formats)
302 Pages
$26.99
Material supplied by the good folks of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2019
It is September 1st as the novel begins and Detective Norton is back on the job after the violent events at the conclusion of Trail of Echoes. She hurts and has numerous issues going on, but is faking things fairly well so those in charge have no actionable reason to put her back out on medical leave. The heat is on in Los Angeles in a big way and the dead man in the house at 8711 Victoria is awaiting them in all his glory. She knows the scene is bad when firefighters are being sick out in the trash strewn yard and her fellow officers are standing outside as far away from the house as possible.
Eugene Washington lived alone in the house and was found deceased by Bernice Parrish who claims to be his girlfriend. Beyond the fact that she is far younger than the deceased, the fact that EMTs found a gun near the body is a concern. While the body is in slightly worse shape than the house so the detectives and others can’t see signs of a gunshot, at least they got there before the cats that are everywhere started working on him.
A former Vietnam vet who just turned 73, Mr. Washington deserved far more than to be living his last days this way. Detective Norton has nothing more than her currently very shaky gut feeling that it is a murder, but that is enough for her to treat the case as a murder case. A feeling that is reinforced by the behavior of one Bernice Parrish as well as numerous others in the police procedural, City Of Saviors: A Detective Elouise Norton Novel.
Very graphic at times in terms of the hoarding problem, overall City Of Saviors is a good read though a tough one in spots. Story arcs from the first book in the series have made their way through the preceding ones and continue here. Those various situations have a tendency to dominate the current case at times resulting in a book that is not quite at the same enjoyment level of the proceeding book. Thrown in the subject of hoarding and the very graphic living conditions and it would be a mistake to read much of this book anywhere in proximity to food or meal planning.
Good, but not great, City Of Saviors: A Detective Elouise Norton Novel seems to tie up various loose ends to a certain extent while also serving as springboard for the next one. It will be interesting to see how author Rachel Howzell Hall will solve the cliffhanger problem she left readers with here how she will send Detective Norton forward.
City Of Saviors: A Detective Elouise Norton Novel
Rachel Howzell Hall
http://www.rachelhowzell.com
Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
http://www.tor-forge.com
August 2017
ISBN# 978-0-7653-8119-4
Hardback (also available in paperback and digital formats)
302 Pages
$26.99
Material supplied by the good folks of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2019
April 20, 2022
It's hard to say I enjoyed this book. Some elements of it were just flat out gross. The discovery of the crime and the subsequent investigation take place in blistering hot weather, of which I have never been a fan. The corpse has been sitting in a recliner in his cat-infested home; no one had to mention the foul smell to get me to imagine it. Finally, the deceased, a 73 year old man named Eugene Washington, had...an unusual diet, shall we say. This story pervades both the senses and the sensitivities.
But one thing's for certain: Rachel Howzell Hall does not do gross for the sake of gross. Every grisly element of it has a purpose and a logical place in the story. That's how Hall makes such a story...wait for it...palatable. At first, it looks like Mr. Washington passed away from natural causes. But to Detective Sergeant Elouise Norton, known to her intimates as "Lou," there are some troublesome aspects to the case. First, Washington's "girlfriend" shows up on the heels of the police, demanding access to the house so that she can have her "inheritance," which she claims Eugene explicitly stated in his will. Second of all, Eugene lived the life of what is known today as a hoarder. When I think of a house crammed to the rafters with unidentified junk, packed with a population of cats, some of which are surely feral, combined with a putrefying corpse in withering heat...I think I'll skip dinner, thanks. But this is not all. A trio of women, known to some of Washington's acquaintances as The Witches, perch themselves just beyond the crime scene tape, and add several elements of weirdness. They chant, they sing, they pray, and they make prophecies. Their behavior is what got them tossed out of the Blessed Mission Ministries, of which Eugene was a member in good standing. They alert Lou to the fact that Eugene was present just a few days before at the Mission Ministries Labor Day barbecue, and was seen to have eaten prodigiously. This would not have mattered one way or another to Lou, until she finds prescriptions for Epipens among the detritus in Eugene's house. It is possible...just possible...that someone fed Eugene something prepared with coconut, the source of his deadly allergy.
In addition to the case, Lou must contend with the extra-persistent and absolutely unwanted attentions of her estranged father, a near fatal head injury, the bigotry and sexism of her colleagues, and a nasty argument with one of her closest friends, a character who has appeared in the other three books in the series. So Lou faces some formidable challenges. One of the things that makes Howzell-Hall's mysteries so engrossing is that she supplies readers with enough information that they can easily follow Lou to the resolution. And the resolution in City of Saviors is enough to both enrich and to sour anyone's appetite for mysteries.
But one thing's for certain: Rachel Howzell Hall does not do gross for the sake of gross. Every grisly element of it has a purpose and a logical place in the story. That's how Hall makes such a story...wait for it...palatable. At first, it looks like Mr. Washington passed away from natural causes. But to Detective Sergeant Elouise Norton, known to her intimates as "Lou," there are some troublesome aspects to the case. First, Washington's "girlfriend" shows up on the heels of the police, demanding access to the house so that she can have her "inheritance," which she claims Eugene explicitly stated in his will. Second of all, Eugene lived the life of what is known today as a hoarder. When I think of a house crammed to the rafters with unidentified junk, packed with a population of cats, some of which are surely feral, combined with a putrefying corpse in withering heat...I think I'll skip dinner, thanks. But this is not all. A trio of women, known to some of Washington's acquaintances as The Witches, perch themselves just beyond the crime scene tape, and add several elements of weirdness. They chant, they sing, they pray, and they make prophecies. Their behavior is what got them tossed out of the Blessed Mission Ministries, of which Eugene was a member in good standing. They alert Lou to the fact that Eugene was present just a few days before at the Mission Ministries Labor Day barbecue, and was seen to have eaten prodigiously. This would not have mattered one way or another to Lou, until she finds prescriptions for Epipens among the detritus in Eugene's house. It is possible...just possible...that someone fed Eugene something prepared with coconut, the source of his deadly allergy.
In addition to the case, Lou must contend with the extra-persistent and absolutely unwanted attentions of her estranged father, a near fatal head injury, the bigotry and sexism of her colleagues, and a nasty argument with one of her closest friends, a character who has appeared in the other three books in the series. So Lou faces some formidable challenges. One of the things that makes Howzell-Hall's mysteries so engrossing is that she supplies readers with enough information that they can easily follow Lou to the resolution. And the resolution in City of Saviors is enough to both enrich and to sour anyone's appetite for mysteries.
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