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Evan Buckley #1
Bad To The Bones
**Alternative cover edition for ASIN: B076H9C28F here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...**
What would you give, how far would you go, to find a lost child and redeem your soul? And will it ever be far enough?
Ten years ago, Linda Clayton's son Daniel disappeared. The love and support of her husband Robbie was all that kept her sane—until the day he ran away. Makes you thankful you're not Linda Clayton.
Wise-cracking, street-smart PI Evan Buckley thought his problems were bad enough. When his latest case ends in disaster, he’s at the end of his tether—until fate throws him headlong into Linda Clayton's desperate world and a long-dead investigation that everybody wants to stay that way.
But Evan never does what everybody wants, and he vows to uncover the truth—and in the process kick into touch the demons that come to torment him every night.
As the suspense ratchets up, he’s caught in a desperate fight for his life with a stone cold killer who will go to any lengths to protect his secrets ...
With action-packed twists and turns and a pace that doesn’t let up until the thrilling conclusion, Bad to The Bones is a brilliant start to a gripping new crime series from James Harper.
Bad To The Bones was previously published as Cruel Comfort/In Cold Blood.
309 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2014
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4146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 534 reviews
December 23, 2021
Homicidal!
Talk about fight scenes. This book has a fight scene that is so brutal, so “bad to the bones,” that calling it a tour de force is just not potent enough.
Don’t believe me? Don’t take my word for it? Then read it and see for yourself.
Why else would I give this book four beautiful stars? ✨
Talk about fight scenes. This book has a fight scene that is so brutal, so “bad to the bones,” that calling it a tour de force is just not potent enough.
Don’t believe me? Don’t take my word for it? Then read it and see for yourself.
Why else would I give this book four beautiful stars? ✨
dnf
March 1, 2019DNF @ 48%
A promising storyline, execution not that much, IMO of course.
Tortured hero, who was judged by everyone and their aunt. Why? WHAT'S WRONG WITH BEING A PI AND CATCHING THE CHEATERS???! WTF is wrong with it? The Peeper?! Like for real, folk? Did the story take place mid of last century, when ppl thought cheating is ok and the one, who uncovers a cheating spouse, is a bad guy, coz it ruins ppl's lives? I thought the act of cheating ruins lives and families and not the act of investigation...
I also had a feeling the author is not very fond of Germans. I mean, the Führer? It's what they associate with a German man?!... I'd say f*** it!!!
Plus the hero was put in many situations, which made him look weak. The guy, whom he caught screwing the wife of his client, attacked him, bit off a piece of his ear (for real) and he didn't even report him?! And the good buddy of hero advised him to let this case go, coz otherwise the company will be destroyed. It wasn't apparently enough to blame the hero for his client's suicide (but never his wife and his business partner), they even advised him to let it go, coz.... ????!
I investigated a bit, 6 books in the series and they still didn't reveal what happened to his wife.
I'm out.
Another bummer, coz I was in the mood for a good thriller 😕
A promising storyline, execution not that much, IMO of course.
Tortured hero, who was judged by everyone and their aunt. Why? WHAT'S WRONG WITH BEING A PI AND CATCHING THE CHEATERS???! WTF is wrong with it? The Peeper?! Like for real, folk? Did the story take place mid of last century, when ppl thought cheating is ok and the one, who uncovers a cheating spouse, is a bad guy, coz it ruins ppl's lives? I thought the act of cheating ruins lives and families and not the act of investigation...
I also had a feeling the author is not very fond of Germans. I mean, the Führer? It's what they associate with a German man?!... I'd say f*** it!!!
Plus the hero was put in many situations, which made him look weak. The guy, whom he caught screwing the wife of his client, attacked him, bit off a piece of his ear (for real) and he didn't even report him?! And the good buddy of hero advised him to let this case go, coz otherwise the company will be destroyed. It wasn't apparently enough to blame the hero for his client's suicide (but never his wife and his business partner), they even advised him to let it go, coz.... ????!
I investigated a bit, 6 books in the series and they still didn't reveal what happened to his wife.
I'm out.
Another bummer, coz I was in the mood for a good thriller 😕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
March 1, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/1/2019)! 🎁
Blurb:
What would you give, how far would you go, to find a lost child and redeem your soul? And will it ever be far enough?
Ten years ago, Linda Clayton's son Daniel disappeared. The love and support of her husband Robbie was all that kept her sane—until the day he ran away. Makes you thankful you're not Linda Clayton.
Wise-cracking, street-smart PI Evan Buckley thought his problems were bad enough. When his latest case ends in disaster, he’s at the end of his tether—until fate throws him headlong into Linda Clayton's desperate world and a long-dead investigation that everybody wants to stay that way.
But Evan never does what everybody wants, and he vows to uncover the truth—and in the process kick into touch the demons that come to torment him every night.
As the suspense ratchets up, he’s caught in a desperate fight for his life with a stone cold killer who will go to any lengths to protect his secrets ...
Blurb:
What would you give, how far would you go, to find a lost child and redeem your soul? And will it ever be far enough?
Ten years ago, Linda Clayton's son Daniel disappeared. The love and support of her husband Robbie was all that kept her sane—until the day he ran away. Makes you thankful you're not Linda Clayton.
Wise-cracking, street-smart PI Evan Buckley thought his problems were bad enough. When his latest case ends in disaster, he’s at the end of his tether—until fate throws him headlong into Linda Clayton's desperate world and a long-dead investigation that everybody wants to stay that way.
But Evan never does what everybody wants, and he vows to uncover the truth—and in the process kick into touch the demons that come to torment him every night.
As the suspense ratchets up, he’s caught in a desperate fight for his life with a stone cold killer who will go to any lengths to protect his secrets ...
October 14, 2020
"Unfortunately, you don’t have much control over the things your subconscious decides to push to the forefront of your mind. You just have to deal with them once they’re there."
What a book this was!
Absolutely brilliant story and characters.
Love that it was in part about redemption and finding peace with loss.
I'll be picking up the rest of the series for sure along with more of James Harper's work.
Highly recommend
What a book this was!
Absolutely brilliant story and characters.
Love that it was in part about redemption and finding peace with loss.
I'll be picking up the rest of the series for sure along with more of James Harper's work.
Highly recommend
February 27, 2021
This novel is a straightforward story about a despondent PI trying to make a living while grieving for his missing wife. A helpful female detective recommends him to a local woman whose son and husband went missing some time back. He gets involved in this cold case and tracks down what actually happened to both members of her family.
The author depicts the central character, Evan Buckley, as a bit of a likeable klutz who gets into all sorts of trouble on his way to find the truth. What I liked about the author's style however was the pervasive sense of humor that runs through the novel. Here's one example:
'Evan wanted to punch him in the gut but wasn’t sure he’d get his arm back.' This refers to one of several altercations Evan had with a fat, rude male police detective.
An instance of Evan's 'humorous' klutziness can be read in the following text:
'Evan jerked upright, let out an involuntary yelp. He dropped the flashlight as he spun around, slipped off the step he was standing on. His left foot landed on the flashlight. It rolled under him, turned his ankle over. The agonizing stab of pain told him it was broken. He went down hard. His right hip landed on the claw hammer hanging from a loop on his utility belt, paralyzing his leg from the thigh down.'
Well despite all the mishaps and injuries he sustains, Evan comes good at the end.
This review was written by Shawn Callon, Author of The Diplomatic Spy
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
The author depicts the central character, Evan Buckley, as a bit of a likeable klutz who gets into all sorts of trouble on his way to find the truth. What I liked about the author's style however was the pervasive sense of humor that runs through the novel. Here's one example:
'Evan wanted to punch him in the gut but wasn’t sure he’d get his arm back.' This refers to one of several altercations Evan had with a fat, rude male police detective.
An instance of Evan's 'humorous' klutziness can be read in the following text:
'Evan jerked upright, let out an involuntary yelp. He dropped the flashlight as he spun around, slipped off the step he was standing on. His left foot landed on the flashlight. It rolled under him, turned his ankle over. The agonizing stab of pain told him it was broken. He went down hard. His right hip landed on the claw hammer hanging from a loop on his utility belt, paralyzing his leg from the thigh down.'
Well despite all the mishaps and injuries he sustains, Evan comes good at the end.
This review was written by Shawn Callon, Author of The Diplomatic Spy
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
May 17, 2020
This is terrific and it was free, too.....can't ask for more than that, now. I enjoyed it very much indeed. I'd not read anything by this author before now but I'm definitely going to be sticking with this series on the back of this tremendous tale.
You soooooo want to kick Evan up the arse, though. He gets himself into some really outrageous scrapes, not unlike the dopey heroines he bemoans himself at one point. He's going to need to buck his ideas up sharpish and get fit if he persists in the sort of hand-to-hand combat and creeping around he has a go at in this story !! Talk about getting bashed and beaten about.....he's a proper clot. I think I would've preferred him actually relating the story to us, too. He's a funny chap but not an idiot, so this in no way heads toward being slapstick. I'd seen reviewers refer to the humour and hoped that this was the case, as I prefer my murderation taken seriously. I had my suspicion about who the baddie was in this and was pretty sure I'd sussed it out, but I hadn't !! There were some quite unpleasant little scenes here and there and one tableau is pretty upsetting.....don't worry, it's no nasty animal unpleasantness. If it had have been I'd have binned it.
I read the little write-ups at the end on the other stories in this series and I see Kate is still featured, though another female name is also mentioned, and it ain't Babs, Kate or Linda !! I'm pleased she'll be back, though, as I really like her and I liked Faulkner a great deal as well.
There were a handful of fullstops dropped from the end of sentences, a misplaced apostrophe, then a question mark missed out along with a comma but that was it for errors, which again is pretty damned impressive !! I'm looking forward to see where this series goes for sure.
You soooooo want to kick Evan up the arse, though. He gets himself into some really outrageous scrapes, not unlike the dopey heroines he bemoans himself at one point. He's going to need to buck his ideas up sharpish and get fit if he persists in the sort of hand-to-hand combat and creeping around he has a go at in this story !! Talk about getting bashed and beaten about.....he's a proper clot. I think I would've preferred him actually relating the story to us, too. He's a funny chap but not an idiot, so this in no way heads toward being slapstick. I'd seen reviewers refer to the humour and hoped that this was the case, as I prefer my murderation taken seriously. I had my suspicion about who the baddie was in this and was pretty sure I'd sussed it out, but I hadn't !! There were some quite unpleasant little scenes here and there and one tableau is pretty upsetting.....don't worry, it's no nasty animal unpleasantness. If it had have been I'd have binned it.
I read the little write-ups at the end on the other stories in this series and I see Kate is still featured, though another female name is also mentioned, and it ain't Babs, Kate or Linda !! I'm pleased she'll be back, though, as I really like her and I liked Faulkner a great deal as well.
There were a handful of fullstops dropped from the end of sentences, a misplaced apostrophe, then a question mark missed out along with a comma but that was it for errors, which again is pretty damned impressive !! I'm looking forward to see where this series goes for sure.
January 4, 2020
Refreshing and Gritty
This is my first novel by this author, and it certainly won't be my last! In bad to the Bones we meet Evan Buckley, a damaged and very reluctant Private Investigator who finds himself In a career not of his choosing but because of tragedy in his own life. In this first novel we meet a plethora of characters some we love and others we love to hate. It has a real feel of plausibility about it. Evan is really an unlikely PI. No machismo here. Just an ordinary guy in a not so ordinary world. You can't help but like him. The story is more plausible because of his humanistic qualities and there development of his character definitely leaves you wanting more at the end. It's a bittersweet ending but then life often is. Ready for Book 2!
This is my first novel by this author, and it certainly won't be my last! In bad to the Bones we meet Evan Buckley, a damaged and very reluctant Private Investigator who finds himself In a career not of his choosing but because of tragedy in his own life. In this first novel we meet a plethora of characters some we love and others we love to hate. It has a real feel of plausibility about it. Evan is really an unlikely PI. No machismo here. Just an ordinary guy in a not so ordinary world. You can't help but like him. The story is more plausible because of his humanistic qualities and there development of his character definitely leaves you wanting more at the end. It's a bittersweet ending but then life often is. Ready for Book 2!
October 20, 2023
The beginning of the book had some really humorous moments and it read more like a cozy mystery. The end, however, was much different! It was suspenseful and gritty! Had the book flowed a bit more cohesively, I would have rated it better. It was a decent read, though. There was no real closure as to why or how all the killings happened. Why did Faulkner get beat up, what happened with his gun, why did the father and son get buried alive, etc.
August 8, 2022
I picked this one up because I wanted to read something easy, without having to think too much. Bad to the Bones is exactly that. Main character Evan Buckley would do ok in a fifties movie, there is a lot of fighting (but I always skip over fight scenes), there is some suspense and a lot of very unfunny remarks.
But, Evan's not a bad guy at heart and he sort of grows on you after a while. Maybe one day I'll pick up the book in this series that explains what happened with his wife.
But, Evan's not a bad guy at heart and he sort of grows on you after a while. Maybe one day I'll pick up the book in this series that explains what happened with his wife.
March 23, 2019
"A promising start"
This was more like it. A well written, fast paced story full of good characters. All laced with a dry sense of humour that left me with a smile at the end of each chapter. I was sorry to reach the end, but glad to learn that I could keep smiling with the next instalment. It's not often I think that.
This was more like it. A well written, fast paced story full of good characters. All laced with a dry sense of humour that left me with a smile at the end of each chapter. I was sorry to reach the end, but glad to learn that I could keep smiling with the next instalment. It's not often I think that.
April 8, 2020
This is bad but hilariously bad in places. Some of the dialogue and plot is unbelievable, such as knowing what a female character's body looks like like but not anything else and of course you sleep with people that are suspects in an investigation after meeting them for 5 minutes. A lot of the plot is left unresolved, perhaps for later in the series but I don't think I'll carry on.
November 13, 2020
Bad
I don't mind reading a trashy novel once on in a while with foul language, etc. but I hate it when the author tries to upgrade the novel throwing in some educated words that is so out of context with 95% of the rest of the text. sorry, but I think I will cross James Harper of my reading list.
I don't mind reading a trashy novel once on in a while with foul language, etc. but I hate it when the author tries to upgrade the novel throwing in some educated words that is so out of context with 95% of the rest of the text. sorry, but I think I will cross James Harper of my reading list.
February 3, 2025
Al principio parecía interesante. Yo estaba tipo "Let him Cook", pero llegó la mitad del libro y todavía estaba cooking. De golpe todo se empezó a solucionar, personajes interesantes se quedaron en que no pinchaban ni cortaban, y el final pareció apurado y medio salamín a lo Scooby Doo.
El plot estuvo bueno, pero le faltaron vueltas y contra vueltas de misterio y suspenso donde no sabés quién puede ser quién.
En conclusión, una novela llevadera y fácil de leer, que se quedó corta en su ejecución. Necesitó algunos capítulos más para que el misterio no se resuelva apurado y por inconsistencias objeto de llegar al final que el autor quería.
El plot estuvo bueno, pero le faltaron vueltas y contra vueltas de misterio y suspenso donde no sabés quién puede ser quién.
En conclusión, una novela llevadera y fácil de leer, que se quedó corta en su ejecución. Necesitó algunos capítulos más para que el misterio no se resuelva apurado y por inconsistencias objeto de llegar al final que el autor quería.
July 4, 2018
BAD TO THE BONES is the first in the Evan Buckler series by James Harper but the second I’ve read. When I reviewed KENTUCKY VICE, which is actually the second book in the series, I noted I wasn’t enamored with the book but liked it well enough to read another. If I had read BAD TO THE BONES first I might have had second thoughts continuing with the series.
It’s not as if there are major problems. There are, however, numerous little things that distract the reader.
In places, it seems as if the author is trying too hard to write in the style of Raymond Chandler but the “wise cracks” aren’t really funny. For example, the protagonist, Evan Buckley, refers to a cop as “Detective Donut” and bread rolls “that looked like they were made from whole vegetarians.”
There are careless mistakes, such as the description where a note looks “as if it was one of the ones you see pinned up in public phone booths.” Only problem is the book is copyright 2017 and the story takes place in the present; I haven’t seen a phone booth in many years.
Another example is one of continuity: Buckley is beaten up very badly by a person he recognizes immediately; yet a few pages later he is told, “What’s the point? There are no witnesses; you didn’t see his face…”
The only sex scene seems to be gratuitous. There is no build-up and, besides, the main character just had serious damage when his assailant kicked his balls and yet here is performing like a sexual athlete.
To his credit, Harper does some nice things in this book, such as the line used when Buckley is drinking: “Then he ordered two more of the only answer he could think of at the moment.” And this line that illuminates Buckley’s character: “You’re a man searching for your salvation.”
Writing novels is a serious business. It is very difficult to do well. I can therefore accept one or a few mis-steps. When a story has too many distractions, however, one wonders if it is worth the time required to read it. Fortunately, experience and a good editor can help an author avoid such errors.
It’s not as if there are major problems. There are, however, numerous little things that distract the reader.
In places, it seems as if the author is trying too hard to write in the style of Raymond Chandler but the “wise cracks” aren’t really funny. For example, the protagonist, Evan Buckley, refers to a cop as “Detective Donut” and bread rolls “that looked like they were made from whole vegetarians.”
There are careless mistakes, such as the description where a note looks “as if it was one of the ones you see pinned up in public phone booths.” Only problem is the book is copyright 2017 and the story takes place in the present; I haven’t seen a phone booth in many years.
Another example is one of continuity: Buckley is beaten up very badly by a person he recognizes immediately; yet a few pages later he is told, “What’s the point? There are no witnesses; you didn’t see his face…”
The only sex scene seems to be gratuitous. There is no build-up and, besides, the main character just had serious damage when his assailant kicked his balls and yet here is performing like a sexual athlete.
To his credit, Harper does some nice things in this book, such as the line used when Buckley is drinking: “Then he ordered two more of the only answer he could think of at the moment.” And this line that illuminates Buckley’s character: “You’re a man searching for your salvation.”
Writing novels is a serious business. It is very difficult to do well. I can therefore accept one or a few mis-steps. When a story has too many distractions, however, one wonders if it is worth the time required to read it. Fortunately, experience and a good editor can help an author avoid such errors.
September 12, 2020
Good read
Suspense filled and gritty. This is the first I've read by this author and I'm planning on reading more. Quick read, too
Suspense filled and gritty. This is the first I've read by this author and I'm planning on reading more. Quick read, too
October 27, 2024
4/10 - PI tries to solve the case of missing son and dad - unneccesary gory and extremely sensitive gritty storylines. I didn’t mind the main character but I didn’t love the storyline, I thought it was too much and they made it that shocking and violent to hide behind a weak storyline. I also thought there was a lot unresolved at the end (I know it’s a series but within the book itself) and the ending seemed rushed. Won’t remember in a week and would be very unlikely to continue the series
October 15, 2025
Excellent read! Very well written. Great story. Intense.
June 13, 2020
love the bumbling PI
March 26, 2020
An okay book but I probably won’t read any more of the series.
September 27, 2023
You’re going to need to get your brakes fixed prior to reading this story! This read is one haul-ass of a story line with a very dry sense of humor thrown to keep you laughing and enjoying the romp Harper has got for his readers. I loved the story, plots, crazy characters, and most of all the dry humor. It’s embarrassing to some, not me tho’, when I laugh out loud in a group of folks. His one-liners are delivered well. I’m not giving you any idea of the story line in this review, save to say, bucketload-up and get busy reading. Life is grand, Harper is going to take you on a joy ride! Enjoy.
December 10, 2022
Amateur hour for private detectives.
This was entertaining enough, which is why I gave it 3 stars instead of 2 (probably more like 2.5), yet so aggravating that I'd never read another book by this author. Evan Buckley is an amateur/professional PI. It's explained that he's relatively new to the business, but no explanation for what he did previously. Usually it's a retired cop, legal investigator, etc. Who knows, we just know that he thought he could do better than the real cops, with no experience and no resources.
He might be of below average intelligence, it's hard to tell. This was published in 2014, nothing to indicate that it takes place in a different time, yet Mr. Buckley doesn't seem to understand that a simple Google search could answer many questions (such as finding property and death records). He doesn't even know how to get email on his phone! Frequently he takes everyone at their word, instead of the usual skepticism needed in this type of work. Others have to point out discrepancies and alternative theories. Then he's like, "D'oh! Of course!"
When he is beaten nearly to death and his home ransacked, he knows the perpetrator, but won't go to the police, because supposedly they won't do anything, and the guy didn't leave any evidence (how could you possibly know that??). Which is stupid, because now there is no record of those crimes.
Perhaps one saving grace is that Evan almost seems human, as opposed to the super hero that some protagonists seem to be. I mean, he screws a woman that he questions in a case, because, hey, she was willing. How he did that when his testicles got rearranged by a maniac the night before, we'll never know, but whatever. The only thing we know about his looks is that he's 32 years old, so I don't know if he's so attractive that women normally jump his bones like that.
I kept forgetting what the case was even about, because nothing really seems to tie to it. Oh, right, there is a missing boy. The ending is what you'd expect, with a minor cliffhanger (who cares).
This was entertaining enough, which is why I gave it 3 stars instead of 2 (probably more like 2.5), yet so aggravating that I'd never read another book by this author. Evan Buckley is an amateur/professional PI. It's explained that he's relatively new to the business, but no explanation for what he did previously. Usually it's a retired cop, legal investigator, etc. Who knows, we just know that he thought he could do better than the real cops, with no experience and no resources.
He might be of below average intelligence, it's hard to tell. This was published in 2014, nothing to indicate that it takes place in a different time, yet Mr. Buckley doesn't seem to understand that a simple Google search could answer many questions (such as finding property and death records). He doesn't even know how to get email on his phone! Frequently he takes everyone at their word, instead of the usual skepticism needed in this type of work. Others have to point out discrepancies and alternative theories. Then he's like, "D'oh! Of course!"
When he is beaten nearly to death and his home ransacked, he knows the perpetrator, but won't go to the police, because supposedly they won't do anything, and the guy didn't leave any evidence (how could you possibly know that??). Which is stupid, because now there is no record of those crimes.
Perhaps one saving grace is that Evan almost seems human, as opposed to the super hero that some protagonists seem to be. I mean, he screws a woman that he questions in a case, because, hey, she was willing. How he did that when his testicles got rearranged by a maniac the night before, we'll never know, but whatever. The only thing we know about his looks is that he's 32 years old, so I don't know if he's so attractive that women normally jump his bones like that.
I kept forgetting what the case was even about, because nothing really seems to tie to it. Oh, right, there is a missing boy. The ending is what you'd expect, with a minor cliffhanger (who cares).
August 9, 2024
Series available on Kindle Unlimited
I received a complimentary promotional electronic copy of this, the first of what is now 20 novels in the Evan Buckley Mystery Series, from self-published author James Harper and DigitalBookSpot, Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me! I have read Bad to the Bones of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend this series to friends and family. Bad to the Bones is a well-written who-done-its with a complex plot and personable characters. Evan was a well-respected journalist when his wife Sarah disappeared without a trace five years ago, and the job the police did concerning finding out what happened to her never met even Evan's basic expectations. So he hung up his shingle as a private investigator who has time to continue his search for Sarah and do a bit of cheating-couples PI work, which is most of the work he is offered in his small hometown. Money is always tight, but he has what he needs most - some free time and an understanding landlord. He also has low expectations, and no pride in his work, but who has everything?
Evan does have a recent contact on the police force whom he respects, Detective Kate Guillory, and she gets involved with Evan in a nasty cheating-wife case where she gets to know him well enough to recommend him to Linda Clayton, a woman who has spent the last ten years looking for her missing son, and the husband who disappeared a week or so after the boy did. It is a case that Evan can get buried in - and finding the duo becomes the obsession that may become his road to salvation. Which will be good, if he lives long enough to enjoy it.
REVIEWED on August 3, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available for review on Kobo.
This series is counted on Goodreads only as individual books, though I have also published reviews on the series of novels here and on AmazonSmile.
I received a complimentary promotional electronic copy of this, the first of what is now 20 novels in the Evan Buckley Mystery Series, from self-published author James Harper and DigitalBookSpot, Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me! I have read Bad to the Bones of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend this series to friends and family. Bad to the Bones is a well-written who-done-its with a complex plot and personable characters. Evan was a well-respected journalist when his wife Sarah disappeared without a trace five years ago, and the job the police did concerning finding out what happened to her never met even Evan's basic expectations. So he hung up his shingle as a private investigator who has time to continue his search for Sarah and do a bit of cheating-couples PI work, which is most of the work he is offered in his small hometown. Money is always tight, but he has what he needs most - some free time and an understanding landlord. He also has low expectations, and no pride in his work, but who has everything?
Evan does have a recent contact on the police force whom he respects, Detective Kate Guillory, and she gets involved with Evan in a nasty cheating-wife case where she gets to know him well enough to recommend him to Linda Clayton, a woman who has spent the last ten years looking for her missing son, and the husband who disappeared a week or so after the boy did. It is a case that Evan can get buried in - and finding the duo becomes the obsession that may become his road to salvation. Which will be good, if he lives long enough to enjoy it.
REVIEWED on August 3, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available for review on Kobo.
This series is counted on Goodreads only as individual books, though I have also published reviews on the series of novels here and on AmazonSmile.
January 29, 2022
I foolishly started the Evan Buckley series on book 15 and not surprisingly found I was missing a lot of the back story that was covered in the preceding books.
Do yourself a favour and don't make the same mistake. This book, no.1 in the series is a great read, a perfect introduction to Evan and sets you up for a much better experience of the later books which I hope to read myself in order!
Harper keeps the action well paced, has you wanting to read another chapter and doesn't bore you with fillers and unneccessary information. I'm sure if I re-read the book I started on now I'd be giving a much better rating.
Do yourself a favour and don't make the same mistake. This book, no.1 in the series is a great read, a perfect introduction to Evan and sets you up for a much better experience of the later books which I hope to read myself in order!
Harper keeps the action well paced, has you wanting to read another chapter and doesn't bore you with fillers and unneccessary information. I'm sure if I re-read the book I started on now I'd be giving a much better rating.
January 27, 2023
I thought that this book had great premise on the outside and while there were some good parts, I also felt there was many bad too, including misspellings and even missing words which made a sentence, not make sense at all. I also found that some parts seemed rather unbelievable and even unreliable.
The characters didn't really feel like there was much depth to them and I found the first scene between the main character and the male cop rather unbelieveable too, I can't think of any point where an officer would come in yelling already when they were only there to ask questions.
Sadly this is a series which I won't be continuing at all.
The characters didn't really feel like there was much depth to them and I found the first scene between the main character and the male cop rather unbelieveable too, I can't think of any point where an officer would come in yelling already when they were only there to ask questions.
Sadly this is a series which I won't be continuing at all.
May 4, 2023
Bad To The Bones (Evan Buckley Thriller) by James Harper a mystery crime thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is James Harper's debut book and the first time I have read anything by this author.
Private Investigator Evan Buckley has his work cut out in more ways than one as he investigates the disappearance of a Father and son ten years ago. This case is going to open up a whole can of worms which will involve Evan taking more than a few punches along the way.
Evan will find that some of the people he is investigating have secrets and he will go to any length to get to the bottom of them and Evan's own life is in peril as he gets nearer to the truth.
Private Investigator Evan Buckley has his work cut out in more ways than one as he investigates the disappearance of a Father and son ten years ago. This case is going to open up a whole can of worms which will involve Evan taking more than a few punches along the way.
Evan will find that some of the people he is investigating have secrets and he will go to any length to get to the bottom of them and Evan's own life is in peril as he gets nearer to the truth.
January 31, 2022
A GOOD PAGE TURNER!
Bad to the Bone is the story of private eye Evan Buckley (yes, same name as Fireman Buck on TV show 9-1-1). He’s asked to help solve a closed case about a possible double murder/disappearance of a father and son under questionable circumstances.
The local cops and townsfolk have made up their minds a while back. But that doesn’t stop Evan. He keeps looking when it gets wild.
It’s an interesting search that kept me reading maybe 70-80 pages at a time. Worth the read.
Bad to the Bone is the story of private eye Evan Buckley (yes, same name as Fireman Buck on TV show 9-1-1). He’s asked to help solve a closed case about a possible double murder/disappearance of a father and son under questionable circumstances.
The local cops and townsfolk have made up their minds a while back. But that doesn’t stop Evan. He keeps looking when it gets wild.
It’s an interesting search that kept me reading maybe 70-80 pages at a time. Worth the read.
February 10, 2022
Talk about a wild ending.
Evan starts out as a very insecure person, just kind of spinning his wheels with his life and work as a PI. There isn’t anywhere to go but up and improve his life and work as a PI. He takes on a 10 year old cold case to get out of the domestic end of PI work. He is really in over his head, but keeps asking questions that leads in one direction, that takes him into another direction. Well read and find out all the different directions, with the many out comes that lead to one final answer, but then an unanswered question pops up. Read and enjoy.
Evan starts out as a very insecure person, just kind of spinning his wheels with his life and work as a PI. There isn’t anywhere to go but up and improve his life and work as a PI. He takes on a 10 year old cold case to get out of the domestic end of PI work. He is really in over his head, but keeps asking questions that leads in one direction, that takes him into another direction. Well read and find out all the different directions, with the many out comes that lead to one final answer, but then an unanswered question pops up. Read and enjoy.
September 22, 2022
Evan Buckley is a copper turned private eye whose bread and butter seemed to be hunting down proof that spouses were unfaithful. Tiring of being the bearer of bad news he takes on the cold case of a missing school boy and his father who subsequently disappeared. People go missing on a daily basis and even today many without a trace. Cops too often look for the easy answer and get tunnel vision.
This mystery/thriller has more than a touch of noir about it and borrows from Edgar Allan Poe who is credited with inventing the genre.
This mystery/thriller has more than a touch of noir about it and borrows from Edgar Allan Poe who is credited with inventing the genre.
May 11, 2022
A New Type of PI
This was the first book in the Evan Buckley series, and I’m so glad I discovered him! Evan truly a reluctant private investigator who decides to stop following married cheaters and focus on tracking down what happened when a woman’s son and husband went missing years before.
Evan is an ordinary guy looking to solve an emotional and important cold case.
I really enjoyed this book and meeting Evan, and look forward to reading the rest of this series.
This was the first book in the Evan Buckley series, and I’m so glad I discovered him! Evan truly a reluctant private investigator who decides to stop following married cheaters and focus on tracking down what happened when a woman’s son and husband went missing years before.
Evan is an ordinary guy looking to solve an emotional and important cold case.
I really enjoyed this book and meeting Evan, and look forward to reading the rest of this series.
June 4, 2023
I have to admit; I thought the book started slowly. I almost stopped reading after the first three chapters, but something made me keep reading. I wasn't sure about Evan and his demeanor; however, I kept reading, and I'm glad I did. I began to start rooting for Evan. The character began to develop exponentially. I don't give away plots as I like to read books and form my own opinions, as I'm sure many others also do the same.
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