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Doug Brock #2
Fade to Black
In Fade to Black, the thrilling sequel to Blackout from David Rosenfelt, policeman Doug Brock helps a fellow victim of amnesia untangle a murder case and discovers he may not be as distant as he thinks.
After getting shot in the line of duty, New Jersey state police officer Doug Brock has been busy rebuilding his life. He’s reunited with his fiancé and started to get some of his memories back. He hopes he can continue to recover with the help of an amnesia support group and that the damage from his past isn’t permanent.
It isn’t until fellow group member Sean Conner approaches him after a meeting that Doug realizes the trouble is just beginning. Sean has discovered in his attic what can only be called a scrapbook of a murder victim, but he has no recollection of the girl’s identity or why he might have gathered this information. Doug agrees to help and convinces his captain to open what had been a cold case. When he discovers that he had a personal connection to this case, suddenly he’s questioning everything he thought he knew about the case, about Sean, and about his own past.
In the next page-turning thriller by David Rosenfelt, Doug Brock is back to delight readers and keep them guessing until the end.
After getting shot in the line of duty, New Jersey state police officer Doug Brock has been busy rebuilding his life. He’s reunited with his fiancé and started to get some of his memories back. He hopes he can continue to recover with the help of an amnesia support group and that the damage from his past isn’t permanent.
It isn’t until fellow group member Sean Conner approaches him after a meeting that Doug realizes the trouble is just beginning. Sean has discovered in his attic what can only be called a scrapbook of a murder victim, but he has no recollection of the girl’s identity or why he might have gathered this information. Doug agrees to help and convinces his captain to open what had been a cold case. When he discovers that he had a personal connection to this case, suddenly he’s questioning everything he thought he knew about the case, about Sean, and about his own past.
In the next page-turning thriller by David Rosenfelt, Doug Brock is back to delight readers and keep them guessing until the end.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2018
593 people are currently reading
1000 people want to read
About the author
David Rosenfelt
74 books2,894 followersI am a novelist with 27 dogs.
I have gotten to this dubious position with absolutely no planning, and at no stage in my life could I have predicted it. But here I am.
My childhood was relentlessly normal. The middle of three brothers, loving parents, a middle-class home in Paterson, New Jersey. We played sports, studied sporadically. laughed around the dinner table, and generally had a good time. By comparison, "Ozzie and Harriet's" clan seemed bizarre.
I graduated NYU, then decided to go into the movie business. I was stunningly brilliant at a job interview with my uncle, who was President of United Artists, and was immediately hired. It set me off on a climb up the executive ladder, culminating in my becoming President of Marketing for Tri-Star Pictures. The movie landscape is filled with the movies I buried; for every "Rambo", "The Natural" and "Rocky", there are countless disasters.
I did manage to find the time to marry and have two children, both of whom are doing very well, and fortunately neither have inherited my eccentricities.
A number of years ago, I left the movie marketing business, to the sustained applause of hundreds of disgruntled producers and directors. I decided to try my hand at writing. I wrote and sold a bunch of feature films, none of which ever came close to being actually filmed, and then a bunch of TV movies, some of which actually made it to the small screen. It's safe to say that their impact on the American cultural scene has been minimal.
About fourteen years ago, my wife and I started the Tara Foundation, named in honor of the greatest Golden Retriever the world has ever known. We rescued almost 4,000 dogs, many of them Goldens, and found them loving homes. Our own home quickly became a sanctuary for those dogs that we rescued that were too old or sickly to be wanted by others. They surround me as I write this. It's total lunacy, but it works, and they are a happy, safe group.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidr...
I have gotten to this dubious position with absolutely no planning, and at no stage in my life could I have predicted it. But here I am.
My childhood was relentlessly normal. The middle of three brothers, loving parents, a middle-class home in Paterson, New Jersey. We played sports, studied sporadically. laughed around the dinner table, and generally had a good time. By comparison, "Ozzie and Harriet's" clan seemed bizarre.
I graduated NYU, then decided to go into the movie business. I was stunningly brilliant at a job interview with my uncle, who was President of United Artists, and was immediately hired. It set me off on a climb up the executive ladder, culminating in my becoming President of Marketing for Tri-Star Pictures. The movie landscape is filled with the movies I buried; for every "Rambo", "The Natural" and "Rocky", there are countless disasters.
I did manage to find the time to marry and have two children, both of whom are doing very well, and fortunately neither have inherited my eccentricities.
A number of years ago, I left the movie marketing business, to the sustained applause of hundreds of disgruntled producers and directors. I decided to try my hand at writing. I wrote and sold a bunch of feature films, none of which ever came close to being actually filmed, and then a bunch of TV movies, some of which actually made it to the small screen. It's safe to say that their impact on the American cultural scene has been minimal.
About fourteen years ago, my wife and I started the Tara Foundation, named in honor of the greatest Golden Retriever the world has ever known. We rescued almost 4,000 dogs, many of them Goldens, and found them loving homes. Our own home quickly became a sanctuary for those dogs that we rescued that were too old or sickly to be wanted by others. They surround me as I write this. It's total lunacy, but it works, and they are a happy, safe group.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidr...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
March 4, 2018
Whew! Life has been crazy lately. 3 reviews plus this one on the way...if anyone cares, lol. :-)
I became hooked on David Rosenfelt and his wonderful Andy Carpenter series many years ago....plus....how can you NOT love a great story telling author who has an animal rescue foundation....and 27 dogs to boot!
Anyway, FADE TO BLACK is book #2 in Rosenfelt's Doug Brock series that CAN stand alone....and BEGINS with a shocking heinous crime.
Meet Lieutenant Doug Brock, State Police Officer and hero recently back on the job after suffering a debilitating head injury....an injury that resulted in lost years of memory....an injury that makes for an interesting work of investigative police fiction.
Lt. Brock has a bit of a wild and fearless reputation and a great witty personality. He also has a great BIG partner named Nate and a wiz-bang computer techie girlfriend/fiancé named Jessie who also works on the force.
On a mission to locate a missing person from a cold case, Lt. Brock and company encounter numerous dangerous mobster types and investigate a possible drug trafficking ring, but discover something oh so much worse....a horrific BIG money operation that must be stopped before more innocent victims become the prey of a deadly scheme.
Another fast, easy to read and entertaining read for David Rosenfelt!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC COMING MARCH 13 in exchange for review.
September 30, 2024
This is not Andy Carpenter. This is actually, the second in the Doug Brock series. The first book was Blackout in which we were introduced to Doug, a New Jersey state police officer with retrograde amnesia. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In this book…He is now ready to go back to regular duty.
And…Having been approached by someone who is in his Amnesia group about a case, he now feels obligated to find out more about it.
But…As he digs into it, he learns that he has ties to the case. Did he put away the wrong guy? With no recall, because of his amnesia, he works feverishly to find out more.
So…What really happened?
And…Why did this person want to reopen this case?
And…The further Doug digs, more bodies turn up. Who doesn’t want this case reopened?
In…Typical fashion, Rosenfelt provides us with short chapters, page-turning suspense, and characters that are believable. Along with a pet dog named Bobo.
In this book…He is now ready to go back to regular duty.
And…Having been approached by someone who is in his Amnesia group about a case, he now feels obligated to find out more about it.
But…As he digs into it, he learns that he has ties to the case. Did he put away the wrong guy? With no recall, because of his amnesia, he works feverishly to find out more.
So…What really happened?
And…Why did this person want to reopen this case?
And…The further Doug digs, more bodies turn up. Who doesn’t want this case reopened?
In…Typical fashion, Rosenfelt provides us with short chapters, page-turning suspense, and characters that are believable. Along with a pet dog named Bobo.
March 25, 2018
New Jersey state police officer Doug Brock was introduced in Blackout. Doug has retrograde amnesia and can’t remember the last ten years. Fade to Black is the second entry in this series. The author's unique style is evident in the storytelling and the witty dialogue.
Doug is contacted by a man in his amnesia support group about a closed murder case. The man has found a scrapbook of newspaper articles about the murder in his attic, he thinks he was in the same bar as the murdered woman, and he wants Doug to review the case to see if he was involved in the crime. Doug was the arresting officer of the woman's fiancé. He has more questions than answers because he can’t remember.
This was an interesting and sometimes convoluted plot. It might not be very realistic, but all the loose ends are tied up at the end. There’s little gore and not even much swearing. It moved right along and was a quick, enjoyable read for me. Just what I need sometimes.
Doug is contacted by a man in his amnesia support group about a closed murder case. The man has found a scrapbook of newspaper articles about the murder in his attic, he thinks he was in the same bar as the murdered woman, and he wants Doug to review the case to see if he was involved in the crime. Doug was the arresting officer of the woman's fiancé. He has more questions than answers because he can’t remember.
This was an interesting and sometimes convoluted plot. It might not be very realistic, but all the loose ends are tied up at the end. There’s little gore and not even much swearing. It moved right along and was a quick, enjoyable read for me. Just what I need sometimes.
August 17, 2018
Quite a strange story. Interesting? Barely. Confusing? Certainly. Recommend? No. 3 of 10 stars
March 29, 2018
I like the suspense and didn't see that coming! The east-west mafia plot was a turn off for me personally (I'm just not into it) but overall an entertaining book.
June 7, 2018
Woo hoo...another one knocked off my TBR pile. Just a quickie review as there are lots posted here.
I enjoyed book #2 in the Doug Brock series even more than the first one. It's a smart, twisty police procedural with an interesting MC & great cast of supporting characters. The plot has plenty of u-turns & red herrings to keep you guessing. The pace & slow drip of clues keep you reading. And while Brock still has huge gaps in his memory, he's learning to deal with the challenges & maybe even beginning to feel like his old self (much to his fiancé's chagrin...). Dialogue between he & his partner Nate Alvarez provides some comic relief as a seemingly simple investigation goes to hell in a hand basket. A quick, enjoyable read with likeable characters from the author of the popular Andy Carpenter series.
I enjoyed book #2 in the Doug Brock series even more than the first one. It's a smart, twisty police procedural with an interesting MC & great cast of supporting characters. The plot has plenty of u-turns & red herrings to keep you guessing. The pace & slow drip of clues keep you reading. And while Brock still has huge gaps in his memory, he's learning to deal with the challenges & maybe even beginning to feel like his old self (much to his fiancé's chagrin...). Dialogue between he & his partner Nate Alvarez provides some comic relief as a seemingly simple investigation goes to hell in a hand basket. A quick, enjoyable read with likeable characters from the author of the popular Andy Carpenter series.
November 7, 2019
State Police Officer Doug Brock is attending an amnesia support group. Due to an injury he received on duty, he lost 10 years of his memory. It's slowly returning, but in bits and pieces.
A fellow attendee, who also has memory problems, Sean Conner asks Doug to meet him somewhere ... he wants his opinion on something as a police officer. Intrigued, Doug meets him and hears a fantastic tale.
Sean has found in his attic a scrapbook of news articles surrounding the disappearance three years ago of a woman. He has no memory of the woman's identity or why he might have kept all these news articles.
It's particularly puzzling when Doug finds out that he himself was lead investigator and it was he that arrested and charged the man responsible for her murder, even though a body was never found.
When Doug and his partner, Nate, are called to investigate a man's head ... and nothing else...he immediately knows it is the man he talked to the day before .... Sean Conner.
And then another man is found .... his head only, body nowhere in sight.
How do these victims relate to each other?
The story premise is A good one, sprinkled with humor and wit. I really enjoyed the banter between Doug and Nate. It's a well paced mystery with a few unexpected twists and turns. Although second in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. There's enough of Doug's backs story to ensure not feeling lost but no more than what whets the appetite to find out the whole story. I highly recommend starting at the beginning.
Many thanks to the author / St Martin's Press - Minotaur Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 26, 2019
Ooops!!! I queued this up last night & started listening to it on the way to work only to realize it was book 2. I figured I'd remember book 1 or might not need it, but after an hour, I realized I really didn't & did. I'm putting this on hold while I read book 1. I hate it when I do that. Grrr! I put it down & listened to book 1, Blackout. Glad I did. I had no trouble picking this one back up & it did make it more enjoyable.
I finished it this morning while making a small milking stool for a planter out of scrap yellow pine. Pretty similar to the first, with a different narrator that I liked better. Similar, pleasant voice, but he didn't put too much emotion into the voice. The plot was even more twisty & quite good. Again, there's repetition I found annoying, but overall it was a good listen.
I'll be interested in listening to more of these when/if my library gets them.
I finished it this morning while making a small milking stool for a planter out of scrap yellow pine. Pretty similar to the first, with a different narrator that I liked better. Similar, pleasant voice, but he didn't put too much emotion into the voice. The plot was even more twisty & quite good. Again, there's repetition I found annoying, but overall it was a good listen.
I'll be interested in listening to more of these when/if my library gets them.
March 13, 2018
I felt the story was well written, and the idea of having Doug, a police officer with amnesia as a main character was a nice touch and an original idea. The author did an excellent job of incorporating this idea into his story, and giving Doug a partner who worked well with him, even teasing him at times. It was definitely a good working arrangement. Doug’s boss had a realistic feel and little details were well described. I don’t feel as if I missed anything by not reading the first book. It works well as a standalone.
The story itself grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I definitely didn’t want to put the book down I like when an author lets you in a few details that others in the book don’t know, and I find myself wanting to warn the characters. Sometimes that heads up really adds to the excitement! There were plenty of plot twists, and times when it was discovered that the good guys might be bad and characters thought to be bad might actually be the good guys.
There was only one thing I did not like about the book: For awhile there, I was thoroughly impressed by the fact that someone wrote a book with police officers who didn’t stereotypically swear. And then the author destroyed that aspect and had the cops use swear words with God in them. It was only a few times, and even the bad guys used this word a few times, but I hate that. (I especially hate when people bring God into their swear words.) I’ve had the opportunity to get to know several policemen over the years and not one of them EVER swore. But in books they all do. Every. Single. One. Why ? I wish authors would keep in mind that a good writer doesn’t need to add swear words to gain a following; in fact, they may actually have more people who want to read their books.
Other than the swearing, the book was very good.
The story itself grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I definitely didn’t want to put the book down I like when an author lets you in a few details that others in the book don’t know, and I find myself wanting to warn the characters. Sometimes that heads up really adds to the excitement! There were plenty of plot twists, and times when it was discovered that the good guys might be bad and characters thought to be bad might actually be the good guys.
There was only one thing I did not like about the book: For awhile there, I was thoroughly impressed by the fact that someone wrote a book with police officers who didn’t stereotypically swear. And then the author destroyed that aspect and had the cops use swear words with God in them. It was only a few times, and even the bad guys used this word a few times, but I hate that. (I especially hate when people bring God into their swear words.) I’ve had the opportunity to get to know several policemen over the years and not one of them EVER swore. But in books they all do. Every. Single. One. Why ? I wish authors would keep in mind that a good writer doesn’t need to add swear words to gain a following; in fact, they may actually have more people who want to read their books.
Other than the swearing, the book was very good.
February 1, 2022
I love David Rosenfelt’s storytelling! Mystery, light suspense, wit, character/friendship chemistry, and just enough tough guy to make him utterly believable yet still likable. Doug Brock is a Jersey cop with retrograde amnesia which plays into the story with grace and humor..The story runs at the pace with just the right amount of details not getting the reader too bogged down, and yet filling in everything necessary.
Listened to the Audiobook version free via my local Overdrive Library (Libby). Jeff Steitzer does a great job with the Jersey accent and is talented in the overall narration.
Rosenfelt has become one of my favorite authors, and my TBR is filled with his works. Looking forward to many more!
Recommended
4.5 Stars
Listened to the Audiobook version free via my local Overdrive Library (Libby). Jeff Steitzer does a great job with the Jersey accent and is talented in the overall narration.
Rosenfelt has become one of my favorite authors, and my TBR is filled with his works. Looking forward to many more!
Recommended
4.5 Stars
February 22, 2018
Doug Brock is a police officer suffering from amnesia after being shot ... he can't remember anything from the last ten years. He is back to work, partnered again with Nate, and dating his former fiancée, Jessie, who is also a police officer.
Doug is encouraged to join an amnesia support group to help him recover. There he meets a Sean, a fellow amnesiac, who asks him for help. Sean says he has found a scrapbook about a murder victim named Rita and is concerned he was involved in her disappearance and murder. Doug checks it out and discovers he had helped put away the victim's boyfriend three years ago for her murder. When Sean's head is found shortly thereafter, it looks like it could be the result of rivalry between the mob bosses in New Jersey and Vegas. In the meantime, Doug continues to investigate Rita's disappearance and uncovers some possible fraud happening at the hospital where she had worked. Could that be the reason she disappeared?
I've read many books by this author (I enjoy his Andy Carpenter series). I liked the writing style as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing at times. It was written in first person perspective in Doug's voice but switches over to third person perspective when Doug isn't part of the action. I liked Doug, Nate and Jessie and their humorous interactions with each other.
This is the second in the Doug Brock series and you don't have to have read the first one as it works as a stand alone. I look forward to more in this series.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/02...
Doug is encouraged to join an amnesia support group to help him recover. There he meets a Sean, a fellow amnesiac, who asks him for help. Sean says he has found a scrapbook about a murder victim named Rita and is concerned he was involved in her disappearance and murder. Doug checks it out and discovers he had helped put away the victim's boyfriend three years ago for her murder. When Sean's head is found shortly thereafter, it looks like it could be the result of rivalry between the mob bosses in New Jersey and Vegas. In the meantime, Doug continues to investigate Rita's disappearance and uncovers some possible fraud happening at the hospital where she had worked. Could that be the reason she disappeared?
I've read many books by this author (I enjoy his Andy Carpenter series). I liked the writing style as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing at times. It was written in first person perspective in Doug's voice but switches over to third person perspective when Doug isn't part of the action. I liked Doug, Nate and Jessie and their humorous interactions with each other.
This is the second in the Doug Brock series and you don't have to have read the first one as it works as a stand alone. I look forward to more in this series.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/02...
April 29, 2018
This is a good crime suspense with a detective whose wry humor is similar to the Andy Carpenter series.
NJ police officer Doug Brock suffered an injury that stole years of his memory. He is just getting back on duty with his partner, Nate. His fiancé. Jessie, works in the investigative unit so they get to spend time at work and at home.
Doug is attending a group with other victims of memory loss. One of them asks to meet privately and then asks Doug to check the circumstances of an old murder. Doug begins to look at the old case but it takes on even more new interest when the group member turns up murdered.
One step of the investigation leads to another until Doug suspects there is a larger problem. Soon they are on a race to uncover a killer and or the mystery before a threatened event occurs.
I liked the mystery and suspense that built. There was a surprise twist that made it even more interesting, along with the race at the end to prevent the terrorist act.
I enjoyed the dry banter and wit which are a Rosenfelt staple. I am accustomed to reading or listening to the Andy Carpenter series and could hear (in my head) the same type of character traits in this story. The romantic relationship is very similar to Andy and his love too. That isn’t a bad thing since I enjoy those books too.
I enjoy Rosenfelt’s style of intense mystery with characters who have real personalities and snark. I hadn’t read the first book in the series but this one read acceptably as a stand alone. I recommend this book and this author to those who enjoy police thriller mystery stories.
Source: NetGalley.
NJ police officer Doug Brock suffered an injury that stole years of his memory. He is just getting back on duty with his partner, Nate. His fiancé. Jessie, works in the investigative unit so they get to spend time at work and at home.
Doug is attending a group with other victims of memory loss. One of them asks to meet privately and then asks Doug to check the circumstances of an old murder. Doug begins to look at the old case but it takes on even more new interest when the group member turns up murdered.
One step of the investigation leads to another until Doug suspects there is a larger problem. Soon they are on a race to uncover a killer and or the mystery before a threatened event occurs.
I liked the mystery and suspense that built. There was a surprise twist that made it even more interesting, along with the race at the end to prevent the terrorist act.
I enjoyed the dry banter and wit which are a Rosenfelt staple. I am accustomed to reading or listening to the Andy Carpenter series and could hear (in my head) the same type of character traits in this story. The romantic relationship is very similar to Andy and his love too. That isn’t a bad thing since I enjoy those books too.
I enjoy Rosenfelt’s style of intense mystery with characters who have real personalities and snark. I hadn’t read the first book in the series but this one read acceptably as a stand alone. I recommend this book and this author to those who enjoy police thriller mystery stories.
Source: NetGalley.
April 3, 2018
A tad unbelievable, what police force would let any officer on the force with amnesia, Doug Brock, the officer I question does his job well but has lost 10 years. I read the first in the series and thought it odd then, Brock, having taken time off is allowed to return again to full police grade in this the second in the series, seems to me medical clearances would be in order. With that said it sours me on any reality in this book, very similar plot line as Brock book one, crime boss, bombs set to go off in public places. I prefer Rosenfelts Andy Carpenter series.
November 30, 2025
Another great thriller by Rosenfelt. This one doesn't include Tara (although Bobo does make a minor appearance), and is less humorous than his Carpenter series. But, Rosenfelt does a great job combining the healthcare industry, crime bosses, Vegas casinos, and Doug Brock (with his partners Jessie and Nate) into a believable story.
March 8, 2018
First Sentence: Social workers asked him for his name when they gave him a meal, or if he checked in for a cot on a particularly cold night, but they wrote it down without paying much attention.
Officer Doug Brock suffered retrograde amnesia after being shot in the line of duty. He’s back at work, even with gaps in his memory, but has the help of his partner, Nate Alvarez, and girlfriend Jessie, a state police lieutenant with the cyber division. To aid in his recovery, he attends an amnesia support group. Fellow member Sean Connor approaches Doug asking him to look at what seems to be the scrapbook of a murder victim he’d found in his attic. Doug receives permission to reopen a cold case, discovering a connection to his own past.
It’s interesting when an author makes you take not and consider from the very beginning. In this case, it’s about people who work in any type of social services. The shock of that which follows fully captivates one’s attention.
Rosenfelt’s uses language well—“Even though I’ve been spending so much time here, I still enter warily. That’s because Jessie’s dog, Bobo, doesn’t seem thrilled by my being around. “He’s never been aggressive toward me; he just stares at me with a barely concealed disdain.”
He writes in short, quick chapters that flow well from one to the next. The premise of the story is fascinating. One keeps running into twists and small “wow” moments, although it was a bit disappointing to find the direction the plot took. Still, it is very well done.
The characters are real and relatable. It’s nice to have a team of people who all work together, both internally, cross-departmentally, and even across state lines. Some of the details are a bit questionable, but it all works.
“Fade to Black” has a very good escalation of suspense. One is caught off guard when the link is made between the two segments of the plot, even though the actual climax is a bit anti-climactic.
FADE TO BLACK (Pol Proc-Officer Doug Brock-New Jersey-Contemp) – Good
Rosenfelt, David – 2nd in series
Minotaur Books – March 2018
Officer Doug Brock suffered retrograde amnesia after being shot in the line of duty. He’s back at work, even with gaps in his memory, but has the help of his partner, Nate Alvarez, and girlfriend Jessie, a state police lieutenant with the cyber division. To aid in his recovery, he attends an amnesia support group. Fellow member Sean Connor approaches Doug asking him to look at what seems to be the scrapbook of a murder victim he’d found in his attic. Doug receives permission to reopen a cold case, discovering a connection to his own past.
It’s interesting when an author makes you take not and consider from the very beginning. In this case, it’s about people who work in any type of social services. The shock of that which follows fully captivates one’s attention.
Rosenfelt’s uses language well—“Even though I’ve been spending so much time here, I still enter warily. That’s because Jessie’s dog, Bobo, doesn’t seem thrilled by my being around. “He’s never been aggressive toward me; he just stares at me with a barely concealed disdain.”
He writes in short, quick chapters that flow well from one to the next. The premise of the story is fascinating. One keeps running into twists and small “wow” moments, although it was a bit disappointing to find the direction the plot took. Still, it is very well done.
The characters are real and relatable. It’s nice to have a team of people who all work together, both internally, cross-departmentally, and even across state lines. Some of the details are a bit questionable, but it all works.
“Fade to Black” has a very good escalation of suspense. One is caught off guard when the link is made between the two segments of the plot, even though the actual climax is a bit anti-climactic.
FADE TO BLACK (Pol Proc-Officer Doug Brock-New Jersey-Contemp) – Good
Rosenfelt, David – 2nd in series
Minotaur Books – March 2018
April 8, 2018
“Fade To Black” by David Rosenfelt is the second book in the Doug Brock series. A new reader can enjoy this book without having read the previous books. Contextual references throughout the book fill in relevant background without wasting pages rehashing old events.
The book is written as a first person account by Lieutenant Brock, Doug Brock who suffers from amnesia as the result of a past trauma. He is tired of telling his story, thinking about his story, and worrying about his story. He just wants to go back to living.
He thinks his recovery group is a way to waste time because nobody seems to be recovering; they just talk about not recovering and wanting to recover. Then he meets someone in his group, and things get complicated. He is asked to investigate a past case, one of his own that he cannot remember.
The narrative alternates between first person and third, and geographically between New Jersey and Vegas. He struggles to find a Vegas– New Jersey connection. Could there be some underground drug railroad?
This is a David Rosenfelt book, so of course humor still pops up as Brock struggles with his memory issues. There are the stereotype mob meetings, and of course, there is a dog. Bobo is an enormous dog who looks like a “refrigerator with hair” and must be “mixed with brontosaurus”
I received a copy of” Fade to Black” from David Rosenfelt, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley. It was an easy book to read with a nice balance of humor, tragedy, and trauma. Brock thinks his old self may be returning because rather than talking to people; he wants to punch them and shoot them. He just does not know who to punch and shoot. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the next book. I am eagerly awaiting it.
The book is written as a first person account by Lieutenant Brock, Doug Brock who suffers from amnesia as the result of a past trauma. He is tired of telling his story, thinking about his story, and worrying about his story. He just wants to go back to living.
He thinks his recovery group is a way to waste time because nobody seems to be recovering; they just talk about not recovering and wanting to recover. Then he meets someone in his group, and things get complicated. He is asked to investigate a past case, one of his own that he cannot remember.
The narrative alternates between first person and third, and geographically between New Jersey and Vegas. He struggles to find a Vegas– New Jersey connection. Could there be some underground drug railroad?
This is a David Rosenfelt book, so of course humor still pops up as Brock struggles with his memory issues. There are the stereotype mob meetings, and of course, there is a dog. Bobo is an enormous dog who looks like a “refrigerator with hair” and must be “mixed with brontosaurus”
I received a copy of” Fade to Black” from David Rosenfelt, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley. It was an easy book to read with a nice balance of humor, tragedy, and trauma. Brock thinks his old self may be returning because rather than talking to people; he wants to punch them and shoot them. He just does not know who to punch and shoot. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the next book. I am eagerly awaiting it.
March 11, 2018
I haven't read a book by this author but my friend has and she loves Mr. Rosenfelt. Having not read the prior novel, I only felt a slight disadvantage in reading this book. This was only in the character development aspect. The rest of the story was fine. My connection towards Doug was good but it was not strong. It might have been a little better had I read the prior novel. Although, what he went through in the prior book didn't affect me with this one.
The pacing went by fast with this book. Yet, part of it had to do with the fact that the chapters were short. There was not a lot of un-necessary conversation to bog down the storyline. However, I found most of the characters unmemorable. Also, I didn't pick up on a lot of humor. This is what I was looking forward to the most as my friend loves the humor Mr. Rosenfelt brings to his books. While, this book did not score a major hit with me. I do plan to check out other prior novels.
The pacing went by fast with this book. Yet, part of it had to do with the fact that the chapters were short. There was not a lot of un-necessary conversation to bog down the storyline. However, I found most of the characters unmemorable. Also, I didn't pick up on a lot of humor. This is what I was looking forward to the most as my friend loves the humor Mr. Rosenfelt brings to his books. While, this book did not score a major hit with me. I do plan to check out other prior novels.
April 3, 2018
I'm a devoted fan of David Rosenfelt and have read all his books, so it's difficult to write that I was a bit disappointed in "Fade to Black." Although the plot was well-thought out and well crafted, filled with twists and turns, the heart and humor and dare I say, canine character, was not what I've come to expect in his work. I enjoyed "Blackout," the first in the Doug Brock series, and will hope Mr. Rosenfelt gives us a sense of his characters more in the next installment. More than plot, his characters are what have always had me coming back for more.
October 15, 2025
This is my first read of works by David Rosenfelt and narrated by Fred Berman. This was an effective style for this type of book. Right off, one of the things I appreciated about this book most was the language of use. Very little swearing, no vivid scenes, made for a much cleaner and enjoyable time. I liked David's approach to the topic, and Fred's delivery was fast-paced, easy to hear and understand.
Setting the scene: Officer Doug Brock was an officer in the New Jersey Police Department, and while there was shot while in the line of duty. He is now trying to put the pieces of his old life together, remember what he can, and try to create new memories. As a Detective, he has been working on a case before being shot. He has reunited with his fiancé, and slowly his memory is beginning to return. He is attending an amnesia support group to see what he continues to do to help himself.
A member in the group, named Sean Conner visits with Doug after a meeting. Sean tells him he has a box in his attic of scrapbook materials of a murder victim but has no memory of the girl's identity or why he might have collected this information. He learns that he was the arresting officer before he was shot. Preparing to go back to work, he asks his Captain if he can take this on as a cold case, which it isn't exactly.
Doug and his partner, Nate, are called to investigate a man's head...only his head as it's what remains. They wonder, do they connect?
Solving this case is quite a ride. Doug and Nate are cute as partners. They express humor, wit and enjoyment of their work. As we hope to find in our reading, there are some good old twists and turns to keep us guessing. And we certainly can't forget the red herrings. This book has it all. Even though this is #2 in the series, it stands alone very well.
I enjoyed this book very much. Plan to read #1 soon.
Recommend. Rate: 4 stars
Setting the scene: Officer Doug Brock was an officer in the New Jersey Police Department, and while there was shot while in the line of duty. He is now trying to put the pieces of his old life together, remember what he can, and try to create new memories. As a Detective, he has been working on a case before being shot. He has reunited with his fiancé, and slowly his memory is beginning to return. He is attending an amnesia support group to see what he continues to do to help himself.
A member in the group, named Sean Conner visits with Doug after a meeting. Sean tells him he has a box in his attic of scrapbook materials of a murder victim but has no memory of the girl's identity or why he might have collected this information. He learns that he was the arresting officer before he was shot. Preparing to go back to work, he asks his Captain if he can take this on as a cold case, which it isn't exactly.
Doug and his partner, Nate, are called to investigate a man's head...only his head as it's what remains. They wonder, do they connect?
Solving this case is quite a ride. Doug and Nate are cute as partners. They express humor, wit and enjoyment of their work. As we hope to find in our reading, there are some good old twists and turns to keep us guessing. And we certainly can't forget the red herrings. This book has it all. Even though this is #2 in the series, it stands alone very well.
I enjoyed this book very much. Plan to read #1 soon.
Recommend. Rate: 4 stars
June 19, 2018
In this sequel to Blackout, Detective Doug Brock continues to deal with his memory that's missing 10 years by attending meetings of a support group of amnesia victims. One of the other members, Sean Connor, asks Doug to look into a possible murder that he questions but doesn't remember committing. Doug arrested the victim's fiancee but it's one of those cases in the 10 year period that he doesn't remember. Doug is ready to tell Sean the case is closed when Sean's head is found but not the rest of him. When facts reveal that Sean was lying to Doug and is really a member of the mob in Las Vegas, the case becomes much more complicated.
The book is a quick and easy read and I always appreciate authors who write it that way. One of the things I particularly like about this series is the easy camaraderie between Doug, his partner Nate, and Doug's fiancee police officer Jessie, and the fact that they always have each other's back. I also like the tongue-in-cheek dialogue Doug puts forth. Makes him an enjoyable character.
The book is a quick and easy read and I always appreciate authors who write it that way. One of the things I particularly like about this series is the easy camaraderie between Doug, his partner Nate, and Doug's fiancee police officer Jessie, and the fact that they always have each other's back. I also like the tongue-in-cheek dialogue Doug puts forth. Makes him an enjoyable character.
May 2, 2021
Definitely read these in order - this is Book #2 and it tells everything that happened in Book #1, including who killed who etc. Why do authors do that?
This was another zany crime spree solved by the trio of Doug, Nate and Jessie. Some pretty funny lines, but just another plot involving bombs!
I won’t spoil the gist of the story, but it was pretty far fetched and totally unfeasible. You’d need a lot of cold storage to carry out the plan as they envisioned it. It’s an easy read and I’ll read Book #3 just to see what nonsense they get into next.
This was another zany crime spree solved by the trio of Doug, Nate and Jessie. Some pretty funny lines, but just another plot involving bombs!
I won’t spoil the gist of the story, but it was pretty far fetched and totally unfeasible. You’d need a lot of cold storage to carry out the plan as they envisioned it. It’s an easy read and I’ll read Book #3 just to see what nonsense they get into next.
April 3, 2018
I've read all of David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter books, so I tried Fade to Black, described as a "thriller." No, a very well-written, quick-paced police procedural.
Rosenfelt adds so many characters and possible connections among them that a detective explains at the end:
"...[T]hey were hoping that we would nail Person One on the Person Two kidnapping. Then, they'd have killed Person Three, so Person Four would be in charge. When that wasn't working as fast as they needed it to, they used Person Five to implicate Person One and Person Five did their work for them by arresting Person One. I'm sure that Person Four had Person Six killed, with Person Seven's approval."
I had already figured out those connections; maybe Rosenfelt included them for readers who like a Poirot-style ending.
Now I need to read the first Doug Brock novel.
Rosenfelt adds so many characters and possible connections among them that a detective explains at the end:
"...[T]hey were hoping that we would nail Person One on the Person Two kidnapping. Then, they'd have killed Person Three, so Person Four would be in charge. When that wasn't working as fast as they needed it to, they used Person Five to implicate Person One and Person Five did their work for them by arresting Person One. I'm sure that Person Four had Person Six killed, with Person Seven's approval."
I had already figured out those connections; maybe Rosenfelt included them for readers who like a Poirot-style ending.
Now I need to read the first Doug Brock novel.
March 11, 2021
Another spinoff from the author of the Andy Carpenter series. This one is the 2nd in a series involving a NJ State police officer who lost his memory in a work related incident. He is undergoing memory therapy when he is approached by a man in the class who tells him that he is afraid that he might be responsible for the death of a young woman three years ago . The accused is serving time in prison. Doug has no recall of the incident, but it turns out that he is the arresting officer. The convoluted plot continues to involve organized crime, some more murders and a bomb scare at a Las Vegas casino and the food court at Paramus Park Mall. I almost gave up until the Mall issue as the description was good. A local haunt. I listened to the book. The narrator was annoying and the plot far fetched. Author should stick to Andy Carpenter series. This one is skippable.
March 8, 2018
I love David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter novels, and this new series looks like a winner, too. Doug, a New Jersey cop with retrograde amnesia from being shot in the line of duty, and fellow offers Nate and Jessie, are interested in an ostensibly cold case when new information comes to light. What really happened to Rita Carlisle three years ago? Was the man convicted of her disappearance and murder really guilty? And what nefarious deeds connect the NJ and Vegas mobs? A welcome addition to the thriller/mystery shelf, this novel should appeal to readers who enjoy suspenseful police procedurals.
April 4, 2018
Doug Brock a New Jersey State police officer along with his partner Nate
And girl friend Jessie Allen are on a case again and wanting to solve these
murders. Doug still has problems remembering due to amnesia. This is
another great story with short chapters, good plot, wit,and yes even a dog-
Jessie”s dog Bobo.It is fast paced, well written and will definitely keep you
reading. I like this new series and characters and look forward to the next
book.
And girl friend Jessie Allen are on a case again and wanting to solve these
murders. Doug still has problems remembering due to amnesia. This is
another great story with short chapters, good plot, wit,and yes even a dog-
Jessie”s dog Bobo.It is fast paced, well written and will definitely keep you
reading. I like this new series and characters and look forward to the next
book.
October 13, 2023
I love this author. His characters are real and you become attached as with this second book. However the plot is convoluted and confusing. Too many mob characters. But as I said I’m attached to Doug Brock and Jessie and so enjoy the writing of David Rosenfelt so I will more than likely continue reading number three.
December 23, 2024
This is book 2 in the Doug Brock police series and it is much better than Book 1. Doug has partial amnesia and is slowly recovering bits and pieces, while working as a detective. Information is given to him about someone he helped to convict and Doug starts to believe that the wrong guy is in prison for a murder. This book had more of a feel of the Andy Carpenter series by the same author.
November 6, 2018
A good thriller. But, Rosenfelt does a great job combining the healthcare industry, crime bosses, Vegas casinos, and Doug Brock (with his partners Jessie and Nate) into a believable story.. I quite enjoyed reading the book one and this one was OK an overall enjoyable book,
September 17, 2023
Second book in this series. I did enjoy it, but I cannot be sure if I gave it 4 stars cause I love his other books and he is a lover of dogs. Anyway - I'd start wih the first book in this series.
January 7, 2020
I recently discovered this Author, and I really like his stories! He adds a little dry humor into his stories that makes the main characters amusing. I have also enjoyed listening to the Narrators he uses.
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