Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Tom Lange #1

Dead Gone

Rate this book
A Gripping Thriller With An Explosive Ending By Best-Selling Author T.J. Brearton.

A woman’s body is found floating in a sultry Florida mangrove. She has no ID and there is no indication of cause of death. Who is she? Why was she murdered?

Rookie detective Tom Lange couldn’t have got a more difficult first case. The only thing he’s got to go on is the woman’s butterfly tattoo. His boss, Lauren Blythe, piles the pressure on and the medical examiner won’t tell him what he needs to know.

Meanwhile Tom’s neighbour Alicia has an abusive boyfriend who Tom clashes with in a way that will have far-reaching consequences.

The body leads Tom on a trail of seedy clubs, narcotics, and danger which is close to home. In a tumultuous ending with a massive twist, Tom’s world is turned upside down.

You'll be gripped from start to heart-stopping finish in this untputdownable detective mystery from T.J. Brearton. If you like Jeffery Deaver, Linwood Barclay, Lisa Unger, Gillian Flynn, Rachel Abbott, or Mel Sherratt, you will enjoy this compelling book.

337 pages, ebook

First published December 26, 2016

500 people are currently reading
360 people want to read

About the author

T.J. Brearton

46 books388 followers
Timothy James Brearton lives in the Adirondack Mountains with his wife and three children. He's loved thrillers and police stories for most of his life. HABIT follows broken cop Brendan Healy down the rabbit hole of a human trafficking conspiracy. DEAD GONE delivers Florida cop Tom Lange into a criminal underworld and THE KILLING TIME introduces FBI agent Shannon Ames, a country girl in the big city.

http://tjbrearton.net/about

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
477 (35%)
4 stars
487 (36%)
3 stars
283 (21%)
2 stars
67 (5%)
1 star
12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
Profile Image for Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while).
2,643 reviews2,472 followers
January 12, 2024
EXCERPT: MONDAY
Tom was awake when the alarm clock buzzed. He switched it off, stared up at the twirling ceiling fan a moment and then went downstairs.
The sign hanging on the living room wall read: Congratulations, Tom!
He collected a couple of empty beer bottles and stuck them in the recycling bin. The coffee was already brewing, the timer set for six.
He stood in his sweatpants, watching the coffee drip into the pot, considering a half-remembered dream.
Tommy . . . Tommy, help me.
His cell phone rang in the bedroom snapping him out of it. He bounded back up the stairs and grabbed the phone.
'Lange,' he answered.
'Special Agent Lange. Good morning.' It was Director Turnbull.
'What can I do for you, sir?'
'Well, Lange, it looks like day one for you is going to be a big one.'
'Okay, sir. I'm ready.'
'Are you familiar with Paddle Creek Tours?'
'No . . .' Tom found his notebook next to his badge on the dresser and plucked a pen from the coin dish. He scribbled down Paddle Creek.
'They do kayaking. Like canoeing, but one person per boat. You know where Rookery Bay is?'
'Yes, sir.' Rookery Bay was a nature preserve, a large mangrove estuary fed by the Gulf of Mexico.
'Okay. Good.' Turnbull said. 'Shell Island Road. You drive past the research reserve headquarters. Down half a mile on the right is where you want to be. Special Agent Blythe will meet you there.'
'Blythe, sir?' He wrote that name down too.
'Yes, she's who you're sharing the field office with, you'll be taking your cues from her.' Turnbull paused. Tom heard police radio chatter in the background. Whatever was going on, it sounded big. 'A body was found in the bay. Everglades Counties Sherriff's Office is already there. Check in with Blythe, I'll speak with you later. Good luck.'

ABOUT 'DEAD GONE': A woman’s body is found floating in a sultry Florida mangrove. She has no ID and there is no indication of cause of death.

Who is she? Why was she murdered?

Rookie detective Tom Lange couldn’t have got a more difficult first case. The only thing he’s got to go on is the woman’s butterfly tattoo. His boss, Lauren Blythe, piles the pressure on and the medical examiner won’t tell him what he needs to know.

Meanwhile Tom’s neighbour Alicia has an abusive boyfriend who Tom clashes with in a way that will have far-reaching consequences.

The body leads Tom on a trail of seedy clubs, narcotics, and danger which is close to home.

In a tumultuous ending with a massive twist, Tom’s world is turned upside down.

MY THOUGHTS: I mostly liked the plot of this book, but the execution let it down for me. It dulled down what could have been a thrilling story. There is little excitement and even less tension to keep the reader engaged and the characters don't have a lot of depth. We get background on Tom and his brother Nick, but not the little details that make the characters realistic and relatable.

There are a couple of plot points that don't make much sense, such as one character who had to relinquish his vehicle to pay off a debt, but can afford to hire a car. 🤷‍♀️

The writing was quite stilted, and nothing felt real to me. I wasn't drawn into the story and didn't form any feelings for the characters. However, this is the first book in a new series, so hopefully the writing and the characterisation will improve.

I listened to the audiobook of Dead Gone via Hoopla. The narrator was okay but didn't have a lot of emotional range to his voice.

⭐⭐.5

#DeadGone #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Timothy James Brearton lives in the Adirondack Mountains with his wife and three children. He's loved thrillers and police stories for most of his life.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Joffe Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Dead Gone by T.J. Brearton for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Profile Image for Louise Wilson.
3,673 reviews1,691 followers
December 26, 2016
A woman's body has been found floating in a sultry mangrove. There is no ID on her and no indication of the cause of death. Who is she?

Rookie Detective Tom Lange could not have Beeb given a more difficult first case. The only thing they have to go on is a butterfly tattoo. The pressure is on Tom to solve this case.

In some instances this is a well thought out plot but it was a bit obvious to me who the bad guy was. Unfortunately it does not keep me guessing. Don't let this put off picking up this's novel as I might have had a lucky guess

I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author T. P. Brearton
for my ARC in exchange for an honest review

Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,878 reviews1,709 followers
December 26, 2016
Tom Lange is a brand new rookie detective, on his very first day of work, and finds himself investigating his very first possible murder... a woman who worked in a gentleman's club. He also becomes involved in a domestic violence situation between his neighbor and her boyfriend.

And then there is his older brother, Nick. Nick is the only family Tom has left and he is constantly having to clean up after Nick's messes ... gambling, drugs, drinking.

If you like a forensics loaded book, you will like this one. While the first part of this story is somewhat slow, the more you get into it, the faster the action, the deeper the suspense. It's an involved plot, but not impossible to follow. All the characters are richly described.

While investigating, his boss, Lauren Blythe, piles the pressure on and the medical examiner won’t tell him what he needs to know. Tom understands that he is being watched and weighed ... he does not want to mess this up. But he's little bit cocky and gets awfully irritated when he's not allowed to follow his instincts without being threatened about his job.

You'll find a lot between the pages ... sleazy gentlemens' clubs, narcotics, sex workers ... and everyone seems to be hiding something... even the dead woman. Tom will have to weed out the untruths and face more danger than he ever thought possible.

The plot is well thought out with dips and turns that keep you guessing. I liked the characters and was pleased to see the Lange brothers' backstory. It did much to explain why they are who they are. The ending was quite surprising.

I wish to thank the author / Joffee Books / Netgalley for the uncorrected proof of DEAD GONE. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Profile Image for Monnie.
1,631 reviews789 followers
January 11, 2017
It's always a pleasure to read a straightforward crime novel that doesn't have so many characters that it's impossible to remember who's who or chapters that flip back and forth in time so often that I give up trying to figure out what year it is. While I might take a bit of an issue with the description that calls it a "gripping thriller with an explosive ending" - especially since the ending didn't come as a big surprise to me - I really, really enjoyed this book. So much so, in fact, that I'm happy to know it's the first book in a new crime series that takes place in south Florida. For sure I'll be in line when the next one comes out.

Actually, I've never been to Florida, even though my husband and I have so many relatives and friends there that we could stay for free for at least a couple of months (all of whom, BTW, would break our kneecaps if we didn't cheer for the Florida State University Seminoles). So even if we haven't been there in person, the ins and outs of Rookery Bay, a vast nature preserve dotted with brackish creeks seem somehow familiar and make the perfect setting for this book. And from the get-go I was intrigued by the main character, detective Tom Lange, who's joined the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He's hoping to do the best job he can under difficult circumstances (everybody resents a rookie, after all). He's also still trying to cope with the trauma of his childhood years; the only family he has left is an older brother Nick, who lives in the area as well.

Tom's first case comes with the discovery of an unidentified woman's body in a mangrove; the only clue is her butterfly tattoo. His boss, Lauren Blythe, is a seasoned detective who likes to be in control and is willing to cut a newbie only so much slack - even when it's likely that he's on to something. Stir in a medical examiner who, shall we say, won't win any awards for his sparkling personality, and Tom realizes early on that his opinion probably won't count for much. As if that case weren't bothersome enough, he not only must contend with a neighbor's abusive boyfriend, hints of drug dealing and prostitution but also his brother, who has a few issues of his own.

The near nonstop action and easy-to-follow plot kept me engrossed from beginning to end - to the point of being oblivious to what was on TV (well, except for the Alabama-Clemson national title football game - go Tigers)! I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it. Well done!
3,216 reviews69 followers
January 8, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for a review copy of Dead Gone, a police procedural set in southwest Florida.

Tom Lange is a newly minted detective with FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement). His first case, on his first day, is a murder. A young woman's body is found floating in state (why he's involved) protected waters. He has to work with Lauren Blythe who is supervising him but she makes life difficult for him.

I enjoyed Dead Gone which has a good plot and an easy to read style. The plot has plenty of twists and turns as suspects are investigated and discarded and is very good on procedure, to which Tom has a bit of a hit and miss attitude depending on his needs and is why Lauren gets on at him. I think it is overly detailed on some things, like what Tom wears, and the technical stuff made my eyes glaze, but the plot is so good I ended up ignoring the detail to find out what was coming next. I found the resolution a bit of a let down as it didn't ring true to me but getting to that point was a great ride.

Tom Lange is a good protagonist. He is smart, resourceful, intuitive and overly keen so he keeps picking away at the information they have until he finds more to go on. He has a troubled background but it is hinted at rather than explained so maybe Mr Brearton will explain more in a sequel.

I enjoyed Dead Gone so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
Profile Image for Pat.
2,310 reviews504 followers
January 25, 2018
I'm sorry but that was pretty woeful. It had all the excitement and drama of watching paint dry. I only finished it because I'm trying really hard not to DNF books.

Tom Lange is in his first week as a Florida state cop. He gets called out to a murder on his first day. He has a helluva week. He goes off the reservation incurring the wrath of his supervisors. He thinks someone is a bit 'strange' so therefore he must be the murderer. He leaps to conclusions based on nothing and then - lo and behold all the facts are made to fit this fanciful idea. And, and, and I can't even describe what else I didn't like about it as that would be giving spoilers. OK here's a thing, the cause of death for the second murder victim is so not logical. The whole thing is corny and lame and the ending - meh!
Profile Image for Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows).
1,795 reviews368 followers
March 27, 2017
Tom Lange's first case involves a dead woman found floating. This is a chance to prove himself. However, not only does he seem to clash with those he needs to work with, his personal life leaves him nothing simpler to handle either.... his older brother, Nick, has addiction issues and his neighbor, Alicia, is being abused by her boyfriend and seeking Tom's help. (I mean, can't a brother catch a break?!)

If you like police procedurals then you will LOVE this book as it is, in fact, almost ALL about it. This is where it's just a mismatch for book and reader. Don't get me wrong, I like these types of books but I like them more when we see more action (and sometimes with the view of the criminal, though this isn't always necessary). I spent more time wanting to know Alicia's storyline than the actual murder case. What saved the book for me was the last 15%, when the action came to play and a twist happened that I actually didn't see coming.

3.5 stars!
Profile Image for Annie.
2,117 reviews15 followers
February 9, 2017
A most excellent 5 star read! read this almost straight through and cried at the end. Would love to see Tom again...
Profile Image for Donna Mallery.
958 reviews91 followers
January 26, 2025
I love Bearton’s books, and this is my first with Detective Lange. He is a great detective, but a bit of a rogue since his compassion gets in the way of rules. But you can’t help but like him, and his steps to find the killer are well laid out. I liked this book and will be seeking out the next in the series.
Profile Image for Claudia Blanton.
184 reviews7 followers
January 13, 2017
I have received a free ARC copy of this book, in return for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

In order for me to enjoy a thriller or a mystery novel, the book has to have some excitement, some action, or at least psychological tension - all of these were missing from this novel. Dead Gone read more like the report written by the rookie agent Tom, who in his first case was let loose to discover the details about a young woman, that was found washed up in the Everglades.
I find it hard to believe, that a cop - no matter what department or agency - would be left alone to his devices, during a murder investigation, with only bare minimum supervision. At least that would be irresponsible. But this novel is full of holes like that one, which made it hard to finish reading to the end. The dialogue has no flow to it, neither does the internal dialogue of the main character and even though I wanted to care about what was going on, I never got invested in the story.

Even the plot twist at the end did not make up for all that this book has been lacking. I am disappointed because the premise could have been developed into a really good book, if handled with better care.

I am comparing this book to other thrillers I have read lately, and even some romance novels had more psychological tension than this book.
Profile Image for Barbi.
478 reviews2 followers
October 25, 2019
I like this author! The protagonist, Tom Lange, is too much of a hothead to be believable, but I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
987 reviews111 followers
August 16, 2017
I've been trying to read this for the last couple of days and just can't get into it at all. So.I'm DNF it as of right now, with that said I would like to think Netgalley for.give me a chance at reading it in a change for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Vfields Don't touch my happy! .
3,502 reviews
July 12, 2024
Good solid procedural mystery with a protagonist who sometimes gets too deep, too determined, too Boy Scoutish for his own good. T.J. Brearton needs to tread carefully from trying to be too witty, too tricky, too clever. I’d love to read another in this series, oh and I was intrigued by his neighbors.
Profile Image for Linda.
472 reviews
August 6, 2019
Having read books 2 & 3 in the Tom Lange series, I decided it was time to read the first one to get some of the back story on Agent Lange and his colleagues. I am very pleased I did because it filled me in on his relationship with Blythe and updates me on exactly what happened to his brother – which is extremely sad and something that had been referred to in the next two books, so I felt it was something I needed to know.

This book was a little bit slower to start than the others but, nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read and once the plot really started to take shape it was fast paced and exciting. I’m very pleased I have caught up with everything about Agent Lange and am now looking forward to book number four.
300 reviews6 followers
April 6, 2019
Read it!

I enjoyed this excellent story. Lots of excitement twists all the good stuff. I'm on the the next TJ Brearton novel.
Profile Image for Jeanette.
1,129 reviews62 followers
December 11, 2017
This is the second book that i have recently read by this author. I preferred this book, but fell short of five stars. Mainly because it too me a while to get into the story and the characters.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
293 reviews6 followers
January 19, 2017
Dead gone a five star read

Wow, what a fantastic read. I stayed up till 2:30 in the morning to finish. Tom is an fbi agent and is working a case of a murdered woman. He has lots of personel problems and a brother who is always in trouble. I didn't see the end coming. I was completely taken by surprise. I cant wait to read the next one
Profile Image for Pam.
532 reviews
January 7, 2017
Loved this book, hope it's a series. I'd really like to know Tom's back story!!!
Profile Image for Beverly Buck.
8 reviews
January 16, 2017
Lots of suspence

The beginning of the story grabbed my attention in no time then it just kept getting better. Would recommend reading it to anyone that loves mysteries..
921 reviews11 followers
August 23, 2017
Gripping non stop action thriller!

Explosive thriller and yes many twists and turns. I hope there is a follow up book written with these characters because it'll just be great!
Profile Image for Jessica.
997 reviews35 followers
March 23, 2017
I give this 3.5/5 stars. While I enjoyed Dead Gone, it took a long time for me to get into it. The description definitely had me interested and intrigued, but it felt like it was missing something.

Tom Lange is starting his first day on the force in Florida. He gets the call in the morning that his first day is a heavy one. They found a body in the Everglades. So his first assignment is finding out the identity of the woman and to solve her homicide. Which is proving to be more difficult than he anticipated. With his boss breathing down his neck, the medical examiner not cooperating with him, and then his neighbor's abusive boyfriend becoming a growing issue at home.

On his journey, he comes across sketchy nightclubs, narcotics, and other dangers that have an affect on his personal life. Will he be able to find the identity of the woman and solve her murder as a rookie?

I will say that the ending did help boost my rating! It was a good twist at the end. However, the beginning dragged. If you aren't a huge fan of police procedurals then this probably isn't the book for you. I'm alright with some, but this is heavily present throughout the book. The characters were well-developed and I enjoyed the writing style, but there was just a little too much of the procedural and not enough action.

Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for (Grace) Kentucky Bohemian.
1,988 reviews1 follower
October 25, 2022
Not Sure About the Hero...
The main character Tom Lange is likable and has a definite "white knight" tendency. He's intelligent and driven. He's got his share of ghosts and bad memories that helped shape him into the man he is. All of that is great, and a lot of main characters have that damaged persona that helps make them intriguing and unpredictable.

But I had an issue with his reactive personality, his impetuousness. Sure, he's a rookie, and while super-intelligent he is not experienced. For me, though, his continued impulsiveness not only landed him in trouble every few pages but gave the sense of a rogue nature. It didn't seem to fit with his personality.

The story itself is fast-paced, and I loved the setting. But the jury is still out for me as far as Tom Lange goes. I figure I'll grab the next book and see if his character matures before I write him off.
Profile Image for Donna.
2,116 reviews29 followers
June 12, 2023
Tom Lange is a new detective with lots of baggage. His partner Lauren Blythe is keeping secrets and one of his neighbours has an abusive boyfriend. Tom’s trying hard to help everyone but he a reactionary cop. His older brother is a Real Estate business owner with gambling and drug problems. People keep ending up dead and some are dancers at a known drug den. Gripping story with lots of action.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
201 reviews1 follower
August 10, 2019
Enjoyed this book

It was sort of interesting to read a story set in florida. In the tampa parts I recognize street names, even if it seemed they rearranged them a bit in describing. It did annoy me that st. Petersburg was repeatedly called st. Petes. St. Pete no s!
Profile Image for Linda.
264 reviews2 followers
August 14, 2019
Dead Gone

Again, an excellent book. T. J. Brearton is a great story teller. I stayed up all night reading your book. The characters are incredibly interesting, the plot is intense. Great book!
339 reviews3 followers
November 23, 2019
Absolutely riveting

Very well written in a way that kept me up way past my bedtime!! I've read many of T.J.Greetings novels and looking forward to reading book two in this series Truth or Dead.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK 🙂
28 reviews1 follower
August 16, 2020
Great

This was an excellent book to read. Exciting but realistic and had me guessing all the way to the end - and I was totally wrong on the ending in several ways which I like actually. Cannot wait to read the next Agent Lange book.
546 reviews7 followers
October 9, 2020
Dead Gone

Good read! I love the way this author tells a story. Exciting and fast paced. Felt like I was riding along with Tom as he worked out all the twists and turns this story took.
Profile Image for Melissa Allen.
1,343 reviews6 followers
June 5, 2023
Hoopla Bonus Borrow - - I really wanted this one to be stronger for me. It made my hometown of Tampa seem like strip club center of the world! That I didn't really love. The main detective went to FSU - - so I wanted to love it more then I did - - but sadly it was just meh for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.