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Sam Jenkins Mysteries #7
A Bleak Prospect
Sam Jenkins joins a combined task force hunting a serial killer called The Riverside Strangler by the local media. Complications arise when the lead investigator, the county sheriff’s chief deputy is arrested and charged with police brutality.
When Sam develops the evidence to arrest the Strangler, everyone should be pleased, but subsequent actions taken by his mayor and the city council affect everyone at the Prospect Police Department and suggest that life there will never be the same.
When Sam develops the evidence to arrest the Strangler, everyone should be pleased, but subsequent actions taken by his mayor and the city council affect everyone at the Prospect Police Department and suggest that life there will never be the same.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2018
About the author
Wayne Zurl
41 books106 followersWayne Zurl worked as a police officer for twenty years and retired from New York to East Tennessee. In 2006 he began to write crime fiction. More than twenty of his Sam Jenkins mystery novelettes have been published as audio books and eBooks. In January 2011, his first novel, A NEW PROSPECT, was publlished. The story follows the adventures of an ex-New York detective who finds a job as police chief in a small Tennessee city. Nine full-length novels and five anthologies in the Sam Jenkins series either are available in print and as eBooks.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 15, 2018
MR Zurl had me biting my finger nails and cogitating right to the end.
An avid reader of fictional crime, I can’t understand why I have just found the remarkably, talented Wayne Zurl's - Sam Jenkins mysteries.
The first thing I really liked about this book, there is no pussyfooting around. MR Zurl plummets right into the story with a murder scene, in in the foothills of the Great Smoky
Mountains.
By the end of chapter one I was hooked, for two reasons:
The intrigue of how the story was going to develop, now that Chief of Police -Sam Jenkins and his team, find themselves investigating the murder of a young prostitute. The eighth victim of a serial killer, nicknamed the Riverside Strangler.
The way MR Zurl skilfully described every character, not just physically but their personalities, witticisms and foibles, created lifelike images. Sam, reminded me very much of my favourite British Detectives, Rebus, DCI Banks and Throne. A straight talking guy, who makes it perfectly clear he is not a team player. Even though his unorthodox policing pisses off the powers that be, he always gets a result. Along with his dry sense of humour, I have to confess like the females in the story, I was somewhat smitten by him.
As the story continued with yet another murder, I found myself submerged in the plot. The action, twists and turns, of this bracing page turner, that at times I felt I was actually watching a TV police drama. Which I am also an avid watcher of.
As a rule, even with the great detective authors, I find myself sussing out who the predator is, midway through. By a medico author, usually chapter three or four. However, MR Zurl had me biting my finger nails and cogitating right to the end. Never in a million years would I have fathomed the killer of the second murder. Or the outcome of Sam’s future as chief, at Prospects Police Department.
I highly recommend this book to any fictional crime buffs. To the not yet converted, I say grab this book and you will be hooked.
I can’t wait to get stuck into MR Zurl’s earlier Sam Jenkins mysteries, while anticipating his next book.
No doubt about it. A well-deserved 5/5
An avid reader of fictional crime, I can’t understand why I have just found the remarkably, talented Wayne Zurl's - Sam Jenkins mysteries.
The first thing I really liked about this book, there is no pussyfooting around. MR Zurl plummets right into the story with a murder scene, in in the foothills of the Great Smoky
Mountains.
By the end of chapter one I was hooked, for two reasons:
The intrigue of how the story was going to develop, now that Chief of Police -Sam Jenkins and his team, find themselves investigating the murder of a young prostitute. The eighth victim of a serial killer, nicknamed the Riverside Strangler.
The way MR Zurl skilfully described every character, not just physically but their personalities, witticisms and foibles, created lifelike images. Sam, reminded me very much of my favourite British Detectives, Rebus, DCI Banks and Throne. A straight talking guy, who makes it perfectly clear he is not a team player. Even though his unorthodox policing pisses off the powers that be, he always gets a result. Along with his dry sense of humour, I have to confess like the females in the story, I was somewhat smitten by him.
As the story continued with yet another murder, I found myself submerged in the plot. The action, twists and turns, of this bracing page turner, that at times I felt I was actually watching a TV police drama. Which I am also an avid watcher of.
As a rule, even with the great detective authors, I find myself sussing out who the predator is, midway through. By a medico author, usually chapter three or four. However, MR Zurl had me biting my finger nails and cogitating right to the end. Never in a million years would I have fathomed the killer of the second murder. Or the outcome of Sam’s future as chief, at Prospects Police Department.
I highly recommend this book to any fictional crime buffs. To the not yet converted, I say grab this book and you will be hooked.
I can’t wait to get stuck into MR Zurl’s earlier Sam Jenkins mysteries, while anticipating his next book.
No doubt about it. A well-deserved 5/5
August 26, 2018
A BLEAK PROSPECT
A Sam Jenkins Mystery
WAYNE ZURL
Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author
Wayne Zurl has done a fantastic job of bringing the police crimes stories of Prospect, a small town in Tennessee, USA, to the printed page. This mystery is the eight in his series. I have read many.
Each stand on its own with characters who are enjoyable. Sam, a spiffy sheriff who arrived from NYC police work to a lady Sargent that runs the day to day business of the office. Spontaneous, trenchant, and intelligent conversations enhance the legitimate police work they do daily.
In this story, a prostitute is found dead inside town limits. However, the County has a serial killer roaming, and the case becomes a County matter. Sam following his instincts moves in the right directions apart from a Task Force.
The twist and turns lead him to an unlikely source for the County murders. Also, there is a riff in the Town's Council over the crime and other matters. The mayor gives Sam and his team terrible news.
Those events come to a head with an exciting conclusion the reader does not expect. This novel is another excellent, fast-paced mystery by an ex-cop. We will see what happens next hopefully.
A Sam Jenkins Mystery
WAYNE ZURL
Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author
Wayne Zurl has done a fantastic job of bringing the police crimes stories of Prospect, a small town in Tennessee, USA, to the printed page. This mystery is the eight in his series. I have read many.
Each stand on its own with characters who are enjoyable. Sam, a spiffy sheriff who arrived from NYC police work to a lady Sargent that runs the day to day business of the office. Spontaneous, trenchant, and intelligent conversations enhance the legitimate police work they do daily.
In this story, a prostitute is found dead inside town limits. However, the County has a serial killer roaming, and the case becomes a County matter. Sam following his instincts moves in the right directions apart from a Task Force.
The twist and turns lead him to an unlikely source for the County murders. Also, there is a riff in the Town's Council over the crime and other matters. The mayor gives Sam and his team terrible news.
Those events come to a head with an exciting conclusion the reader does not expect. This novel is another excellent, fast-paced mystery by an ex-cop. We will see what happens next hopefully.
July 16, 2018
As always, I love everything Wayne Zurl writes. I was so sad when I lost Robert B. Parker and his Jesse Stone series and was absolutely delighted to find Wayne Zurl's books and Chief Sam Jenkins. I especially love the fact that a high rolling detective in NY becomes a chief of police in small town Tennessee. My husband did that same thing, though it wasn't NY and it wasn't TN, but the similarities even in personalities are very close. If we didn't live in Colorado, I'd live in the Smokies, which I've always loved and used to visit three times a year when I lived back east. This is another great book by a wonderful author. I love the wit and personality of all the characters in his books, but especially Sam Jenkins. He can replace Jesse Stone quite nicely, though I love them both.
April 30, 2018
"The Purge"
I love the stories of Sam Jenkins, a strong sheriff in Prospect, a small town in eastern Tennessee. He now has to join a task force to hunt a serial killer called The Riverside Strangler. During this investigation, he exposes the lead investigator who is soon arrested and charged with police brutality. Sam's job is swaying on a thin line as the Prospect mayor considers removing Sam as sheriff. This story is shocking at the ending. The characters are well described and the story is enticing. Highly recommended.
I love the stories of Sam Jenkins, a strong sheriff in Prospect, a small town in eastern Tennessee. He now has to join a task force to hunt a serial killer called The Riverside Strangler. During this investigation, he exposes the lead investigator who is soon arrested and charged with police brutality. Sam's job is swaying on a thin line as the Prospect mayor considers removing Sam as sheriff. This story is shocking at the ending. The characters are well described and the story is enticing. Highly recommended.
April 30, 2018
This is the latest Sam Jenkins mystery and my current favorite. Like the others in this addictive series, wise-cracking Sam is at the center of the tale as Police Chief of Prospect, Tennessee, on what should be the quiet side of the Smokies, but never is, in these cases of murder and mayhem more common to Sam’s former bailiwick of New York City than Appalachia.
From page one, Sam and his crew become involved in investigating the murder what appears to be the eighth victim of a serial killer of young prostitutes. The MO of the murderer, dubbed the Riverside Strangler by the media, includes the grisly details of stabbing his victims multiple times and removing their finger pads with the knife. Investigations to track the Strangler over the last two years have been thwarted since the murder scenes have been sanitized of evidence, leaving Sam to suspect an assailant familiar with police work.
When a young man wearing flamboyant clothing is found murdered, Sam questions that the Strangler is responsible as the victim has been shot several times and his identification has been left behind.
In the intensified manhunt for the killer, the county sheriff’s department has called in a New York PI of dubious character known to Sam; while Sam hires a cyber investigator and a young female police officer to augment his usual able assistants.
At this point the investigation takes on more twists and turns than the tortuous road known as the Dragon’s Tail that skirts the Great Smoky Mountains. Sam zeroes in on a potential suspect, or are there two? Even after the murders are solved, the story takes another detour that leaves us breathless.
In A Bleak Prospect, the author’s cool, crisp style is shown off to its best advantage. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue is at turns smart and regionally authentic, and the characters are distinctive and memorable. Mr. Zurl has mastered his genre of hard-edged, entertaining police dramas, and I highly recommend his latest achievement.
Merged review:
This is the latest Sam Jenkins mystery and my current favorite. Like the others in this addictive series, wise-cracking Sam is at the center of the tale as Police Chief of Prospect, Tennessee, on what should be the quiet side of the Smokies, but never is, in these cases of murder and mayhem more common to Sam’s former bailiwick of New York City than Appalachia.
From page one, Sam and his crew become involved in investigating the murder what appears to be the eighth victim of a serial killer of young prostitutes. The MO of the murderer, dubbed the Riverside Strangler by the media, includes the grisly details of stabbing his victims multiple times and removing their finger pads with the knife. Investigations to track the Strangler over the last two years have been thwarted since the murder scenes have been sanitized of evidence, leaving Sam to suspect an assailant familiar with police work.
When a young man wearing flamboyant clothing is found murdered, Sam questions that the Strangler is responsible as the victim has been shot several times and his identification has been left behind.
In the intensified manhunt for the killer, the county sheriff’s department has called in a New York PI of dubious character known to Sam; while Sam hires a cyber investigator and a young female police officer to augment his usual able assistants.
At this point the investigation takes on more twists and turns than the tortuous road known as the Dragon’s Tail that skirts the Great Smoky Mountains. Sam zeroes in on a potential suspect, or are there two? Even after the murders are solved, the story takes another detour that leaves us breathless.
In A Bleak Prospect, the author’s cool, crisp style is shown off to its best advantage. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue is at turns smart and regionally authentic, and the characters are distinctive and memorable. Mr. Zurl has mastered his genre of hard-edged, entertaining police dramas, and I highly recommend this latest entry.
From page one, Sam and his crew become involved in investigating the murder what appears to be the eighth victim of a serial killer of young prostitutes. The MO of the murderer, dubbed the Riverside Strangler by the media, includes the grisly details of stabbing his victims multiple times and removing their finger pads with the knife. Investigations to track the Strangler over the last two years have been thwarted since the murder scenes have been sanitized of evidence, leaving Sam to suspect an assailant familiar with police work.
When a young man wearing flamboyant clothing is found murdered, Sam questions that the Strangler is responsible as the victim has been shot several times and his identification has been left behind.
In the intensified manhunt for the killer, the county sheriff’s department has called in a New York PI of dubious character known to Sam; while Sam hires a cyber investigator and a young female police officer to augment his usual able assistants.
At this point the investigation takes on more twists and turns than the tortuous road known as the Dragon’s Tail that skirts the Great Smoky Mountains. Sam zeroes in on a potential suspect, or are there two? Even after the murders are solved, the story takes another detour that leaves us breathless.
In A Bleak Prospect, the author’s cool, crisp style is shown off to its best advantage. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue is at turns smart and regionally authentic, and the characters are distinctive and memorable. Mr. Zurl has mastered his genre of hard-edged, entertaining police dramas, and I highly recommend his latest achievement.
Merged review:
This is the latest Sam Jenkins mystery and my current favorite. Like the others in this addictive series, wise-cracking Sam is at the center of the tale as Police Chief of Prospect, Tennessee, on what should be the quiet side of the Smokies, but never is, in these cases of murder and mayhem more common to Sam’s former bailiwick of New York City than Appalachia.
From page one, Sam and his crew become involved in investigating the murder what appears to be the eighth victim of a serial killer of young prostitutes. The MO of the murderer, dubbed the Riverside Strangler by the media, includes the grisly details of stabbing his victims multiple times and removing their finger pads with the knife. Investigations to track the Strangler over the last two years have been thwarted since the murder scenes have been sanitized of evidence, leaving Sam to suspect an assailant familiar with police work.
When a young man wearing flamboyant clothing is found murdered, Sam questions that the Strangler is responsible as the victim has been shot several times and his identification has been left behind.
In the intensified manhunt for the killer, the county sheriff’s department has called in a New York PI of dubious character known to Sam; while Sam hires a cyber investigator and a young female police officer to augment his usual able assistants.
At this point the investigation takes on more twists and turns than the tortuous road known as the Dragon’s Tail that skirts the Great Smoky Mountains. Sam zeroes in on a potential suspect, or are there two? Even after the murders are solved, the story takes another detour that leaves us breathless.
In A Bleak Prospect, the author’s cool, crisp style is shown off to its best advantage. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue is at turns smart and regionally authentic, and the characters are distinctive and memorable. Mr. Zurl has mastered his genre of hard-edged, entertaining police dramas, and I highly recommend this latest entry.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews