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Murder By The Book
Your next sin... may be your last. A serial killer is stalking Marston. The detectives can't link his victims. The main clue that ties the murders together is a Bible passage left behind at each crime scene. The killer dubbed BK, the Backyard Killer in the news remains elusive as the police scamper to connect the dots. Detective Romero Griesenbeck and the new kid on the block, Detective William Hunter (Billy), are on the job together again. They must connect all the dots before the Backyard Killer is out of verses. Murder by the Book is the second book in the Marston series. Book One— GUILTY is always free.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2017
17 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 29, 2019
Another good one by Brigitta Moon
I enjoyed this second book in the series by Brigitta Moon. So far, the ratings have been 4 star, simply because there are typos that drew me out of the story. I went right back in, but another edit would fix these and they would be the great books they are mean to be.
You will enjoy this series. I highly recommend.
I enjoyed this second book in the series by Brigitta Moon. So far, the ratings have been 4 star, simply because there are typos that drew me out of the story. I went right back in, but another edit would fix these and they would be the great books they are mean to be.
You will enjoy this series. I highly recommend.
October 31, 2017
Great read and very suspenseful. The plot twists kept you guessing till the end.
November 28, 2017
Murder by the Book has all the elements of a great murder mystery; multiple dead bodies under mysterious circumstances and difficult conditions, a police detective with marital problems and a conniving wife, a town mayor concerned about his political image, innuendo of an old case hanging in the resident’s memory…and finally, an old perceived wrong that escaped everyone’s attention…except that of the murderer and the victims.
The active characters are sufficiently developed to support the storyline and just enough backstory is provided to keep them from falling into limbo. However, no information is provided about any of the victims. I was not able to generate emotional interest in either the main characters or the victims. There was simply no information for a reader to know anything about them or to put together pieces of the puzzle that would make them potential victims in the reader’s eyes…or for to allow them to satisfactorily deduce the identity of the murderer before the detective can do so. The one exception was Rose, whose backstory was, in the end, irrelevant.
The dialog seems contrived, strained and unnatural, more like reading a script than normal conversation. There is a difference between reading a story and being immersed in a story. I felt the dialog was being told to me, never that I was participating in it so I never felt the character’s emotions; I just read descriptions of them.
I try not to be overly critical of writing style but Murder by the Book approaches the story in a unidirectional manner just as though the detective’s, or an uninvolved person’s, perspective is the only perspective that counts giving the reader a one-sided view and denying a sense of competition between the murderer and the detectives. Rabbit trails rise suggesting alternative solutions to the mystery none of which are followed to their logical conclusions.
Nevertheless, I found myself interested in the story and wondering when the next shoe would drop. Because the overall story plot was generally familiar, I had little trouble guessing what would happen next. Despite that, the book was enjoyable.
Based on the strength of the story’s potential, folks who enjoy mysteries, especially cozy mysteries, should enjoy Murder by the Book.
The active characters are sufficiently developed to support the storyline and just enough backstory is provided to keep them from falling into limbo. However, no information is provided about any of the victims. I was not able to generate emotional interest in either the main characters or the victims. There was simply no information for a reader to know anything about them or to put together pieces of the puzzle that would make them potential victims in the reader’s eyes…or for to allow them to satisfactorily deduce the identity of the murderer before the detective can do so. The one exception was Rose, whose backstory was, in the end, irrelevant.
The dialog seems contrived, strained and unnatural, more like reading a script than normal conversation. There is a difference between reading a story and being immersed in a story. I felt the dialog was being told to me, never that I was participating in it so I never felt the character’s emotions; I just read descriptions of them.
I try not to be overly critical of writing style but Murder by the Book approaches the story in a unidirectional manner just as though the detective’s, or an uninvolved person’s, perspective is the only perspective that counts giving the reader a one-sided view and denying a sense of competition between the murderer and the detectives. Rabbit trails rise suggesting alternative solutions to the mystery none of which are followed to their logical conclusions.
Nevertheless, I found myself interested in the story and wondering when the next shoe would drop. Because the overall story plot was generally familiar, I had little trouble guessing what would happen next. Despite that, the book was enjoyable.
Based on the strength of the story’s potential, folks who enjoy mysteries, especially cozy mysteries, should enjoy Murder by the Book.
September 14, 2018
A thriller that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat!
A read the first book in this series, Guilty, and really enjoyed it, so when I began reading Murder by the Book, I was pretty sure I’d be in for a good read. I felt like I was meeting old friends as I encountered Romero, Billy, Doc, Chief Randall, and Becky again, the same crew that solved the crime in Guilty. In Murder by the Book, the detective team in Marston (the setting of the novel) has a much more serious crime to deal with: A series of serial killings that has left Marston in a deep state of terror. Tension builds for Marston, its detectives, and the reader as each murder occurs and as the detectives try to piece together the evidence in what appears to be the work on an insane killer. Cleverly plotted, as usual with Moon, Murder by the Book has quite a surprise ending. I enjoyed this novel as much as I did Guilty, and I will surely read the final book in the series as well!
A read the first book in this series, Guilty, and really enjoyed it, so when I began reading Murder by the Book, I was pretty sure I’d be in for a good read. I felt like I was meeting old friends as I encountered Romero, Billy, Doc, Chief Randall, and Becky again, the same crew that solved the crime in Guilty. In Murder by the Book, the detective team in Marston (the setting of the novel) has a much more serious crime to deal with: A series of serial killings that has left Marston in a deep state of terror. Tension builds for Marston, its detectives, and the reader as each murder occurs and as the detectives try to piece together the evidence in what appears to be the work on an insane killer. Cleverly plotted, as usual with Moon, Murder by the Book has quite a surprise ending. I enjoyed this novel as much as I did Guilty, and I will surely read the final book in the series as well!
October 29, 2017
Yet again, Brigitta Moon has created a page-turning thriller. Reviving some characters from her previous book "Guilty" (another fantastic read) and returning to Marston, the author consolidates a strong cast and layers on the drama and suspense as few writers can. The story encompasses all emotions, from joy to fear, love to hate, even a few comedic moments to add further poignancy to a dramatic plot. But it is her skills in building suspense that had me racing from one chapter to the next. Excellent sub-plots flesh out the story, offering intentional misdirection that will keep you guessing about the Backyard Killer until the very end.
Crime, thriller & mystery fans will enjoy every page. Highly recommended.
Crime, thriller & mystery fans will enjoy every page. Highly recommended.
November 26, 2017
A thoroughly unlikable main character
While parts of this story were intriguing I was ultimately put off by the main character Romero and his attitude. An example is early on in the story he criticized another character for eating too many donuts and excused his behaviour as caring about them. Seconds later hes looking at lunch menus rather than focusing on the case thats just gone mental on the media. I also found other characters in need of adjustments to his behaviour as they seemed lacklustre. Overall the mysery and plot twists were great but I feel this story needs an objective beta read for character tweaking.
While parts of this story were intriguing I was ultimately put off by the main character Romero and his attitude. An example is early on in the story he criticized another character for eating too many donuts and excused his behaviour as caring about them. Seconds later hes looking at lunch menus rather than focusing on the case thats just gone mental on the media. I also found other characters in need of adjustments to his behaviour as they seemed lacklustre. Overall the mysery and plot twists were great but I feel this story needs an objective beta read for character tweaking.
February 25, 2019
Awesome combination of mystery, action, and suspense. Brigitta Moon weaves an intricate story where you feel like a participant helping the characters figuring out the murder puzzle.
There are multiple dead bodies and mysterious circumstances. There is a Bible passage found at each crime scene, which gives the clue that the perpetrator is a serial killer. It was nice to continue reading and following the characters that I first met in “Guilty” the first book in the Marston Series.
I loved the suspense and twists that kept me turning pages especially the surprising ending.
There are multiple dead bodies and mysterious circumstances. There is a Bible passage found at each crime scene, which gives the clue that the perpetrator is a serial killer. It was nice to continue reading and following the characters that I first met in “Guilty” the first book in the Marston Series.
I loved the suspense and twists that kept me turning pages especially the surprising ending.
October 29, 2017
Another great book!
This is a real thriller and full of suspense. It's fast-paced and kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next.
The book has twists and turns - which I love.
The plot is well developed, as well as the characters. I enjoyed reading about characters from the first book in the series, even if the books can be read as stand-alones.
The book is very well written and highly recommended. Can't wait for the next!
This is a real thriller and full of suspense. It's fast-paced and kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next.
The book has twists and turns - which I love.
The plot is well developed, as well as the characters. I enjoyed reading about characters from the first book in the series, even if the books can be read as stand-alones.
The book is very well written and highly recommended. Can't wait for the next!
October 30, 2017
I liked Guilty, the first book in the Marston Thriller series, but I loved this one. Author Brigitta Moon is getting more comfortable with her characters and her plot is well shown to her readers. Moon continues to grow as an author and I foresee many more books to come, as well as loyal fans. I enjoyed meeting the characters again and following the detectives as they tried to solve the mystery before the Backyard Killer struck again. I recommend this for mystery and crime fans.
November 6, 2017
This is the second in the Marston series. As you might expect it includes several of the characters from the first. In this book, a serial killer known as the Backyard Killer is stalking Marston. There is plenty of suspense and several twists and surprises that will keep you guessing the murderer's identity until the end.
August 14, 2018
The Community Back Yard
Marston Murders! Suspenseful thriller with realistic characters, woven together by awful events. A serial killer who throws out a biblical challenge. Loner, stalker, madman. Becky, Romero and Billy the Cub thrown in at the deep end. Weak-willed Riley stirs the plot and his wife is something else. Nicely done thriller which keeps you turning.
October 10, 2018
A perfect thriller
This writer does it all! She has a great plot, great people who are believable and as I read each book I care about the characters more, they become family. This is a thrill and an exciting read. Love this author and her novels!
This writer does it all! She has a great plot, great people who are believable and as I read each book I care about the characters more, they become family. This is a thrill and an exciting read. Love this author and her novels!
August 20, 2021
Detective Griesenbeck and his team investigate the killed dubbed BK - the Backyard Killer. The case is made difficult by the lack of motive or connections between the victims
Unfortunately is becomes obvious who the killer was and I didn’t find any of the characters likeable
Unfortunately is becomes obvious who the killer was and I didn’t find any of the characters likeable
August 27, 2021
A well written murder
I enjoyed this novel thoroughly. Well written, with just the right number of plot twists. I would read more by this author in the future.
I enjoyed this novel thoroughly. Well written, with just the right number of plot twists. I would read more by this author in the future.
February 20, 2018
Great story, well told.
I read the first in this thriller series, 'Guilty', last year and enjoyed it. I came back for more and looked forward to the next book. Although part of a series with characters from the first book, I found this book stands alone and doesn't need the first book to lay the background. As with the first book, plotting is full of suspense and clever twists that kept me turning the pages. The characters are well developed and fit naturally into their given situations which adds depth and support to the scenes. I would have liked a more background on the victim characters to put them more squarely into the context. Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and will be back for the next one. Recommended.
I read the first in this thriller series, 'Guilty', last year and enjoyed it. I came back for more and looked forward to the next book. Although part of a series with characters from the first book, I found this book stands alone and doesn't need the first book to lay the background. As with the first book, plotting is full of suspense and clever twists that kept me turning the pages. The characters are well developed and fit naturally into their given situations which adds depth and support to the scenes. I would have liked a more background on the victim characters to put them more squarely into the context. Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and will be back for the next one. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews