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A Quentin Archer Mystery #3
No Second Chances
When a fellow cop is shot dead, homicide detective Quentin Archer suspects that there’s far more to this case than meets the eye.
One of Quentin Archer’s fellow officers has been shot dead in broad daylight, in his own squad car. A random cop killing . . . or something more sinister? With no leads to go on, Archer turns to voodoo queen Solange Cordray for help. But is he prepared to take her advice?
As Archer uncovers some surprising facts about the dead man’s past, there is another murder. With the simmering racial tensions in the city threatening to escalate into outright violence, Archer begins to suspect there’s far more to Officer Leroy’s killing than he’d first supposed. Could it be part of a carefully-orchestrated plan of revenge . . .?
One of Quentin Archer’s fellow officers has been shot dead in broad daylight, in his own squad car. A random cop killing . . . or something more sinister? With no leads to go on, Archer turns to voodoo queen Solange Cordray for help. But is he prepared to take her advice?
As Archer uncovers some surprising facts about the dead man’s past, there is another murder. With the simmering racial tensions in the city threatening to escalate into outright violence, Archer begins to suspect there’s far more to Officer Leroy’s killing than he’d first supposed. Could it be part of a carefully-orchestrated plan of revenge . . .?
- GenresMystery
255 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2018
9 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Don Bruns
34 books541 followersDon Bruns is a writer, novelist, musician, songwriter, painter, cook, advertising executive and stand up comic who has no idea what he wants to be when he grows up. He's the author of nine books and was editor of the mystery/music anthology A Merry Band Of Murderers.
Don's published novels cover two series. One, a Caribbean thriller collection and two, the Stuff series, a humorous look at two twenty-four year old guys in South Florida who start their own detective agency and end up neck - deep in trouble.
Jamaica Blue, Barbados Heat, South Beach Shakedown, St. Barts Breakdown and Bahama Burnout make up the Caribbean books. The Stuff series consists of Stuff To Die For, Stuff Dreams Are Made Of, Stuff To Spy For, and Don't Sweat The Small Stuff. Bruns is currently working on the fifth Stuff book, Too Much Stuff.
He currently resides on Florida's West coast.
Bahama Burnout/ Finalist, National Best Books Award - Mystery/Suspense 2009
South Beach Shakedown/ Winner National Best Books Award -Fiction/Suspense 2006
South Beach Shakedown/ Winner, Indie Excellence, 2006 Award - Mystery/Suspense
South Beach Shakedown/ Winner USA Book Award, 2006 - Mystery
Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/ Winner Indie Excellence Award 2009 - Mystery/Suspense
Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/IndieBound Notable, October 2008
Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/Winner Florida Writer's Association -
Stuff To Die For/ Starred review Booklist
Don's published novels cover two series. One, a Caribbean thriller collection and two, the Stuff series, a humorous look at two twenty-four year old guys in South Florida who start their own detective agency and end up neck - deep in trouble.
Jamaica Blue, Barbados Heat, South Beach Shakedown, St. Barts Breakdown and Bahama Burnout make up the Caribbean books. The Stuff series consists of Stuff To Die For, Stuff Dreams Are Made Of, Stuff To Spy For, and Don't Sweat The Small Stuff. Bruns is currently working on the fifth Stuff book, Too Much Stuff.
He currently resides on Florida's West coast.
Bahama Burnout/ Finalist, National Best Books Award - Mystery/Suspense 2009
South Beach Shakedown/ Winner National Best Books Award -Fiction/Suspense 2006
South Beach Shakedown/ Winner, Indie Excellence, 2006 Award - Mystery/Suspense
South Beach Shakedown/ Winner USA Book Award, 2006 - Mystery
Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/ Winner Indie Excellence Award 2009 - Mystery/Suspense
Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/IndieBound Notable, October 2008
Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/Winner Florida Writer's Association -
Stuff To Die For/ Starred review Booklist
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 10, 2017
This is the third in Detective Quentin Archer series set in New Orleans. Archer is still grieving the loss of his wife, Denise, murdered in Detroit by corrupt cop, Bobby Mercer, but has feelings for the gifted black Voodoo Queen, Solange Cordray. Solange has saved his life in the past, and proved instrumental in helping Archer to solve murders. Her gifts, prayers, gris gris bags, the sight and more make Archer uncomfortable but he cannot dispute they work. The book begins with the unintended murder of Nick Martin whose truck load is jacked by three men. This event down the years leads to devastating repercussions, including murder and revenge. In the present day, in what appears to be a set up, a decorated cop, John Leroy, is shot dead. No-one in NOPD can believe that anyone would deliberately want to kill a cop who has done so much good, a stand up guy and role model. Archer works the case, with an intense media focus, and a police force committed to catching the killer of one of their own.
Tensions are stoked sky high, when a unarmed old black man, Joe Washington, is shot dead by an inexperienced police officer. Solange asks to see the body of Leroy and is convinced the two events are connected. Archer cannot see how this can be so but lets her see the body. Archer is helped on the case by his good partner, Josh Levy. We learn more about the killer, motivated by the orchestrated murder of his father, whose actions lead to the riots he planned within which he means to carry out the final act of his mission. Amidst a city rioting, and intense pressure from all quarters, Archer systematically follows leads that prove the truth of Solange's insights. Amidst all this taking place, Archer hears from ally, Tom Lyons at Detroit, informing him that Bobby Mercer has been arrested with the high likelihood that he will be put away for many years.
This is an enjoyable read, but felt a little stale after the first two in the series. Bruns seems to have run out of ideas and inspiration. There is a little too much repetition of what has happened, and the flow of writing is littered with stagnant pauses. There seems to be no character development in either Archer or Solange either. This is a shame, because the series has really worked for me until now. That is not to say it is not worth reading, just that I think I will be leaving the series here.
Tensions are stoked sky high, when a unarmed old black man, Joe Washington, is shot dead by an inexperienced police officer. Solange asks to see the body of Leroy and is convinced the two events are connected. Archer cannot see how this can be so but lets her see the body. Archer is helped on the case by his good partner, Josh Levy. We learn more about the killer, motivated by the orchestrated murder of his father, whose actions lead to the riots he planned within which he means to carry out the final act of his mission. Amidst a city rioting, and intense pressure from all quarters, Archer systematically follows leads that prove the truth of Solange's insights. Amidst all this taking place, Archer hears from ally, Tom Lyons at Detroit, informing him that Bobby Mercer has been arrested with the high likelihood that he will be put away for many years.
This is an enjoyable read, but felt a little stale after the first two in the series. Bruns seems to have run out of ideas and inspiration. There is a little too much repetition of what has happened, and the flow of writing is littered with stagnant pauses. There seems to be no character development in either Archer or Solange either. This is a shame, because the series has really worked for me until now. That is not to say it is not worth reading, just that I think I will be leaving the series here.
October 31, 2023
Another great combination of fair play puzzle and thriller comes to us from Don Bruns.
This time, Quentin Archer is looking for a cop killer; his long-time colleague on the police force has been murdered in broad daylight. Voodooienne Solange Cordray thinks the killing is related to another murder across town, but she's not sure how to explain the connection ... and Quentin, despite knowing that Solange's inside knowledge has helped him before, is resisting the "woo woo" aspects of the case.
As is the case with thrillers, we see the "whodunnit" long before we see the "why-dunnit," and watch as the police try to stop the perpetrator before they do any more damage. The why of the case is complicated, to be sure, and everyone thinks they're the hero of the story no matter which side of the line they fall on.
The characters are believable, if not always sympathetic, and the backdrop of New Orleans never disappoints.
Highly recommended.
This time, Quentin Archer is looking for a cop killer; his long-time colleague on the police force has been murdered in broad daylight. Voodooienne Solange Cordray thinks the killing is related to another murder across town, but she's not sure how to explain the connection ... and Quentin, despite knowing that Solange's inside knowledge has helped him before, is resisting the "woo woo" aspects of the case.
As is the case with thrillers, we see the "whodunnit" long before we see the "why-dunnit," and watch as the police try to stop the perpetrator before they do any more damage. The why of the case is complicated, to be sure, and everyone thinks they're the hero of the story no matter which side of the line they fall on.
The characters are believable, if not always sympathetic, and the backdrop of New Orleans never disappoints.
Highly recommended.
May 16, 2018
No Second Chances is another hit in Don Bruns' seriously addictive series. Both main characters Archer, New Orleans police detective, and Solange, voodoo priestess are thrown into figuring out who has shot a policeman and who might be next. This one hits the mark for timely with the themes of Black Lives Matter and both innocent shooting of a black man and cop-killing.
I love this series but what I like most is Bruns' use of sympathy for the "bad guys" which adds rich layers to a traditional police investigation. Bruns also deftly uses the subtleties of voodoo instead of overblowing it. The story feels authentic and not at all over-dramatized.
The series is progressing through an over-arching story of Archer and Solange and I can't wait to see where the author takes us next.
I love this series but what I like most is Bruns' use of sympathy for the "bad guys" which adds rich layers to a traditional police investigation. Bruns also deftly uses the subtleties of voodoo instead of overblowing it. The story feels authentic and not at all over-dramatized.
The series is progressing through an over-arching story of Archer and Solange and I can't wait to see where the author takes us next.
December 8, 2023
This was a fairly easy read at under 200 pages. It wasn't great by any means. The hint of voodoo which might be helping the investigation through a mysterious girl was not exploited. Other than that it was a fairly plodding investigation, and Detective Archer is a cliched damaged hero, since his wife was murdered.
I don't know that I would rush out to look for another from this author.
I don't know that I would rush out to look for another from this author.
August 8, 2020
Timely? Yes!! The location may not be on the front pages, but the situation that provides the background food this story does.
Excellent story, very well written. Great sense of place. Could very well be a true story. Never know. Hope I never find out!
Excellent story, very well written. Great sense of place. Could very well be a true story. Never know. Hope I never find out!
May 21, 2019
Looking forward to the next Quentin Archer mystery.
January 21, 2021
The subject matter , the location and the voodoo overtones led me to read this book - but I didn't like it at all . So much of the content seemed to be the personal feelings and prejudices of the author. I didn't find it gritty , charismatic or hard-edged merely a little distasteful. Maybe if I were American I mignt view it differently . Not for me , I'm afraid.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews