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Ryan DeMarco Mystery #3
A Long Way Down
The third book in the acclaimed Ryan DeMarco mystery series finds DeMarco returning to Erie, Pennsylvania after his estranged wife attempts suicide and beginning an investigation into three recent murders in a nearby Ohio town that may be related to a cold case dating back to DeMarco's high school days.
464 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2019
110 people are currently reading
797 people want to read
About the author
Randall Silvis
48 books306 followersRandall Silvis is the internationally acclaimed author of over a dozen novels, one story
collection, and one book of narrative nonfiction. Also a prize-winning playwright, a
produced screenwriter, and a prolific essayist, he has been published and produced in
virtually every field and genre of creative writing. His numerous essays, articles, poems and short stories have appeared in the Discovery Channel magazines, The Writer, Prism International, Short Story International, Manoa, and numerous other online and print magazines. His work has been translated into 10 languages.
Silvis’s many literary awards include two writing fellowships from the National
Endowment for the Arts, the prestigious Drue Heinz Literature Prize, a Fulbright Senior Scholar Research Award, six fellowships for his fiction, drama, and screenwriting from the Pennsylvania Council On the Arts, and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree awarded for “distinguished literary achievement.”
collection, and one book of narrative nonfiction. Also a prize-winning playwright, a
produced screenwriter, and a prolific essayist, he has been published and produced in
virtually every field and genre of creative writing. His numerous essays, articles, poems and short stories have appeared in the Discovery Channel magazines, The Writer, Prism International, Short Story International, Manoa, and numerous other online and print magazines. His work has been translated into 10 languages.
Silvis’s many literary awards include two writing fellowships from the National
Endowment for the Arts, the prestigious Drue Heinz Literature Prize, a Fulbright Senior Scholar Research Award, six fellowships for his fiction, drama, and screenwriting from the Pennsylvania Council On the Arts, and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree awarded for “distinguished literary achievement.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 29, 2019
Dark, Complicated, and Weighty
A Long Way Down is a slow burn, character-driven mystery about a serial killer who is decapitating and dismembering their victims. The case links back to the unsolved Cleveland Torso murders from over 80 years ago. With little evidence, the local police bring in former Sergeant Ryan DeMarco and his partner, former Trooper Jayme Matson.
This series is one of the darkest and saddest that I read. However, the tone of this book is much lighter than the previous installments--well it is until the ending comes along. DeMarco describes Western Pennsylvania as being covered in an ashy grayness--this is how I would describe the tone of the series. There are some bright moments, but ultimately the ash takes over.
The mystery is multilayered and intriguing--I didn’t see one major twist coming. Similar to the mystery, Jayme and DeMarco’s relationship has many layers. While it seems as if things are finally moving forward, the events of this book might have thrown them off course. Both of their characters are multidimensional and deal with real issues--they are easy to care about. The narrative shifts between DeMarco, Jayme, and the killer.
This book (and series) is more about the characters than the mystery. DeMarco and Jayme’s character both show growth. The mystery moves slowly but leads to a heart-pounding, surprising ending.
I love this series, but I always feel a little trepidation before I begin reading because I know I am going to enter into a book permeated with sadness. DeMarco’s raw grief makes this a little uncomfortable to read, and at times I find it to be a little suffocating. Jayme’s character adds the lightness and warmth that both DeMarco and this series desperately need. It can be emotionally taxing to read this series, but the complex, likable characters and Silvis’ writing make it worthwhile.
I received an ARC of this book from Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A Long Way Down is a slow burn, character-driven mystery about a serial killer who is decapitating and dismembering their victims. The case links back to the unsolved Cleveland Torso murders from over 80 years ago. With little evidence, the local police bring in former Sergeant Ryan DeMarco and his partner, former Trooper Jayme Matson.
This series is one of the darkest and saddest that I read. However, the tone of this book is much lighter than the previous installments--well it is until the ending comes along. DeMarco describes Western Pennsylvania as being covered in an ashy grayness--this is how I would describe the tone of the series. There are some bright moments, but ultimately the ash takes over.
The mystery is multilayered and intriguing--I didn’t see one major twist coming. Similar to the mystery, Jayme and DeMarco’s relationship has many layers. While it seems as if things are finally moving forward, the events of this book might have thrown them off course. Both of their characters are multidimensional and deal with real issues--they are easy to care about. The narrative shifts between DeMarco, Jayme, and the killer.
This book (and series) is more about the characters than the mystery. DeMarco and Jayme’s character both show growth. The mystery moves slowly but leads to a heart-pounding, surprising ending.
I love this series, but I always feel a little trepidation before I begin reading because I know I am going to enter into a book permeated with sadness. DeMarco’s raw grief makes this a little uncomfortable to read, and at times I find it to be a little suffocating. Jayme’s character adds the lightness and warmth that both DeMarco and this series desperately need. It can be emotionally taxing to read this series, but the complex, likable characters and Silvis’ writing make it worthwhile.
I received an ARC of this book from Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2019
A beautifully written complex and intricately layered story
SUMMARY
In the third book of the Ryan Demarco mystery series Demarco returns to Erie, Pennsylvania after his estranged wife attempted suicide. While there Demarco runs into an old high school buddy, Ben Brinker who is a county sheriff. Brinker asks for Demarco’s help investigating three recent homicides in their hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. These murders might be related to a cold case from thirty years ago, where the victims were dismembered. All but one of the recent victims fit the profile.
Jayme Matson, a Pennsylvania state trooper has taken time away from her job to spend some quality time with Demarco figuring out their new relationship. Demarco is still struggling with his past and doesn’t really want to go back to his hometown. Jayme, however, is anxious to see Demarco’s childhood home and perhaps learn more about him, it’s not easy for Demarco to walk the streets of his troubled past. The more Jayme and Demarco dig into the grisly murders, the less likely it is that they will escape unharmed.
“It’s exactly 10:29pm and dark in only the way a city can be dark. With a sky so black and low that the only thing visible in it is a pair of red blinking wing lights. No stars here, and down on the street there are only pools of light from the street lamps so that the darkness pooled around those lights looks oily and slick.”
REVIEW
A LONG WAY DOWN is part emotional character study; and part suspenseful and action-packed crime thriller. The story is complex and intricately layered. It’s not just about the gruesome murders, but is also about Demarco and his troubled past, his wife’s suicide attempt, the loss of his son, his insomnia and his relationship with Jayme, The writing is beautifully descriptive and richly textured. My absolute favorite part was the use of the lyrical writings from Thomas Huston, a professor friend of Ryan’s and a character we met earlier in the series. The use of Huston’s writings was creative, emotive and added even more depth to a novel that is bursting with intrigue.
The characters were delightfully well-developed. Demarco’s brooding character as a man trying to overcome past hardships is totally relatable. He knows he needs to pull himself out of the dark moodiness that threaten to envelope him at times. His willingness to try is admirable. Jayme is smart and feisty, and is quite capable of taking care of herself. She has no problem putting people in their place, particularly Demarco. I loved the clever repartee between the two of them. I loved watching their minds work as they attempt to resolve the case. Even the secondary characters are very well-developed.
I’m hooked, and can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Publisher Recorded Books
Published June 4, 2019
Narrated Graham Winton
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
SUMMARY
In the third book of the Ryan Demarco mystery series Demarco returns to Erie, Pennsylvania after his estranged wife attempted suicide. While there Demarco runs into an old high school buddy, Ben Brinker who is a county sheriff. Brinker asks for Demarco’s help investigating three recent homicides in their hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. These murders might be related to a cold case from thirty years ago, where the victims were dismembered. All but one of the recent victims fit the profile.
Jayme Matson, a Pennsylvania state trooper has taken time away from her job to spend some quality time with Demarco figuring out their new relationship. Demarco is still struggling with his past and doesn’t really want to go back to his hometown. Jayme, however, is anxious to see Demarco’s childhood home and perhaps learn more about him, it’s not easy for Demarco to walk the streets of his troubled past. The more Jayme and Demarco dig into the grisly murders, the less likely it is that they will escape unharmed.
“It’s exactly 10:29pm and dark in only the way a city can be dark. With a sky so black and low that the only thing visible in it is a pair of red blinking wing lights. No stars here, and down on the street there are only pools of light from the street lamps so that the darkness pooled around those lights looks oily and slick.”
REVIEW
A LONG WAY DOWN is part emotional character study; and part suspenseful and action-packed crime thriller. The story is complex and intricately layered. It’s not just about the gruesome murders, but is also about Demarco and his troubled past, his wife’s suicide attempt, the loss of his son, his insomnia and his relationship with Jayme, The writing is beautifully descriptive and richly textured. My absolute favorite part was the use of the lyrical writings from Thomas Huston, a professor friend of Ryan’s and a character we met earlier in the series. The use of Huston’s writings was creative, emotive and added even more depth to a novel that is bursting with intrigue.
The characters were delightfully well-developed. Demarco’s brooding character as a man trying to overcome past hardships is totally relatable. He knows he needs to pull himself out of the dark moodiness that threaten to envelope him at times. His willingness to try is admirable. Jayme is smart and feisty, and is quite capable of taking care of herself. She has no problem putting people in their place, particularly Demarco. I loved the clever repartee between the two of them. I loved watching their minds work as they attempt to resolve the case. Even the secondary characters are very well-developed.
I’m hooked, and can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Publisher Recorded Books
Published June 4, 2019
Narrated Graham Winton
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
June 4, 2019
Check out my fascinating Q&A with the Author!
Acclaimed bestselling author, Randall Silvis returns following Walking the Bones (2018) with his award-winning Ryan DeMarco mystery series in this third installment of the complex but compassionate character (and one you sympathize with) —A LONG WAY DOWN.
Silvis once again demonstrates he is a “master” of his craft combining both intelligent literary and mystery suspense in a powerful series, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the next.
From the last novel, we catch up with former sergeant of the Pennsylvania State Police, Ryan DeMarco (now, age fifty). He has spent time in the mountains of Kentucky alone struggling with his dreams and the grief of his son as well as taking time away from the job due to the intensity of the last case.
The new woman in his life, Trooper Jayme Matson (love her) has taken time away from her position to accompany and travel with DeMarco in their RV to figure out their relationship, allow Ryan to heal, and the next step.
However, Ryan gets called back to his hometown of Youngstown, PA to deal with his estranged wife, Laraine who has attempted suicide and currently under watch in the hospital. She has been coping with her grief over the loss of their son in destructive ways. Ryan, being the compassionate person, he is—flies back to be by her side with the support of Jayme.
DeMarco is haunted by this tragedy since his mother had done the exact same thing a quarter century earlier. Other than his mother, Laraine was the first woman he had ever loved. They met as children in a trailer park. He wondered about love. It could take many forms. It could be freeing or imprisoning.
From the love of his mother, his estranged wife, his baby son, Ryan, Jr, and now his love for Jayme. He felt tied to each of them. He had not been with his mom on her final night. Much of the heaviness had lifted since the dreams in the Kentucky mountains. He sees his son as a twelve-year-old in his dreams.
DeMaro had not been great at relationships, but things were good with Jayme, despite some of his bad decisions. However, women remained a mystery to him.
“He understood the criminal mind well, and had a knack for predicting its simple turns and convolutions. But the mind of a woman in love—no law of physics could account for the complexities of such a mind.”
However, without a woman in his life, he had no balance, no center.
The periods between these three women remained dark in his memory. There was anger, resentment, and the times he was closed off, allowing no one in when he went to the dark places.
While he is in his hometown, (a place he has stayed away from due to the many demons from his troubled past) – his old friend and football buddy from high school, Ben Brinker is now the county Sherriff and needs his help with a case.
There were two cold cases, one thirty years old and one eighty, both tied somehow to the new case. There were lots of similarities. He calls Jayme, and they both decide to pack up the RV and immerse themselves in this case.
Ryan was not so sure he wanted to plunge back into violence, murder, and serial killers, especially in his hometown, bringing up too many painful memories. Jayme encourages him, and she wants to see where Ryan came from to learn more about his past.
She also is talking about having a baby with Ryan, but she is walking on eggshells with that subject due to Ryan still grieving over his lost son.
With some interesting, colorful secondary characters, and local authorities, there is a lot of fun and humor with cat-and-mouse between Jayme, Ryan, and the locals. From the differences in sociopath and psychopath, (quite impressive) they all use their own tactics to delve the mind of this serial killer. The killer lies in wait for the right moment, strikes, and dismembers the body. Is there a copycat or is it the same killer from years ago. Why now?
Jayme is witty, intelligent, and she adores Ryan. She takes no crap from anyone and puts Ryan in his place when needed as well as everyone around her. She is the perfect partner for Ryan. She was instrumental in the Kentucky case, and Ryan is proud of her.
He is willing to remain in the background. They both will be working as independent private investigators attached to the office as consultants. Of course, some of the local egos must remain in check, and the jealousies continue to arise.
As they spend nights pouring through all the old files, they are some baffling differences, regarding why the killer treated the girl differently. In between working on the case, Ryan starts slowly opening up a little about his troubled past – his mother and father. Jayme still must keep her own desires to herself about a baby and patiently wait for the right time.
“Grief is like gravity; it grounds us in reality, but too much of it can crush a person flat.”
They also become friends with Ben and his wife, Vee (which I loved). Also, Ryan receives boxes of notebooks of Tom’s books (author from previous books) from his mother-in-law Rosemary. She wants him to sift through and put together a book.
However, as the days go on trying to solve this murder, Ryan and Jayme pull out these handwritten notes, the powerful words speak to them on different levels.
The lyrical, poetic prose is breathtaking as the words come at the exact moment to help guide, comfort, and soothe their weary souls.
Ryan’s emotions are all over the board, from being back in his hometown and haunted by his estranged wife, his mother’s suicide, his baby son’s death, the loss of Tom his devoted friend, his PTSD, his insomnia, the mood swings, his guilt, his relationship with Jayme, and he is overwhelmed with the violence of these cases.
Often Jayme senses he is pulled back into the lurking darkness. Can she help him out of this downward spiral?
The case takes a turn which puts Ryan and Jayme in danger the suspense builds, as they hang on to their lives by a thread.
As a boy, Ryan found solace in the woods. The angry, frightened, and troubled little boy. As an adult, he feels the same. He despises the ugliness and hatred in the world and why people are so cruel to each other. He wanted to escape. However, through Jayme and his friend’s comforting words, he begins to see life on a deeper level and a more meaningful enriched life.
Words cannot adequately describe this novel and Silvis’s beautiful writing. In A LONG WAY DOWN, he infuses lush, poetic, and evocative descriptions of Thomas Huston, (Tom) literature professor, and bestselling author character we met in previous books (friend of Ryan).
As a reader, these were awe-inspiring moments, as Ryan (in particular) and Jayme, both starving for these perfect words of wisdom for guidance. The quotes came at the exact moment in their complicated lives when they needed them the most, to make sense of their current situation.
There are many quotes I wanted to include here. I enjoyed the piece about nature and life. I bookmarked many pages and quotes. However, my review will be even longer (than it is already).😘 I have included some of those in my upcoming interview with the author. You almost forget you are reading a crime murder mystery, due to being caught up in the lyrical prose. (a good thing).
This is a rare skill, when writing crime or suspense with tension, to allow the reader to unravel the character’s emotions and their thoughts at the precise moment. I think this goes back to the author’s skillful craft of combining literary and suspense.
This is where Silvis shines. It is not so much about the action taking place, or what is coming next, it is the moment you stop and hear, smell, sense what the character is experiencing. To really enjoy literary fiction, you must fall in love with the words and the characters.
Yes, there is plenty of action, and suspense to drive this thriller; however, Silvis has a unique way of reaching down into the soul of his haunted characters who are compassionate and flawed, seeking redemption, and wants to see the good in this world in spite of the darkness. Isn’t this real life and what we all want?
There is darkness, suspense, action, misery, death, violence. Despair and sorrow. But there is good, beauty, joy, hope, compassion, and light.
As referenced in the novel, when DeMarco recalls a conversation with Thomas Huston, to suggest to him that investigating a crime was a lot like writing a novel. Huston had explained that Chandler chose not to write typical mysteries, those in which the only thing that matters is the resolution, the solution to the mystery, but instead to write mysteries in which every scene matters because every scene adds another layer to the main character.
Not about what happens to the world as the plot unfolds, but what happens inside the character and the reader. Chandler’s goal, said Huston, was to “to exceed the limits of a formula without destroying it.”
Silvis manages and executes, flawlessly. Thought-provoking!
Why are people drawn to shows like This is Us and The Village? Because, it is raw, real, and flawed people dealing with the ugliness of life, yet it is uplifting and inspiring. A perfect balance. It is relatable. In our current world of unrest, we all are seeking a higher and spiritual meaning.
I loved the up close and personal relationship between Jayme and Ryan, and I am looking forward to the next in this series. I have a feeling we will see more of Jayme, Ryan, Laraine (fingers crossed). A series not to be missed!
Please join me on June 4 for an extensive Q&A Interview with the award-winning author, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and prolific essayist. For readers/writers and exclusive behind the scene look at his characters and his writing, plus learn what is coming next! Do not miss this edition. I am truly honored to speak with one of my favorite authors and one of my most fascinating interviews this year.
Congrats to the 5 lucky winners of the Book Giveaway Contest (ARC Paperbacks) Here
Kimberly Edge l Braselton, GA
Kiley Cooper l Colorado Springs, CO
Andi Light l Port Hueneme, CA
Diane Hefenieder l Powell, WY
Marsha Daniel l Fernandina Beach, FL
A special thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Sourcebooks, and Netgalley for an early reading copy. I also purchased the audiobook narrated by Graham Winton (excellent).
Read my reviews:
Two Days Gone #1 Top Books of 2017
Walking the Bones #2 Top Books of 2018
A Long Way Down #3 Top Books of 2019
#JDCMustReadBooks
Acclaimed bestselling author, Randall Silvis returns following Walking the Bones (2018) with his award-winning Ryan DeMarco mystery series in this third installment of the complex but compassionate character (and one you sympathize with) —A LONG WAY DOWN.
Silvis once again demonstrates he is a “master” of his craft combining both intelligent literary and mystery suspense in a powerful series, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the next.
From the last novel, we catch up with former sergeant of the Pennsylvania State Police, Ryan DeMarco (now, age fifty). He has spent time in the mountains of Kentucky alone struggling with his dreams and the grief of his son as well as taking time away from the job due to the intensity of the last case.
The new woman in his life, Trooper Jayme Matson (love her) has taken time away from her position to accompany and travel with DeMarco in their RV to figure out their relationship, allow Ryan to heal, and the next step.
However, Ryan gets called back to his hometown of Youngstown, PA to deal with his estranged wife, Laraine who has attempted suicide and currently under watch in the hospital. She has been coping with her grief over the loss of their son in destructive ways. Ryan, being the compassionate person, he is—flies back to be by her side with the support of Jayme.
DeMarco is haunted by this tragedy since his mother had done the exact same thing a quarter century earlier. Other than his mother, Laraine was the first woman he had ever loved. They met as children in a trailer park. He wondered about love. It could take many forms. It could be freeing or imprisoning.
From the love of his mother, his estranged wife, his baby son, Ryan, Jr, and now his love for Jayme. He felt tied to each of them. He had not been with his mom on her final night. Much of the heaviness had lifted since the dreams in the Kentucky mountains. He sees his son as a twelve-year-old in his dreams.
DeMaro had not been great at relationships, but things were good with Jayme, despite some of his bad decisions. However, women remained a mystery to him.
“He understood the criminal mind well, and had a knack for predicting its simple turns and convolutions. But the mind of a woman in love—no law of physics could account for the complexities of such a mind.”
However, without a woman in his life, he had no balance, no center.
The periods between these three women remained dark in his memory. There was anger, resentment, and the times he was closed off, allowing no one in when he went to the dark places.
While he is in his hometown, (a place he has stayed away from due to the many demons from his troubled past) – his old friend and football buddy from high school, Ben Brinker is now the county Sherriff and needs his help with a case.
There were two cold cases, one thirty years old and one eighty, both tied somehow to the new case. There were lots of similarities. He calls Jayme, and they both decide to pack up the RV and immerse themselves in this case.
Ryan was not so sure he wanted to plunge back into violence, murder, and serial killers, especially in his hometown, bringing up too many painful memories. Jayme encourages him, and she wants to see where Ryan came from to learn more about his past.
She also is talking about having a baby with Ryan, but she is walking on eggshells with that subject due to Ryan still grieving over his lost son.
With some interesting, colorful secondary characters, and local authorities, there is a lot of fun and humor with cat-and-mouse between Jayme, Ryan, and the locals. From the differences in sociopath and psychopath, (quite impressive) they all use their own tactics to delve the mind of this serial killer. The killer lies in wait for the right moment, strikes, and dismembers the body. Is there a copycat or is it the same killer from years ago. Why now?
Jayme is witty, intelligent, and she adores Ryan. She takes no crap from anyone and puts Ryan in his place when needed as well as everyone around her. She is the perfect partner for Ryan. She was instrumental in the Kentucky case, and Ryan is proud of her.
He is willing to remain in the background. They both will be working as independent private investigators attached to the office as consultants. Of course, some of the local egos must remain in check, and the jealousies continue to arise.
As they spend nights pouring through all the old files, they are some baffling differences, regarding why the killer treated the girl differently. In between working on the case, Ryan starts slowly opening up a little about his troubled past – his mother and father. Jayme still must keep her own desires to herself about a baby and patiently wait for the right time.
“Grief is like gravity; it grounds us in reality, but too much of it can crush a person flat.”
They also become friends with Ben and his wife, Vee (which I loved). Also, Ryan receives boxes of notebooks of Tom’s books (author from previous books) from his mother-in-law Rosemary. She wants him to sift through and put together a book.
However, as the days go on trying to solve this murder, Ryan and Jayme pull out these handwritten notes, the powerful words speak to them on different levels.
The lyrical, poetic prose is breathtaking as the words come at the exact moment to help guide, comfort, and soothe their weary souls.
Ryan’s emotions are all over the board, from being back in his hometown and haunted by his estranged wife, his mother’s suicide, his baby son’s death, the loss of Tom his devoted friend, his PTSD, his insomnia, the mood swings, his guilt, his relationship with Jayme, and he is overwhelmed with the violence of these cases.
Often Jayme senses he is pulled back into the lurking darkness. Can she help him out of this downward spiral?
The case takes a turn which puts Ryan and Jayme in danger the suspense builds, as they hang on to their lives by a thread.
As a boy, Ryan found solace in the woods. The angry, frightened, and troubled little boy. As an adult, he feels the same. He despises the ugliness and hatred in the world and why people are so cruel to each other. He wanted to escape. However, through Jayme and his friend’s comforting words, he begins to see life on a deeper level and a more meaningful enriched life.
Words cannot adequately describe this novel and Silvis’s beautiful writing. In A LONG WAY DOWN, he infuses lush, poetic, and evocative descriptions of Thomas Huston, (Tom) literature professor, and bestselling author character we met in previous books (friend of Ryan).
As a reader, these were awe-inspiring moments, as Ryan (in particular) and Jayme, both starving for these perfect words of wisdom for guidance. The quotes came at the exact moment in their complicated lives when they needed them the most, to make sense of their current situation.
There are many quotes I wanted to include here. I enjoyed the piece about nature and life. I bookmarked many pages and quotes. However, my review will be even longer (than it is already).😘 I have included some of those in my upcoming interview with the author. You almost forget you are reading a crime murder mystery, due to being caught up in the lyrical prose. (a good thing).
This is a rare skill, when writing crime or suspense with tension, to allow the reader to unravel the character’s emotions and their thoughts at the precise moment. I think this goes back to the author’s skillful craft of combining literary and suspense.
This is where Silvis shines. It is not so much about the action taking place, or what is coming next, it is the moment you stop and hear, smell, sense what the character is experiencing. To really enjoy literary fiction, you must fall in love with the words and the characters.
Yes, there is plenty of action, and suspense to drive this thriller; however, Silvis has a unique way of reaching down into the soul of his haunted characters who are compassionate and flawed, seeking redemption, and wants to see the good in this world in spite of the darkness. Isn’t this real life and what we all want?
There is darkness, suspense, action, misery, death, violence. Despair and sorrow. But there is good, beauty, joy, hope, compassion, and light.
As referenced in the novel, when DeMarco recalls a conversation with Thomas Huston, to suggest to him that investigating a crime was a lot like writing a novel. Huston had explained that Chandler chose not to write typical mysteries, those in which the only thing that matters is the resolution, the solution to the mystery, but instead to write mysteries in which every scene matters because every scene adds another layer to the main character.
Not about what happens to the world as the plot unfolds, but what happens inside the character and the reader. Chandler’s goal, said Huston, was to “to exceed the limits of a formula without destroying it.”
Silvis manages and executes, flawlessly. Thought-provoking!
Why are people drawn to shows like This is Us and The Village? Because, it is raw, real, and flawed people dealing with the ugliness of life, yet it is uplifting and inspiring. A perfect balance. It is relatable. In our current world of unrest, we all are seeking a higher and spiritual meaning.
I loved the up close and personal relationship between Jayme and Ryan, and I am looking forward to the next in this series. I have a feeling we will see more of Jayme, Ryan, Laraine (fingers crossed). A series not to be missed!
Please join me on June 4 for an extensive Q&A Interview with the award-winning author, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and prolific essayist. For readers/writers and exclusive behind the scene look at his characters and his writing, plus learn what is coming next! Do not miss this edition. I am truly honored to speak with one of my favorite authors and one of my most fascinating interviews this year.
Congrats to the 5 lucky winners of the Book Giveaway Contest (ARC Paperbacks) Here
Kimberly Edge l Braselton, GA
Kiley Cooper l Colorado Springs, CO
Andi Light l Port Hueneme, CA
Diane Hefenieder l Powell, WY
Marsha Daniel l Fernandina Beach, FL
A special thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Sourcebooks, and Netgalley for an early reading copy. I also purchased the audiobook narrated by Graham Winton (excellent).
Read my reviews:
Two Days Gone #1 Top Books of 2017
Walking the Bones #2 Top Books of 2018
A Long Way Down #3 Top Books of 2019
#JDCMustReadBooks
September 3, 2019
Unfortunately, I didn't like this one as well as I liked the first two in the series. Too much philosophizing, and Ryan and Jayme both annoyed me a fair bit.
August 31, 2019
Excellent character-driven procedural from Silvis in the DeMarco series with Ryan and Jayme helping local police try to solve a mystery of multiple murders that may or may not be tied together. The mystery takes second stage to the dynamic between the two main characters and their developing relationship amid Ryan still recovering from the loss of his son, the breakup of his marriage and the death of his good friend from a previous entry. The identity of the killer is not surprising but the reasons behind it, and the surrounding circumstances, are rather compelling. The writing is superior as Silvis develops these characters slowly but surely and makes the reader feel what they are feeling. Really good stuff here. This has become one of my favorite series. Highly recommend anyone who hasn't discovered it to start with book one and keep going.
April 8, 2019
EXCELLENT AUTHOR telling a satisfying crime/romantic adventure. This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. Characters Ryan and Jayme are law enforcement and are asked to give a hand with a serial killer investigation in Ryan's home town of Eric Pa. Our main characters continue their attraction and healing while combating this crime investigation. One plot line Ryan struggles with the death of his author friend, Thomas Huston, who has left behind some of his unpublished pages. "A copy of this book was provided by Sourcebooks Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." ENJOYED THIS PAGE TURNER
March 30, 2019
I loved the first book in the series but have been disappointed in the next two. This one focuses a lot on the relationship between Ryan and Jayme and it feels a bit forced and cliched to me. The parts that bring in Thomas’s writings seem like a device to make the mystery more literary. To me, it made those sections boring. The characters are solid I wish the storytelling was a bit stronger.
Given a review copy by NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.
Given a review copy by NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.
March 26, 2019
This book was not for me. Not only was I already a bit turned off, finding out it was a series, I just could not get into it, i will update if this changes in the future, and did do a 3 star as a neutral, because it just wasn’t for me.
Will use in a challenge, as well as let the members of Chapter Chatter Pub know about it’s release!
Will use in a challenge, as well as let the members of Chapter Chatter Pub know about it’s release!
June 10, 2019
A Long Way Down by Randall Silvis is the third book in the Ryan DeMarco mystery series. Even though I haven't read the previous novels, I didn’t hesitate a second to read this novel as I thought it had a great premise
It might have been better to have read the previous two, Two Days Gone and Walking The Bones, especially as there were references to both of them at the start and I think I was missing some of the dynamics between the characters.
Ryan DeMarco goes back to his native Pennsylvania to visit his wife who has just tried to commit suicide. Once there, he bumps into a sheriff friend of his who asks for Ryan and his new girlfriend Jayme’s help in a series of murders that seem to be connected to murders that happened when DeMarco was in high school.
The book was long and fairly slow at the plot level but it definitely had its fair share of dark, suspenseful, and action-packed moments. I loved the author's unique way of writing and the strong imagery to describe the characters and their relationships as well as the setting and the landscape,
Very highly recommended. Rating: 4 Stars.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Sourcebooks via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
It might have been better to have read the previous two, Two Days Gone and Walking The Bones, especially as there were references to both of them at the start and I think I was missing some of the dynamics between the characters.
Ryan DeMarco goes back to his native Pennsylvania to visit his wife who has just tried to commit suicide. Once there, he bumps into a sheriff friend of his who asks for Ryan and his new girlfriend Jayme’s help in a series of murders that seem to be connected to murders that happened when DeMarco was in high school.
The book was long and fairly slow at the plot level but it definitely had its fair share of dark, suspenseful, and action-packed moments. I loved the author's unique way of writing and the strong imagery to describe the characters and their relationships as well as the setting and the landscape,
Very highly recommended. Rating: 4 Stars.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Sourcebooks via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 9, 2021
4.5/5⭐
I was a bit nervous to start this since it's been almost three years since I read books one and two in this mystery series but I remember loving the authors writing. As soon as I started reading everything from the first two books pertaining to the main characters came back to me. These characters are so complex and layered and there's just so much emotion involved. I was also invested in the crime they were trying to solve every step of the way. I am bouncing between a four and a five star for this one because I don't know if I want to give it five stars purely because it's been so long since I was generally excited to be reading a mystery book.or becuase it was actually a five star read.
I was a bit nervous to start this since it's been almost three years since I read books one and two in this mystery series but I remember loving the authors writing. As soon as I started reading everything from the first two books pertaining to the main characters came back to me. These characters are so complex and layered and there's just so much emotion involved. I was also invested in the crime they were trying to solve every step of the way. I am bouncing between a four and a five star for this one because I don't know if I want to give it five stars purely because it's been so long since I was generally excited to be reading a mystery book.or becuase it was actually a five star read.
December 28, 2025
This is the first book that I have read by this author. It’s the story of 2 P.I.’s who are brought into a case of multiple murders.
July 31, 2021
Great writing--so much more than a literate mys sus book. Third outing is even better than first two which were great. DeMarco is a CH that continues to develop and the author uses location to enhance his plotting and pace.
September 11, 2019
Excellent read, I'm a new fan of Randall Silvis.
Read
August 11, 20193rd book about Demarco. Just as good as the first two. Hoping there is another as there seems to be some unfinished business. Heartbreaking too.
February 22, 2019
Randall Silvis writes beautifully. That said, none of the books in this Ryan De Marco series moved me in the way earlier Silvis books did. I'm a big fan of literate mysteries, so it is not the genre-crossing premise of these recent books that bothers me. Perhaps I've just been unable to engage with the lead characters, Ryan and Jayme.
This book is well-plotted and well-paced. It's worth reading just for its style and Silvis's wordsmithery. I was disappointed that, as in the two previous DeMarco books, there was a tendency to portray the antagonists as caricatures, just slightly over the top.
So -- certainly not a waste of time, although there were a few spots where it required effort for me to plow on. I'd strongly recommend that other readers seek out the author's earlier books. I'd give this a 3.5 rating, rounding up to 4 purely on my delight in the author.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance readers copy.
This book is well-plotted and well-paced. It's worth reading just for its style and Silvis's wordsmithery. I was disappointed that, as in the two previous DeMarco books, there was a tendency to portray the antagonists as caricatures, just slightly over the top.
So -- certainly not a waste of time, although there were a few spots where it required effort for me to plow on. I'd strongly recommend that other readers seek out the author's earlier books. I'd give this a 3.5 rating, rounding up to 4 purely on my delight in the author.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance readers copy.
September 9, 2019
This is book #3 in this series and I find myself really disliking the 2 main characters more with each book
September 1, 2019
Loved book one. But since the introduction of DeMarco’s relationship with Jayme, I’m having a hard time. The gender roles are bromide. The inclusion on Hustons pieces really have nothing to do with the mystery. They are distracting. I get he’s trying to layer the characters but I could rip 30 pages out of this book and of had a complete good story.
February 24, 2020
Authors should know that there are brooding characters and then there are brooding books. The latter are even less fun than the former. I really loved Silvis' first two books with the DeMarco character, but he really missed the mark here.
December 29, 2019
I really liked this book. It is detective fiction, sort of a police procedural, but different, which really appealed to me. This is book 3 of a series, but I read it independently. I don't really know the history of the characters and back stories, although they are hinted at, and I could make some good guesses. I will probably go back and read the first two installments. I am hoping this author keeps writing, he is one to watch.
Ryan DeMarco is middle age, and in this book, he retires from the state police. There are some feelings involved, but they don't overshadow the rest of the story or the book. It's normal, and it's treated as normal. He is a former soldier, and has many of the stereotypical traits of a man that chooses to soldier, and chooses law enforcement, and struggles with personal relationships. And although that is a lot, there is more to him. There is past personal tragedy, and yet he is hopeful. He is in a relationship, and is struggling, but wants to make this work. His partner professionally and personally, is Jayme. She is also recently retired from the state police, they do this together in this book. She is much younger, and is struggling with loving this man with so much baggage.
What I love about the book is the relationship between the two partners. There is great police work, there is enough banter and professional exchange between them and the sheriff's dept they are working with, but it is punctuated by personal breaks. I love this. No other detective, police, FBI, crime novel I have ever read has this personal side. Ryan is gentle with Jayme in a way that many men cannot be, and he is unsure of himself in it, but still does it beautifully. He gives her a spa day before their work on the case truly begins, he takes a few days off with her to do other things and recharge at two points where the investigation stalls. This seems imminently intelligent to me, and most people do not do this in real life, much less in fiction.
Life for Ryan is messy, and he is navigating it, but this makes him more human and real than many characters I have read. I like that we get inner dialog from both Ryan and Jayme. It is such an advantage that we don't have in real life, where we only have half of that if we are listening, and have to figure out and translate the rest. For me the book encourages introspection, which is a pleasant surprise for a "police procedural" novel. I enjoyed the side plot involving the writings of Ryan's friend. I appreciated that the sheriff's dept detectives were not caricatures, but fairly real and fairly human. If you are looking for a new series to jump into, try this one. Highly recommend !
Ryan DeMarco is middle age, and in this book, he retires from the state police. There are some feelings involved, but they don't overshadow the rest of the story or the book. It's normal, and it's treated as normal. He is a former soldier, and has many of the stereotypical traits of a man that chooses to soldier, and chooses law enforcement, and struggles with personal relationships. And although that is a lot, there is more to him. There is past personal tragedy, and yet he is hopeful. He is in a relationship, and is struggling, but wants to make this work. His partner professionally and personally, is Jayme. She is also recently retired from the state police, they do this together in this book. She is much younger, and is struggling with loving this man with so much baggage.
What I love about the book is the relationship between the two partners. There is great police work, there is enough banter and professional exchange between them and the sheriff's dept they are working with, but it is punctuated by personal breaks. I love this. No other detective, police, FBI, crime novel I have ever read has this personal side. Ryan is gentle with Jayme in a way that many men cannot be, and he is unsure of himself in it, but still does it beautifully. He gives her a spa day before their work on the case truly begins, he takes a few days off with her to do other things and recharge at two points where the investigation stalls. This seems imminently intelligent to me, and most people do not do this in real life, much less in fiction.
Life for Ryan is messy, and he is navigating it, but this makes him more human and real than many characters I have read. I like that we get inner dialog from both Ryan and Jayme. It is such an advantage that we don't have in real life, where we only have half of that if we are listening, and have to figure out and translate the rest. For me the book encourages introspection, which is a pleasant surprise for a "police procedural" novel. I enjoyed the side plot involving the writings of Ryan's friend. I appreciated that the sheriff's dept detectives were not caricatures, but fairly real and fairly human. If you are looking for a new series to jump into, try this one. Highly recommend !
June 23, 2025
I purchased this book unaware that it was the third in an ongoing series featuring ex-law enforcement officer Ryan DeMarco. I had already read the first--Two Days Gone--but I did not remember the name of the main character. Anyone who finds this book worth a look should be aware that it is not stand-alone. It features many references to the two earlier books that might lead the reader astray from time to time.
The story features numerous mysteries wrapped up in one convenient novel (which helps to explain it's 441 page length). The most prominent--DeMarco returns to his hometown of Youngstown OH to investigate a series of murders that echo two previous crimes: the execution of a couple of mobsters in 1988, and the Cleveland Torso murders of the 1920s-30s, about which lots of true-crime books have been written. Nearly everyone doubts any connection to the gruesome Cleveland crimes except for the thought that the current murderer may be a copycat. But despite the passage of time, some connections to 1988 still exist, and cannot be cast aside.
The second mystery actually takes up more space in the book than the first. DeMarco has returned to the area due to the suicide attempt of his first wife, Laraine. No one who has been married more than once needs any explanation of the possible complications that could exist, but DeMarco has arrived in Youngstown with his new love, Jayme, who is herself a savvy private eye. DeMarco wrestles with guilt on an hourly basis over his divorce from Laraine and the death of his first child, Ryan Jr. Jayme is not exactly the easily fainting damsel in distress type; she is quick-witted, sharp-tongued, and suffers fools--and foolishness-not at all. She challenges DeMarco's every effort to wallow in his past and feel sorry for himself, all the while serving as law enforcement's strongest asset in crime solving. For all that, she reserves space in her psyche for her relationship with DeMarco. She wants to have a child with him; he is hesitant due to the age difference between them. The second mystery, then, is whether or not DeMarco and Jayme will endure.
The strength of the story--one might by now expect--is character development. By the time readers get through this novel, DeMarco and Jayme will seem like friends from long ago, familiar still but unseen in many years. Jayme's sincerity is palpable and genuine; so too are the scenes in which DeMarco loses himself in symbolic contemplation of his own past and his trepidations toward his future. As mysteries go, readers may wish for a little more crime solving and a little less rumination, but the story offers a human angle to accompany the usual mayhem.
The story features numerous mysteries wrapped up in one convenient novel (which helps to explain it's 441 page length). The most prominent--DeMarco returns to his hometown of Youngstown OH to investigate a series of murders that echo two previous crimes: the execution of a couple of mobsters in 1988, and the Cleveland Torso murders of the 1920s-30s, about which lots of true-crime books have been written. Nearly everyone doubts any connection to the gruesome Cleveland crimes except for the thought that the current murderer may be a copycat. But despite the passage of time, some connections to 1988 still exist, and cannot be cast aside.
The second mystery actually takes up more space in the book than the first. DeMarco has returned to the area due to the suicide attempt of his first wife, Laraine. No one who has been married more than once needs any explanation of the possible complications that could exist, but DeMarco has arrived in Youngstown with his new love, Jayme, who is herself a savvy private eye. DeMarco wrestles with guilt on an hourly basis over his divorce from Laraine and the death of his first child, Ryan Jr. Jayme is not exactly the easily fainting damsel in distress type; she is quick-witted, sharp-tongued, and suffers fools--and foolishness-not at all. She challenges DeMarco's every effort to wallow in his past and feel sorry for himself, all the while serving as law enforcement's strongest asset in crime solving. For all that, she reserves space in her psyche for her relationship with DeMarco. She wants to have a child with him; he is hesitant due to the age difference between them. The second mystery, then, is whether or not DeMarco and Jayme will endure.
The strength of the story--one might by now expect--is character development. By the time readers get through this novel, DeMarco and Jayme will seem like friends from long ago, familiar still but unseen in many years. Jayme's sincerity is palpable and genuine; so too are the scenes in which DeMarco loses himself in symbolic contemplation of his own past and his trepidations toward his future. As mysteries go, readers may wish for a little more crime solving and a little less rumination, but the story offers a human angle to accompany the usual mayhem.
April 23, 2019
“That thought brought back to DeMarco a conversation he had shared with Thomas Huston, the first and so far only person to suggest to him that investigating a crime was a lot like writing a novel. Huston had explained that Chandler chose not to write typical mysteries, those in which the only thing that matters is the resolution, the solution to the mystery, but instead to write mysteries in which every scene matters, because every scene adds another layer to the main character.”*
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ryan DeMarco wants nothing more than to leave his personal tragedies behind and create a future with lady love and private investigator partner Jayme. However, his estranged wife, dead son, new case, and ties to his deceased writer friend Thomas Huston root him in the past.
Ryan remains married to Laraine, even though they haven’t lived as man and wife since their son died. Her recent suicide attempt brings him back to Pennsylvania, where he runs into an old friend who asks Ryan to help him with a case. Three recent killings appear to be copycats of serial murders linked to the mob, the first of which occurred eighty years earlier. The detectives assigned to the case have a suspect with mob ties, but Ryan and Jayme follow clues that lead in a different direction. Meanwhile, Ryan starts a project reviewing documents that belonged to Huston for a posthumous book. Everything Ryan does seems to stir up the past, but if he fails to nurture his relationship with Jayme, he stands to lose everything he holds dear.
The opening quote about Huston and Chandler’s writing style is also true for Silvis’s voice. Each chapter digs deep into the psyches of Ryan and Jayme, both as individuals and as a couple. Jayme desperately tries to understand Ryan’s demons and help him heal, while he strives not to destroy her in the process. This book reveals more of their emotional baggage and sheds light on their deep bond. The past and present are in constant conflict, with Huston’s writings acting as a benevolent ghost.
As always Silvis brings his A-game by delivering gorgeous prose, layered characters, and an engrossing crime to solve. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Ryan in the next installment of this fabulous series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to experience this novel in advance of its release.
*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ryan DeMarco wants nothing more than to leave his personal tragedies behind and create a future with lady love and private investigator partner Jayme. However, his estranged wife, dead son, new case, and ties to his deceased writer friend Thomas Huston root him in the past.
Ryan remains married to Laraine, even though they haven’t lived as man and wife since their son died. Her recent suicide attempt brings him back to Pennsylvania, where he runs into an old friend who asks Ryan to help him with a case. Three recent killings appear to be copycats of serial murders linked to the mob, the first of which occurred eighty years earlier. The detectives assigned to the case have a suspect with mob ties, but Ryan and Jayme follow clues that lead in a different direction. Meanwhile, Ryan starts a project reviewing documents that belonged to Huston for a posthumous book. Everything Ryan does seems to stir up the past, but if he fails to nurture his relationship with Jayme, he stands to lose everything he holds dear.
The opening quote about Huston and Chandler’s writing style is also true for Silvis’s voice. Each chapter digs deep into the psyches of Ryan and Jayme, both as individuals and as a couple. Jayme desperately tries to understand Ryan’s demons and help him heal, while he strives not to destroy her in the process. This book reveals more of their emotional baggage and sheds light on their deep bond. The past and present are in constant conflict, with Huston’s writings acting as a benevolent ghost.
As always Silvis brings his A-game by delivering gorgeous prose, layered characters, and an engrossing crime to solve. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Ryan in the next installment of this fabulous series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to experience this novel in advance of its release.
*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text.
August 4, 2020
I suppose I should begin this review with full transparency. I've known Randy for almost 40 years. He was my 9th grade writing teacher at Knoch High School in Saxonburg, PA. And I starred in the world premieres of two of his plays: "The Riddle of the Sphinx" at the Butler, PA Little Theatre and "Driven to Acts of Kindness" at Clarion University (also in Western PA). Therefore, I hardly can be considered an objective reviewer.
Having said that, I objectively believe Randy is a brilliant writer. Unfortunately, he has never gained the notoriety he deserves because his writing falls between two genres - something he confesses to in the author interview that appears at the end of the first installment in the Ryan DeMarco series ("Two Days Gone"). Basically, his books are too intricate and plot driven for "literature." But they're also too literary for the "mysteries" genre.
The good news for Randy and his fans, myself included, is that he's finally getting the recognition he deserves thanks to this series, which I decided to reread in advance of the August release of the fourth novel in the series. Sergeant Ryan DeMarco is a Pennsylvania State Trooper with more demons than Hades. At the beginning of the first novel, he had not faced them for years. By its end, a new DeMarco was starting to develop. That development continued in the second novel in the series, as his relationship with fellow Trooper Jayme Matson intensified. And it further continues in this third installment.
I never like to give away plot spoilers in these reviews, so I won't go into any more detail about what happens. But I can tell you that all the books in this series are great if you don't mind working as a reader. (Make sure you keep your phone handy, so you can use Dictionary.com to look up the words Randy includes in his novels. But don't worry - this vocabulary lesson never comes across as arrogant or extraneous.) Also, one of the consistent themes in all of Randy's novels is the darkness of the human animal. So if you're looking for a quick "feel-good" beach read, this is NOT the series (or writer, quite honestly) for you.
And so I'm ready for the fourth installment in the series ("No Woods So Dark As These") which was released today. Can't wait to read it!
Having said that, I objectively believe Randy is a brilliant writer. Unfortunately, he has never gained the notoriety he deserves because his writing falls between two genres - something he confesses to in the author interview that appears at the end of the first installment in the Ryan DeMarco series ("Two Days Gone"). Basically, his books are too intricate and plot driven for "literature." But they're also too literary for the "mysteries" genre.
The good news for Randy and his fans, myself included, is that he's finally getting the recognition he deserves thanks to this series, which I decided to reread in advance of the August release of the fourth novel in the series. Sergeant Ryan DeMarco is a Pennsylvania State Trooper with more demons than Hades. At the beginning of the first novel, he had not faced them for years. By its end, a new DeMarco was starting to develop. That development continued in the second novel in the series, as his relationship with fellow Trooper Jayme Matson intensified. And it further continues in this third installment.
I never like to give away plot spoilers in these reviews, so I won't go into any more detail about what happens. But I can tell you that all the books in this series are great if you don't mind working as a reader. (Make sure you keep your phone handy, so you can use Dictionary.com to look up the words Randy includes in his novels. But don't worry - this vocabulary lesson never comes across as arrogant or extraneous.) Also, one of the consistent themes in all of Randy's novels is the darkness of the human animal. So if you're looking for a quick "feel-good" beach read, this is NOT the series (or writer, quite honestly) for you.
And so I'm ready for the fourth installment in the series ("No Woods So Dark As These") which was released today. Can't wait to read it!
July 7, 2019
Randall Silvis is back. And drum-roll please… so is the lovable and sassy Detective Ryan DeMarco (whom I very much picture as Jim Hopper from Stranger Things)!
The 3rd book in Silvis’ Ryan DeMarco Mystery series, A Long Way Down, follows DeMarco and his serious girlfriend, Jayme, as they return to DeMarco’s hometown in order to help an old friend with a case that is boggling law enforcement and closely imitating brutal murders from decades ago. But is this the original murderer back for more, or an evil new copycat? Will DeMarco and Jayme’s relationship grow stronger or fall apart as they encounter ghosts from his past? And how will DeMarco move on with his life, when reminders of his childhood hardships keep popping up?
This is a character-driven story first and foremost--DeMarco and his partnership with Jayme and his (tragic) past are the focus, while the murder investigation stirs close to the surface causing friction and pacing throughout the entirety of the novel.
We come to understand more and more about DeMarco's thoughts, fears, and demons as Silvis provides insights into an unhappy childhood that formed an unhappy man. Sprinkled throughout are pages from Huston’s writing--some poetry, some stories, and some pure musings. I suppose these were meant to lend some literary credence to a typically cut-and-dried genre, though I personally felt they took me out of the story a little.
Silvis is a very intelligent writer, and I love that I constantly learn new things as I read his books. Ryan DeMarco is no backwoods, crass, donut-eating detective, he’s well-read, well-spoken, and a deep individual with a lot of layers to unravel. His girlfriend, Jayme, is strong-willed, warm, intelligent, bad-ass and kind as well. I root for both Ryan and Jayme, and enjoy their banter and camaraderie. They work very well as a team to solve any problem that faces them, and each brings a different perspective to the case.
I didn’t guess the ending until about 3/4s of the way through the book and, though I was slightly disappointed in who it was, I didn’t guess right away which I usually can in mystery fiction. I had one major annoyance in the book (major spoilers ahead)
I feel like I’m being negative, so let me tell you this: READ THE BOOK. If you are a fan of the series already, enjoy intelligent writing, like fully fleshed-out characters, can’t get enough of mystery thrillers, or need a book that will engross you from the very first couple of pages, then give this series a try.
Though my favorite book of the series is still the first (Two Days Gone), A Long Way Down is probably my second favorite, and I am eagerly awaiting the next one. The story is wrapped up at the end, and I wouldn’t call it a cliff-hanger, but there is definitely more than enough to take us into a fourth novel.
I’m not going to compare Silvis’ writing to that of other thriller-writers of this generation (because I feel like that is a disservice to him), but I will say that I think that such a talented writer should be more well-known than he is. I stumbled across Two Days Gone when I was at my local library, and I am so glad that I did. So now I pass this onto you. If you’re debating starting the series, start it, and if you’re thinking about grabbing this latest book, then do it. #Noragrets ;)
Fours stars for this fast-paced mystery full of beautiful, astute writing, characters I wish I knew (and feel like I do), and a juicy murder I couldn’t wait to get to the bottom of.
Ok, so… when’s the next one?
*Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book; all opinions are fully my own and unbiased.
The 3rd book in Silvis’ Ryan DeMarco Mystery series, A Long Way Down, follows DeMarco and his serious girlfriend, Jayme, as they return to DeMarco’s hometown in order to help an old friend with a case that is boggling law enforcement and closely imitating brutal murders from decades ago. But is this the original murderer back for more, or an evil new copycat? Will DeMarco and Jayme’s relationship grow stronger or fall apart as they encounter ghosts from his past? And how will DeMarco move on with his life, when reminders of his childhood hardships keep popping up?
This is a character-driven story first and foremost--DeMarco and his partnership with Jayme and his (tragic) past are the focus, while the murder investigation stirs close to the surface causing friction and pacing throughout the entirety of the novel.
We come to understand more and more about DeMarco's thoughts, fears, and demons as Silvis provides insights into an unhappy childhood that formed an unhappy man. Sprinkled throughout are pages from Huston’s writing--some poetry, some stories, and some pure musings. I suppose these were meant to lend some literary credence to a typically cut-and-dried genre, though I personally felt they took me out of the story a little.
Silvis is a very intelligent writer, and I love that I constantly learn new things as I read his books. Ryan DeMarco is no backwoods, crass, donut-eating detective, he’s well-read, well-spoken, and a deep individual with a lot of layers to unravel. His girlfriend, Jayme, is strong-willed, warm, intelligent, bad-ass and kind as well. I root for both Ryan and Jayme, and enjoy their banter and camaraderie. They work very well as a team to solve any problem that faces them, and each brings a different perspective to the case.
I didn’t guess the ending until about 3/4s of the way through the book and, though I was slightly disappointed in who it was, I didn’t guess right away which I usually can in mystery fiction. I had one major annoyance in the book (major spoilers ahead)
I feel like I’m being negative, so let me tell you this: READ THE BOOK. If you are a fan of the series already, enjoy intelligent writing, like fully fleshed-out characters, can’t get enough of mystery thrillers, or need a book that will engross you from the very first couple of pages, then give this series a try.
Though my favorite book of the series is still the first (Two Days Gone), A Long Way Down is probably my second favorite, and I am eagerly awaiting the next one. The story is wrapped up at the end, and I wouldn’t call it a cliff-hanger, but there is definitely more than enough to take us into a fourth novel.
I’m not going to compare Silvis’ writing to that of other thriller-writers of this generation (because I feel like that is a disservice to him), but I will say that I think that such a talented writer should be more well-known than he is. I stumbled across Two Days Gone when I was at my local library, and I am so glad that I did. So now I pass this onto you. If you’re debating starting the series, start it, and if you’re thinking about grabbing this latest book, then do it. #Noragrets ;)
Fours stars for this fast-paced mystery full of beautiful, astute writing, characters I wish I knew (and feel like I do), and a juicy murder I couldn’t wait to get to the bottom of.
Ok, so… when’s the next one?
*Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book; all opinions are fully my own and unbiased.
May 30, 2019
A Long Way Down by Randall Silvis is a perplexing mystery. Although this newest release is the third installment in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone (but I do recommend books one and two as well).
During a visit to his long estranged wife, Laraine, Ryan DeMarco runs into his old high school buddy and current Sheriff Ben Brinker. After hearing about a series of recent murders that bear an eerie resemblance to still unsolved cases from 1988 and the 1930s, Ryan agrees to help with their investigation. With his girlfriend and private investigator partner Jayme Matson by his side, Ryan battles troubling memories while the duo try to find the killer.
Ryan is still a bit brooding and uncommunicative about his emotional wounds. Returning home is not as easy he thinks it will be and he is besieged by long ago memories that are rather dark. Shaking off his somewhat grim mood, Ryan is soon embroiled in trying to figure out who murdered Jerome Hufford, Justin Brenner and college student Samantha Lewis. Ryan is certain there is no connection to the previous unsolved cases despite the similarities so they exclusively work on the current murders.
Jayme is frustrated by Ryan's lack of communication but she tries to remain patient with him. She is hoping to move their relationship in a new direction but she is unsure of Ryan's reaction to her suggestion. Jayme is troubled by Ryan's dark moods but she is hopeful he will confide in her about what is troubling him. But personal issues take a backseat to their investigation into the three current murders.
Jayme and Ryan decide their best chance in catching the murdered is to concentrate on the victim whose murder is a bit of an outlier. Certain aspects of the murder are quite different than the others and their research leads them to a popular college professor. There is something about the arrogant professor that raises both Jayme and Ryan's suspicions, but will they unearth a connection between him and the other two victims?
In their downtime, Jayme and Ryan are both quite contemplative as they sort through Ryan's murdered author friend Thomas Huston's unpublished writings. Huston's mother has requested his assistance in selecting additions for an upcoming publication. Will Ryan come to terms with his emotional baggage as he reads his friend's wise words?
A Long Way Down is a cleverly written and engrossing mystery. Ryan is still a work in progress as he attempts to come to terms with his troubled past. Jayme is optimistic their relationship will survive the emotional battering from Ryan's tumultuous past but will he be able to fully embrace the changes she is hoping for? Their investigation into the three murders is quite interesting and moves a slow but realistic pace as they track down clues and follow leads. With a very shocking twist, Randall Silvis brings this suspenseful mystery to an action-packed, poignant conclusion. With one thread left dangling, readers will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series.
During a visit to his long estranged wife, Laraine, Ryan DeMarco runs into his old high school buddy and current Sheriff Ben Brinker. After hearing about a series of recent murders that bear an eerie resemblance to still unsolved cases from 1988 and the 1930s, Ryan agrees to help with their investigation. With his girlfriend and private investigator partner Jayme Matson by his side, Ryan battles troubling memories while the duo try to find the killer.
Ryan is still a bit brooding and uncommunicative about his emotional wounds. Returning home is not as easy he thinks it will be and he is besieged by long ago memories that are rather dark. Shaking off his somewhat grim mood, Ryan is soon embroiled in trying to figure out who murdered Jerome Hufford, Justin Brenner and college student Samantha Lewis. Ryan is certain there is no connection to the previous unsolved cases despite the similarities so they exclusively work on the current murders.
Jayme is frustrated by Ryan's lack of communication but she tries to remain patient with him. She is hoping to move their relationship in a new direction but she is unsure of Ryan's reaction to her suggestion. Jayme is troubled by Ryan's dark moods but she is hopeful he will confide in her about what is troubling him. But personal issues take a backseat to their investigation into the three current murders.
Jayme and Ryan decide their best chance in catching the murdered is to concentrate on the victim whose murder is a bit of an outlier. Certain aspects of the murder are quite different than the others and their research leads them to a popular college professor. There is something about the arrogant professor that raises both Jayme and Ryan's suspicions, but will they unearth a connection between him and the other two victims?
In their downtime, Jayme and Ryan are both quite contemplative as they sort through Ryan's murdered author friend Thomas Huston's unpublished writings. Huston's mother has requested his assistance in selecting additions for an upcoming publication. Will Ryan come to terms with his emotional baggage as he reads his friend's wise words?
A Long Way Down is a cleverly written and engrossing mystery. Ryan is still a work in progress as he attempts to come to terms with his troubled past. Jayme is optimistic their relationship will survive the emotional battering from Ryan's tumultuous past but will he be able to fully embrace the changes she is hoping for? Their investigation into the three murders is quite interesting and moves a slow but realistic pace as they track down clues and follow leads. With a very shocking twist, Randall Silvis brings this suspenseful mystery to an action-packed, poignant conclusion. With one thread left dangling, readers will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series.
January 27, 2024
This is the second book in the Ryan DeMarco series and I think I'm getting the hang of how intense Randall Silvis builds out his characters. This book, while focusing more on the crime (but still only coming to part of the resolution at the end), goes again into much detail about DeMarco's and Jayme's past. But this one slips in physical and emotional changes with Jayme that easily point to an unexpected pregnancy. Most of these parts of the book while understandable, seem overly weepy, melancholy and depressing. There's a lot of depressing issues and development in this book that revolve around these two characters and sometimes it's more of a distraction than is warranted. Regardless, his writing paints a full picture of either the psychological circumstances or the drama his main characters are dealing with. As in his first book in this series, there are segments in the narrative that appear but don't connect to anything else necessarily in the book. An example is Laraine showing up at the house and the subsequent visit to the psychic. And then there was nothing else about that. I'm thinking most of these loose ends will possibly be tied up at the end of this whole series. Maybe? I'm now reading book number three in the series. I guess I'll find out.
June 6, 2021
This is third in the Ryan DeMarco series by Randall Silvis. You must read in order. Don't read this review if you haven't read the first two books in the series.
Silvis has done it again. Ryan DeMarco is a former cop who is trying to cope with the death of his young son, his estranged wife's depression and the unlikely friendship-turned-romantic relationship with Jayme, a sheriff deputy. Ryan and Jayme are a great team. At times you may want to question how they can be so good together. Is it realistic? Forget about it and go with the greatness. They are on the hunt for the killer of several people - seems like a serial killer - and the resemblance to murders done decades ago can't be denied.
There is a lot of evil going on throughout the novel, excellent couple's therapy done by the couple and just enough of a dangling thread at the end to get you ready for the next installment.
Randall Silvis is one of my amazing author finds. Silvis books are fast reads and worth blocking out large sections of reading time. Buckle up - some parts of his books are gritty.
Silvis has done it again. Ryan DeMarco is a former cop who is trying to cope with the death of his young son, his estranged wife's depression and the unlikely friendship-turned-romantic relationship with Jayme, a sheriff deputy. Ryan and Jayme are a great team. At times you may want to question how they can be so good together. Is it realistic? Forget about it and go with the greatness. They are on the hunt for the killer of several people - seems like a serial killer - and the resemblance to murders done decades ago can't be denied.
There is a lot of evil going on throughout the novel, excellent couple's therapy done by the couple and just enough of a dangling thread at the end to get you ready for the next installment.
Randall Silvis is one of my amazing author finds. Silvis books are fast reads and worth blocking out large sections of reading time. Buckle up - some parts of his books are gritty.
May 31, 2019
Ryan DeMarco and Jayme Matson have quit the Pennsylvania State Police and become Private Investigators.
When Ryan's estranged wife Laraine attempts suicide, he travels to her side. She has never gotten over their young son's death.
At the hospital, he meets his old high school friend Ben Brinker, who is a County sheriff in their hometown of Youngstown.
Ben asks him to help investigate a triple homicide that may be tied to a cold case from their high school days. The victims have been decapitated and dismembered.
Ryan is reluctant to go home again. His childhood memories are filled with his abusive father, who was murdered one evening outside his favorite bar. His killer was never found.
As Ryan and Jayme explore the evidence, their relationship deepens. Jayme is thinking about having a baby, hoping Ryan may be ready for that.
A beautifully composed , poignant story.
Another exceptional slow burn mystery in the series.
The somewhat open ending leaves me excited for book four!
This can be read as a stand alone, but better to read in order of the series, to capture the depth of the characters.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
When Ryan's estranged wife Laraine attempts suicide, he travels to her side. She has never gotten over their young son's death.
At the hospital, he meets his old high school friend Ben Brinker, who is a County sheriff in their hometown of Youngstown.
Ben asks him to help investigate a triple homicide that may be tied to a cold case from their high school days. The victims have been decapitated and dismembered.
Ryan is reluctant to go home again. His childhood memories are filled with his abusive father, who was murdered one evening outside his favorite bar. His killer was never found.
As Ryan and Jayme explore the evidence, their relationship deepens. Jayme is thinking about having a baby, hoping Ryan may be ready for that.
A beautifully composed , poignant story.
Another exceptional slow burn mystery in the series.
The somewhat open ending leaves me excited for book four!
This can be read as a stand alone, but better to read in order of the series, to capture the depth of the characters.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2019
Ryan de Marco is trying to get his head clear to look into any future he has. A estranged wife, a dead son is his history and he finds it hard to shake off the memories of a difficult marriage. Jayme his partner has his dark memories to contend with in trying to forge a future together.
Faced with a triple murder by someone who seems to enjoy torturing and decapitating his victims and then another victim totally different to the others is the dilemma faced by the detectives trying to solve this crime.
Bringing in Jayme and de Marco was not a popular choice as outsiders to try this old crime but they set to, to try to find one common factor linking these diverse victims. When they do, they uncover a ring of academics, drugs and sex orgies combined with a wild philosophy which drives someone to murder.
The characters are very well developed and the pace is intense. Looking forward to my next read from this author.
Faced with a triple murder by someone who seems to enjoy torturing and decapitating his victims and then another victim totally different to the others is the dilemma faced by the detectives trying to solve this crime.
Bringing in Jayme and de Marco was not a popular choice as outsiders to try this old crime but they set to, to try to find one common factor linking these diverse victims. When they do, they uncover a ring of academics, drugs and sex orgies combined with a wild philosophy which drives someone to murder.
The characters are very well developed and the pace is intense. Looking forward to my next read from this author.
May 29, 2019
Ryan DeMarco really doesn't want to go home again but he feels compelled to do so when his estranged wife Laraine attempts suicide. They were childhood friends but circumstances- and a tragedy- drove them apart. While he's there, his friend Ben, now the Sheriff, entices him with a murder case that bears remarkable similarity to two others- one thirty years old and one much much older. While it's interesting to get Ryan's back story, my favorite parts of these novels involve Jayme- a whip smart woman who is Ryan's partner in life and in investigation. Ryan is a really tortured man but he's a heck of a good detective. They set to work and, no spoilers......Don't worry if you didn't read the first two books, this is fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.
June 16, 2019
Title: A Long Way Down
Author: Randall Silvis
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5
Ryan DeMarco didn’t want to come home. But when his estranged wife tries to commit suicide, he’s the one they call. So he finds himself back where he grew up, a place he’s been trying to forget ever since he left. And an old classmate is now sheriff and needs help solving a murder case that might have ties to their high school days.
Ryan and Jayme, his new girlfriend, agree to help with the case, but neither of them has any idea where the case will lead. With the past haunting Ryan’s every step, and the future haunting Jayme’s, neither of them will survive the case unscathed.
It’s not necessary to have read the first two books in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series to enjoy this book. I had read the first one, but not the second, and I had no problems keeping up. This is a solid read, and I didn’t figure out who the killer was ahead of time, but the characters and their problems are the real focus here, not the mystery.
(Galley courtesy of Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Author: Randall Silvis
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5
Ryan DeMarco didn’t want to come home. But when his estranged wife tries to commit suicide, he’s the one they call. So he finds himself back where he grew up, a place he’s been trying to forget ever since he left. And an old classmate is now sheriff and needs help solving a murder case that might have ties to their high school days.
Ryan and Jayme, his new girlfriend, agree to help with the case, but neither of them has any idea where the case will lead. With the past haunting Ryan’s every step, and the future haunting Jayme’s, neither of them will survive the case unscathed.
It’s not necessary to have read the first two books in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series to enjoy this book. I had read the first one, but not the second, and I had no problems keeping up. This is a solid read, and I didn’t figure out who the killer was ahead of time, but the characters and their problems are the real focus here, not the mystery.
(Galley courtesy of Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
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