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Daniel Wolfe Thriller #1
The Priest Hunter
"A shattered man is a sharp instrument."
Try out the first book in the series for this special introductory price.
Father Daniel Wolfe - ex Special Forces sniper, and now a disillusioned priest - runs missions for the Vatican Internal Investigations Branch and climbs the ladder in one of the most secretive organizations on the planet. Hard-hitting, action-packed, and cerebral.
Book One: Wolfe investigates the brutal murder of his brother in a Miami church, taking his first steps upward in the secretive Vatican Internal Investigations Branch (VII), known as "Seven."
Content advisory: Violence and mature themes
Try out the first book in the series for this special introductory price.
Father Daniel Wolfe - ex Special Forces sniper, and now a disillusioned priest - runs missions for the Vatican Internal Investigations Branch and climbs the ladder in one of the most secretive organizations on the planet. Hard-hitting, action-packed, and cerebral.
Book One: Wolfe investigates the brutal murder of his brother in a Miami church, taking his first steps upward in the secretive Vatican Internal Investigations Branch (VII), known as "Seven."
Content advisory: Violence and mature themes
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2018
36 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 15, 2019
“The Priest Hunter” by Jeff Spence.
The Priest Hunter by Jeff Spence: An unusual title; an unusual book, an enthralling and disturbing read; one that masquerades as a standard stock thriller but in fact is way out in front of the field in a class of one.
Daniel Wolfe, a onetime U.S Marine Special Forces sharp shooter, now an ordained Catholic priest, a remarkable change of role if ever there was. But Wolfe is no run of the mill member of the clergy. His is an extraordinary role. That of special emissary to the Vatican charged with rooting out the corrupt within the Church. The rogue priests, the paedophiles, the perverts, the defilers of the innocents and the defenceless, the abusers and corrupters of youth.
This is a pertinent subject, not least because the existence of such abuse is now at last openly admitted to but also because it is apparently escalating, proliferating not just within the Church but across society as a whole.
Yet, despite this it still remains a matter from which a large majority of us tend to avert our gaze. Perhaps this is because we are afraid to look into our own souls. After all, the perpetrators are alas, our neighbours, our colleagues, our fellow human beings. People we know.
Jeff Spence, through his character Daniel Wolfe, does not suffer from such inhibition. With clear, concise English, and a little Latin thrown in, through the course of a murder enquiry he tackles the matter head on.
The victim is Wolfe’s own half brother, a Miami Cop, found dead face down – his skull cracked – in the naive of a Catholic church. The murder weapon a candle holder taken from the Altar, discarded beside the corpse. Money is missing from the collection box. The motive could be robbery. The victim in the wrong place at the wrong time: a petty crime gone horribly wrong. Or it could be something altogether more sinister?
Wolfe, hampered as much as helped by the police, makes it his business to find out and in the course of his so doing the dark secrets of the Church, the cant and the hypocrisy, the cover ups, the inverted moralising of its clergy, are mercilessly exposed and dragged kicking and screaming into the light.
“The Priest Hunter” by Jeff Spence: an enthralling and disturbing read, way out in front of the field in a class of one and easily five star stuff.
D. A Barker: author of “Killing for Christmas,” “What am I?” “Night Flight to Frankfurt,” & in preparation; “Suzanne.”
The Priest Hunter by Jeff Spence: An unusual title; an unusual book, an enthralling and disturbing read; one that masquerades as a standard stock thriller but in fact is way out in front of the field in a class of one.
Daniel Wolfe, a onetime U.S Marine Special Forces sharp shooter, now an ordained Catholic priest, a remarkable change of role if ever there was. But Wolfe is no run of the mill member of the clergy. His is an extraordinary role. That of special emissary to the Vatican charged with rooting out the corrupt within the Church. The rogue priests, the paedophiles, the perverts, the defilers of the innocents and the defenceless, the abusers and corrupters of youth.
This is a pertinent subject, not least because the existence of such abuse is now at last openly admitted to but also because it is apparently escalating, proliferating not just within the Church but across society as a whole.
Yet, despite this it still remains a matter from which a large majority of us tend to avert our gaze. Perhaps this is because we are afraid to look into our own souls. After all, the perpetrators are alas, our neighbours, our colleagues, our fellow human beings. People we know.
Jeff Spence, through his character Daniel Wolfe, does not suffer from such inhibition. With clear, concise English, and a little Latin thrown in, through the course of a murder enquiry he tackles the matter head on.
The victim is Wolfe’s own half brother, a Miami Cop, found dead face down – his skull cracked – in the naive of a Catholic church. The murder weapon a candle holder taken from the Altar, discarded beside the corpse. Money is missing from the collection box. The motive could be robbery. The victim in the wrong place at the wrong time: a petty crime gone horribly wrong. Or it could be something altogether more sinister?
Wolfe, hampered as much as helped by the police, makes it his business to find out and in the course of his so doing the dark secrets of the Church, the cant and the hypocrisy, the cover ups, the inverted moralising of its clergy, are mercilessly exposed and dragged kicking and screaming into the light.
“The Priest Hunter” by Jeff Spence: an enthralling and disturbing read, way out in front of the field in a class of one and easily five star stuff.
D. A Barker: author of “Killing for Christmas,” “What am I?” “Night Flight to Frankfurt,” & in preparation; “Suzanne.”
October 25, 2021
Daniel (Danny) Wolfe if an ex-special forces now Catholic priest who works in a special office of the Vatican investigating other priests for inappropriate relationships with their parishioners. His office is the equivalent to internal affairs with the police and he is looked at as more of a "priest hunter" than a protector of children by other priests. When his current investigation takes him to Miami he finds himself involved with more than he expected.
Danny had a difficult childhood brought on by the abandonment of his father at a young age and then losing his mother. His father went on to have another family in Miami and Danny has recently connected with his half brother Kevin who is a police officer. When Kevin is murdered in a Catholic church Danny finds himself unofficially working with Kevin's partner to uncover the truth which may involve the three priests at the church where the murder took place.
Danny also connects with Kevin's former girlfriend, Ana, who after an attempt on her life reaches out to Danny for help. As inquiries are made about what Kevin was working on that may have prompted the murder and secrets uncovered, more murders take place, Ana is abducted and attempts are made on Danny's life.
Having worked in the Vatican investigation office his entire career in the priesthood, due primarily to his military background, Danny's faith is shaken. He has seen things done to children and worked hard to bring those responsible to justice. This feeling becomes more apparent after his brother is killed but ultimately the vows that he took overshadow that and he moves forward as best he can.
This book was such a great read! As a lifelong Catholic the themes in this book, while uncomfortable, are not new. It's really nice to see a strong character like Danny take on that side of the church. The descriptions are so rich that I can feel the heat and humidity of Miami and smell the cigar smoke!
I received an advanced reviewer copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Danny had a difficult childhood brought on by the abandonment of his father at a young age and then losing his mother. His father went on to have another family in Miami and Danny has recently connected with his half brother Kevin who is a police officer. When Kevin is murdered in a Catholic church Danny finds himself unofficially working with Kevin's partner to uncover the truth which may involve the three priests at the church where the murder took place.
Danny also connects with Kevin's former girlfriend, Ana, who after an attempt on her life reaches out to Danny for help. As inquiries are made about what Kevin was working on that may have prompted the murder and secrets uncovered, more murders take place, Ana is abducted and attempts are made on Danny's life.
Having worked in the Vatican investigation office his entire career in the priesthood, due primarily to his military background, Danny's faith is shaken. He has seen things done to children and worked hard to bring those responsible to justice. This feeling becomes more apparent after his brother is killed but ultimately the vows that he took overshadow that and he moves forward as best he can.
This book was such a great read! As a lifelong Catholic the themes in this book, while uncomfortable, are not new. It's really nice to see a strong character like Danny take on that side of the church. The descriptions are so rich that I can feel the heat and humidity of Miami and smell the cigar smoke!
I received an advanced reviewer copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 24, 2021
This is a dark and gritty thriller given the storyline. But it’s very good nonetheless. I will admit to never reading anything by this author before but that’s soon rectified. It grabs you from the beginning to an ending which is not revealed until the very last moment. Highly recommended.
June 4, 2022
Well written, good characters, interesting story line. Would make a great movie. Will definitely be reading more of this author's books.
February 1, 2022
The Priest Hunter by Jeffrey Spence, the first Daniel Wolfe thriller, is a very nice surprise! What's the surprise? Just how good this initial work is! Father Daniel Wolfe is a rather unusual character, former Special Force, now a Priest, with an assignment from the Vatican. Starting with his brother's murder, this book starts fast and never lets up until resolution. Cleric youth mistreatment is definitely an aspect of this story.
I highly recommend this outstanding book!
I highly recommend this outstanding book!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews