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The Last Detective
It's been two years since the invasion.
Two years since the slicks came to our planet and herded humanity together like cattle, placing us under constant watch in the few cities that remain. The lucky ones are left to their own devices. The unlucky few are rounded up and carted off to labor camps to face an unknown fate.
Former homicide detective Adrian Grace was cut off from his family, but has somehow managed to survive. When one of the slicks is murdered, they ask him to find the killer. He reluctantly agrees, and in the course of his investigation witnesses the best, and the worst, that humanity has to offer: a plot to escape the labor camps; a pending war between an in-your-face councilwoman and the corrupt city mayor; and a priest who claims to have befriended the dead alien. But worst of all, he stumbles onto a conspiracy that puts the fate of the entire city in jeopardy. In the end, Detective Grace discovers that the killer might just be the last person he would have suspected.
A story about betrayal, redemption, faith, fear, and hope, The Last Detective is a thrilling look at what happens to humanity when our world crumbles around us.
Two years since the slicks came to our planet and herded humanity together like cattle, placing us under constant watch in the few cities that remain. The lucky ones are left to their own devices. The unlucky few are rounded up and carted off to labor camps to face an unknown fate.
Former homicide detective Adrian Grace was cut off from his family, but has somehow managed to survive. When one of the slicks is murdered, they ask him to find the killer. He reluctantly agrees, and in the course of his investigation witnesses the best, and the worst, that humanity has to offer: a plot to escape the labor camps; a pending war between an in-your-face councilwoman and the corrupt city mayor; and a priest who claims to have befriended the dead alien. But worst of all, he stumbles onto a conspiracy that puts the fate of the entire city in jeopardy. In the end, Detective Grace discovers that the killer might just be the last person he would have suspected.
A story about betrayal, redemption, faith, fear, and hope, The Last Detective is a thrilling look at what happens to humanity when our world crumbles around us.
246 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2016
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293 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 14, 2017
Mixed genre- well put together; no, very well put together. Those that love murder mystery will find themselves comfortably stationed within a science fiction world and vice versa. I love writing that can shatter walls between genres, between readers fixed ideas of like, and this book does that well.
We are in a recently invaded world by a civilisation of ‘slicks’ that mankind is still far short of understanding. Human society is in a state of decay, if not quite chaotic dissolution, as the alien culture imposes certain disciplines whilst leaving humans with a veneer of independence. Any independence is apparently dependent on an absence of resistance. Regular mass deportations to destinations unknown, are ‘accepted’ by the human administrations. One can’t help but make comparisons between the slicks as quasi Nazi or Starlin’s cabal. Perhaps those born in this century would relate better to comparison with the current, alien to humanitarian values, regime of Kim Jong-Un.
When an alien is apparently murdered the aliens find cause for an investigation by what remains of a human police force. Painstakingly Adrian, the last pre-invasion trained detective, puts the pieces of the case together despite the lack of resources and technologies still at his disposal.
The principle human characters are well drawn, and the unfolding of the crime is crafted in a very compelling way. This is a case for an old-time sleuth, not a ‘slick’ crime lab. Um: pun intended.
As an independent writer and a strong advocate of my peers, I am delighted to be able to report this book as being a good example of the quality achievable outside of the traditional publishing empires. Pandamoon are one of many new small publishers. I’m certainly not in any position to endorse them, but I can say that they have at least one good writer aboard.
Well written and, apart from a few lapses, well edited.
We are in a recently invaded world by a civilisation of ‘slicks’ that mankind is still far short of understanding. Human society is in a state of decay, if not quite chaotic dissolution, as the alien culture imposes certain disciplines whilst leaving humans with a veneer of independence. Any independence is apparently dependent on an absence of resistance. Regular mass deportations to destinations unknown, are ‘accepted’ by the human administrations. One can’t help but make comparisons between the slicks as quasi Nazi or Starlin’s cabal. Perhaps those born in this century would relate better to comparison with the current, alien to humanitarian values, regime of Kim Jong-Un.
When an alien is apparently murdered the aliens find cause for an investigation by what remains of a human police force. Painstakingly Adrian, the last pre-invasion trained detective, puts the pieces of the case together despite the lack of resources and technologies still at his disposal.
The principle human characters are well drawn, and the unfolding of the crime is crafted in a very compelling way. This is a case for an old-time sleuth, not a ‘slick’ crime lab. Um: pun intended.
As an independent writer and a strong advocate of my peers, I am delighted to be able to report this book as being a good example of the quality achievable outside of the traditional publishing empires. Pandamoon are one of many new small publishers. I’m certainly not in any position to endorse them, but I can say that they have at least one good writer aboard.
Well written and, apart from a few lapses, well edited.
March 29, 2017
Well this little gem just jumps right out at you. I really enjoy a book where the author thinks out of the box, or in this case the world, bringing together the aftermath of an Alien invasion with an unthinkable murder that rocks the fragile existence of mankind. When the body of an murdered Alien is discovered there is only one option to take and that is to send for the last detective. All of the other detectives were killed in the invasion 2 years before.
Adrian Grace hates his self because he misses being an Homicide Detective as much as an addict needs his fix. He hates the idea of working for them but the promise of being reunited with his wife and 2 children is eventually the deal breaker, even if it means grassing out an human for the murder. I mean who wouldn't after 2 long years of not seeing them. Unfortunately he knows with certainty that Aliens or Slicks as they are known, don't kill each other, they work for the collective for the greater good to benefit all fellow slicks. It is just a pity that they didn't have the same respect for the rest of the Universe, instead of wiping out entire worlds of their inhabitants in the work camps that no one ever comes back from, before moving onto the next world to repeat the process all over again. Adrian Grace is going to have his work cut in a world of corrupt humans and cults that have sprung up to try and make sense of how their maker could abandon them all.
Brian Cohn has created a very believe world where no one felt out of place. It all feels so very natural of what you could expect but not want to really think about. I really liked Adrian Grace from the start, he knew his own worth and just how much he could push the slicks. I couldn't really grasp how someone could miss being an homicide detective, I mean to do that job you needed bodies right? which meant people, often innocent people had to die, but it isn't until you see him working that you understand that ache he must have had because he is one pretty awesome bloodhound for solving a case. This isn't just a story about murder, it is about staying outside of that box to see the bigger picture. Loved the whole concept of this book. It works beautifully.
Adrian Grace hates his self because he misses being an Homicide Detective as much as an addict needs his fix. He hates the idea of working for them but the promise of being reunited with his wife and 2 children is eventually the deal breaker, even if it means grassing out an human for the murder. I mean who wouldn't after 2 long years of not seeing them. Unfortunately he knows with certainty that Aliens or Slicks as they are known, don't kill each other, they work for the collective for the greater good to benefit all fellow slicks. It is just a pity that they didn't have the same respect for the rest of the Universe, instead of wiping out entire worlds of their inhabitants in the work camps that no one ever comes back from, before moving onto the next world to repeat the process all over again. Adrian Grace is going to have his work cut in a world of corrupt humans and cults that have sprung up to try and make sense of how their maker could abandon them all.
Brian Cohn has created a very believe world where no one felt out of place. It all feels so very natural of what you could expect but not want to really think about. I really liked Adrian Grace from the start, he knew his own worth and just how much he could push the slicks. I couldn't really grasp how someone could miss being an homicide detective, I mean to do that job you needed bodies right? which meant people, often innocent people had to die, but it isn't until you see him working that you understand that ache he must have had because he is one pretty awesome bloodhound for solving a case. This isn't just a story about murder, it is about staying outside of that box to see the bigger picture. Loved the whole concept of this book. It works beautifully.
June 20, 2017
A symbiosis of the genres of the noir detective novel and science-fiction with a hero with a dark-sense of humour and a heart Thanks to Rosie Amber for organising Rosie’s Book Review Team and for providing this great opportunity for reviewers and authors to meet. If you’re an author, check here how to submit your books to the team.
I don’t read many purely science-fiction books (I’m not a big fan of lengthy descriptions, and world-building can take a fair amount of space while I generally care more for characters) but I’ve read a few recently that I’ve enjoyed, enough to make me pay more attention to sci-fi offerings. Some novels combine sci-fi with other genres and that usually brings them onto more familiar territories. This novel is one of those cases. It is a fairly classical (in style) noir detective novel: you have the disenchanted detective who has left the police disappointed with the way things are done now (in his case, though, there was an alien invasion on Earth that all but destroyed Humanity’s achievements and progress over centuries [no electricity, limited access to fuel, no telephones, no TV, no democracy]… Humans have become prisoners, rationing of food has come back, and aliens control access to the few resources left, and they send humans to ‘labor camps’ somewhere outside of Earth with some cooperation from the human ‘authorities’) and who is called back because he’s the only one who can solve a murder. Now that the police have become no more than puppets of the aliens (also called ‘slicks’, because of the peculiar aspect of their skin), there is nobody else who still remembers how things were done. This is a DIY police procedural novel (no computers, no DNA analysis or blood tests, only very basic gathering of evidence and use of deductive powers, almost back to Conan Doyle or Christie) with a main characters, Adrian Grace (a very apt name, as we discover), who has probably lost everything and who describes himself as being ‘addicted’ to detective work. There might be other reasons (read excuses) why he chooses to accept the case of the murder of a Slick (they have somewhat of a herd mentality and do not hurt each other but it seems unthinkable that a human would dare to try and kill one of them) but the main one is because he misses being a detective.
The story is told in the first person, present tense, from Grace’s point of view, and it follows the chronological order, with the main action taking place over only a few days. Although he has fallen quite low, he hasn’t reached the level of others, and he is smart, witty, and has a rather black sense of humour that is what keeps him going. Although he does not dwell for too long on his circumstances, or those of humanity (the novel starts with a brief chapter that takes place right at the moment when the aliens arrive, that allows us a glimpse into Grace’s work before normal life came to an end, and we get to meet his partner, Yuri, who is missing by the time the main action of the novel starts), he is harder in appearance than in reality. He trusts his instincts; he suspects everybody but is also quick to believe in first impressions and happily accepts as a partner a young female detective, whom he trusts from very early on (because he needs somebody to trust). Grace reminded me of many of the hard-boiled detectives of old, but he is not violent by nature and avoids guns if he can help it, and in contrast to more modern models, he is witty but not foul-mouthed. He drip-feeds us details about his life (he was brought up a Catholic, he was married with kids, he talks about his mother’s death when he explains his lack of faith…) and he still looks after his father. His relation with his father is heart-warming, despite the terrible situation, and it only reinforces the fact that we are dealing with a human being and not a collection of clichés. Although I’m very partial to unreliable narrators, Grace is not one of them, at least not by design. This being a mystery, we are not always given always given all the information, but if we are misguided, it is because Grace is mistaken or wrong-footed (by others or himself).
The book is not heavy on descriptions and the world the book describes is like a ghost of our world, like those empty and abandoned towns we sometimes see on TV that have fallen prey to disasters (economic, natural, or man-made). We have human beings that have lost their purpose, groups of religious extremists (the Abandoned, who sustain God has abandoned Humanity), resistance groups, and the aliens can also function as stand-ins for many dictatorial regimes bent on the destruction of all opposition (Nazi Germany comes to mind, but many other, recent and distant, would also fit the bill). Some of the humans are complicit with the regime whilst others are not what they seem to be. The book allows for reflections on the nature of society, politics, religion (there is a priest that plays an important part), family, betrayal, guilt, and ultimately hope. Grace is not always right, but he has not lost his humanity, and he is a realistic character we would all like to befriend.
This is a tremendous book, where the science-fiction and the detective genre work in symbiosis and create a novel that is more than the sum of its parts. Recommended to fans of both genres, especially those who don’t mind experimentation within the genre, and in general to people who enjoy fiction that pushes them to think whilst keeping them turning the pages.
I don’t read many purely science-fiction books (I’m not a big fan of lengthy descriptions, and world-building can take a fair amount of space while I generally care more for characters) but I’ve read a few recently that I’ve enjoyed, enough to make me pay more attention to sci-fi offerings. Some novels combine sci-fi with other genres and that usually brings them onto more familiar territories. This novel is one of those cases. It is a fairly classical (in style) noir detective novel: you have the disenchanted detective who has left the police disappointed with the way things are done now (in his case, though, there was an alien invasion on Earth that all but destroyed Humanity’s achievements and progress over centuries [no electricity, limited access to fuel, no telephones, no TV, no democracy]… Humans have become prisoners, rationing of food has come back, and aliens control access to the few resources left, and they send humans to ‘labor camps’ somewhere outside of Earth with some cooperation from the human ‘authorities’) and who is called back because he’s the only one who can solve a murder. Now that the police have become no more than puppets of the aliens (also called ‘slicks’, because of the peculiar aspect of their skin), there is nobody else who still remembers how things were done. This is a DIY police procedural novel (no computers, no DNA analysis or blood tests, only very basic gathering of evidence and use of deductive powers, almost back to Conan Doyle or Christie) with a main characters, Adrian Grace (a very apt name, as we discover), who has probably lost everything and who describes himself as being ‘addicted’ to detective work. There might be other reasons (read excuses) why he chooses to accept the case of the murder of a Slick (they have somewhat of a herd mentality and do not hurt each other but it seems unthinkable that a human would dare to try and kill one of them) but the main one is because he misses being a detective.
The story is told in the first person, present tense, from Grace’s point of view, and it follows the chronological order, with the main action taking place over only a few days. Although he has fallen quite low, he hasn’t reached the level of others, and he is smart, witty, and has a rather black sense of humour that is what keeps him going. Although he does not dwell for too long on his circumstances, or those of humanity (the novel starts with a brief chapter that takes place right at the moment when the aliens arrive, that allows us a glimpse into Grace’s work before normal life came to an end, and we get to meet his partner, Yuri, who is missing by the time the main action of the novel starts), he is harder in appearance than in reality. He trusts his instincts; he suspects everybody but is also quick to believe in first impressions and happily accepts as a partner a young female detective, whom he trusts from very early on (because he needs somebody to trust). Grace reminded me of many of the hard-boiled detectives of old, but he is not violent by nature and avoids guns if he can help it, and in contrast to more modern models, he is witty but not foul-mouthed. He drip-feeds us details about his life (he was brought up a Catholic, he was married with kids, he talks about his mother’s death when he explains his lack of faith…) and he still looks after his father. His relation with his father is heart-warming, despite the terrible situation, and it only reinforces the fact that we are dealing with a human being and not a collection of clichés. Although I’m very partial to unreliable narrators, Grace is not one of them, at least not by design. This being a mystery, we are not always given always given all the information, but if we are misguided, it is because Grace is mistaken or wrong-footed (by others or himself).
The book is not heavy on descriptions and the world the book describes is like a ghost of our world, like those empty and abandoned towns we sometimes see on TV that have fallen prey to disasters (economic, natural, or man-made). We have human beings that have lost their purpose, groups of religious extremists (the Abandoned, who sustain God has abandoned Humanity), resistance groups, and the aliens can also function as stand-ins for many dictatorial regimes bent on the destruction of all opposition (Nazi Germany comes to mind, but many other, recent and distant, would also fit the bill). Some of the humans are complicit with the regime whilst others are not what they seem to be. The book allows for reflections on the nature of society, politics, religion (there is a priest that plays an important part), family, betrayal, guilt, and ultimately hope. Grace is not always right, but he has not lost his humanity, and he is a realistic character we would all like to befriend.
This is a tremendous book, where the science-fiction and the detective genre work in symbiosis and create a novel that is more than the sum of its parts. Recommended to fans of both genres, especially those who don’t mind experimentation within the genre, and in general to people who enjoy fiction that pushes them to think whilst keeping them turning the pages.
March 16, 2017
Remember the first time you put chips on a sandwich? And you were like, "Holy crap ... I knew I liked chips ... and I knew I liked sandwiches ... but ..." Well, I knew I liked alien stuff. And I knew I liked hard boiled detective fiction. But ... this is SO much fun. If you have ever watched District 9 and thought, I wish this had a murder mystery at its core, this book was written specifically for you. Fantastic debut.
July 20, 2017
I received a free review copy for this book, which is reviewed by me for Rosie Amber's Review Team.
Before the alien invasion, Adrian Grace was a cop. Then the 'slicks' arrived, and their word is law. Two years later, Adrian is ekeing out a dreary existence in a motel, with his family far away in Boston. A group of the city dwellers work for the Authority, and police the population according to the rules of the slicks. Food is short, there is little fuel, and life is one of darkness and danger, with the Authority herding chosen people off to labour camps from which nobody ever returns. But there is revolution in the air.
Then Grace is asked to solve the murder of one of the slicks. In an action-packed plot taking place over a period of just a few days, he is drawn into a labyrinth of corruption, lies, dubious loyalties and misplaced assumptions about those with whom he comes into contact.
Brian Cohn has created a compelling dystopian world, with lots of evocative detail and ponderings on life, the universe and everything. Grace makes for a likeable and interesting first person narrative, in turn depressive, philosophical, cynical and dryly humorous; there are some amusing touches, such as the daily game of Russian roulette with his food - the tins are not labelled. He always hopes it won't be dog food. Sometimes it is.
I did enjoy this book, and love Cohn's writing style, but I wished for a little more rounding out of the circumstances ~ we are taken from the day of the alien landing (in the prologue), to two years later, only ever seeing hints about what happened in between. I wanted to know how the slicks took over, who they were, why they arrived, how the society broke down. And what happened in the labour camps. The darkness of the city is illustrated beautifully, but as the novel concentrates almost solely on the situation in which Grace finds himself, I was left with lots of unanswered questions.
To sum up: it worked well as detective/mystery/conspiracy novel, less so as a sci-fi/post apocalyptic, which was the aspect that attracted me. I'd definitely read something else by this author, though.
Before the alien invasion, Adrian Grace was a cop. Then the 'slicks' arrived, and their word is law. Two years later, Adrian is ekeing out a dreary existence in a motel, with his family far away in Boston. A group of the city dwellers work for the Authority, and police the population according to the rules of the slicks. Food is short, there is little fuel, and life is one of darkness and danger, with the Authority herding chosen people off to labour camps from which nobody ever returns. But there is revolution in the air.
Then Grace is asked to solve the murder of one of the slicks. In an action-packed plot taking place over a period of just a few days, he is drawn into a labyrinth of corruption, lies, dubious loyalties and misplaced assumptions about those with whom he comes into contact.
Brian Cohn has created a compelling dystopian world, with lots of evocative detail and ponderings on life, the universe and everything. Grace makes for a likeable and interesting first person narrative, in turn depressive, philosophical, cynical and dryly humorous; there are some amusing touches, such as the daily game of Russian roulette with his food - the tins are not labelled. He always hopes it won't be dog food. Sometimes it is.
I did enjoy this book, and love Cohn's writing style, but I wished for a little more rounding out of the circumstances ~ we are taken from the day of the alien landing (in the prologue), to two years later, only ever seeing hints about what happened in between. I wanted to know how the slicks took over, who they were, why they arrived, how the society broke down. And what happened in the labour camps. The darkness of the city is illustrated beautifully, but as the novel concentrates almost solely on the situation in which Grace finds himself, I was left with lots of unanswered questions.
To sum up: it worked well as detective/mystery/conspiracy novel, less so as a sci-fi/post apocalyptic, which was the aspect that attracted me. I'd definitely read something else by this author, though.
December 8, 2016
Brian Cohn blends the classic detective story with an alien invasion into a thoughtful and incredibly entertaining read. The Last Detective, Detective Grace is tasked with finding the killer of one of the new alien overlords called "slicks". The novel is full of rich detail on the day to day lives of the survivors who struggle to make it on their weekly rations and the constant threat of being sent to work camps from which no one has returned. Cohn brings the goods on this twist on a classic detective procedural. If you like aliens and detectives this is the book for you.
May 24, 2017
Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/review/RAIA5O0...
Alien Invasion/Mystery Mash-up
Adrian Grace was working as a police detective in an unnamed city when the aliens arrived with their massive spaceships. Humanity fought back and lost big. Confined to their cities, which serve as ghettoes, and periodically drafted into labor battalions by human collaborators, things are not looking bright for mankind. In the midst of a radically changed world, Grace is called back to work to investigate the murder of an alien.
This story works as a mystery. The problem is set and clues are laid out for Grace to follow. Red-herrings are dragged across the trail, and the denouement has its surprises.
The story works less satisfactorily as a science fiction story, but, perhaps, I expect more from my science fiction. For example, I wanted to know more about the "slicks" and the "labor camps." Obviously, the story is not really about either subject, but it was an itch I wanted scratched.
Likewise, there was a religious subtext in the book. Grace has a name with a religious connotation, but he is an atheist former Catholic, and the story features a religious sect known as the "abandoned," who preach that God has abandoned humanity to its fate. The story references an alien's interest in St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica. Ultimately, the religious subtext goes nowhere, although there is an interesting revelation that could have been used for greater effect.
I was impressed with this first book by author Brian Cohn on its own before I knew that Cohn has a full-time job as a doctor. The fact that he wrote a book of this quality with that background simply seasoned my appreciation of the book.
April 22, 2022
Brian Cohn's novel The Last Detective is like Cormac McCarthy's The Road had a child with Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep. The episode of The Outer Limits The Deprogrammers might be the pregnant mistress here. Cohn's detective character Adrian Grace is in a similar nightmarish future as the Outer Limits TV episode. Aliens have come to enslave humanity, and even worse we still don't know their full intentions. Nonetheless, these new and terrifying masters leave some humans alone and even hire Grace, the former homicide detective to investigate a murder case for them. Cohn's story is similar to The Road in that he succeeds in describing a bleak world of utter despair, with tiny mild hints that there may yet still be hope for earth's thinking and self-aware animals--the human race. Being a huge fan of old hardboiled detective novels, I took an instant liking to our protagonist Adrian Grace, who at times reminded me of Philip Marlowe, the detective in The Big Sleep. This is especially true since both characters live in a world of chaos but still maintain a sense of integrity--even if it's only for themselves. Grace even utters this to himself in the story, "...the universe couldn't care less."Well, I hate to pick a fight with the universe because it's probably not going to be a fair fight but I would like to see more of Adrian Grace in a book series. This is my first time reading a book from Pandamoon Publishing, so far I like what they are offering to readers. I enjoyed The Last Detective and I hope it's not Brian Cohn's last novel.
December 9, 2016
A search for humanity in an inhuman world.
As a rule, I’m not a fan of novels written in first person present tense, but I cannot think of this story being told as effectively in any other way. The immediacy lent to the telling, putting the reader not only inside Adrian Grace’s head but also his person drives a compelling story. You feel everything he feels while experiencing the detective’s logical processes in solving a complicated case. As the thin evidence is examined and the sparse leads followed there is little that makes sense. At every turn there is something unexpected all the way to the conclusion.
Adrian is a seasoned investigator, a former cop who left the force after an alien invasion of the Earth. His talents are called into action when one of the aliens is murdered, something with which the aliens have not experience. He is paired with a younger partner who works with The Authority, a group of humans who maintain order over the ensuing human chaos.
THE LAST DETECTIVE is a rich noir story bound to satisfy mystery lovers. Yet it is the backdrop, a dire, dystopian future, that allows the reader to see, feel, taste, smell and hear an alien world that barely resembles the Earth humans once dominated. Each day tests humanity, it’s failing institutions and each individual’s resolve to survive where hope is almost impossible to find.
Review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher in exchange for an honest appraisal.
As a rule, I’m not a fan of novels written in first person present tense, but I cannot think of this story being told as effectively in any other way. The immediacy lent to the telling, putting the reader not only inside Adrian Grace’s head but also his person drives a compelling story. You feel everything he feels while experiencing the detective’s logical processes in solving a complicated case. As the thin evidence is examined and the sparse leads followed there is little that makes sense. At every turn there is something unexpected all the way to the conclusion.
Adrian is a seasoned investigator, a former cop who left the force after an alien invasion of the Earth. His talents are called into action when one of the aliens is murdered, something with which the aliens have not experience. He is paired with a younger partner who works with The Authority, a group of humans who maintain order over the ensuing human chaos.
THE LAST DETECTIVE is a rich noir story bound to satisfy mystery lovers. Yet it is the backdrop, a dire, dystopian future, that allows the reader to see, feel, taste, smell and hear an alien world that barely resembles the Earth humans once dominated. Each day tests humanity, it’s failing institutions and each individual’s resolve to survive where hope is almost impossible to find.
Review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher in exchange for an honest appraisal.
May 18, 2017
Two years ago the aliens landed on Earth. Those that fought back were destroyed. Those that were left were sent to work camps. Adrian Grace was a homicide detective that has been asked to look into the death of an alien, also called Slicks because of their coloring. Grace doesn’t want to be one of those humans that works with the Slicks but they dangle his wife and daughter in front of him, who could refuse that offer. It seems someone has killed a Slick and they want Grace to find out who did it.
Adrian Grace wants to just be done with the Slicks. He wasn’t part of the police force that tried to stop him so he is the last detective. Lucky for the Slicks he is good at his job and loves the thrill of the hunt. And he has his hands full hunting down the killer.
This is an amazing blending of classic noir detective story with a scifi twist of aliens. It’s one of those books I look at and think either it’s going to stink or it’s going to be one heck of a read. I am happy to say I loved this book. You didn’t know where it was going, there was a lot of action and plenty of twists and turns, and you have an unexpected ending that will leave you breathless and wanting more.
I can’t wait for other books from Brian Cohn, he is definitely going on my save shelf.
I received The Last Detective from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Adrian Grace wants to just be done with the Slicks. He wasn’t part of the police force that tried to stop him so he is the last detective. Lucky for the Slicks he is good at his job and loves the thrill of the hunt. And he has his hands full hunting down the killer.
This is an amazing blending of classic noir detective story with a scifi twist of aliens. It’s one of those books I look at and think either it’s going to stink or it’s going to be one heck of a read. I am happy to say I loved this book. You didn’t know where it was going, there was a lot of action and plenty of twists and turns, and you have an unexpected ending that will leave you breathless and wanting more.
I can’t wait for other books from Brian Cohn, he is definitely going on my save shelf.
I received The Last Detective from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
June 26, 2017
Whether you’re a fan of sci-fi fan, hard-boiled detective stories, or mysteries, this book will appeal to you. Yes, it crosses genre lines, but in such a seamless manner and with such elegant prose, even purists of any one of those genres will be satisfied. But, don’t grab this if you’re looking for a cozy mystery. The violence isn’t gratuitous but some of it is graphic. The superb writing and editing (the few errors stand out because of their paucity), and complex plotting of The Last Detective make it a great read for anyone who enjoys an exciting who-done-it. To see this full review, please go to https://www.undergroundbookreviews.or...
May 7, 2017
This is a wonderful fusion of sf and detective novels and it works beautifully. An alien invasion two years ago has left the huge city hopeless, hungry and despairing. In his old life, our hero was a detective, but he has not joined the alien-controlled "authority" force. Life is hard but he has standards.
Then an silent, a 'slick' as they call them, is shot and the aliens are at a loss. They call on him to solve the crime.
I enjoyed the atmosphere and characters in this book and how familiar things were broken, but still worked, in their way. I was rooting all the way for our hero!
Then an silent, a 'slick' as they call them, is shot and the aliens are at a loss. They call on him to solve the crime.
I enjoyed the atmosphere and characters in this book and how familiar things were broken, but still worked, in their way. I was rooting all the way for our hero!
Read
March 16, 2017I purchased this book last month, and found it a quick and most enjoyable read. The underlying story was imaginative, with a noir fiction feel. The characters are real and memorable, and the plot has enough twists and turns to make this a real page turner. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a good sci-fi detective story. I look forward to Cohn's next book.
February 3, 2017
The book mashes together classic detective style attitude from the sixties with an occupation by aliens. Both topics on their own can be interesting, but together I found it outright riveting. The aliens focus purely on betterment of their races, everything for the greater good, individuals mean nothing. This made an interesting dynamic but also left a lot of questions regarding the larger picture unanswered.
Generalizing the plot is difficult without giving spoilers. The blurb shown for this work outlines nearly everything a reader may need to know going in. Those expecting a high-powered laser gun fight because aliens, should be aware this is a lower powered situation. There is action that fits well with a noir theme; despite aliens. The story focuses only on one murder mystery and leaves the ‘fight for freedom’ unresolved. These issues did not detract from the story being told but instead gave it more focus upon the crime being solved.
Readers may not like present tense. Otherwise I found the writing very easy to follow, to the point that I stopped noticing the writing style. The characters were gruff, realistic, and provided snark or sass in equal measure. Their conversations were fun and didn’t feel out of place. I really dug how the inner process of elimination that law enforcement goes through was explained.
The best way to get an impression of this book is to simply check out the sample provided and make a choice. I believe many people will find it a wonderfully entertaining read – especially those interested in murder mysteries.
www.frustratedego.com
Generalizing the plot is difficult without giving spoilers. The blurb shown for this work outlines nearly everything a reader may need to know going in. Those expecting a high-powered laser gun fight because aliens, should be aware this is a lower powered situation. There is action that fits well with a noir theme; despite aliens. The story focuses only on one murder mystery and leaves the ‘fight for freedom’ unresolved. These issues did not detract from the story being told but instead gave it more focus upon the crime being solved.
Readers may not like present tense. Otherwise I found the writing very easy to follow, to the point that I stopped noticing the writing style. The characters were gruff, realistic, and provided snark or sass in equal measure. Their conversations were fun and didn’t feel out of place. I really dug how the inner process of elimination that law enforcement goes through was explained.
The best way to get an impression of this book is to simply check out the sample provided and make a choice. I believe many people will find it a wonderfully entertaining read – especially those interested in murder mysteries.
www.frustratedego.com
January 16, 2017
I know this might not be healthy, but I love dystopian crime stories. With THE LAST DETECTIVE, Brian Cohn grabs a barstool between Ben Winters and China Miéville, and more than holds his own with this story of a human detective forced by alien authorities ("slicks") to investigate the shooting death of one of their own. This is a chilling tale of oppression, subversion, and best of all--mystery. I bought this book even though I could have gotten a review copy for free.
December 5, 2016
Cohn perfectly captures the tone and nuance of the classic hard-boiled detective novel, but with a sci-fi twist that keeps the story fresh and captivating. The dystopian world Cohn creates immerses the reader into the bleak future of Det. Adrian Grace and the sense of strain and menace of the newly occupied society inhabited by both Slicks and Humans is complexly rendered. Full of twists and turns, The Last Detective will keep you turning the pages until the surprising and satisfying ending!
December 6, 2016
An interesting Detective Twist
I like this story and it was interesting, as the crime has to do with Aliens. Yes, that's right, aliens. It's an easy flowing read and its filled with thrilling twists. A real page turner. The story has great detail and the reader can picture being side by side with the survivors. Detective Grace has an interesting case, and it's a grand mystery.
I like this story and it was interesting, as the crime has to do with Aliens. Yes, that's right, aliens. It's an easy flowing read and its filled with thrilling twists. A real page turner. The story has great detail and the reader can picture being side by side with the survivors. Detective Grace has an interesting case, and it's a grand mystery.
January 25, 2017
Brian Cohn's debut novel THE LAST DETECTIVE flawlessly blends detective noir with science fiction dystopian. Cohn suspends your disbelief on page one, then pulls you along for a suspenseful ride. It's a thoughtful read that will keep your mind going long after you put it down.
Cohn's debut is a smart, page-turning thriller. I can't wait to see what's next from this author.
Cohn's debut is a smart, page-turning thriller. I can't wait to see what's next from this author.
May 22, 2017
This is a finely crafted mystery, that could have easily taken place outside of the backdrop of alien invasion, yet that backdrop was the very thing that makes this story stand out. The author crafts a tale of mystery and intrigue, giving the reader a very good look into the minds of those on the brink of desperation. When hope is gone, what is left for humanity?
Alien noir. Loved it.
Alien noir. Loved it.
December 19, 2016
The Last Detective drew me in from the first sentence. The story is suspenseful, and kept me eagerly flipping the pages to find out what happens. I absolutely loved it! Well done, Brian Cohn!
April 20, 2017
This is a gritty detective novel that just happens to include an alien as a murder victim. It totally nails the standards for such novels-- the hard-nosed police chief, the rebel officer who doesn't do things by the book-- that's just good stuff.
The story is also moving, in a way I didn't expect. It includes a look at faith, and the message the story sends is one of optimism. On top of all that, it's a solid, fun action story.
This story could have been a 1970s TV cop show, well, except for the aliens (which would have been terrific to see on Kojak or Streets of San Francisco, by the way.)
Check out this excellent line:
"You seem awful broken up about one dead alien."
Author Brian Cohn needs to get to work on a 1970s TV theme song for this book. Or just write more. Either way, I'm anxious to see more from him. (review by Joe Crowe, on Twitter at RevolutionSF.)
The story is also moving, in a way I didn't expect. It includes a look at faith, and the message the story sends is one of optimism. On top of all that, it's a solid, fun action story.
This story could have been a 1970s TV cop show, well, except for the aliens (which would have been terrific to see on Kojak or Streets of San Francisco, by the way.)
Check out this excellent line:
"You seem awful broken up about one dead alien."
Author Brian Cohn needs to get to work on a 1970s TV theme song for this book. Or just write more. Either way, I'm anxious to see more from him. (review by Joe Crowe, on Twitter at RevolutionSF.)
January 18, 2018
Good solid detective story, terrific world.
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