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Sunset Blues: The Shadow - Book 1 - Justice is Relative
In thriller detective series SUNSET BLUES: The Shadow Book 1, former undercover cop, Rick Cruz, is accused of murdering his uncle who also happens to be the District Attorney. Incited from his refuge in the San Bernardino Mountains, Cruz returns to Los Angeles and the dark mystery that torments him.
Cruz's life undercover and his life as a detective collide and chaos ensues. Did he kill the man who was like a father to him? Will the syndicate or the police, get to him before he can clear his name? Will he and the siren Assistant District Attorney still feel that unquenchable heat between them? Find out as Cruz traverses the noir landscape, where heinous crimes permeate the Hollywood glitz.
Lauded as the next The Departed" by a Hollywood producer, this is the story of Cruz coming out of the shadows to face The Shadow. For Cruz, justice is relative.
Cruz's life undercover and his life as a detective collide and chaos ensues. Did he kill the man who was like a father to him? Will the syndicate or the police, get to him before he can clear his name? Will he and the siren Assistant District Attorney still feel that unquenchable heat between them? Find out as Cruz traverses the noir landscape, where heinous crimes permeate the Hollywood glitz.
Lauded as the next The Departed" by a Hollywood producer, this is the story of Cruz coming out of the shadows to face The Shadow. For Cruz, justice is relative.
ebook
First published November 22, 2017
About the author
Renee Topper
4 books19 followers* * * * *
“This is one of those few books I’d gladly put on the shelf alongside the likes of James Patterson and Lee Child, a must-read for fans of thrillers.”
–R. Oserio on Readers Favorite
Renée Topper is a storyteller in all forms. Her debut novel PIGMENT won 2016 LYRA Award for Mystery / Suspense / Thriller and is an International Book Award Winning Finalist in the Fiction: Cross Genre category. She also garners an honorable mention in The Institute for Education, Research, and Scholarships 1st Annual International Writers Award.
As a writer and producer, she digs deep to find the heart and soul of a tale -- especially those exploring the human condition -- and devise the best means to convey them, then she executes. She is currently story-smithing at StoryMatter.com. You can reach the author via email at Authors@StoryMatter.com.
Topper welcomes reviews and ratings of her stories. Kindly share your reaction to PIGMENT on Goodreads, Bookbub, Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Kobo, and Amazon UK!
Here is a link to a recent interview in SPOTLIGHT: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot...
“This is one of those few books I’d gladly put on the shelf alongside the likes of James Patterson and Lee Child, a must-read for fans of thrillers.”
–R. Oserio on Readers Favorite
Renée Topper is a storyteller in all forms. Her debut novel PIGMENT won 2016 LYRA Award for Mystery / Suspense / Thriller and is an International Book Award Winning Finalist in the Fiction: Cross Genre category. She also garners an honorable mention in The Institute for Education, Research, and Scholarships 1st Annual International Writers Award.
As a writer and producer, she digs deep to find the heart and soul of a tale -- especially those exploring the human condition -- and devise the best means to convey them, then she executes. She is currently story-smithing at StoryMatter.com. You can reach the author via email at Authors@StoryMatter.com.
Topper welcomes reviews and ratings of her stories. Kindly share your reaction to PIGMENT on Goodreads, Bookbub, Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Kobo, and Amazon UK!
Here is a link to a recent interview in SPOTLIGHT: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot...
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 6, 2017
I would have finished this book much quicker, but coming to Christmas, my reading time was rapidly overtaken by other things. And it was annoying, as I wanted to get into the story and not put it down until I find out what was actually happening and what Rick did and what he did not do...
So it is a relatively short story, hence it's a quick read.
The story is in the blurb of the book, so I won't go into it in detail. I don't want to give away what happens.
The main character, Rick, is a cop. He is quite likeable even though troubled at times.
His personal and professional lives run in parallels, they often collide and at some point Rick finds himself being accused of a murder... To add more trouble to the situation, the victim is his uncle.
Add to the mix a woman and you have a lot more than Rick bargained for.
The book is set at fast pace, although the manner in which it is narrated was not my style. It is quite dynamic, and keeps the story going, yet it seemed to me that it lacked some depth and at times it felt like an adapted shortened version of itself, skipping details and descriptions that would add to the pace more content.
I would much like some more details added to this story, more insightful glimpse. After all, Rick is a cop. And cop's life is never boring!
So it is a relatively short story, hence it's a quick read.
The story is in the blurb of the book, so I won't go into it in detail. I don't want to give away what happens.
The main character, Rick, is a cop. He is quite likeable even though troubled at times.
His personal and professional lives run in parallels, they often collide and at some point Rick finds himself being accused of a murder... To add more trouble to the situation, the victim is his uncle.
Add to the mix a woman and you have a lot more than Rick bargained for.
The book is set at fast pace, although the manner in which it is narrated was not my style. It is quite dynamic, and keeps the story going, yet it seemed to me that it lacked some depth and at times it felt like an adapted shortened version of itself, skipping details and descriptions that would add to the pace more content.
I would much like some more details added to this story, more insightful glimpse. After all, Rick is a cop. And cop's life is never boring!
November 25, 2017
Reviewed By Scott Cahan for Readers’ Favorite
Sunset Blues: The Shadow by Renee Topper is a crime thriller set in modern-day Hollywood, but written in the style of an old Humphrey Bogart movie. The story follows a down-on-his-luck detective named Rick who is being framed for the murder of a loved one. As he sets about the task of proving his innocence with the help of his girlfriend, Lita, and his cousin, Detective Billy, the noose around Rick’s neck seems to get tighter and tighter. A crime boss and his gang of thugs will stop at nothing to make sure that Rick is charged with the murder. As the plot thickens, it becomes more difficult to distinguish the difference between the good guys and the bad guys, but Rick’s resolve to see justice win out continues to the end.
Sunset Blues: The Shadow is a fast-paced story that flows effortlessly from scene to scene, carrying the reader along with it for a fun ride. Author Renee Topper’s style harks back to the black and white detective movies of yesteryear. Every scene gives just the right amount of detail to keep us intrigued and wondering what’s going to happen next. Scenes are finely crafted with tight dialogue, action around every corner, and characters who are mostly one-dimensional; all elements that work together to keep the story moving toward a satisfying conclusion. The most unique thing about this book is that it is written in the comfortable style of a classic detective yarn, but it’s set in today’s world with modern day cops, gang members, and mobsters. The sex and violence are upgraded for today’s audiences as well. This unique combination of the old and the new sets Sunset Blues: The Shadow apart from other crime thrillers. It’s a story that somehow manages to be light and nostalgic on one hand, but violent and dark on the other.
Sunset Blues: The Shadow by Renee Topper is a crime thriller set in modern-day Hollywood, but written in the style of an old Humphrey Bogart movie. The story follows a down-on-his-luck detective named Rick who is being framed for the murder of a loved one. As he sets about the task of proving his innocence with the help of his girlfriend, Lita, and his cousin, Detective Billy, the noose around Rick’s neck seems to get tighter and tighter. A crime boss and his gang of thugs will stop at nothing to make sure that Rick is charged with the murder. As the plot thickens, it becomes more difficult to distinguish the difference between the good guys and the bad guys, but Rick’s resolve to see justice win out continues to the end.
Sunset Blues: The Shadow is a fast-paced story that flows effortlessly from scene to scene, carrying the reader along with it for a fun ride. Author Renee Topper’s style harks back to the black and white detective movies of yesteryear. Every scene gives just the right amount of detail to keep us intrigued and wondering what’s going to happen next. Scenes are finely crafted with tight dialogue, action around every corner, and characters who are mostly one-dimensional; all elements that work together to keep the story moving toward a satisfying conclusion. The most unique thing about this book is that it is written in the comfortable style of a classic detective yarn, but it’s set in today’s world with modern day cops, gang members, and mobsters. The sex and violence are upgraded for today’s audiences as well. This unique combination of the old and the new sets Sunset Blues: The Shadow apart from other crime thrillers. It’s a story that somehow manages to be light and nostalgic on one hand, but violent and dark on the other.
November 19, 2018
A fantastic read for any fans of the detective/mystery/thriller genres.
I thought I had already found all of the great writers from these genres before reading this novel but boy was I wrong. Renee Topper has created such a wonderful universe here that I have no problem putting her up there with Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I don't like to write the type of reviews that give away a book's entire plot, I never saw the point of that. If you like classic detective tales you will love this book. I recommend it as strongly as possible and wish I could give it more than 5 stars. I eagerly await the second entry into the series!!!
I thought I had already found all of the great writers from these genres before reading this novel but boy was I wrong. Renee Topper has created such a wonderful universe here that I have no problem putting her up there with Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I don't like to write the type of reviews that give away a book's entire plot, I never saw the point of that. If you like classic detective tales you will love this book. I recommend it as strongly as possible and wish I could give it more than 5 stars. I eagerly await the second entry into the series!!!
January 9, 2018
There was a lot going on in this novel. I had a hard time keeping up with the characters as they were introduced in the story. I was overloaded with too much information all at once. Towards the end of the book, I finally understood what was really going on.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews