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Brady Coyne #27
Hell Bent
Boston attorney Brady Coyne finds his own past coming back to haunt his professional life when his ex-girlfriend Alex Shaw, long out of touch, reappears, wanting Brady to represent her brother. Augustine Shaw was a notable photo-journalist, happily married with two small children – until he returned from a stint in Iraq missing a hand and suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now he's lost his career, his peace of mind and his family.
Brady is hired to seem him through the divorce. The client wasn't eager to accept Brady's representation, but before the divorce proceedings are very far along, the photographer is found dead in his rented apartment, an apparent suicide.
But something isn't right and Brady starts to think the suicide was staged. With very little to go on and with everyone around him wanting to quickly close the books on what appears to be a tragic case, Brady soon finds himself alone, in the midst of one of the most dangerous situations of his entire life, and facing people who do anything to avoid being exposed.
Brady is hired to seem him through the divorce. The client wasn't eager to accept Brady's representation, but before the divorce proceedings are very far along, the photographer is found dead in his rented apartment, an apparent suicide.
But something isn't right and Brady starts to think the suicide was staged. With very little to go on and with everyone around him wanting to quickly close the books on what appears to be a tragic case, Brady soon finds himself alone, in the midst of one of the most dangerous situations of his entire life, and facing people who do anything to avoid being exposed.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2008
9 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
William G. Tapply
79 books89 followersWilliam G. Tapply (1940–2009) was an American author best known for writing legal thrillers. A lifelong New Englander, he graduated from Amherst and Harvard before going on to teach social studies at Lexington High School. He published his first novel, Death at Charity’s Point, in 1984. A story of death and betrayal among Boston Brahmins, it introduced crusading lawyer Brady Coyne, a fishing enthusiast whom Tapply would follow through twenty-five more novels, including Follow the Sharks, The Vulgar Boatman, and the posthumously published Outwitting Trolls.
Besides writing regular columns for Field and Stream, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and American Angler, Tapply wrote numerous books on fishing, hunting, and life in the outdoors. He was also the author of The Elements of Mystery Fiction, a writer’s guide. He died in 2009, at his home in Hancock, New Hampshire.
Besides writing regular columns for Field and Stream, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and American Angler, Tapply wrote numerous books on fishing, hunting, and life in the outdoors. He was also the author of The Elements of Mystery Fiction, a writer’s guide. He died in 2009, at his home in Hancock, New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
December 20, 2018
"Hell Bent" is the twenty-fourth book to feature Boston attorney Brady Coyne, and it ranks among the best of the entries. For those who haven't met him, Coyne is a sole practitioner with a client list that consists mostly of fairly well-heeled Bostonians and a secretary named Julie, who keeps his professional life in some semblance of order. He's long divorced and usually involved with an attractive female.
As Brady comments in this book, he was trained to be a lawyer, but his DNA programmed him to be a fisherman. In this book, though, unlike most of the others, Brady has no time for fishing. After an absence of several years, an old girlfriend, Alex Shaw, walks back into Brady's life and asks him to represent her brother, Gus. Gus is a photojournalist who lost a hand, and thus his profession, in an explosion in Iraq. Not surprisingly he comes back a changed man and the changes are not for the better.
Gus is suffering from PTSD; he's a stranger to his wife and daughters, and a menace to them and to himself as well. His wife sues for divorce and secures a restraining order against him, but Gus doesn't care. He's perfectly willing to give her everything; he cares about nothing any longer. Alex wants Brady to protect Gus's interests in the divorce, and Gus reluctantly agrees to let Brady represent him.
Almost immediately thereafter, though, Gus is found shot to death, the victim of an apparent suicide. The cops and everyone else sign off on the case, but Alex refuses to believe that her brother would kill himself. Brady isn't sure, but Alex has walked back into his life four months after his latest girlfriend walked out of it. There's still a spark between Alex and Brady and so he agrees to investigate.
Inevitably, things are more complicated than they initially appear, and Brady finds himself drawn into a complex and dangerous situation. The result is a book in which the urgency mounts and which is increasingly difficult to put down. Long-time fans of the series will enjoy "Hell Bent", but it will also appeal to fans of crime fiction who have never sampled Tapply's work before.
As Brady comments in this book, he was trained to be a lawyer, but his DNA programmed him to be a fisherman. In this book, though, unlike most of the others, Brady has no time for fishing. After an absence of several years, an old girlfriend, Alex Shaw, walks back into Brady's life and asks him to represent her brother, Gus. Gus is a photojournalist who lost a hand, and thus his profession, in an explosion in Iraq. Not surprisingly he comes back a changed man and the changes are not for the better.
Gus is suffering from PTSD; he's a stranger to his wife and daughters, and a menace to them and to himself as well. His wife sues for divorce and secures a restraining order against him, but Gus doesn't care. He's perfectly willing to give her everything; he cares about nothing any longer. Alex wants Brady to protect Gus's interests in the divorce, and Gus reluctantly agrees to let Brady represent him.
Almost immediately thereafter, though, Gus is found shot to death, the victim of an apparent suicide. The cops and everyone else sign off on the case, but Alex refuses to believe that her brother would kill himself. Brady isn't sure, but Alex has walked back into his life four months after his latest girlfriend walked out of it. There's still a spark between Alex and Brady and so he agrees to investigate.
Inevitably, things are more complicated than they initially appear, and Brady finds himself drawn into a complex and dangerous situation. The result is a book in which the urgency mounts and which is increasingly difficult to put down. Long-time fans of the series will enjoy "Hell Bent", but it will also appeal to fans of crime fiction who have never sampled Tapply's work before.
May 15, 2022
My first book by William Tapply, thanks to the Reader's Digest Select Edition. The plot was good and not too twisted. The protagonist is interesting and I might read more in the series. But the ex-wife, Alex was irritating. She kept pouting and giving passive aggressive treatment to Boyne when she felt he was ignoring her. I don't get these unrealistic relationship goals.
April 21, 2019
One of the things I find interesting about this series is some of the "ordinary" happenings that take place in Brady's life as the main plot line is unfolding. In this case, while he laments the loss of his lady who has moved across country to assist her ailing father and a former love asks him to represent her brother in a divorce, an elderly couple asks him to sue a moving company who damaged much of their valuables during a move. Problem is the company folded their tent, closed down the Boston operation and re-opened under a different corporate name in New Hampshire. While that issue unfolds well in the background, Brady attempts to work with the divorce client, a PTSD suffering photojournalist who lost a hand in the fighting and now can't work a camera. Client feels he deserves whatever is coming to him in a divorce action so not really putting up much of a defense. No one except his sister is really surprised when the brother apparently commits suicide and that is how it is labeled by the police and the medical examiner. She however, is not convinced and convinces Brady to keep working on it. He agrees on the condition that she stay out of the way but you know that is not going to happen.
A great series of the "mental popcorn" variety - entertaining and easy to digest. This would probably be a good book to start with despite it being about 27th in the series. Enough of a "stand alone" but still providing a good overview of the character. As a former Bostonian, I tend to enjoy the sense of place Tapply so artfully supplies.
A great series of the "mental popcorn" variety - entertaining and easy to digest. This would probably be a good book to start with despite it being about 27th in the series. Enough of a "stand alone" but still providing a good overview of the character. As a former Bostonian, I tend to enjoy the sense of place Tapply so artfully supplies.
November 23, 2018
Boston attorney Brady Coyne is a sympathetic and entertaining character. His tendency, at least in the few novels in this series that I've read, leans decidedly more towards sleuthing and less towards the courtroom. So, no "Lincoln Lawyer" here, but a lot of fun to read regardless.
Tapply does a great job of setting the scenes and place, even if he gets carried away with descriptions of food that's being prepared, served, and devoured. Sometimes it felt more than needed, almost filler-ish, but I take the good with the so-so.
Coyne rekindles a relationship with Alex Shaw, a former flame who asks for his help representing her brother, Gus, through a messy divorce. Gus suffers from PTSD after having lost his right hand while working as a photojournalist in Iraq. He also has more going on than meets the eye, especially once the plot moves quickly into high gear. To say more would spoil some of the story, so just take my word for it.
The relationship between Brady and Alex is interesting, but again, the tension and recurrent testy exchanges began to wear thin. One relationship that remains charming throughout, however, is that between Brady and his dog. I enjoyed Brady's loyalty to being home at certain times to let the dog out to do his business, give him food and treats, etc. Having been a dog owner, I could relate.
The story line is interesting and has a nice twist to it. It's a bit over the top at times, but again, forgivable. Brady has a few recurring exchanges / interactions with Det. Horowitz of the State Police-- a gruff, coffee & donuts kind of cop who, beneath the prickly exterior, is a truly good guy and friend. These interludes augment the feel of the story and makes all the characters a bit more relatable.
Overall, this is another very enjoyable little book in the series with which I'm becoming acquainted. You might enjoy doing so as well. Happy Thanksgiving.
Tapply does a great job of setting the scenes and place, even if he gets carried away with descriptions of food that's being prepared, served, and devoured. Sometimes it felt more than needed, almost filler-ish, but I take the good with the so-so.
Coyne rekindles a relationship with Alex Shaw, a former flame who asks for his help representing her brother, Gus, through a messy divorce. Gus suffers from PTSD after having lost his right hand while working as a photojournalist in Iraq. He also has more going on than meets the eye, especially once the plot moves quickly into high gear. To say more would spoil some of the story, so just take my word for it.
The relationship between Brady and Alex is interesting, but again, the tension and recurrent testy exchanges began to wear thin. One relationship that remains charming throughout, however, is that between Brady and his dog. I enjoyed Brady's loyalty to being home at certain times to let the dog out to do his business, give him food and treats, etc. Having been a dog owner, I could relate.
The story line is interesting and has a nice twist to it. It's a bit over the top at times, but again, forgivable. Brady has a few recurring exchanges / interactions with Det. Horowitz of the State Police-- a gruff, coffee & donuts kind of cop who, beneath the prickly exterior, is a truly good guy and friend. These interludes augment the feel of the story and makes all the characters a bit more relatable.
Overall, this is another very enjoyable little book in the series with which I'm becoming acquainted. You might enjoy doing so as well. Happy Thanksgiving.
June 4, 2023
The penultimate Brady Coyne book, with Brady trying to help a post Iraq veteran with PTSD through a divorce when he is dound dead in an apparent suicide. Great book, I might wait awhile before reading the last in this excellent series.
July 7, 2011
Evie has left Brady for California to take care of her dying father, but she left no firm commitment to return, so Brady is left with his dog and townhouse. He’s visited in the office by Alexandra a former squeeze. (don’t modern characters manage any kind of longevity in their relationships - except perhaps for Steve Carella who doesn’t look so modern anymore. Thank goodness for Carl Houseman.) Alex wants Brady to handle the divorce of her brother a well-known photographer -- a non-embedded one -- whose wife has left him and is now suffering from the loss of his right hand and PTSD.
Gus winds up dead of an apparent suicide after sending an apologetic email to his estranged wife. Alex and Brady suspect foul play and soon Brady finds himself involved with potetnail terrorist actions. More and I would spoil things.
It would appear this is Tapply’s attempt to reconcile the anti-war movements of the sixties with nascent anti-war feelings (not activities since there does not seem to be any formal movement against the Iraq/Afghanistan wars at all) of today. At one point Gus rails against the symbiotic relationship between the military and journalists, each needing the other. Embedded journalists," he said. "They take the pictures they're supposed to take. They don't get to see the caskets, the body bags, the blood and brains splattered against the sides of buildings, the dead American kids half hanging out of blown-up Hummers, the mutilated Iraqi children...The brass. They couldn't control us. Couldn't censor us, couldn't tell us where to go, what to shoot. They knew we were after the stories they didn't want told. The senselessness of it. The failure of it. The friendly fire fatalities. The crappy equipment. The wrongheaded decisions. The dead children. They were all about covering up.”
A few reviewers have complained at the lack of action. Not me. I really like the characters Tapply develops and the two plots in this book are more than satisfactory. He’s a favorite.
Gus winds up dead of an apparent suicide after sending an apologetic email to his estranged wife. Alex and Brady suspect foul play and soon Brady finds himself involved with potetnail terrorist actions. More and I would spoil things.
It would appear this is Tapply’s attempt to reconcile the anti-war movements of the sixties with nascent anti-war feelings (not activities since there does not seem to be any formal movement against the Iraq/Afghanistan wars at all) of today. At one point Gus rails against the symbiotic relationship between the military and journalists, each needing the other. Embedded journalists," he said. "They take the pictures they're supposed to take. They don't get to see the caskets, the body bags, the blood and brains splattered against the sides of buildings, the dead American kids half hanging out of blown-up Hummers, the mutilated Iraqi children...The brass. They couldn't control us. Couldn't censor us, couldn't tell us where to go, what to shoot. They knew we were after the stories they didn't want told. The senselessness of it. The failure of it. The friendly fire fatalities. The crappy equipment. The wrongheaded decisions. The dead children. They were all about covering up.”
A few reviewers have complained at the lack of action. Not me. I really like the characters Tapply develops and the two plots in this book are more than satisfactory. He’s a favorite.
January 2, 2020
Jan 1, 2020 Remains a favorite but I should keep a 3-4 year hiatus.
Dec 2016 Still like this story!
april 2012 I think this is the remaining Brady C that I'd not read yet..
I was surprised by the resultant whodunit.
Good job!
Dec 2016 Still like this story!
april 2012 I think this is the remaining Brady C that I'd not read yet..
I was surprised by the resultant whodunit.
Good job!
November 16, 2018
Tapply has done it again! Brady Coyne is a Boston lawyer, usually to the wealthy, who consistently finds himself having to investigate and solve mysteries of one sort or another. In this case, it isn't one of the wealthy who calls on him, but his ex, Alex. Her brother has been going off the rails (PTSD) and then can't be reached. Of course Brady & Alex find him dead, apparently of suicide. It's pretty open and shut for the police and the ME, but Alex won't accept their decision and Brady isn't fully sold. Enter a fairly intense investigation, some danger, lots of drama of one sort or another. Relationships are such a problem for investigators, at least in novels, no?
This was a great read. I like Tapply's characters, including Brady's dog. Sadly, I can't tell you much of anything about the plot without spoiling some of your pleasure, so I won't.
This was a great read. I like Tapply's characters, including Brady's dog. Sadly, I can't tell you much of anything about the plot without spoiling some of your pleasure, so I won't.
February 1, 2024
When a former romantic interest reinters lawyer Brady Coyne's life and asks him to help her Iraq War veteran brother with his divorce, the attorney reluctantly agrees to take the case. Veteran Gus is filled with inner demons from his wartime exposure that sabotages his defense. Twists and turns related to Gus's PTSD has Brady second-guessing his alliance with the Gus's sister and adds to the building drama of this familiar tale about damaged veterans. This is a difficult story that strikes close to home.
August 19, 2024
(3). I have been so diligent in not consuming these books too quickly. I know this is the next to last one and when I put the final Brady Coyne book on my for later list at the library it gave me pause. These stories have been so much fun. This one is no exception. Yes, it starts pretty slow and there isn't a whole lot going on at first, but Brady is always entertaining and the last third or so takes off nicely and all is good in Bradyland. If you liked any of the others you will like this one too. Good stuff.
January 9, 2019
I guess a lot of people like this kind of professional /personal dual plot kind of thing. I don't, particularly when the two intersect, with old girlfriend, ex-wife, cousin, etc., being the reason for the professional. The Eppings subplot is fun, but the characters pretty one dimensional. And that's a shame, because some of them would be really ripe for plumbing. But there's not time, since all the personal stuff intrudes. Just not my cup of tea.
April 5, 2023
Notes: Our final reading in a series we really enjoyed. This one seemed lackluster, with the entanglements of Brady's "trouble" with female relationships almost more center stage than the plot about the apparent suicide of his client. As often, Brady doesn't buy in, and once again proves his intelligence and persistence.
Some of these 28 were truly outstanding, an excellent series in general. Naturally a few resonated more than others; overall, we shall miss these characters.
Some of these 28 were truly outstanding, an excellent series in general. Naturally a few resonated more than others; overall, we shall miss these characters.
July 1, 2025
This book came out the year before Tapply died although he must have been very ill at the time it was written. The tone of the book does not seem like authentic Tapply work. The light-hearted humor and references to Coyne's fishing obsession are missing, leaving the book "flat" and ordinary.
January 11, 2018
new author for me
August 30, 2018
This book isn't as exciting as the title and information make you think. It also doesn't go very deep into the feelings of the persons wich made it hard for me to empathize with them.
April 19, 2019
best book. quick and thrilling.
February 23, 2021
A thrilling book. Would love to read more books from the Brady Coyne series.
January 20, 2024
The characters were likable and the story moved along.
May 21, 2025
Great author. Story
September 22, 2008
Attorney Brady Coyne is back in action and ready to take on his next case. The last person he expected to see was his ex-girlfriend, Alex Sinclair to walk into his office. Alex wants Brady to represent her brother, war veteran; Augustine “Gus” Sinclair. Brady agrees to be Gus’s divorce lawyer. Gus suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This may be the easiest divorce case Brady has ever handled. Brady goes to catch up with Gus and finds Gus has committed suicide.
Brady Coyne kind of had a cynical attitude about him. It was understandable though considering all the different things he had going on in his life. I do have to give it up for Mr. Coyne as he is a very good attorney. He always gets the job done. Hell Bent is the latest book to feature attorney Brady Coyne. I felt that this book could be read as a stand-alone book. It never seemed like I was missing out on anything, since I have not read any of the other books in this series. Mr. Tapply is a new author for me. I will read more books by Mr. Tapply.
Brady Coyne kind of had a cynical attitude about him. It was understandable though considering all the different things he had going on in his life. I do have to give it up for Mr. Coyne as he is a very good attorney. He always gets the job done. Hell Bent is the latest book to feature attorney Brady Coyne. I felt that this book could be read as a stand-alone book. It never seemed like I was missing out on anything, since I have not read any of the other books in this series. Mr. Tapply is a new author for me. I will read more books by Mr. Tapply.
March 27, 2013
The main character Brady Coyne is just a nice man who I enjoy spending some time with. He is honest but usually kind and is good at sizing people up, although not always so good at keeping a girlfriend. In this novel in the series, he has lost one girlfriend and finds himself involved with an old girlfriend, who begs him to represent her brother in a divorce. Gus Shaw is a famous photojournalist but has come back from Iraq missing his right hand and is shell-shocked, or what we call post-traumatic shock disorder today. Coyne is able to connect with Gus but then he commits suicide. Despite all the evidence, his sister doesn't believe he would do that, and she convinces Coyne to look into it. For her sake, he starts asking around, trying to come up with a reason why Gus might have been murdered, and stirs up some bitter feelings about the military. The story meanders along with interesting side excursions into Coyne's life (the elderly couple suing a moving company, girlfriend problems, his feisty secretary) but ends with some action and tension as the plot reaches its conclusion.
April 28, 2010
I'm usually not a big fan of this type of book; lawyer goes beyond law into the criminal investigation realm. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, probably because it was on a topic that was interesting to me right now due to local current events. The main client in the story recently returned from Iraq and suffers from PTSD. I've seen the effects of this disorder on people I interact with at work who've returned from Iraq or Afghanistan, so I was curious to see how things played out in the book. A recent event that occurred locally while I was reading the book is that a soldier who just got back from Afghanistan killed his wife and daughter and unsuccessfully attempted suicide. The title of the book has a lot of meaning as you get toward the end of the book. I always appreciate a really good title that makes you wonder why did the author pick that title, and then you think about it and figure it out as the book goes on. It's adds another element to the book.
October 22, 2013
this is brady cohen the lawyer who was friends with the guy from marthas vineyard that the author died. i loved those boooks and was very sorry to hear he passed away
this book finds brady with evie is girlfriend in sf with her dad who is dieing. she isnt coming back. his old girlfriend alex shows up and he meets her brother who came back from the war without his right hand so he can no longer work as a photographer. he is in teh process of getting a divorce when he is found dead in his apt
his sister does not believe he killed himself and he didnt. the leader of his support group was planning a terrorist plot to blow up on vets day and he did it and killed another guy in the group too
brady helped the fbi find him and they killed him just in time
alex went back to her house but brady and his dog went to visit for thanksgiving.
this book finds brady with evie is girlfriend in sf with her dad who is dieing. she isnt coming back. his old girlfriend alex shows up and he meets her brother who came back from the war without his right hand so he can no longer work as a photographer. he is in teh process of getting a divorce when he is found dead in his apt
his sister does not believe he killed himself and he didnt. the leader of his support group was planning a terrorist plot to blow up on vets day and he did it and killed another guy in the group too
brady helped the fbi find him and they killed him just in time
alex went back to her house but brady and his dog went to visit for thanksgiving.
February 16, 2015
#24 in the Brady Coyne series. This penultimate Brady Coyne entry can only be listed as #27, per Goodreads, by including the three books written with Philip R. Craig that team Coyne with Craig's detective J.W. Jackson. All three of the collaborations take place on Craig's Martha's Vineyard rather than in Tapply's Boston. I treat the three as a separate, short series.
Brady Coyne is visited by former girlfriend Alex Shaw who wants him to represent her brother in a divorce. Her brother Gus is a noted photojournalist who lost a hand in Iraq and is suffering from PTSD. When his body is found in his apartment, an apparent suicide, everyone but Alex is willing to accept the coroner's verdict. She wants Brady to find her brother's killer.
Brady Coyne is visited by former girlfriend Alex Shaw who wants him to represent her brother in a divorce. Her brother Gus is a noted photojournalist who lost a hand in Iraq and is suffering from PTSD. When his body is found in his apartment, an apparent suicide, everyone but Alex is willing to accept the coroner's verdict. She wants Brady to find her brother's killer.
November 5, 2012
Sadly, this is the last Brady Coyne novel. We've lost three great Massachusetts writers in recent years, Tapply, Philip Craig and Robert B. Parker. I won't go over the plot, as many other reviewers have done that. My only hope was that Brady's relationship with Evie wouldn't be left in limbo and I was not disappointed. Hell Bent lived up to the high standards of all Coyne novels. In a great fiction series, the main character continues to grow and go thru changes, and that is true in this one. I have dropped authors (Stuart Woods, Jack Higgins, etc.) whose characters stagnate, but loved every book I've read by William Tapply. You should read them in order. Enjoy!
April 22, 2010
I think this is the last of the Brady Coyne series since, regrettably, Tapply died about 2 years ago. I've read most of them--only failing when the library no longer had the oldest ones. Tapply is a really good, solid mystery writer. His characters are interesting, the plots believable and the action well-paced. I saw a blurb comparing him to Parker and, actually, that's pretty close. I have to conclude that during his lifetime he didn't receive his due. He may not be in that tiny top circle of remarkable mystery writers but he's still way up there compared to most. RIP
July 5, 2010
I really enjoy the Brady Coyne novels. Brady is very laid back and it's easy to see why he's such a good lawyer. He knows how to work a case and keep secrets.
In this one and old girlfriend wants him to represent her brother in a divorce case. Sounds simple, but it gets complicated quickly. Seems the brother commits suicide, but is it suicide? That's what Brady has to find out.
I found the whole story and the relationships interesting.
In this one and old girlfriend wants him to represent her brother in a divorce case. Sounds simple, but it gets complicated quickly. Seems the brother commits suicide, but is it suicide? That's what Brady has to find out.
I found the whole story and the relationships interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2008
I have read several of the Brady Coyne books and I have enjoyed them. I haven't read them in order, so I've missed the longterm development of the character's history. This was a good read, and I appreciated the salute to another favorite fictional sleuth JW Jackson in the Vineyard series by the late Philip Craig, a friend of the author's.
July 25, 2010
This book was interesting. Not my normal type, but kept my attention. This was one of four books in a Readers Digest issue that I borrowed from Mom. Story was about a lawyer. His ex-girlfriend asked him to represent her brother in a divorce. Brother wound up dead. Sister believed it was murder and the lawyer had the task of proving her right.
January 19, 2009
Brady Coyne is Tapply's laid back, likable lawyer, who always seems to find himself in detective situations.This time he is reunited in the quest to find the murderer of his old girlfriend's brother.
This is a quick read with an unexpected outcome.
This is a quick read with an unexpected outcome.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews