Pacific Homicide

Pacific Homicide #1

by Patricia Smiley

Most cops spend their entire careers without firing a weapon in the line of duty. LAPD Homicide Detective Davie Richards is an outlier, a cop who killed a suspect to save her partner’s life.

While she waits for the police commission to rule her shooting was within policy, she’s called out to probe the gruesome homicide of Anya Nosova, a nineteen-year-old Russian beauty whose body is found in the Los Angeles sewer system. With her own case in limbo, Davie knows that any mistakes in the investigation could end her career. Meanwhile, as she hunts for the murderer, somebody from her past is hunting her. Knowing she’s in the crosshairs, Davie must bring Anya’s killer to justice before her life and the lives of those she loves are destroyed.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2016

About the author

Patricia Smiley is the author of four novels, featuring amateur sleuth Tucker Sinclair. PACIFIC HOMICIDE is the first in a new series about Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective Davie Richards and is based on her 15-year stint as a volunteer for the LAPD. The second book in the series OUTSIDE THE WIRE will debut on November 8, 2017.

Patty's short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Two of the Deadliest, an anthology edited by Elizabeth George. She has taught writing classes at various conferences in the U.S. and Canada and served as the vice president of the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America and as president of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles. Patty lives in Los Angeles where she is working on the third book in the Pacific Homicide series.

Reviews

[Carol]

The Hook Someone suggested this book to me. Looks like I'd should keep better notes but I think it might have been Librarian Extraordinaire, Lesa Holstein.

The Line - ”She felt the skin on the back of her neck bristle as she heard the hissing of that S sound, like a snake preparing to strike.”


The Sinker - First in a series. I liked the main character, Davie Richards, liked the locale, L.A> and liked the plot lot well enough. Will I read the second in the series? Not positive.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This introduction to LA detective Davie Richards from 2016 is a book I had meant to try earlier, but now that I have read the first I do have the second book lined up. Davie is a redhead,petite, thin, fit and dedicated to her job where things aren't always easy in the male-dominated arena. Her family history adds its challenges to the job as her father, a former cop, was unfairly suspended by a nasty lawyer who shows his fangs in this story as he comes after the daughter, Davie.
Thus...many layers of problems/challenges in addition to working hard to solve a murder. Russian crooks are one element added to the pot, so there is plenty going on in this book.

"Her gut felt raw. Time would tell if the wound was mortal. For now, all she could think about was surviving and finding a way to keep the department at bay while she continued searching for Anya Nosova's killer."

Library Loan
edit 12/31= changed "tall" to petite. Second book in series opens with her description as 5'1"

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much and am looking forward to reading the next one in the series which comes out in 11/18, I believe. The author knows police procedure and politics quite well, and her heroine, Davie Richards, is quite a firecracker.

[Meegz Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great introduction into the series. I liked Davie and her attitude as a detective and how she pursued her case. Many of the secondary characters I was unsure about, but this is definitely detailed in the works of police procedure and politics.

I did not see coming who the murderer actually was, and must say the ending was quite interesting. Also left open pretty well for the series to continue. I look forward to reading more of the series in the future.

[Ed · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as a give away to give it a review of what I think. I kind if wish the people who send books out for us to read and analyze would let us know whether profanity, sex, or something derogatory in the book by letting us know that it would not be suitable for children or even Christians to read. I do not agree with books that have profanity in the story. This book had a good story, but the profanity turned me against it. Sometimes I wish the author use a black magic marker and blot out profane words in the book and find out she still has the same good story.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway, and am giving my review, although I admit to not being the most articulate reviewer.

I really enjoyed the story and the characters. There were a number of twists and turns, but not so many that you just wanted to scream - solve it! When the final suspect came into play, you were not blindsided - you had been given all the information, there was no trying to fit the ending with facts already written.

The primary characters were well developed, but not to the point that there are not be things you can still learn about them.

I'm glad this is a new series and am definitely looking forward to reading the next installment. I also read it in one sitting, as I read with purpose and unless the story is too convoluted or I fail to relate to it in any way, that's the way I like my books!

[Paula Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good murder mystery that takes place in LA with Homicide Detective Davie Richards.

[Zena Bethune · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not worth reading. It wasn't bad but not good either. Heavy-handed writing, cliched characters.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a page turner. It seemed like there was a new suspect on every page. However, the real suspect never even crossed my mind as one.

Davie Richards is trying to find out who murdered a 19 year old Russian girl who is found dead in the L.A. sewer system. She's only been in the States for a few months, but she has definitely learned the fine art of lying. She has told so many lies that when it comes time to find her killer, it just makes it that much longer.

Not only is Davie trying to solve this murder, but some big wheel is trying to reopen an earlier case of an office involved shooting in which she was cleared because he lost a case against her dad several years earlier.

This story is pretty fast paced and most certainly kept me interested. I did not want to put the book down not spend time talking with anyone who chose to interrupt me. Entertaining, enjoyable and very well written.

Huge thanks to Midnight Ink and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

LAPD Homicide Detective Davie Richards is still working as she waits for the police commission to rule on her shooting of a suspect. Then she and her partner are called to the site of a possible murder. This is the story of them trying to find the killer of Anya Nosova.
I liked the style of writing and found it very easy to read as the story swept you along. I also didn't determine who the killer was. I also like portrayal of the characters.
A NetGalley Book

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story with interesting characters and a twisty plot. The writing is brilliant, and the author uses details to complete the picture and involve the reader. It was a relatively quick read, but that's because once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. The story is realistic and flows well because of the smooth style of writing. I hope to read more about Detective Davina and her friends.

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good read but not a great one. Comparisons to Wambaugh are a bit overblown.

Davie Richards is a second-generation LAPD officer, a new homicide detective caught up in her first case as lead officer. She also is under investigation for an earlier officer involved shooting that takes the whole big a bit off the tracks.

Having said all of that, I will still give the second book in the series a chance to see what becomes of the characters.

[Kevintipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Davie Richards has a nasty case to deal with as Pacific Homicide: A Mystery by Patricia Smiley begins. A women’s body has caused a shutdown at the Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant. Naked and with no jewelry, Detective Davie Richards and her partner, Jason Vaughn, have to figure out who she was and how she got into the Los Angles sewer system to be caught in the workings of a rotating grinder. She could have gone into the system almost anywhere in the vast service area. With no clothing or any distinguishing features, other than the spider web tattoo on one arm which might mean something or it could be nothing, it seems almost impossible to identify her.

After some work, Detective Davie Richards learns that the woman’s name is Anya Nosova. She’s from Ukraine and her short life has ended before she will see twenty or go home again. What happened to her and why is just part of what Detective Richards needs to figure out. That is assuming she is going to be allowed to continue to work on the more and more complicated case. Her ability to do her job, let alone be free and not locked up in prison, depends on if the ongoing use of force investigation into her recent shooting situation ever ends. Not only does Detective Richards know that everything she has done from the night of the shooting to now is again being scrutinized, her actions on this murder investigation which is her first as lead detective, mean the brass and others are watching more than ever.

Pacific Homicide: A Mystery is a fast paced read that is part mystery and part police procedural. Readers follow the point of view of Detective Richards and numerous others as things in the two cases escalate. Of course, crime does not happen in a vacuum so there are other police situations that interplay with the two primary storylines as does the personal. Some of that is a bit clichéd, though it does work well and fits into the overall tale seamlessly. Quite a bit is going on in Pacific Homicide: A Mystery” by Patricia Smiley and it is a very good ride.


Pacific Homicide: A Mystery
Patricia Smiley
http://www.patriciasmiley.com
Midnight Ink
http://www.midnightinkbooks.com
November 2016
ISBN# 978-0-7387-5021-7
Paperback (also available in eBook format)
$15.99
312 Pages

Material supplied by the good people of Dallas Public Library System.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2019

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

PACIFIC HOMICIDE is the first in a new series featuring LAPD Homicide Detective Davie (Davina) Richards.

Davie shot and killed a suspect in order to save another officer's life. Local law enforcement has cleared her from any wrong-doing. Unfortunately the AG died before signing off on it and his replacement has a personal interest in seeing Richards behind bars. He also prosecuted her father, also a cop, many years previously and was sorely unhappy when he was found not guilty.

While she waits to see how it goes, she is called to investigate the murder of a young woman, whose body is found mangled in the sewer system. This is Davie's first lead investigation and she's checking and double checking that everything she does is on point.

Upon investigating with very little to go on, they identify her as a Russian immigrant. She and her partner painstakingly start following every lead they latch onto.

As she gets closer to solving the case, the killer has turned his eyes on her. And she has a lot more to lose than her job.

This is a very cleverly written police procedural with great story premise and credible characters. Davie is thorough, wanting nothing more than justice for her victims. She and her partner, Jason, work well together. They're very good at bouncing ideas off each other. Their boss is a great guy. He's getting close to retirement and although he'd rather stay, he knows it's time. He's terrific at backing up his officers in anything and everything they need.

I like how the personal segues into the professional seamlessly, making the characters much more believable. And I liked Rags, the homeless man who is such a big part of the story. The suspense increases and decreases, leaving the reader eager to read to the next page, the next chapter.

Many thanks to the author / Midnight Ink / Netgalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very smooth and fast read.

I was swept into the story of a mangled female body in the sewer system in Southern California.

This is a police procedural, and a female lead. She has the usual problems within her department, but she also has support from some of her supervisors too.

The dead body is that of a Russian model/prostitute. She has few possessions and is in touch with the local Russian community, which helps solve her murder.

I have lived in Los Angeles and know some of the areas where these events took place. It all rang true.

I plan to read on in this series. I borrowed a well read copy of this title from the public library.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so very much enjoyed this book. It was so interesting and the characters, especially the main Homicide detective, David Richards.
She was very knowledgeable in about procedures for Police Departments.

My wonderful husband of almost 49 years, retired with 30 years of service from a Police Department. So I was familiar with a lot of procedures. He was familiar with all aspects of police work. He was in all areas of police work. He is also reading this book! Thanks bunches, Patricia.

I received this book in contest, I do loved to win new books from new and or my favorite author's..

[AD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting procedural set in L.A. with an interesting lead character.Davie is a second generation cop, now homicide detective investigating the murder of a young woman found in the L.A. water treatment system. At the same time, a new face at the DAs office is reopening one of her old cases for not completely real reasons. I look forward to further investigating this series.

[Elena Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has every element of a good detective story and then some. Detective Davie Richards must solve a homicide with very little to go on. The case has many twists and turns, and portrays an unforgettable victim. Like a true story, Richards’ painstaking investigation and interviews finally reveal the killer. This is the first book is a series.

[K-BRC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pacific Homicide is a first in series which makes it doubly tempting. This book will not disappoint. The characters are well-developed and likable. The plot moves quickly with enough twists to keep you interested. Great read; strongly recommended.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy, page - turning summer crime drama.

[Sameeha Rahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice and fast-paced

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book. I will read more from this author.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery with an added storyline of the main cop being under investigation herself for a bad shooting.

[Wpayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pacific Homicide

Loved the story and the characters! Will sure keep this author on my list. It's always exciting to find new stories and new authors.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to say. An ok crime novel.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked the third one so i went back to read them in order. this one was okay. solid but not exciting or super engaging. don’t think i will read the second one now.

[Don C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the accurate description of the area where the action takes place. The quality of writing could be better in places. The story line was credible.

[Mhd]

#3 was recommended in Book Bites

[Justine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got to page 50. I felt like I had read this story before. The lead character is too predictable for someone who has read 60 years of mysteries.