A Brutal Murder Brings Nate Out Of RetirementAfter a savage murder leaves the crime scene looking like a slaughterhouse, Jack Mill can see he is in over his head. Fortunately, he knows just the man for the job, Nate Burns. Trouble is that Nate is retired. Regardless, Jack sets out to do what he can to bring the retired detective to Vegas.
˃˃˃ More Than A Simple RequestIt seems like a straightforward job, but it will lead Nate not only on a manhunt across the country but also back in time thirty years where he will struggle to understand the implications of the Cold War.
All the while, Nate continues to struggle as he comes to terms with being medically retired from the department. Unsure who he is any longer, he hesitates to accept the challenge. For the first time, he's afraid he might fail.
˃˃˃ Dance with the Devils is the third installment in the AWARD WINNING Nate and Clare series. “It is one of those rare read-in-one-sitting novels. I hate to use the phrase, “I couldn’t put it down,” but the term, without question, applies in this case. Griffeth’s writing has a seamless flow that sucks the reader in from the first page.” ”" Thomas Anderson
Winner of Readers' Favorite Silver Award for Historical Fiction/Western, Kwen knew he wanted to be a writer when he was fourteen years old. He felt the urge when he finished Earnest Hemingway’s masterpiece For Whom The Bell Tolls. The story touched him in a way no other book ever had. It transported a kid born and raised on a farm and ranch in Idaho to the mountains of Spain. It took him back in time forty years to witness the Spanish Civil War. Kwen knew he wanted to share that wonder with other people.
John Lennon said, “Life is what happens while you make other plans.” While Kwen lived a full and varied life, his dream of writing remained in the back of his mind.
Finally, in 2012, he wrote a novella named Dear Emma. He self-published through Amazon and asked people to read it. “The best way to see if I can write is to let people check it out,” he said. Like it, they did. Currently, Dear Emma enjoys a 4.8 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon.
Often asked what genre he writes, Kwen replies he writes stories about people and uses the genre that best fits the story. “I think of the genre, or setting as another character that interacts to help tell the story,” he says.
His most often received and constant comment is how real his characters seem. Upon the completion of his historical fiction trilogy Sam and Laura books, a reader telephoned Kwen and directed him to write more stories about the couple. When asked why the reader was so adamant about more stories, he replied he “wasn’t ready to tell Sam and Laura good bye yet.” Kwen considers that comment one of his highest compliments.
Kwen’s books are getting some attention from the literary community. The Law of Moses, the Silver Award winner from Readers' Favorite, and The Tenth Nail both received the Gold Award from Literary Titan Book Review. The Gold Award is given to books “found to be perfect in their delivery of original content, meticulous development of unique characters in an organic and striking setting, innovative plot that supports a fresh theme, and elegant prose that transforms words into beautifully written novels.” Many of Kwen's books have received the Gold Award from Literary Titan. In addition, The Law of Moses was awarded five 5 Star Reviews from the reviewers of Readers' Favorite.
Kwen’s books are available in several formats; e-Book, paperback, and audio. He invites you to check his writings out. Who knows? He might become your next favorite author.
The number of crimes that occur every single day is a number many of us would never like to learn. Yet, the numbers continue to climb causing fear levels to raise. Everyone should be grateful to have important individuals who wants nothing more but to ensure the safety of the people in their society. In “Dance With The Devils”, author Kwen Griffeth introduces his audience to a few characters with special status to fight and solve crimes. A retired detective Nate Burns and detective Gabe Monet pair up to solve one of the most gruesome crimes known to man. Along with the financial assistance from a casino owner Roger Devine, government-hired hacker Jack Mill, and Police Captain Taylor, they are certain to solve this groundbreaking homicide case without failing. Interesting enough, the only clue provided by the murderer was a blood-written encrypted message on the bathroom mirror of the victim. As you read, you’ll notice that each member involved in solving this homicide, has special gifts that aid them in being the best individuals at their job. Paying close attention to details is what makes following along as they go through the motions of this case, something to look forward to as you read each page. I can honestly say, both Nate and Gabe are making things seem more interesting and they make a great case solving duo because their chemistry is like something I’ve witnessed in TV shows.
After learning about what happened to the victim, Nick Jenkins, we then discover that there were other victims just like him. What you’ll enjoy most is experiencing the chemistry between Nate and Gabe as they have fun while they work, yet still, maintain professionalism when necessary. Everyone in Las Vegas is rooting for the case to be solved because Nick was a dear friend to many people who all believed he didn’t deserve to die the way he did. The staff at the casino and hotel, owned by Devine, considered Nick as a friend who is hopeful the murderer would be brought to justice. The perspectives of every individual who felt an impact with this case seemed to offer the utmost support in light of knowing the case will be handled in two pairs of hands of the greatest people. What stuck out to me after learning that there were two other identical murders was that these people were targeted for a particular reason. The plot is well-written and easy to follow along as if you’re an intern following this investigation until the end. It gets even more interesting as the story unfolds, but it’s wonderful to stay in the midst to discover who the killer is.
The suspense is what got me the most because the story panned out just as any real-life homicide investigation. I felt that I was a silent third member of the two-member task force, observing and figuring out the clues made available. The way this book was written has made the reading experience more than enjoyable due to being a complete page-turner. I found myself having difficulties setting the book down, if only for a moment because I didn’t want to miss out on anything. I enjoyed and highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a really good crime-suspense genre story that’s full a true experience as a detective.
Dance with the Devils by Kwen Griffeth Nate Burns is called upon once again to solve a mind-boggling crime. He is on the hunt for a man he believes is a sicko at first but is convinced might need saving from himself later. Nate is forced to go from state to state in the search for this culprit. The criminal always seems to be a step ahead. To fully understand the present, Nate must work with annoying Gabe to uncover sins from the past. Will Nate get past the quirk and truly consider Gabe a good detective? Why are these twelve men so interesting to the killer? Gabe Monet is believed to be a man until she shows up and Nate has to find a way to come clean to his beloved wife. Will she be jealous and put her foot down? Will she demand that Nate leave the case and come home to her or else? Boy, Kwen Griffeth can weave a tale. He has the reader running around the country in search for this killer who just cannot seem to stop himself. This killer who has implored Nate to save him from killing anymore. Right from the beginning when Nate is invited onto a case, the attention of the reader will be captured. The author has a funny and interesting way of describing things. The square man. Egg shaped person. Voice like hard-soled boots on river gravel. That is evidence of rare talent right there. The characters are well built, of course. It is lovely how Nate’s feelings on different people are predicted through the dialogue. At first, he is terse with Gabe even going as far as telling her to put as much effort into work as she does her silliness. Progressively, his respect and admiration for her intelligence and capabilities reflects in his interactions with her. He even teases her sometimes. Who knew Nate Burns could tease? Gabe seems like exactly what Nate needs. She is quirky and playful. It might overshadow her sharp focus and impeccable investigative ability but it does not. The author does a good job of depicting both sides of the formidable lady. The characters in this book just come alive right there. You take part in their to-go breakfast and live their lives with them. They are well and deeply developed. This book has four very important and very desirable aspects: mystery, thrill, suspense and an appropriate sprinkling of humor. You will experience the sudden twists and turns as the story progresses. Each twist throwing you off more than the last. This is a guarantee; once you are done, you will suffer a massive bout of separation anxiety. As the third installation in the Nate & Claire series, the story of Nate is expected to be taking a dip into anticlimactic. However, the opposite is true. This installment is better than the last, which was better than the first. The author’s experiences have done the reader a favor, he knows his trade language. Dance with the Devils is an excellent read. Revenge is best served bloody unless Nate Burns is after you.
Is there a devil out there for real? Or have the people just linked its mention in the Good book to account for the misfortune that happens or befalls a victim, even though it is the action of an individual or group of individuals. From minor misdemeanors to gory crimes like rape and murder, these all are grim reminders that we live in a very real, very troubled world. Dance with the devils by Kwen Griffeth is a story about the death of a casino floor boss in Las Vegas, Nevada and things that happen post-death in the course of the investigation. I admit I thought that this story would be a simple basic premise of the lead character (s) in law enforcement working out incredible angles to unmask the murderer, or that all the characters related to the victim would be thought of as suspects by the investigative team and things like that. I could not be more wrong! It appears that the author has taken a more realistic, a real-life like approach to craft the story. The people with knowledge of working in law enforcement know very well that it is rare that everything aligns perfectly or there is active cooperation, neither there is always a happy ending. It is this trait of the author that reflects in the story which made an impact on me. The story involves Nate, an Ex-homicide detective, who has retired on medical reasons, from a relatively small town of Albuquerque, New Mexico bought into the fold to solve a case which by the powers that be, wanted to be solved quickly. The gruff old ex-detective is paired with Gabe, a feisty female detective with apparently a desire to solve the case, by captain Taylor of Las Vegas PD, apparently under pressure of those in power. It becomes apparent that all is not as it seems, with everyone having their own agenda. The wise but weary veteran and his young partner after a while get to a point where they stand to lose nearly everything they have professionally. It is a treat how the emotional conflicts, internally as an individual and situational awareness together form the next events unraveling in the story. The story shows real issues that people in solving cases have to face – whether it is a hostile attitude of the peers, an uncooperative CSI, issues with cooperation from different jurisdictions, the clash of egos and many more, very real-life and unlike Hollywood staple version of Whodunnits’. The story also in the latter part gives an insight to the perpetrator of the crime, and actually presses down on the fact that at the end of all things, evil begets evil. The fact that the story, in the end, felt a bit left out, making it more real, as there is no real end of the journey, just passengers coming on and hopping off the timeline. I would like to read more from the author.
Las Vegas, NV. Roger “Mr. D.” Devine (Clark County ME) greeted Jack Mill (retired APD Detective) at the crime scene. Nicholas “Nick” Dwayne Jenkins (Casino floor boss, retired military) had been brutally murdered. Captain Taylor (LVMPD Homicide Detectives) was there for Jack’s support. He had been tied all 4 posts corners of the bed & Nick’s penis/scrotum were gone.
“Dance with the Devils, 666” had also been written with Nick’s blood. Detective Nate Burns was asked to help solve the murder also. Detective Burns decided to look at all the photo’s Captain Taylor brought. Albuquerque, NM. Clare Burns (wife, law school), Lizzie Burns (older daughter), & Shelby Burns (daughter) said goodbye to Detective Burns. Silver Slipper Hotel. Detective Gabriele “Gabe” Monet (LVMPD Homicide lead investigator) surprised Nate (aka Beefcakes). He was expecting a guy.
Robbie (A/A, ME tech/tox) told the 2 of them Nick was loaded up with Rohypnol. Mr. D. stopped by to see how the investigation was going. What information did Detective Kwansi Morton (Atlanta PD) reveal to Detective Burns? Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office Jail. Gordon Wilson Newton (lawyer, Dallas, TX) was there to represent Gerald Pointer (homeless, defendant, retired Vietnam Vet). Detective Monet was the tagalong.
Gerald was arrested for the murder of Kenneth Huntington. Detective Burns, & Detective Monet continued their investigation. Will they solve the murder cases & bring someone to justice?
Warning: This book contains graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written crime thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a large set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; LisaatManybooks; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
A brutal murder forces Nate Burns out of retirement and across the country to solve a case. This not only moves Nate geographically but inward as he attempts to deal with the fallout of the Cold War from thirty years earlier. Book three of the Nate and Clare series and this novel specifically attempts to deal with our hero, Nate, as he deals with being forced into retirement for medical reasons. He is hesitant with rising to this new case, with dealing with his identity that is so closely linked with his former position. The novel unpacks a lot and with a dash of humor, Dance with the Devils by Kwen Griffeth, is a great thriller, especially for those who want to see a little less blood or cursing in their novels.
At first glance, as it is with most mysteries to the untrained reader, it seems like a simple solve, but Griffeth takes us on a complex, arc over the course of the journey, which has the best narrative form, both a plot of the mystery and murder, while also dealing with Nate and his crisis of identity and purpose. The killer is obviously, always a step ahead and keeps our heroes on his trail for most of the book as the genre
The characters, from Jack Mill, to Nate, to Gabe are all well characterized and keep us invest in the story considering there are both new and old faces in this novel. They all play out their various roles well and Nate’s struggle becomes very defined as the novel goes on. Being that this is the third book in the series, the struggles and plot sometimes weigh it down and rely on the reader to remember some characterization from previous books, but Griffeth is able to keep the book moving enough for this not to be a burden.
Some elements of this novel became too much at times though, such as how description was thrown in with stilted phrases. None of it seemed natural and the novel tends to lean on genre tropes more heavily that even the predecessors did. The fact that Griffeth makes this a “clean” thriller is an interesting flip with the lack of cursing and “blood-lite”, but at the same time this negates some of the tension that a thriller needs to carry a book like this.
Despite all of this, Dance with the Devils is an exciting and interesting trip for Nate and the reader, where we attempt to answer who we outside of the things that define us.
The story starts out introducing a few of the main characters. You follow a few detectives while they chat about a case and work with other members of the department. There is a new case at hand that the department needs help solving and can't quite get their lead on whodunit. The current detectives on the case being in a gentleman who is not a detective but has his hands in the field with some valuable expertise. This in turn leads to Nate. Nate is a retired, partially disabled detective who despite itching to get back into the field is hesitant to help. He refuses the detectives offer at first and tries to continue on with his life. At the urging of his wife he quickly changed his mind. Ultimately, Nate gets involved and immediately gets to work on trying to solve the case. His keen eye and swift thinking brings the detectives some new leads. But can Nate continue to work the case without being distracted by the sultry detective Gabe? And what is her motive or is she just as promiscuous as she seems? On top of that who is the killer? Is it someone the detectives already dismissed? Or someone closer to the crime than we anticipated?
Dance with the Devils by Kwen Griffeth is an excellent book! I love reading in general but murder/mystery books are particularly my favorite. I can now add this author to my list. The story starts pretty strongly and with a plethora of characters. The story is easy to follow but keeps you intrigued throughout. I loved Nate's character in this book. It shows what I believe is a real and common struggle that people in the investigative or police field in general go through. I like how the author didn’t give away what happens right away and it took some time for the story to come to light. The plot was not confusing and never left me wondering what was going on. Authors descriptions were detailed enough to get an accurate picture in my head without having to read it two or three times and still created a great picture in my head. I usually never get irritated with a character but for some reason I couldn’t tolerate Gabe very well. Not sure if it was her forward approach to things or how she made everything sexual. But hey, it's just a character! I definitely give this book 5 stars and look forward to reading other novels from Kwen Griffeth.
Nate has been medically retired, after being shot in the line of duty. His computer-hacker friend, Jack, shows up requesting his help in solving a rather gruesome murder of a 'friend of a friend'. After some thought, and partially motivated to close a case, Nate agrees and heads to Vegas. Turns out that Jack's friend is the owner of one of the best casinos in Vegas, Roger Devine, and the victim was a beloved employee. Nate is paired with a rookie homicide detective, Gabe Monet, a very witty and unassuming character...and female. One look at the crime scene, and Nate just knows that there are more bodies...this is not a one-off murder. As the bodies pile up, Nate deduces that they are all connected, and to something from the days of the Cold War. Will Nate be able to close this case or will this be another one that 'slips away'? This book is the 3rd in the Nate Burns series and just as riveting as the prior books. I voluntarily accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know if it's overly aggressive editing, production errors, a corrupted file, or some combination of these, but there are some important details missing from this audiobook, leading to some confusion and distraction from the story. One example of this is in chapter 4 where blood spatter is mentioned. These omissions are frequent enough and significant enough to effect the rating.
The story is well-paced and engaging. I really like the characters, especially Gabe. And Paul J McSorley's performance of Gabe and the other characters is outstanding. This series has a lot going for it.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Dance with the Devils Revenge: Best Served Bloody, book 3 in the series, and I hope really hope there is more to come. Nate & Clare are so well written and with depth of character - that they've become like friends to me. Listening to them is like catching up with old friends. I can't say enough good things about this book - it's got everything - the full gamut of human emotion mixed with many surprises, A 5* read/listen. Narration excellent. I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my own request, and voluntarily leave this review. Pick up any of the authors work and you will be entertained.
Wow. This last book of the 3 was the best. This is a great series about a 'cop/police officer' (according to Nate they are different) who seems to be a one man army who just wants to get the job done. He has a very supportive wife and 2 daughters who are very proud of him. He is a loner ever since the death of his partner a few years ago and doesn't want to get involved with any other partners. There are 3 books and they explain how he and his family handle some of the changes he is going through and who and what he is up against on a daily basis. Unfortunately some of the stories could be happening in the real world today. Would definitely recommend this author.
KDG. has penned a murder mystery action adventure, when a Las Vegas Casino Owner contacts our retired intrepid detective he first says no, but after studying the crime photos realizes that the killer is a serial killer. He id partnered with a LVPD detective and together they determine with the evidence and some crucial phone calls to whom the murders are connected to. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
Serial killer or justice in the mind of a man. Can Nate and his friends stop the killing? Why is the killings so brutally? It’s feels personal and premeditated per Nate. Can the team really find justice?
This book has action, mysteries and murders. It will leave the reader questioning--was the murderer caught too soon for justice to be served. However, there is no cliffhanger as the story is complete.
I loved following the story and wondering where it would go. The workings of minds can take you down many roads. This one did.my only complaint is the editing. There are so many grammatical mistakes that it was starting to cover me crazy!
A man is found strung up, bled out and with his male organ placed on his midsection in a townhouse in Las Vegas. The murderer is good and leaves no trace for the police to find him except for the cryptic message left in the victim’s own blood – Dance with the Devils 666. That’s when Nate Burns, a medically retired homicide detective, is called. Nate is paired up with rookie detective Gabe Monet and the pair of them are soon off on a manhunt that takes them across the U.S - and back in time - to try and solve this case before the murderer strikes again.
Dance with the Devils by Kwen Griffeth is a murder mystery novel set mostly in Las Vegas that follows the story of retired homicide detective Nate Burns and his young protégée Gabe Monet. While I found the character development and initial murder quite compelling, the novel seems to fizzle out once the motive for the killer is eventually riddled out.
The novel begins with Jack Mills at a crime scene in Las Vegas. Jack Mills, an unparalleled computer hacker, has been asked to assist the Las Vegas police department on its investigation by the victim’s employer and best friend Roger Devine. Mills quickly realizes he’s out of his depth though and calls in his friend Nate Burns to help with the investigation. Nate is a medically retired homicide detective from New Mexico with a wealth of experience. However, a relatively recent accident has left him shaky on his feet, quite literally, and has made Nate reluctant to get back in the game. After some cajoling from Jack, Nate agrees as a way to finish career on a high note. Nate is quickly brought in as a consultant and teamed up with rookie detective Gabrielle Monet.
Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of this novel is the pairing of Nate with Gabe and their resulting relationship. Although it’s a familiar grizzled war veteran with young upshot rookie trope, Griffeth manages to breathe a sense of freshness into the scenario. Gabe’s constant flirtation with Nate adds a complex layer to the relationship that often leaves you guessing if something will happen between the two.
Once Nate and Gabe are partnered up, we quickly travel across the U.S. as they begin to piece together that the murderer is of a serial nature. Nate mentors Gabe as she finds her feet in the homicide world and slowly the picture unfolds before you.
If there is one disappointing component to this murder mystery it was the ending. I found this to be the weakest element of the book. As a reader, the novel does a great job of building of the suspense of catching this murderer but once we finally do get to the final showdown, there is no big standoff. In fact, it’s the opposite. It’s about as anticlimactic as a story arc can be. While I’m sure this was an artistic choice by the writer, I felt a bit disappointed as a reader at the end to have no final twist or stand- off between the ‘good guys’ and the ‘bad guys’.
All in all, I thought Dance with the Devils to be an entertaining and enjoyable read. I would highly recommend this novel for those looking for great characters with complex relationships and an all out gripping thriller.