Bolt Action Remedy

Trevor Galloway #1

by J.J. Hensley

Former Pittsburgh narcotics detective Trevor Galloway has been hired to look into the year-old homicide of a prominent businessman who was gunned down on his estate in Central Pennsylvania. When Galloway arrives, he determines the murder could have only been committed by someone extremely skilled in two areas: Skiing and shooting. He believes the assailant should not be too difficult to identify given the great amount of skill and athleticism needed to pull off the attack. When he discovers the victim’s property is next door to a biathlon training camp, the situation becomes significantly more complicated.

Galloway makes plenty of enemies as he sifts through stories about lucrative land deals, possible drug connections, and uncovers evidence suggesting the homicide may have been elaborate suicide. As he attempts to navigate through an unfamiliar rural landscape, he does his best not to succumb to an old drug addiction, or become confused by one of his occasional hallucinations. Oh, and a Pittsburgh drug gang enforcer known as The Lithuanian—if he’s even real—is tracking Galloway and wants to take his eyes. Galloway would rather keep those.

In Bolt Action Remedy, the typically quiet streets of Washaway Township, Pennsylvania become the epicenter of a mystery involving elite athletes and old grudges. For Galloway, the problems keep piling up and somebody out there believes problems should be dealt with by employing the most permanent of remedies.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

324 pages, Paperback

Published October 2, 2017

About the author

J.J. HENSLEY is a former police officer and former Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service. Mr. Hensley is the author of the novels RESOLVE, MEASURE TWICE, CHALK'S OUTLINE, BOLT ACTION REMEDY, RECORD SCRATCH, FORGIVENESS DIES, and several shorter works. He is originally from Huntington, WV and currently resides near Savannah, GA.

RESOLVE was a Thriller Award finalist and was named one of the Best Books of the Year by both Suspense Magazine and Authors on the Air. Record Scratch was an honorable mention for Suspense Magazine's Best of 2018.

He is a member of the International Thriller Writers.

Email: contact.hensleybooks@gmail.com

Reviews

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of connecting with JJ for the first time last year when he was a guest on my blog for #30AUTHORS. His work was new to me, but I was convinced early on that I would love his books. Anyone who has interacted with him on social media has experienced firsthand his hilarious takes on everyday life, and I look forward to my daily dose of funnies that he is known for. Add in the fact that he is extremely knowledgable about.. well... just about everything smarty pants and you have the perfect recipe for a highly entertaining romp. From the moment I was asked to take place in the blog tour, I had a feeling that Bolt Action Remedy would be a satisfying start to a new series, and I was right!

Trevor Galloway is the hero you like to root for. He's flawed and human, no doubt, but that just made me love the sucker even more. The opening pages bring tense action and suspense immediately, and then we fast forward one year in the future where Galloway is introduced and requested to look into this bizarre cold case. The premise of a criminal who's talents entail being a biathlete was extremely unique, which gave the story a certain flare that the same old humdrum doesn't contain. I'm not going to delve deeply into the plot, because you should just read the story for yourself, but this book was a wild ride in the best way possible. Hensley threw my attention higgledy piggledy to the point my conclusions were all cattywampus and I had not a clue how this would end. Excuse me while I teach JJ all the new words he'll need to use after his move to the deep south. The absolute best part of the entire book were the hallucinations that left the reader wondering what was real and what parts may have been Trevor's imagination. So incredible!

If you enjoy thrilling plots with dry humor inserted throughout, this is the book for you. Quite possibly one of the most witty and intelligent crime fiction novels I've read recently, this is the type of story that draws you in and connects you to the characters instantly. I am so relieved that this is the beginning of a new series and I'll be able to revisit this setting; I can't imagine having to say goodbye to Trevor forever. Sorry, that sounded like a sappy love letter. Highly recommended, especially to you folks who are tired of the overly hyped books that the large publishers are pushing on you. It's always exciting to find an independent author who writes quality stories and enjoys interacting with other bookish people. Well done and I can't wait to read book two!

Many thanks to the author for providing my copy via NetGalley; it was a pleasure to participate in the blog tour and provide my honest thoughts here.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the first page of this one I was hooked, a man is shot amd killed on his property and the tension and setting was so vividly rendered, I felt like I was there, a part of the action myself. Then we flip to a year later and are introduced to Trevor Galloway, a former detective with a harrowing past. His friend Chase has asked him to investigate a cold case, that of the man who was gunned down in the prologue.

Two things really grabbed me and made me well and truly hooked on this book. First the assailant had to be a biathlete which is such a unique and interesting premise, I’ve never read a book with anything even remotely close to this setting/idea and nothing makes me happier than reading a crime novel with a fresh perspective. On top of the super intriguing premise, Galloway was the type of lead that makes my heart sing. He’s damaged, flawed and practically broken, but he also has the type of ironic, wry sense of humor that never fails to satisfy me as a reader. He also suffers from occasional hallucinations making his reliability a constant guessing game that kept me on my toes.

This was really fast paced with a ton of action and some great scenes that made my heart race. The writing style is sharp and witty and there was enough information about biathlons to keep me engaged but not so much excessive info that I was bored. The mystery itself was taut and I could never quite figure out what would happen next, it really was an entertaining read. If you’re looking for a fresh, remarkable crime novel, give this one a shot.

All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com

[Tara - runningnreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all four of J.J. Hensley's novels (Resolve, Measure Twice, Chalk's Outline, and this upcoming release) as well as a piece he contributed to Legacy: An Anthology; I highly recommend all of them and, if nothing else, you should definitely follow him on Twitter and Facebook for regular entertainment. As a former Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service, he is not lacking in excellent stories and experiences.

All of Hensley's protagonists are rather tortured souls, yet quite endearing; Trevor Galloway, a former Pittsburgh narcotics detective, is no exception. He is hired by the family member of a prominent Pennsylvania businessman to consult on his homicide case, and finds himself drawn into the sport of biathlon.

"I don’t understand the thing. Skiing is a sport. Even shooting can be a sport. But it seems to me that if someone is going to grab a rifle and hop on a pair of skis, it should be preceded by someone saying, ‘Hold my beer and watch this.’"

While trying to uncover potential leads, creating new enemies by asking too many questions, and struggling to separate his own challenging experiences from those of the case, Galloway creates a situation in which the family who has hired him, and the police chief who is his only ally, begins to wonder whether they will ever get the answers they seek.

"Working a case is like distance running. You can’t go all-out, all the time. You have to pace yourself, know your limitations, and focus on your strengths."

There is plenty of wit and snark for those of you who, like me, appreciate that sort of thing; it is definitely what draws me back, time and again, to Hensley's work and his characters.

"Long ago, my father had taken me camping somewhere in West Virginia and I think he said something about moss growing on the north side of a tree. However, my father also told me that women could get pregnant simply from laying down in the backseat of a car, so I learned early on to take his advice with a grain of salt and a shot of tequila."

For the true mystery/crime fan, know that you will never be disappointed by ambiguity or a shoddy ending; Hensley is an intuitive writer and includes all of the details necessary to tie his stories together flawlessly.

This proved to be a quick read for me, since I could hardly wait to find out how this case would shake out, and I certainly appreciated the biathlon backdrop; highly recommend to those of you who love a great whodunit, regardless of your affinity toward sporting events, because there is plenty to enjoy!

[Sharon Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
After only a handful of pages of Bolt Action Remedy by JJ Hensley I was wondering what had possessed me to request this book. Already there'd been an assassination, a captive being tortured, and a fatal drug raid. Considering my default genre is chicklit, a good romance, or a family saga I felt somewhat out of my league. This is not the kind of action I'm used to and I momentarily considered quitting. Fortunately I still recalled the high praise Chelsea (of The Suspense Is Killing Me) had heaped upon this book and decided to press on. A few short chapters later I was fully immersed in the book, loving the writing, the story, the characters, the works.

Trevor Galloway is the protagonist. He's an ex-cop and has been called upon to investigate the cold case of the guy who'd been murdered in the Prologue. With a gruff exterior and sometimes blunt manner he's no charmer and yet as readers we were privy to the highly entertaining and witty dialogue running through his mind. He's self deprecating, a bit of a smartass, always balanced on the edge making us wonder if he's insanely clever or just a tad crazy. Though there were a couple of violent episodes in the book it was not as extreme as I'd first imagined and the laughs I had from the humorous one liners inserted throughout definitely offset that. The investigation and unravelling of the mystery was especially well done - not exactly a twist but a completely unforeseen resolution. I certainly got the sense Trevor will make a reappearance and yes, I'll be in line to read it. In the meantime I'm keen to see what else this author has produced, and may just have to admit that my taste in books is changing.

Thanks indeed to J.J. Hensley for this entertaining novel, to the publishers Down & Out Books and to NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book by JJ Hensley! His books are always a fun read. I get a kick out of the main character’s self-deprecating humor. Can’t wait to read the sequel!

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bolt Action Remedy is a really well-written crime fiction thriller involving an ex-police officer, Trevor Galloway, who is chased by demons, some which may be the product of his own Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the form of hallucinations and anger issues, and some which are as real and deadly as can be imagined in the form of a psychopathic killer (known as "the Lithuanian") who is hunting for Galloway and leaving body parts in his wake as a reminder of how deadly he really is. Galloway is a great character, smart, clever, but troubled and perhaps not as good with people as one might expect.

This story takes Galloway from the urban sprawl of Pittsburgh and plants him in a rural setting, in a small town where everyone knows each other and rumors spread faster than lightning. Its a small town where a wealthy man has settled, and a year earlier he was settled permanently, a cold case that no one local has solved. Galloway, the outsider, is asked to tackle it and to use what little charm he has to figure out what the locals have given up on figuring out.

This is a really great read and, had I had a an inkling of how good it was, I would have picked up much sooner. Hensley should be planning to make this into a series. I, for one, would be very interested in following Galloway's adventures. Thanks to Down & Out Books for providing me a copy for review.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, another unique mystery from JJ Hensley. Fantastic. Seriously, I don't understand why there aren't thousands of great reviews here. He's great at storytelling and i trust that there is truthfulness in his details because he comes from law enforcement. His books are well kept secrets that should be shared!

[Annette Dashofy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Trevor Galloway, J.J. Hensley has given us a deliciously flawed hero whose unique gift makes him a phenomenal investigator but also leaves him teetering on the razor-thin edge of genius and insanity. In Bolt Action Remedy, the reader follows Galloway on a chilling journey into the snowy world of biathlon as well as into the shadowy vortex of his wounded mind where neither he nor the reader knows at what point reality ends and hallucination begins.

[Patrice Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

What a great book! Finally, a sharp, witty, and enjoyable murder mystery/thriller story without all the cliche gratuitous romance that most stories of this genre seem to have. Trevor was a man with demons, he fought them every single day. He was a terrific MC, one that I would love to read more about.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a really well written mystery with complex, fleshed out characters without all the romance that usually clogs up the pages.
I hope there's more to Trevor's story and this becomes a series.

[Beau Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.J. Hensley's Bolt Action Remedy is a combination of sorts, and a good one at that. I enjoyed Trevor Galloway the most, of course, especially his professing of not being funny, but I took to Sherriff Colby as well. I could recommend this book on the humour alone (who doesn't enjoy a good taun-taun rift or a bashing of that fourth Indy movie) but I won't, as it is more than humour that J.J. interjects into this book. The "Tin-Man", he delivers. Go forth. Seek out. Purchase and enjoy.

[Lawrence Maddox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bolt Action Remedy (Down & Out Books, 2017), J.J. Hensley’s first offering in his Trevor Galloway series, is a suspenseful, well-crafted whodunit. Trevor Galloway, a former Pittsburgh police detective, is hired to solve the year–old murder of a wealthy businessman in snowy Central Pennsylvania. Galloway is still recovering from a lethal run-in with a drug cartel that has left him psychologically scarred, though he retains his Sherlockian ability reconfigure past crime scenes. Galloway is a fish out of water in the cozy small town, even more so when the case revolves around a local biathlon training camp-a skiing and shooting competition course. Galloway soon learns he’s being hunted by The Lithuanian; the infamous cousin of one of the Pittsburgh cartel members who takes “eye for an eye” literally. Galloway struggles to keep his mental state together, forced to look over his shoulder as he zeroes in on the businessman’s murderer. Hensley ratchets up the suspense as Galloway’s fragile mental state worsens. Hope you own a parka because Hensley’s attention to place brings this snow-covered small town to life. Bolt Action Remedy is a page-turner that comes to a violently satisfying ending.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bolt Action Remedy by J.J. Hensley is the first novel featuring the character Trevor Galloway. Galloway is a troubled former Pittsburg, Pa narcotics officer currently on a disability retirement when offered a private investigative venture from a friend in hopes of helping him keep out of trouble.

Yes, in a brief review it is easy to roll one's eyes when reading about a novel featuring just one more "troubled" investigator, however, Hensley has created an interesting backstory to Galloway that puts another spin on "troubled."

Through his friend, Galloway has been persuaded to travel to Pennsylvania and meet the daughter of a murdered wealthy industrialist in a year-old murder case that has grown stale and seems unsolvable.

Not only is Galloway hunting a dangerous killer in a hostile environment he is also being hunted by an even more dangerous and seemingly unstoppable killer from his own past.

Bolt Action Remedy is highly recommended and is a top-tier thriller with interesting characters and plotlines. Another good thing is there are two more novels in the series.

[Tina Whittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plotting is deft, the pacing like a ticking clock, and the characters are rich, flawed, highly motivated and deeply conflicted. Hensley’s protagonist can’t seem to shake his traumatic past—which even shows up in the newspapers—but he keeps putting one foot in front of the other. He claims he’s not funny, but that doesn’t mean he’s humorless, and his wry, self-aware observations make us feel as if we’re his partner in crime. And speaking of crime, this one’s a doozy, and comes packing a personal wallop (and some deadly complications). To say more would spoil a finely constructed whodunit, but I will reveal that after this book, you’ll never look at the biathlon event in the same way ever again. Looking forward to the second in the series this fall.

[David Nemeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.J. Hensley’s “Bolt Action Remedy” was a fantastic thriller rooted in a reality that stretched to the dark border of crime and murder. If like me you tire of the latest thrillers that get all the publicity and love leaving you only to walk away in disappointment, Hensley’s “Bolt Action Remedy” is a thriller you will enjoy. Guaranteed.

[Richard Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, enjoyed the introduction to Trevor Galloway and the locale. I always enjoy books that teach me a little about something I did not know, too—in this case biathlon—and that was well woven with the story. Protagonist with enough interesting characteristics that I’ll come back to see what he’s doing next. Looking more.

[Matty Dalrymple · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.J. Hensley’s “Bolt Action Remedy” was a great read—a clever plot, an engaging main character, and some unexpected humor. I’m looking forward to Trevor Galloway’s next adventure—and hoping for a prequel that will delve into Galloway’s experiences before “Bolt Action Remedy”!

[Djjazzpants · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and entertaining read. The story pulls you quickly as you navigate Trevor Galloway’s mind with him. The best of Hensley’s books that I’ve read.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this book on my to read shelf for quite some time now and finally got to it. I’m now wondering why it took me so long. I enjoyed it from the first paragraph. It kept me interested and enthralled. Loved the very flawed character of Trevor Galloway and I’m looking forward to more adventures.

[Tom Haddad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thriller set in a small town. Lead character is former police with a complicated past that manages to avoid being for formulaic. The main plot is a mystery that doesn't cheat. The side plots and supporting characters are engaging. Looking forward to reading future entries in this series.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at The Book Wheel.

J.J. Hensley has reminded me, once again, that I’m a closet thriller fan and his latest book, Bolt Action Remedy, is the proof in the pudding. True to his style (I also reviewed Resolve), Hensley has weaved a story that is fast-paced, witty, and unpredictable. Where Bolt Action Remedy stands out, however, is in its deeper foray into the psychological.

The story follows Trevor Galloway, a former police officer recovering from a drug bust gone wrong and with a penchant for bringing trouble with him wherever he goes. Unemployed and with an uncertain future, he is called to a small town in Pennsylvania to re-investigate the murder of a not-too-popular businessman. It also happens to be home to one of the country’s biathlon training camps, which serves as a backdrop for much of the story.

Working with the local police chief, Galloway employs his unconventional tactics and raises some eyebrows along the way. It doesn’t help that the small town’s gossip mill quickly spreads his past, but his lack of charm and reputation for being a “Tin Man” don’t do him any favors. It also doesn’t help that the biathlon group is a close-knit community that is not the least bit interested in rehashing the past and wants nothing more than for him to leave town.

What’s unique about Galloway is that I found him to be endearing, even though he is utterly unreliable and my bird’s eye view allowed me to understand why he wasn’t a crowd favorite. This caused some introspection on my part – why was I drawn to such a flawed character with a questionable past? Perhaps it’s because I was privy to his inner thoughts, or perhaps it’s the optimist in me, but I held out hope that my rooting for him was not for nothing.

I won’t tell you whether I was proven right or wrong, but I will say that Bolt Action Remedy did not disappoint. It is a mind-bending thriller that is both disturbing and richly detailed. I felt each shiver as Galloway crossed the frozen terrain, could imagine the squeeze of the trigger in my hand, and grew uncomfortable with each probing question.

Because Hensley is former Secret Service, this attention to detail should not be surprising, and yet I’m impressed by just how much they matter to the story as a whole. When a single footprint can speak volumes, it’s clear that Hensley’s nuanced writing is a cut above your average thriller. As I reflect back on the book, I am keenly aware of how these small bits of information enriched the reading experience, even though I didn’t intuit it at the time.

So like I said, I’m not a thriller fan. And yet here I am, recommending another one.

[Dennis Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read BOLT ACTION REMEDY by JJ HENSLEY in just four days so I must have enjoyed it. The action is fast-paced; I didn't zone out once. I won't tell you the gist of the story, just read some of the reviews. Honestly, I would have given the book five stars but odd sentece structure and poor editing/formatting prevented me from awarding the book five stars. Poor editing does affect the read to the point where it cannot be ignored (especially since I edit fiction). If Down & Out Books edited this one, they need my help.

Authors tend to overuse phrases like "he said" and "she said" or "I asked" when it it not necessary, only two people are conversing. JJ is a detailed writer and I like that but a small thing bugged me, on page 119 Trevor never paid for his lunch. You might say...Who cares? But details are important. I mentioned odd expresions, for example, page 163 "pulled out my thoughts". That threw me for a loop.

Reviews should be enlightening as well as constructive for the writer. I do hope Mr. Hensley read this review. On a positive note I would read more of the Galloway series because this story was enjoyable. The book's cover is eye-catching and the font was east to read. Keep writing JJ!

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. I suppose I should have read this book before Forgiveness Dies, to get the whole Trevor Galloway storyline from the beginning, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment. I was a bit confused with the premise of the initial murder and couldn’t really guess on a possible suspect (I suppose that’s a good thing). Galloway’s personal demons gave the investigation angle a nice twist. The explanation of how Galloway “solved” the murder and caught the killer was beautifully set-up.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
This should have been a quick read, so why did it take me almost a week? I guess I was busy. Anyway, the action moved at a good clip. The thriller part was adequate and the mystery part was a little cloudy in a good way, due to the protagonist suffering from hallucinations. Actually I figured out the "how" part of the mystery early. It was the "who" part that was, puzzling. Overall a good "escape" read with plenty of action.

[Amy Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This character grew on me, and I thought that was brilliant. And there were a couple of scenes where I completely burst out laughing. I thought the solution to the mystery was a little far fetched, but still a good ending. There are a huge number of typos in the book, so shame on the editors. But, I'm hooked and will read more about this intriguing character, Trevor Galloway.

[Matt Chrisian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, easy read, I really enjoy the writing style