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The Third Hell
With a bullet lodged too close to his heart, LAPD Detective Nino Angelo is no longer able to do the job he loves. He believes being forced to retire after a twenty-five-year career might be the worst thing that could happen, until his twelve-year-old son goes missing.
Matthew vanishes in the middle of the night from the Hollywood Hills condo of Nino's ex-wife, but Nino blames himself for the boy's disappearance, knowing his addiction to police work cost him his marriage and ruined any chance he had to be a real father.
School friends tell the police Matthew ran away, but none of his son's clothes or other belongings are missing. Nino's ex-wife is frantic but even his rusty police instincts are warning him both she and Matthew's friends are not being completely truthful.
After months of searching, he's unable to find a trace of his son. He looks in every Hollywood shelter and follows leads from homeless encampments along the Los Angeles River to the mansions north of the city in canyon country, his son's Catholic School, and finally to a children s home in Texas. The police department isn't helpful except for Charley Harper, a female detective at the Hollywood station, and Detective Reggie Madison, his ex-wife's current boyfriend. Reggie is a hard-charging cop and although Nino doesn't approve of the man's end- justifies-the-means approach to police work, he knows his help is crucial.
Nino's life is about to change. He goes through a personal hell and battles evil in unlikely places to find out what kind of man he really is.
Matthew vanishes in the middle of the night from the Hollywood Hills condo of Nino's ex-wife, but Nino blames himself for the boy's disappearance, knowing his addiction to police work cost him his marriage and ruined any chance he had to be a real father.
School friends tell the police Matthew ran away, but none of his son's clothes or other belongings are missing. Nino's ex-wife is frantic but even his rusty police instincts are warning him both she and Matthew's friends are not being completely truthful.
After months of searching, he's unable to find a trace of his son. He looks in every Hollywood shelter and follows leads from homeless encampments along the Los Angeles River to the mansions north of the city in canyon country, his son's Catholic School, and finally to a children s home in Texas. The police department isn't helpful except for Charley Harper, a female detective at the Hollywood station, and Detective Reggie Madison, his ex-wife's current boyfriend. Reggie is a hard-charging cop and although Nino doesn't approve of the man's end- justifies-the-means approach to police work, he knows his help is crucial.
Nino's life is about to change. He goes through a personal hell and battles evil in unlikely places to find out what kind of man he really is.
- GenresMystery
276 pages, Hardcover
Published February 28, 2017
3 people are currently reading
461 people want to read
About the author
Connie Dial
11 books23 followersConnie Dial is 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. Prior to joining the force in 1969, she worked as a journalist and a reporter/photographer for a chain of newspapers in the San Gabriel Valley.
She currently resides in Southern California with her husband, retired Police Detective Jon Dial and their two Yorkshire Terriers named Bogart and Bacall.
She currently resides in Southern California with her husband, retired Police Detective Jon Dial and their two Yorkshire Terriers named Bogart and Bacall.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 12, 2017
The many loves, of man and wife, father and child, brother and friend, come together in Connie Dial’s heart-breaking tale of Los Angeles and The Third Hell. Streets and scenery are vividly real, characters are achingly human, and dialog is pitch-perfect as broken marriage, missing child, and hidden crimes combine. Meanwhile good and evil’s black and white becomes shaded and shrouded in gray. There’s a Haven where broken children learn to survive or die. There’s a sacred place where the unbroken break. There’s a broken girl hiding secrets and a boy on the run. And there’s a father, imperfect, with an (almost literally) broken heart. Together they tread the paths of a complex story and the sins of fallen angels. Together they seek after love. And together, they just might be redeemed.
The Third Hell is an absorbing tale blending murder mystery, social commentary, romance, family drama and police procedural into something enormously greater than all its parts. Incisive, powerfully convincing, deeply sympathetic and beautifully told, it’s the story of a man in search of lost love, living under the banner of lost hope, and seeking more than he knows. Readers will find far more than they expect, and the balance of life’s joy and sorrow will stay with them long after the final page is turned. It’s a breathtaking ride.
Disclosure: I was given a preview edition and I voluntarily offer my review. I love it.
The Third Hell is an absorbing tale blending murder mystery, social commentary, romance, family drama and police procedural into something enormously greater than all its parts. Incisive, powerfully convincing, deeply sympathetic and beautifully told, it’s the story of a man in search of lost love, living under the banner of lost hope, and seeking more than he knows. Readers will find far more than they expect, and the balance of life’s joy and sorrow will stay with them long after the final page is turned. It’s a breathtaking ride.
Disclosure: I was given a preview edition and I voluntarily offer my review. I love it.
September 5, 2017
“Connie Dial Does It Again”
Retired police detective, Nino Angelo feels that he failed as a family man due to his dedication to police work. When he learns that his son, Matthew, has disappears in the night, he blames himself. The police department doesn’t help. Following the trail, he leaves no stone unturned in his search, and with the help of his ex-wife’s recent boyfriend and Hollywood Detective Charlie Harper, they stick to the scent.
Visually real, we see the sordid lifestyles of unscrupulous and dangerous people in the world around us. People in power that can’t be touched, yet do despicable things to those we cherish the most. Will Nino find his son in time? The reality is sometimes unfair. This was a real page-turner, and the characters memorable. Highly recommended.
Retired police detective, Nino Angelo feels that he failed as a family man due to his dedication to police work. When he learns that his son, Matthew, has disappears in the night, he blames himself. The police department doesn’t help. Following the trail, he leaves no stone unturned in his search, and with the help of his ex-wife’s recent boyfriend and Hollywood Detective Charlie Harper, they stick to the scent.
Visually real, we see the sordid lifestyles of unscrupulous and dangerous people in the world around us. People in power that can’t be touched, yet do despicable things to those we cherish the most. Will Nino find his son in time? The reality is sometimes unfair. This was a real page-turner, and the characters memorable. Highly recommended.
February 12, 2017
I received this book through Goodreads' giveaways. I've always enjoyed novels where the author has personal experience and inside knowledge on what their writing about. This authors background definitely brings a lot if authenticity to this book. I haven't read many police type mystery novels, but I'm really glad I decided to give this a try. The mystery was great, and kept me guessing. I enjoyed the main character, and really feel sympathy for him. I would definitely check out another book by this author.
June 12, 2017
Never heard of this author but so happy her book found it's way into my hands. This is a mystery involving a missing child and the knowledge that parents only know the surface of their children in many cases. A satisfying book, realistic, deeply felt. A police procedural with bad guys taking advantage of kids up to no good when making their own decisions. A sympathetic look at loss and love.
February 14, 2018
Easy read. Liked the characters. A little predictable. Interesting glimpse to the police work.
February 19, 2017
This is a well written mystery that definitely kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed all the plot twists and I could see the main character in more books. I couldn't put it down after I started and finished in a weekend.
I received this book as part of a Good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
I received this book as part of a Good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
February 19, 2017
Preview Edition ISBN: 978-1-57962-494-1 The Permanent Press
This is a not-to-miss-read if you like crime and all that it involves, written by a real LAPD officer/captain for nearly 27 years. The story is written in a real time, realistic manner. It held my interest from beginning to end. I would give it a 4 1/2 star rating.
Thank you Goodreads, first-reads giveaway, for the chance to win this book.
This is a not-to-miss-read if you like crime and all that it involves, written by a real LAPD officer/captain for nearly 27 years. The story is written in a real time, realistic manner. It held my interest from beginning to end. I would give it a 4 1/2 star rating.
Thank you Goodreads, first-reads giveaway, for the chance to win this book.
February 5, 2017
When I won this book from goodreads I wasn't sure what to expect. I hadn't heard of the author before and I was a little afraid that it would be a horror novel with the title and cover. I was very pleasantly surprised.
When retired detective Nino Angelo's son goes missing he searches high and low trying to find out what happened to him. While the police say that he ran away, Nino knows that isn't the case. With help from his ex-wife's ex-boyfriend, and one of the detectives assigned to the case Nino becomes caught up in a web of deceit that involves the church, the LAPD and a group of unfortunate teens. This is definitely a book that kept me up past my bed time reading to see what would happen next. I'd never heard of Ms. Dial before but I'll be checking out more of her books in the future.
When retired detective Nino Angelo's son goes missing he searches high and low trying to find out what happened to him. While the police say that he ran away, Nino knows that isn't the case. With help from his ex-wife's ex-boyfriend, and one of the detectives assigned to the case Nino becomes caught up in a web of deceit that involves the church, the LAPD and a group of unfortunate teens. This is definitely a book that kept me up past my bed time reading to see what would happen next. I'd never heard of Ms. Dial before but I'll be checking out more of her books in the future.
February 5, 2017
If you like mysteries and cop shows than you will love this book! It is an honest look into what a parent (who just so happens to be a cop who knows the inner workings of the police force) goes through when their child goes missing with a little bit of a thriller thrown in.
April 6, 2018
An excellent book. The description does not do it justice! It was sad and sweet and I want to read all her books. And of course any that are coming.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews