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Doug Brock #3
Black and Blue
The next exciting installment in bestselling David Rosenfelt's Doug Brock series.
Doug Brock hasn't had it easy since his getting shot in the line of duty as a New Jersey state police officer. Between the amnesia and having to solve two murder cases, it hasn't been the most restful recovery. He's slowly earning back the trust of his girlfriend Jessie, since he doesn't remember their breakup, and has focused on new crimes with his partner, Nate.
But now an old case of Doug's has resurfaced, and it's up to Doug to retrace his steps - steps he can't remember - to solve the case. Eighteen months ago, Walter Brookings was shot through the heart. With no clear motive and no similar murders, the investigation stalled and became a cold case.
When another man is murdered in the same fashion and the ballistics come back as a match, Doug begins to reinvestigate, and starts to question his own actions from the previous investigation.
Finally, what Doug uncovers may be more dangerous than any case he's faced yet.
Doug Brock hasn't had it easy since his getting shot in the line of duty as a New Jersey state police officer. Between the amnesia and having to solve two murder cases, it hasn't been the most restful recovery. He's slowly earning back the trust of his girlfriend Jessie, since he doesn't remember their breakup, and has focused on new crimes with his partner, Nate.
But now an old case of Doug's has resurfaced, and it's up to Doug to retrace his steps - steps he can't remember - to solve the case. Eighteen months ago, Walter Brookings was shot through the heart. With no clear motive and no similar murders, the investigation stalled and became a cold case.
When another man is murdered in the same fashion and the ballistics come back as a match, Doug begins to reinvestigate, and starts to question his own actions from the previous investigation.
Finally, what Doug uncovers may be more dangerous than any case he's faced yet.
290 pages, Hardcover
First published March 26, 2019
529 people are currently reading
2002 people want to read
About the author
David Rosenfelt
74 books2,896 followersI am a novelist with 27 dogs.
I have gotten to this dubious position with absolutely no planning, and at no stage in my life could I have predicted it. But here I am.
My childhood was relentlessly normal. The middle of three brothers, loving parents, a middle-class home in Paterson, New Jersey. We played sports, studied sporadically. laughed around the dinner table, and generally had a good time. By comparison, "Ozzie and Harriet's" clan seemed bizarre.
I graduated NYU, then decided to go into the movie business. I was stunningly brilliant at a job interview with my uncle, who was President of United Artists, and was immediately hired. It set me off on a climb up the executive ladder, culminating in my becoming President of Marketing for Tri-Star Pictures. The movie landscape is filled with the movies I buried; for every "Rambo", "The Natural" and "Rocky", there are countless disasters.
I did manage to find the time to marry and have two children, both of whom are doing very well, and fortunately neither have inherited my eccentricities.
A number of years ago, I left the movie marketing business, to the sustained applause of hundreds of disgruntled producers and directors. I decided to try my hand at writing. I wrote and sold a bunch of feature films, none of which ever came close to being actually filmed, and then a bunch of TV movies, some of which actually made it to the small screen. It's safe to say that their impact on the American cultural scene has been minimal.
About fourteen years ago, my wife and I started the Tara Foundation, named in honor of the greatest Golden Retriever the world has ever known. We rescued almost 4,000 dogs, many of them Goldens, and found them loving homes. Our own home quickly became a sanctuary for those dogs that we rescued that were too old or sickly to be wanted by others. They surround me as I write this. It's total lunacy, but it works, and they are a happy, safe group.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidr...
I have gotten to this dubious position with absolutely no planning, and at no stage in my life could I have predicted it. But here I am.
My childhood was relentlessly normal. The middle of three brothers, loving parents, a middle-class home in Paterson, New Jersey. We played sports, studied sporadically. laughed around the dinner table, and generally had a good time. By comparison, "Ozzie and Harriet's" clan seemed bizarre.
I graduated NYU, then decided to go into the movie business. I was stunningly brilliant at a job interview with my uncle, who was President of United Artists, and was immediately hired. It set me off on a climb up the executive ladder, culminating in my becoming President of Marketing for Tri-Star Pictures. The movie landscape is filled with the movies I buried; for every "Rambo", "The Natural" and "Rocky", there are countless disasters.
I did manage to find the time to marry and have two children, both of whom are doing very well, and fortunately neither have inherited my eccentricities.
A number of years ago, I left the movie marketing business, to the sustained applause of hundreds of disgruntled producers and directors. I decided to try my hand at writing. I wrote and sold a bunch of feature films, none of which ever came close to being actually filmed, and then a bunch of TV movies, some of which actually made it to the small screen. It's safe to say that their impact on the American cultural scene has been minimal.
About fourteen years ago, my wife and I started the Tara Foundation, named in honor of the greatest Golden Retriever the world has ever known. We rescued almost 4,000 dogs, many of them Goldens, and found them loving homes. Our own home quickly became a sanctuary for those dogs that we rescued that were too old or sickly to be wanted by others. They surround me as I write this. It's total lunacy, but it works, and they are a happy, safe group.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidr...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
June 16, 2019
An enjoyable procedural full of clever twists & suspense. Bonus points for allowing Andy Carpenter, Pete Scanlon & Vince from this author's other series to make cameo appearances. Plus there's Bobo the dog 👍
April 1, 2019
Detective Doug Brock was shot in the line of duty, which ultimately left him with retrograde amnesia. Trying to deal with lost memories is bad enough but now he and his partner, Nate, are tasked with 2 murder cases.
Both successful men, both shot with one bullet through the heart. Because of this, an old case of Doug's has come out of obscurity and Doug has to retrace what he did when he was investigating. This victim was also shot through the heart.
More bodies will fall .... with no rhyme or reason.. Men, women, rich, poor ... no one is safe.
What Doug and Nate uncover is far worse than anyone could imagine.
The story premise is good, well-written. But what stands out for me is the relationship of the three main characters.... Doug, Nate, and Jesse (Doug's girlfriend). There's love, respect, loyalty and mainly humor .. lots of humor ... among them. Some of it is sarcastic humor and not everyone might appreciate the fact that most police I know personally develop the humor to live with what they see and deal with every day.
Another plus for me .... Attorney Andy Carpenter makes several appearances in this story. For those of you who are fans, this is a bonus. If you haven't read his Andy Carpenter series ..take a look. It's a real treat.
Although 3rd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. There's just enough background so the reader does not feel lost but yet whets the appetite to start at the beginning.
Many thanks to the author / St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 9, 2019
3.5 stars
A decent mystery novel. Giving an extra star because Rosenfelt's characters are relatable and have entertaining sense of humor. As a plus, Andy Carpenter (from legal series) made a few appearances in this book.
A decent mystery novel. Giving an extra star because Rosenfelt's characters are relatable and have entertaining sense of humor. As a plus, Andy Carpenter (from legal series) made a few appearances in this book.
February 10, 2022
The Doug Brock series is a police procedural mystery thriller with plenty of fun banter between the characters that brings smiles or just outright laughter. Then there’s the dog that adds to the humor.
This is a fast paced mystery that will have you guessing right up to the end - fueled with plenty of twists and turns. I hope Rosenfelt has a Doug Brock #4 on the horizon. The audiobook was especially fun listening to as the narrator, Fred Berman, had just the right inflections throughout the story.
I have loved all of Doug Brock books, this being my favorite in the series to date!
This is a fast paced mystery that will have you guessing right up to the end - fueled with plenty of twists and turns. I hope Rosenfelt has a Doug Brock #4 on the horizon. The audiobook was especially fun listening to as the narrator, Fred Berman, had just the right inflections throughout the story.
I have loved all of Doug Brock books, this being my favorite in the series to date!
May 9, 2019
I really enjoy this series! It is a nice mystery, with some humor thrown in. It is a fun, quick read.
September 28, 2019
I didn't have a lot of hope for this going in. I get a kick out of his Andy Carpenter series, but this one started off rather poorly due to the narrator & some repetitious writing. The second one had a better narrator & the one that read this was very good, although I didn't like the way he did Andy's voice. That's right, this is a book focusing on Doug Brock, but we got to meet Andy (who was kind of a dick since he is a defense lawyer) Pete & even Vince briefly.
It was a good, twisty mystery, although it was fairly easy to guess who the bad guy was & I got very impatient at the end that it took Doug so long to figure out the target. Well, I guess he was dealing with the 'real' world & I'm used to reading mysteries, so it was only obvious from my POV. Anyway, I liked it & I'm looking forward to another.
It was a good, twisty mystery, although it was fairly easy to guess who the bad guy was & I got very impatient at the end that it took Doug so long to figure out the target. Well, I guess he was dealing with the 'real' world & I'm used to reading mysteries, so it was only obvious from my POV. Anyway, I liked it & I'm looking forward to another.
July 10, 2019
New Jersey State Police Lieutenant Doug Brock remembers nothing of the 10 years prior to his head injury from a gunshot. His past cases are a problem until he reviews the file and case notes. Currently, Doug and his partner Nate visit the scene where there's a dead body shot in the heart by a high powered rifle. This killing is similar to an unsolved case they had many years ago and ballistics confirm it's the same gun. Seemingly random killings are turning up everywhere. Doug is afraid one of the men he interviewed before is the killer he allowed to get away.
I like this series because there's always a solid mystery and the characters are so likeable. I love the chemistry between Doug, Nate and Jessie. I like the style of tongue in cheek comments and sarcastic wit. There are several cameos of Andy Carpenter in this one. You will enjoy the dog Bobo. I was following down the wrong path and didn't realize who the killer was until the end. I like that!
I like this series because there's always a solid mystery and the characters are so likeable. I love the chemistry between Doug, Nate and Jessie. I like the style of tongue in cheek comments and sarcastic wit. There are several cameos of Andy Carpenter in this one. You will enjoy the dog Bobo. I was following down the wrong path and didn't realize who the killer was until the end. I like that!
April 2, 2019
I have read the first two in this series, plus all of the Andy Carpenter series, and loved them all for their
entertainment value. Not great literature but always fun, entertaining reads. This one fell flat. Not sure why. It went on too long with too many random killings and no clues as to why, for one. And maybe two would be that the motive for the killings is just too far fetched. Read the first two Doug Brock but skip this one and hope it was an aberration and Rosenfelt will be back on track with future titles.
entertainment value. Not great literature but always fun, entertaining reads. This one fell flat. Not sure why. It went on too long with too many random killings and no clues as to why, for one. And maybe two would be that the motive for the killings is just too far fetched. Read the first two Doug Brock but skip this one and hope it was an aberration and Rosenfelt will be back on track with future titles.
May 5, 2021
I never give Rosenfelt's books more than a three, but that's not because I don't like them. In fact, I DO like them! Even though they pretty much follow a template and the main characters of the Doug Brock series and the Andy Carpenter series are pretty much the same guy. That being said, having a template does not necessarily mean you can't surprise the reader. I got the one (easy) twist, but was bamboozled by the ending. Fun book.
May 8, 2019
This was a good one! I've never read any of this author's Andy Carpenter series, but I have read all the stand-alones and this new series featuring detective Doug Brock, and have enjoyed them all. Great characters, engrossing plot full of twists and turns, and short chapters made this book an easy and suspenseful read. If you've never read David Rosenfelt before, I would strongly suggest you give him a try!
April 2, 2019
The first two novels in this series lived up to Rosenfelt’s good writing. Although this one ended up with aplomb, the rest of it was less than absorbing. So, if you read the author read it. If you don’t, spend your time on something else. Ok, I will read, or as I do, listen to the next book in the series, hoping it will be a considerably better book.
April 27, 2019
First Sentence: I feel like a jerk.
A single shot to the heart from a high-powered distance made from a distance killed Walter Brookings 18 months ago. The case, investigated by Doug Brock, remained unsolved and went cold. Now, there's a second murder; same M.O. and even the forensics match. The difference is that Brock suffers partial amnesia from a gunshot to the head. He survived, but not all of his memory did. With the help of his partner, and girlfriend Jessica, who is also on the force, Brock is not only investigating the new case, but digging back into the previous case as well.
Partial amnesia is always an interesting subject and an excellent hook for a protagonist. However, it takes more than that for a book to be compelling, and Rosenfelt delivers.
A very nice cross-over into Rosenlfelt's Carpenter series is done in the character of police Captain Pete Stanton, as well as attorney Andy Carpenter and Vince Sanders, editor of the local paper. There is an arrogance to Brock which can be annoying, but it's nicely balanced by self-doubt—"…the two guys that I shot were apparently total scumbags who had themselves committed murder. But even so, I took their lives, and it somehow seems weirdly disrespectful that I have no recollection of doing so."
Multiple points of view can be awkward, but Rosenfelt makes them work. However, one of his greatest skills is the ever-escalating level of suspense and that he keeps one guessing with lots of twists along the way.
"Black and Blue" has a cleverly done plot that makes sense once it's all put together. Rosenfelt takes the suspense right down to the wire and gives one a captivating, gripping read.
BLACK & BLUE (PolProc-Doug Brock-New Jersey-Contemp) - VG
Rosenfelt, David – 3rd in series
Minotaur Books, March 2019
A single shot to the heart from a high-powered distance made from a distance killed Walter Brookings 18 months ago. The case, investigated by Doug Brock, remained unsolved and went cold. Now, there's a second murder; same M.O. and even the forensics match. The difference is that Brock suffers partial amnesia from a gunshot to the head. He survived, but not all of his memory did. With the help of his partner, and girlfriend Jessica, who is also on the force, Brock is not only investigating the new case, but digging back into the previous case as well.
Partial amnesia is always an interesting subject and an excellent hook for a protagonist. However, it takes more than that for a book to be compelling, and Rosenfelt delivers.
A very nice cross-over into Rosenlfelt's Carpenter series is done in the character of police Captain Pete Stanton, as well as attorney Andy Carpenter and Vince Sanders, editor of the local paper. There is an arrogance to Brock which can be annoying, but it's nicely balanced by self-doubt—"…the two guys that I shot were apparently total scumbags who had themselves committed murder. But even so, I took their lives, and it somehow seems weirdly disrespectful that I have no recollection of doing so."
Multiple points of view can be awkward, but Rosenfelt makes them work. However, one of his greatest skills is the ever-escalating level of suspense and that he keeps one guessing with lots of twists along the way.
"Black and Blue" has a cleverly done plot that makes sense once it's all put together. Rosenfelt takes the suspense right down to the wire and gives one a captivating, gripping read.
BLACK & BLUE (PolProc-Doug Brock-New Jersey-Contemp) - VG
Rosenfelt, David – 3rd in series
Minotaur Books, March 2019
May 21, 2019
This is a straight-up plot where the police hunt down the bad guys. It kept my attention well enough, but what pushed its appeal a little higher for me is the humour that runs through the novel. I found myself chuckling out loud in several spots.
April 14, 2019
This is about New Jersey Detective Doug Brock who was shot and left with
retrograde amnesia. This is a new series with Doug and his partner Nate
Who find themselves tasked to find the solution to two murders and
because of this a cold case has come to lite.
This is a fast paced mystery with a lot of killing, wit and good characters
And a cameo appearance with Andy Carpenter whom Doug has never
met. The story has many twists and turns, but it is an enjoyable read.
The chapters are short and the plot captures your attention from the
Beginning.
retrograde amnesia. This is a new series with Doug and his partner Nate
Who find themselves tasked to find the solution to two murders and
because of this a cold case has come to lite.
This is a fast paced mystery with a lot of killing, wit and good characters
And a cameo appearance with Andy Carpenter whom Doug has never
met. The story has many twists and turns, but it is an enjoyable read.
The chapters are short and the plot captures your attention from the
Beginning.
December 30, 2024
This is Book 3 in the Doug Brock series. Murders are incurring in the same manner but apparently no connection. Doug had worked on one murder prior to getting amnesia. Doug had a suspect but decided that he didn’t do it, until the second murder occurred. I liked that Andy Carpenter, Pete, n Vince from the Andy Carpenter series were mentioned n involved. I probably have read too many mysteries, because I guess who the murderer was but not why. Wish that there was a book 4, but unfortunately it doesn’t appear that there will be.
February 24, 2020
3. 5 stars
Quickly paced. an interesting case. some humor.
i love it when i read different series by the same writers & they do a cross-over. Andy Carpenter & some of the characters from that series make an appearance in this Doug Brock story. way cool!
as per rosenfelt's writing, there was a "big picture scheme" going on behind the scenes of the random sniper shootings. I figured out some of it (the who) but not all (the why).
an exciting ending.
Quickly paced. an interesting case. some humor.
i love it when i read different series by the same writers & they do a cross-over. Andy Carpenter & some of the characters from that series make an appearance in this Doug Brock story. way cool!
as per rosenfelt's writing, there was a "big picture scheme" going on behind the scenes of the random sniper shootings. I figured out some of it (the who) but not all (the why).
an exciting ending.
September 6, 2019
I am a big fan of the Andy Carpenter series. Since I have read nearly all of them I thought I would try David Rosenfeld other series.
Yikes! So disappointed ~ I knew it would be different but was still expecting the Rosenfeld sense of humor.
I am a big Harlan Coban fan and one thing about his novels that I can always count on is his sense of humor ~ I was expecting something similar with this Rosenfeld novel.
Yikes! So disappointed ~ I knew it would be different but was still expecting the Rosenfeld sense of humor.
I am a big Harlan Coban fan and one thing about his novels that I can always count on is his sense of humor ~ I was expecting something similar with this Rosenfeld novel.
April 29, 2021
This is the third, and apparently the last book, of the Doug Brock series. I really enjoyed this series. The main characters likable, and the mystery was complex enough to keep my attention. This book was well-written, well-paced, creative, and entertaining - very well worth the time to read. I'm holding out hope that David Rosenfelt will see fit to expand this series in the future.
May 29, 2019
Excellent. Read in a day
May 5, 2021
Preposterous- the whole series was a bomb!
September 15, 2019
Like the Doug Brock series. A serial killer is on the lose and points to a man Doug let get away and he is worried all these deaths are his fault even though he can’t remember.
October 26, 2022
To be reviewed
Currently reading
December 26, 2024excellent thriller. i've now read two of the authors' series books and i like both series. The author is quite good.
March 30, 2019
This relatively new series by Rosenfelt features a homicide detective, Doug Brock, for the New Jersey State Police. Unlike Rosenfelt's long-running Andy Carpenter books, Doug is more introspective and serious than Andy, although there are a lot of quips and smart aleck remarks (which I liked). Also, less dog talk. The story is straightforward police procedural, as Doug Brock tracks down a serial killer knocking off ordinary citizens who have an extremely loose connection to his life. The case grows more complicated as people die but Brock puts the pieces together and solves the case. Their is little chance for the reader to puzzle this out, since key pieces of evidence are not provided to us until the end. The pedestrian motive underlying the case knocked a star off my review. Nevertheless, the dialogue is sharp and cheeky, the detective work is believable, the supporting characters make strong contributions, and the plot moves quickly to the end.
There are a several things I really like about Rosenfelt, the writer. First, there is a healthy dose of humor and light-hearted banter. Second, the book is a decent length...290 pages with substantial white space. Third, he spends little to no time on clothing, background stories, architecture, or anything not related to solving the crime. Doug's personal life occupies only a small part of the book.
I highly recommend this for mystery enthusiasts looking for book and hero which don't take themselves too seriously.
There are a several things I really like about Rosenfelt, the writer. First, there is a healthy dose of humor and light-hearted banter. Second, the book is a decent length...290 pages with substantial white space. Third, he spends little to no time on clothing, background stories, architecture, or anything not related to solving the crime. Doug's personal life occupies only a small part of the book.
I highly recommend this for mystery enthusiasts looking for book and hero which don't take themselves too seriously.
March 27, 2019
Rosenfelt is one of my favorite authors, and this novel is among his best. Doug Brock, a police officer who sustained a head injury and subsequent retrograde amnesia on a previous case, is assigned to look into a series of murders with a similar m.o. The killer is sending Doug anonymous notes taunting him after each death--will he try to kill Doug or his partner Nate next? It's fun to see some characters from Rosenfelt's other series (Andy Carpenter, the attorney and Pete Stanton, the policeman) show up to interact with these characters. There is an exciting race to catch the killers before their nefarious plan harms even more innocent people. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a well-written thriller.
December 9, 2022
MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!!
The kill a person every other chapter got old quickly.
Also knew that the main suspect wasn't involved. That he and his daughter were killed at the end was the coup de gras. Oh yeh....figuring out the bad guy was a piece of cake.
Love Brock, Nate and Jessie. Maybe Rosenfelt will do them some justice and put them in a good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2019
This was a very good book. Was totally surprised at the end.
April 4, 2019
David Rosenfelt has written 18 Andy Carpenter novels, featuring the wise-cracking New Jersey attorney who only represents clients he likes. Occasionally he deviates from these stories to provide readers with stand-alone thrillers and revisit his second series, which kicked off in 2016. BLACK AND BLUE marks the return of New Jersey state police officer Doug Brock, offering a fast-paced, well-plotted and entertaining mystery. Rosenfelt’s stories are notable for their wit, wry characters and an easy style that makes for wonderful reads. His latest effort fits that mold perfectly.
This is Doug’s third appearance in a Rosenfelt mystery. In his debut, BLACKOUT, Doug investigated a potential terrorist attack focused on the New Jersey area. That investigation resulted in his hospitalization with massive injuries that required a medically induced coma. When he woke up, he had lost all memory of the past decade. Two books later, Doug is slowly recovering from his memory loss and has rekindled his romance with his girlfriend, Jessie Allen. They are now living together with a dog named Bobo. Canines are the one constant in every Rosenfelt novel. All of his detectives are dog lovers, and no mystery can be solved without doggish involvement.
BLACK AND BLUE opens with Doug and his partner, Nate Alvarez, called to a murder scene that has major significance for the two detectives. In Paterson, New Jersey, attorney Alex Randowsky has been gunned down by a long-range sniper shot after playing tennis. While the crime normally would be investigated by local authorities, Doug and Nate have been summoned because 18 months ago, they investigated a murder with the identical modus operandi. Walter Brookings, a prominent New Jersey citizen, was killed by one long-range bullet through the heart, fired by a sniper. Because Doug’s amnesia has left him with no memory of the Brookings case, when the bullets turn out to have been fired from the same rifle, he must reinvestigate. The situation becomes even more complex and challenging as more shootings occur.
Rosenfelt adds another twist to the story by providing Andy Carpenter with a cameo appearance. A prime suspect in the string of murders is Danny Phelan. Although he was never charged with the initial shooting, Danny did go to prison for an unrelated drug crime, and his incarceration coincides with the year-and-a-half gap in the killings. Doug is haunted by the belief that his investigation may have missed evidence that would have led to Danny being held accountable for the first murder. He wonders if all of these subsequent shootings that are taking place now that Danny is out of prison might have been prevented. Andy is Danny’s lawyer, and since Rosenfelt’s readers all know that Andy never represents a guilty man, the Phelan investigation obviously will have many twists and turns.
Those twists and turns and occasional swerves are the bedrock of a David Rosenfelt mystery. Just when you think you have solved the crime, a new ingredient gets added to the pot. BLACK AND BLUE is an enjoyable and appealing story from beginning to end.
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
This is Doug’s third appearance in a Rosenfelt mystery. In his debut, BLACKOUT, Doug investigated a potential terrorist attack focused on the New Jersey area. That investigation resulted in his hospitalization with massive injuries that required a medically induced coma. When he woke up, he had lost all memory of the past decade. Two books later, Doug is slowly recovering from his memory loss and has rekindled his romance with his girlfriend, Jessie Allen. They are now living together with a dog named Bobo. Canines are the one constant in every Rosenfelt novel. All of his detectives are dog lovers, and no mystery can be solved without doggish involvement.
BLACK AND BLUE opens with Doug and his partner, Nate Alvarez, called to a murder scene that has major significance for the two detectives. In Paterson, New Jersey, attorney Alex Randowsky has been gunned down by a long-range sniper shot after playing tennis. While the crime normally would be investigated by local authorities, Doug and Nate have been summoned because 18 months ago, they investigated a murder with the identical modus operandi. Walter Brookings, a prominent New Jersey citizen, was killed by one long-range bullet through the heart, fired by a sniper. Because Doug’s amnesia has left him with no memory of the Brookings case, when the bullets turn out to have been fired from the same rifle, he must reinvestigate. The situation becomes even more complex and challenging as more shootings occur.
Rosenfelt adds another twist to the story by providing Andy Carpenter with a cameo appearance. A prime suspect in the string of murders is Danny Phelan. Although he was never charged with the initial shooting, Danny did go to prison for an unrelated drug crime, and his incarceration coincides with the year-and-a-half gap in the killings. Doug is haunted by the belief that his investigation may have missed evidence that would have led to Danny being held accountable for the first murder. He wonders if all of these subsequent shootings that are taking place now that Danny is out of prison might have been prevented. Andy is Danny’s lawyer, and since Rosenfelt’s readers all know that Andy never represents a guilty man, the Phelan investigation obviously will have many twists and turns.
Those twists and turns and occasional swerves are the bedrock of a David Rosenfelt mystery. Just when you think you have solved the crime, a new ingredient gets added to the pot. BLACK AND BLUE is an enjoyable and appealing story from beginning to end.
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
February 20, 2020
Doug Brock, a New Jersey state police lieutenant who was shot in the line of duty has returned to work, albeit missing ten years of his memory. He has gotten back together with his former fiancé, Jessie.
This series is more serious in nature than author Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series and there are times I don't really care for protagonist Brock. (Thinking he could soften around the edges just a tad.) His fiancé, Jessie, is interesting, intelligent, tolerant, and patient. She owns a mountain of a dog named BoBo with whom Doug has a kind of cautious détente. Doug is back with partner Nate Alvarez, and he and Nate seem to work well together, trading barbs from time to time.
Being a serious fan of Andy Carpenter, it was fun that he was incorporated into this storyline (although I wasn't so thrilled with the person who did the narration for Andy--it's just not the same beloved voice).
Doug and Nate are working on a cold case. A dead body shot through the heart by a high powered rifle. Not the first time since there was more than one and ballistics confirm with the same gun. Brock was involved with the old one, although with his current condition cannot remember the details and has to go through the files. This isn't the only problem they'll have now though as Doug suspicions he may have interviewed the perp but let him go.
I really like the series, but I've been spoiled by Andy Carpenter. This protagonist is not wholly sympathetic, although I can certainly connect with the support characters and if you aren't used to the machine-gun hyperbole and tongue-in-cheek humor of the former series, would probably find this one quite satisfying. The well-plotted mystery presents twists, turns, and red herrings, but it's the characters that keep you reading and David Rosenfelt is great at developing good chemistry between his characters.
The conclusion ties frayed ends together very neatly. This novel could function quite well as a standalone as there are sufficient references to history to fill in the blanks. In any case, I'll be tuning in to Doug Brock 4. I received this audiobook download from my local library audio selection with no expectation of a review and these are my own unbiased opinions. Recommended. 4.5/5
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
This series is more serious in nature than author Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series and there are times I don't really care for protagonist Brock. (Thinking he could soften around the edges just a tad.) His fiancé, Jessie, is interesting, intelligent, tolerant, and patient. She owns a mountain of a dog named BoBo with whom Doug has a kind of cautious détente. Doug is back with partner Nate Alvarez, and he and Nate seem to work well together, trading barbs from time to time.
Being a serious fan of Andy Carpenter, it was fun that he was incorporated into this storyline (although I wasn't so thrilled with the person who did the narration for Andy--it's just not the same beloved voice).
Doug and Nate are working on a cold case. A dead body shot through the heart by a high powered rifle. Not the first time since there was more than one and ballistics confirm with the same gun. Brock was involved with the old one, although with his current condition cannot remember the details and has to go through the files. This isn't the only problem they'll have now though as Doug suspicions he may have interviewed the perp but let him go.
I really like the series, but I've been spoiled by Andy Carpenter. This protagonist is not wholly sympathetic, although I can certainly connect with the support characters and if you aren't used to the machine-gun hyperbole and tongue-in-cheek humor of the former series, would probably find this one quite satisfying. The well-plotted mystery presents twists, turns, and red herrings, but it's the characters that keep you reading and David Rosenfelt is great at developing good chemistry between his characters.
The conclusion ties frayed ends together very neatly. This novel could function quite well as a standalone as there are sufficient references to history to fill in the blanks. In any case, I'll be tuning in to Doug Brock 4. I received this audiobook download from my local library audio selection with no expectation of a review and these are my own unbiased opinions. Recommended. 4.5/5
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
July 8, 2019
This book is the third in a series featuring New Jersey Homicide Detective Doug Brock. I hadn’t read the previous two books but it didn’t matter. It was as if I were reading another of Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series (of which I have read quite a few) with the names changed around.
The main characters were different people but acted the same. Doug, his girlfriend Jessie, and Doug’s partner Nate Alvarez were virtual clones of Andy, his girlfriend Laurie, and Laurie and Andy’s partner Marcus Clark. Doug and Jessie even have a dog, Bobo (“a Newfoundland/tractor-trailer mix”) analogous to Tara, the golden retriever in the Andy Carpenter series. These commonalities were somewhat disconcerting since Andy and his friends make cameo appearances in this series. I didn’t care, however; the author is delightful, and his dialogue always makes me laugh out loud.
Doug was shot in the line of duty and now has retrograde amnesia. It interferes with his detective work, especially since a case just came up bearing a resemblance, he is told, to one he dealt with but didn’t solve eighteen months before. A sharpshooter is killing people seemingly at random, and Doug gets anonymous notes promising that the victims will total ninety-nine. Doug can’t remember the previous case or why none of the suspects panned out. Thus what he fears most is that he let the guilty party go free, and now that person is killing again, which would make the new deaths Doug’s fault (in his estimation).
Doug closes in on the most likely perpetrator with the help of his girlfriend Jessie, his partner Nate, other police, and even the FBI. The key was finding the connection between the victims - not at all evident at first - and also working through three common motives for murder: sex, power, and money. They hoped to find and stop the killer before more lives were lost, but their progress was faster than they thought it would be. It seemed like the killer was doing most of the work solving the case for them - something wasn’t quite right.
Evaluation: This book (which can be read as a standalone) is clever and humorous. It’s just the thing if you’re looking for a lighter crime novel.
Rating: 3.5/5
The main characters were different people but acted the same. Doug, his girlfriend Jessie, and Doug’s partner Nate Alvarez were virtual clones of Andy, his girlfriend Laurie, and Laurie and Andy’s partner Marcus Clark. Doug and Jessie even have a dog, Bobo (“a Newfoundland/tractor-trailer mix”) analogous to Tara, the golden retriever in the Andy Carpenter series. These commonalities were somewhat disconcerting since Andy and his friends make cameo appearances in this series. I didn’t care, however; the author is delightful, and his dialogue always makes me laugh out loud.
Doug was shot in the line of duty and now has retrograde amnesia. It interferes with his detective work, especially since a case just came up bearing a resemblance, he is told, to one he dealt with but didn’t solve eighteen months before. A sharpshooter is killing people seemingly at random, and Doug gets anonymous notes promising that the victims will total ninety-nine. Doug can’t remember the previous case or why none of the suspects panned out. Thus what he fears most is that he let the guilty party go free, and now that person is killing again, which would make the new deaths Doug’s fault (in his estimation).
Doug closes in on the most likely perpetrator with the help of his girlfriend Jessie, his partner Nate, other police, and even the FBI. The key was finding the connection between the victims - not at all evident at first - and also working through three common motives for murder: sex, power, and money. They hoped to find and stop the killer before more lives were lost, but their progress was faster than they thought it would be. It seemed like the killer was doing most of the work solving the case for them - something wasn’t quite right.
Evaluation: This book (which can be read as a standalone) is clever and humorous. It’s just the thing if you’re looking for a lighter crime novel.
Rating: 3.5/5
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