Calgary, 1976. Life couldn’t be better for Brad Coulter, a Calgary cop. Partnered with his best friend, paid to keep the streets safe from the riff raff. Until a gun battle after an armed robbery leaves him without his partner and grappling with the sudden burst of criminal activity in his otherwise quiet city.
A series of Brinks truck robberies escalate, each one bolder than the last. Cops are losing their lives, and Coulter is determined to catch the thugs, avenge his partner, and keep the streets safe.
His new partner, Jerry Briscoe, an acerbic veteran, challenges Coulter to buck up or get out. Briscoe’s tough love gives Coulter the kick he needs. He applies and wins a spot on the newly developed Tactical Support Unit.
A lone gunman high on glue, a deadbeat father and abusive husband, and a small grow op, prepare Coulter and the TSU team for what is yet to come. The true crisis point that will forever change the face of a city, and the cops that man its streets.
Dwayne Clayden combines his knowledge and experience as a police officer and paramedic to write realistic crime thrillers.
Crisis Point, Dwayne’s first novel, was a finalist for the 2015 Crime Writers of Canada, Arthur Ellis Awards.
OutlawMC, Wolfman is Back, and 13 Days of Terror are the next novels in the Brad Coulter Thriller Series, which continued in 2021 with Goddess of Justice.
In August 2020 Dwayne released the first novel in a new western crime thriller series, Speargrass-Opioid. The second in the series, Speargrass-Vengeance, will launch in Spring 2022.
His short story, Hell Hath No Fury, was published in AB Negative, an anthology of short stories from Alberta Crime Writers and On The Run (a Coulter Prequel) was published in May 2021 in Last Shot, an anthology from Western Canada Crime Writers.
In his 42 year career, Dwayne served as a police officer, paramedic, tactical paramedic, firefighter, emergency medical services (EMS) chief, educator, and academic chair. The co-author of four paramedic textbooks, he has spoken internationally at EMS conferences for the past three decades.
Dwayne is a past member of the boards of the Crime Writers of Canada, and Alexandra Writers Centre Society and leads the Calgary Crime Writers.
Dwayne is a popular speaker with writing groups and writing conference attendees. To learn more, visit him at: www.dwayneclayden.com
“Clayden’s writing is crisp and his characters jump from the pages. His novels allow me to delve into the depths of the villain’s mind but experience the goodness of Brad Coulter.”
I loved reading this book. So many authors do police procedurals poorly, so it's incredibly refreshing when an author's background IS in police/EMS. Strong, realistic characters and a well-written blast to 1976 makes me hopeful that we'll see Brad Coulter's Calgary police career continue through the decades in a long series.
‘We fought crime last year, and now you leave me for Canine.’
Canadian author Dwayne Clayden brings to his first fiction novel a wealth of experience that makes his excellent opening of his series - the BRAD COULTER NOVELS - completely credible. He has a depth of experience as a police officer, paramedic, tactical paramedic, firefighter, emergency medical services chief, and educator. His conferences on realistic police, medical and paramedical procedures are highly regarded and attended. Dwayne has co-written non-fiction books – PREHOSPITAL EMERGENCY PHARMACOLOGY (2 editions), ESSENTIALS OF PARAMEDIC CARE, and ALS (Advanced Life Support) PROVIDERS – with Dr Bryan Bledsoe.
In electing to succeed with a new series of novels, the initial hurdle is to create a chief character who is able to sustain interest and suggest imagination for episodes beyond the initial story. Dwayne has achieved this brilliantly in his wholly credible Brad Coulter – a Canadian cop whose acumen in performing his duties is spot on, as is his irresistible personality. We meet him during a training drill that defines the stamina and insights and mouthy comebacks the character will offer throughout the adventure.
Having established the personality and physical qualities of his main character and colleagues, the thriller begins, and is well outlined by the author: ‘Calgary, 1976. Life couldn’t be better for Brad Coulter, a Calgary cop. Partnered with his best friend, paid to keep the streets safe from the riff raff. Until a gun battle after an armed robbery leaves him without his partner and grappling with the sudden burst of criminal activity in his otherwise quiet city. A series of Brinks truck robberies escalate, each one bolder than the last. Cops are losing their lives, and Coulter is determined to catch the thugs, avenge his partner, and keep the streets safe. His new partner, Jerry Briscoe, an acerbic veteran, challenges Coulter to buck up or get out. Briscoe’s tough love gives Coulter the kick he needs. He applies and wins a spot on the newly developed Tactical Support Unit. A lone gunman high on glue, a deadbeat father and abusive husband, and a small grow op, prepare Coulter and the TSU team for what is yet to come. The true crisis point that will forever change the face of a city, and the cops that man its streets.’
Dwayne’s writing style is so attuned to the multiple aspects of this fine story, a fusion of skills, danger, and yes, humor, that the novel speeds by like a bullet. Read one volume and an addiction results: bring on the rest! CRISIS POINT in one fine novel by a man who knows the arena! Highly recommended.
This book was under the tree for me last Christmas (I hinted strongly for it!), and proved to be a wonderful gift. I'm not usually a fan of cop books but this one was not a hokey shot-em-up cops & robbers story - it's action packed with authentic scenes. A plus for me was that the main character has human flaws! Looking forward to more from Dwayne Clayden.
Basic Details: Book Title: Crisis Point Subtitle: (Brad Coulter #1) Author: Dwayne Clayden Genre: Thriller Part of a series? Yes Order in series: 1 Best read after earlier books in series? Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... Overall score: I scored this book 5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Short Summary of the book: Meet Brad Coulter, police officer in Calgary. He has always wanted to join the police, but his father forced him to go to university and study. After studying economics and law, he eventually settled for his career of choice. Then his partner dies in a confrontation with an armed gang holding up a money transport. Brad is also hurt and nearly leaves the police force behind. Will he be able to find his partner’s and best friend’s killers or will he fall victim to the gang himself too? And will he succeed in joining the first tactical unit in Canada? What I liked about the book: This book is action-packed and impossible to put down. What I didn’t like about the book: There was nothing I disliked about the book. My favourite bits in the book: I enjoyed the entire book. My least favourite bits in the book: I was sorry when the book finished and would love to find out what happens next. Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author? The title suggests this book is first in a series. What books could this be compared to and why? This book is a detective, police action story and fits in with its peers. Recommendation: In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No Young Adult Possibly Adult Yes
If you like action-packed police stories, this book may be the book for you. I’m certainly looking forward to reading more by this author. Book Description by Author: Calgary, 1976. Life couldn’t be better for Brad Coulter, a Calgary cop. Partnered with his best friend, paid to keep the streets safe from the riff raff. Until a gun battle after an armed robbery leaves him without his partner and grappling with the sudden burst of criminal activity in his otherwise quiet city.
A series of Brinks truck robberies escalate, each one bolder than the last. Cops are losing their lives, and Coulter is determined to catch the thugs, avenge his partner, and keep the streets safe.
His new partner, Jerry Briscoe, an acerbic veteran, challenges Coulter to buck up or get out. Briscoe’s tough love gives Coulter the kick he needs. He applies and wins a spot on the newly developed Tactical Support Unit.
A lone gunman high on glue, a deadbeat father and abusive husband, and a small grow op, prepare Coulter and the TSU team for what is yet to come. The true crisis point that will forever change the face of a city, and the cops that man its streets. About the Author: DWAYNE combines his knowledge and experience as a police officer and paramedic to write realistic crime thrillers. CRISIS POINT, Dwayne’s first novel, was a finalist for the 2015 Crime Writers of Canada, Arthur Ellis Awards. OUTLAWMC is the second in the Brad Coulter Series. WOLFMAN IS BACK, is the third in the Brad Coulter Series. In his 40 year career, Dwayne has served as a police officer, paramedic, tactical paramedic, firefighter, emergency medical services (EMS) chief, educator, and academic chair. Dwayne is a popular speaker at conferences and to writing groups presenting on realistic police, medical, and paramedic procedures. The co-author of four paramedic textbooks, he has spoken internationally at EMS conferences for the past three decades. DwayneClayden.com dwayneclayden@gmail.com
The opening scene of Dwayne Clayden’s Crisis Point is engagingly intense, and it sets the stage for a highly entertaining and action-packed novel. It is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for anyone who grew up on 1970s police procedural television programs, and for “younger” readers, it is just an incredibly good read!
Unlike many other books in the genre, Mr. Clayden gives his readers a unique sense of authenticity that comes from his years of experience as a police officer, paramedic, firefighter and EMT. Beyond that realism, Mr. Clayden gives his readers fully developed, empathetic characters. Both his protagonists and antagonists are fully developed. Their motivations are clear, and they have personal lives that drive their choices.
The major storyline of Crisis Point is a series of Brinks Truck robberies (which is very authentic for the period), and interwoven into the novel are several other smaller crimes for the police and the newly established TSU (Canadian version of SWAT). I loved the realism of the police having to focus on more than just one (albeit big) case.
The main character, Brad Coulter, is a young, overly confident man who finds out the hard way just how much he has to learn. I like this guy. He isn’t perfect and he doesn’t always win. However, his heart and his intentions are always in the right place. He has deep friendships, he has love, and he has losses; Mr. Clayden makes sure his readers feel every single day of Brad Coulter’s existence. From his bruises and sore muscles to his broken heart, Brad Coulter is completely relatable.
I really enjoyed Crisis Point. I liked that the story was told from multiple points of view; it is unusual to get the antagonists story along with that of the police. I loved that the hero had to overcome multiple setbacks. The combination of strong, realistic characters and fast-pace plot have me hooked on Dwayne Clayden’s Brad Coulter series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
This won't become a literary classic but it was good read while on vacation. For a book written in 2015 but based in early 70s I sort of wish the author would have set the scene. That is minor and once the distraction of wondering wore off the story was fine. I liked that the fight scenes are fairly realistic, people who get a solid punch or shot IRL don't miraculously keep going. The Author was accurate in this book. The only real issue I had was in the cutaway style of scenes, never fully developing them and creating a choppy feel to events. Even the relationship was surprisingly in its quick development timeline. Maybe not a bad thing but the writer is good so I had hoped for more.
Overall, it was pretty good, but I have not decided yet to read another.
This is a police crime thriller with heart. Action-packed, fast-paced, absorbing. The author, an ex-police officer, EMS and firefighter, writes with authority and authenticity. He puts a human face on emergency responders and lets us look behind the scenes. The main plotline revolves around the development of the first TSU (Tactical Support Unit) in Calgary, Alberta – the Canadian equivalent to SWAT. A touch of romance, and Coulter’s self-reflection, raise the writing beyond a straight cop book.
Bonus: the mid-70s setting is a trip down memory lane for this reader. Am looking forward to reading the second in the series, Outlaw, just out.
I thoroughly enjoyed the action scenes!! Dwayne definitely leveraged his own extensive experience as an officer in writing the scenes. They kept me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, and wanting to turn the page!! Believable and tension packed.
My favourite thing about this book as that Dwayne clearly put his heart and soul into it. His writing is raw, honest and packed with emotion. It does not deter from the characters, rather, the emotion is effectively conveyed according to the character.
Crisis Point is set in the 1970's in Alberta and is the first book in what promises to be an exciting series. The author's own background in emergency services makes Crisis Point a realistic and action packed read.
A series of Brinks truck robberies send Calgary cop, Brad Coutler, and his partner after the dangerous criminals. In Crisis Point, Brad Coulter is portrayed as a young and somewhat cocky cop who is eagar for action and hellbent on seeing justice served. I'm looking forward to seeing how this character evolves over the series.
Police procedurals are not usually my favourite fare, but Crisis Point by Dwayne Clayden will have me hooked on his books in the future. The storyline grows and never wavers, the characters are fully believable and the action is pretty much non-stop. I appreciated the author’s handling of police and municipal politics in a time of difficult change, as the book’s setting (Calgary, Canada) experiences a transition from free-wheeling bad guys to hardened and vicious master criminals.
An excellent romp through a setting of 1970's Calgary police history. As as a Calgary native I especially enjoyed feeling as though I was back in my youth seeing the city as it was back then. The author's knowledge of the subject matter brought the story to life with characters I enjoy following. Very much looking forward to the 2nd book in the series.
I really enjoyed this novel. Written by a Calgarian. It was fun to read about places I’ve been or heard of. The story was realistic and fun. Full of adrenaline pumping police scenes! Good first novel by Dwayne, whom we met at the Invermere farmers market. Find his books and read them. Support local and enjoy.
3.5 actually. I did like this police procedural. Liked the characters and the action. Hit a slow spot about 2/3 of the way through. Kind of an unsatisfying end with Maggie potentially gone from future books.
✨Crisis Point is a gripping, adrenaline-fueled thriller that pulls you right into the heart of Calgary’s streets. Brad Coulter is a compelling hero, and the high-stakes action kept me turning pages late into the night. A brilliant start to a series that feels authentic, raw, and unforgettable!
Dwayne Clayden’s debut fiction novel, Crisis Point, introduces the series-leading character Brad Coulter. Coulter starts here as a Calgary cop 4 years into his career in 1970s Calgary (his career builds throughout the series).
The beginning is immediately engaging and the pacing doesn’t let up from there—you’ll be hooked by this one. The plot is explosively exciting, devastating at times, and always entertaining. The humour throughout the book is fantastic and keeps the characters engaging and relatable. The dialogue is funny and authentic.
The characterization here is sharp from beginning to end. Each character has sufficient time to see real character development and the character relationships are skillfully cultivated and unique. Coulter’s a great character himself, easy to get attached to—definitely the kind of character worth spending a series with and not only one book, so it’s easy to see why the fanbase wants to see more and more of him, especially since he continues to grow and develop over every book. In this case, I don’t want to spoil any of the plot, so you’re just going to have to dive in and read it.
If you’re a fan of Lee Child this should be right up your alley. An excellent addition to the police thriller genre well worth the read. Highly recommended!
This one I read on my kobo - and I really enjoyed Iit a lot more than I thought I would. Calgary being the city I live in, I could identify with the areas of the city mentioned, some places I was a bit shocked at descriptions, however, I moved on because I wanted to see how it ended and was eager to the read the next book in the Series.
If you like crime novels, this is the one for you! Crisis Point is action packed from beginning to end. Action, crime, drama and love story all in one well written novel! Where do Brad and Maggie go from here?