Buzz Killer

by Tom Straw

From Tom Straw, the author of seven New York Times bestsellers writing as Richard Castle, comes BUZZ KILLER, his first mystery since the Nikki Heat series.

New York City public defender Macie Wild takes the homicide case of a burglar the tabloids nickname the Buzz Killer for his MO of lobby-buzzing apartments to select his targets. But when he is the victim of an attempted jailhouse killing and then someone tries to kill Macie, her murder case reveals itself to be something bigger.

Stonewalled by a hostile DA and shut down by a code of silence from the Buzz Killer’s criminal circle, she crosses paths with Gunnar Cody, an ex-detective dismissed from the NYPD’s elite surveillance unit. The brash former police spy is now a freelance video journalist trampling all over Macie’s case, shooting a documentary. In spite of her misgivings about his methods, Macie and Gunnar form an uneasy partnership fraught with moral conflicts and romantic sparks.

In constant danger from a ruthless contract killer, they collide with an unscrupulous pharmaceutical CEO, a playboy prince, rogue FBI agents, a high-tech cat burglar, a sadistic call girl, plus a scheme to launder illegal Russian billions through Manhattan luxury real estate. In an emotional climax they expose a deadly conspiracy that reaches the highest halls of power, culminating in a shocking twist that’s anything but a buzz killer.

Genres: Fiction

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2017

About the author

TOM STRAW published his first mystery novel, The Trigger Episode, in 2007. Subsequently, writing as Richard Castle, he authored seven more crime novels, all of which became New York Times Bestsellers. Buzz Killer is Tom Straw’s first book under his own name since that blockbuster Nikki Heat series. He is also an Emmy- and Writer’s Guild of America-nominated TV writer and producer having written and produced Night Court, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, Dave’s World, Grace Under Fire, Cosby, Whoopi, and Nurse Jackie. A former board member of the Mystery Writers of America, New York Chapter, he lives in Connecticut, where his home is his castle.

Reviews

[Renée · Rating 2 out of 5]

I once heard that as the writers of Grey’s Anatomy write their scripts, they often write “medical, medical” in their first drafts as placeholders for where medical jargon would later go. Reading the first few chapters of this book, I felt like I was basically reading “legal legal”. My eyes glazed over a bit in the first few chapters and I felt like I had landed in the middle of an episode of Suits. The main character is a lawyer, but I didn’t need pages and pages of fairly dry exposition on a case that didn’t seem that interesting. I kept waiting for a hook or something to get me invested in this story, but it didn’t really come.

Once I got into the meat of the story it was alright. The lead character Macie was likable. The story was fairly predictable (save a small twist at the end), but not terrible enough for me to not finish the book. What kept bugging me though, was that the male lead character basically manipulated the female lead at every turn and she just went along with it after a few minor protestations. That didn’t match the intelligence and strength she supposedly had and it also wasn’t very believable that someone in her position would just break the law left and right.

Now, I don’t dislike all of the work from this author. He was the ghost writer for Richard Castle’s Nikki Heat book series, which I really enjoyed and have read several times. Sadly, without a major tv show’s awesome characters already fleshed out, the author’s writing just left a lot to be desired for me. I wanted to know more about Macie and Gunnar, I wanted to understand their motivations, feel their emotions, see their passions. A lot of it remained fairly shallow and lacked surprise.

It also bugged me that one of the questions the book poses (What did Gunnar do that was sealed in his files?) was never really answered. I wonder why it was brought up so many times if it wasn’t going to be explained. Maybe this was intended to be book one in a series? I don’t know. But it left me a little unsatisfied.

[megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of millennial bashing for a MC who, under 35, would be a millennial herself. Published in 2017, but written by an author who fails to acknowledge the computer/internet access we all carry in our pockets - and that a 30something would turn to it for information before anything else.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this one more than I did. The case was good, but the chemistry and energy between the main protagonists just kinda fell flat for me. I think Straw's book may suffer from the high expectations with which readers of the Nikki Heat series will open this book, yet it couldn't duplicate the spark of Nikki and Rook. And that may be a little unfair when Nikki and Rook had the distinct benefit of their counterparts on screen that just crackled with sexual tension. I'd read a follow up and give them another try.

[James McCrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A New York City public defender, Macie Wild, takes the homicide case of a burglar the tabloids have named the ‘Buzz Killer’ for his MO of lobby-buzzing apartments to select his burglary targets. But when he’s the victim of an attempted jailhouse killing and then someone tries to kill Macie, her murder case becomes something much bigger, and more dangerous. Stonewalled by a hostile DA and shut down by a code of silence among her client’s criminal circle, she crosses paths with Gunnar Cody, an ex-detective dismissed from the NYPD’s surveillance unit who seems to be working a similar case.

In spite of her misgivings about his methods—and initially unsure of his aims—Macie and Gunnar form an uneasy partnership. Throughout, Macie holds desperately to principles she worries are eroding even within her: “Is this how it begins?” she wonders at one point. “A blind eye to ethical breeches until you eventually become inured,” seeing dishonorable practices as standard procedure? Their collaboration and need for the truth will put them on a crash course with more than ethics.

Buzz Killer is a taught and compelling story, well told by a skillful author. The characters are well written, their struggles and qualms are real. And the story doesn’t skimp on atmosphere. New York City itself is a character in the drama. Early on, as Macie Wild, the protagonist, prepares to meet her client, she muses that New York, rather than a divided city of haves and have-nots has become in fact “a tale of three cities.” Through twists and turns, Macie and Gunnar’s quest will take them through all three cities, from the people who work for a living, to the rich and powerful, and into the roosts of the global elite, those silent perches throughout Manhattan, a third of which are vacant more than ten months each year.

Buzz Killer is excellent. It delivers on the standard mystery-suspense, and serves up more, prying open a door on a world that has taken shape (and taken hold) while few of us were looking. It’s familiar, yet new, and it’s chilling.

Highly recommended.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greed. Power. Money.

The cause of most human atrocities are rooted in those three words. The pursuit of more money, always more, relentlessly more, is a twisted sickness that infects people. Money buys power. Money buys respect.
Money buys - safety? Maybe not.

Author Tom Straw has a smart defense attorney, Macie Wild - trying to prove her client's innocence on a murder charge - teaming up with an ex-cop, Gunnar Cody, who has serious skills (think Jack Reacher skills) and a great surveillance set-up, plus a scary-good IT guy - when her case intersects with his work.

Unfortunately, Wild's and Cody's investigation exposes them to the rotten, brutal, and deadly underworld of Russian oligarchs, whose insane amounts of stolen money and the subsequent influence it buys - even in the supposedly 'safest' corners of the American legal system - turns their investigation into a dangerous adventure.

There's a lot of action - at times, it felt I was inside a Mission Impossible movie - and there is a romantic element. What Straw does nicely is making the romantic element develop slowly, so when the two of them actually do something about it, it feels natural, more realistic - more deserved. Too many other novels of this type simply throw the characters into bed as soon as possible, which always feels forced and takes me out of the story. Straw doesn't overdo it, either.

In the end, Macie, for all her worldly experience to date, is shocked by the extent that money can corrupt. It's sick, and it's a condemnation of humanity - that in thousands of years of watching people screw themselves and entire populations in the pursuit of power and money - most of today's humans haven't learned a thing.

There were a couple of drawbacks. Straw's writing style in this novel is to combine different characters' dialogue, thoughts, and actions into single paragraphs, which made me have to frequently go back and reread for clarity. Who said that? Wait. Who thought that? Wait. Who did that? I would have read this book much faster if that hadn't been an issue.

The other was Cody's motivation to pretty much drop everything - from the get-go - to spend his time, resources, and money to help Macie with her case. It wasn't explained, and, I felt, didn't make sense. He didn't seem the kind of guy to fall head-over-heels in love at first sight and, because of that, risk his life and his resources in response.

But, I can suspend disbelief when the story is interesting, so - I did.

[Margaret Bechtol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, good pacing. There were lots of characters but easy to remember who was who and on what side. I didn't see the twists coming. Looking forward to another of his books!

[April Galyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertainment at its best

I just loved the character development. The plot was interesting with several twists and turns. Very likeable characters and some others perfect as villains. Excellent beach read.

[Theresa Kulenkamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 2/3 kept me interested, but the last third had too many characters with various identities to keep straight. Could have ended with a bang, but instead was a whimper.

[Jane C · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first crime thriller, enjoyed the pace , intrigue, detail.