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Leo Waterman #12
Heavy on the Dead
One body on the sunny beach is all it takes for PI Leo Waterman to feel a chill.
After seven months laying low in Ocean Beach, California, Seattle PI Leo Waterman has finally stopped looking over his shoulder—specifically, for the vengeful band of Washington white supremacists who blame Leo for blindsiding their big plans for America. Where better to disappear with his bodyguard, Gabe, than this laid-back stretch of San Diego heaven? But when Leo finds a boy’s body on the beach, he comes out of hiding to investigate.
That’s when Leo discovers that the victim is not an isolated missing-persons case. It’s the key to something bigger, and it’s leading Leo and Gabe into the dark heart of a human trafficking ring in Mexico. But whatever dangers lay ahead of them, they’re matched threat for threat by what’s coming up from behind.
Because the fanatics back home haven’t given up on Leo. Now he and Gabe are caught in the cross fire between two evils. And each one has its own reasons for making sure both men end up dead and buried. Heavy on the dead.
After seven months laying low in Ocean Beach, California, Seattle PI Leo Waterman has finally stopped looking over his shoulder—specifically, for the vengeful band of Washington white supremacists who blame Leo for blindsiding their big plans for America. Where better to disappear with his bodyguard, Gabe, than this laid-back stretch of San Diego heaven? But when Leo finds a boy’s body on the beach, he comes out of hiding to investigate.
That’s when Leo discovers that the victim is not an isolated missing-persons case. It’s the key to something bigger, and it’s leading Leo and Gabe into the dark heart of a human trafficking ring in Mexico. But whatever dangers lay ahead of them, they’re matched threat for threat by what’s coming up from behind.
Because the fanatics back home haven’t given up on Leo. Now he and Gabe are caught in the cross fire between two evils. And each one has its own reasons for making sure both men end up dead and buried. Heavy on the dead.
254 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2019
231 people are currently reading
928 people want to read
About the author
G.M. Ford
34 books219 followersGerald M. Ford was the author of the widely praised Frank Corso novels, Fury, Black River, A Blind Eye, Red Tide, No Man's Land, and Blown Away; six highly acclaimed mysteries, featuring Seattle private investigator Leo Waterman; and the stand-alone thriller Nameless Night. A former creative writing teacher in western Washington, Ford lived in San Diego.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
June 24, 2019
GM Ford's brilliant crime series featuring PI Leo Waterman located in Seattle is one of my favourite comfort series. Here, Leo and Gabe are living below the radar on Ocean Beach in San Diego, forced to go into hiding after the shattering events previously with the thwarting of a white supremacist plot that would have devastated the US. Leo is a target, and those after him have possible information on where he might be after receiving information from a bank employee in Mexico. Two men are sent there to verify that it is Leo, the huge Chub and Lamar. Chub deviates from their orders and is hell bent on killing Leo himself, he blames him for the death of his brother, Randy, as the two men arrive at Ocean Beach. Leo has settled down in California as Leon Marks, Ocean Beach agrees with him and he has finally relaxed, no longer looking over his shoulder, involved in community activities with groups, like picking up litter on the coastline.
It is in the process of cleaning up rubbish on a cliff that Leo comes across the body of a dead child, which his conscience insists that he call in, which he does anonymously. Only thing is that he left behind his picker bucket at the scene, which naturally has the police arriving at his doorstep. The chatter from the white supremacists is being closely monitored and Captain Eagen from Seattle is keeping Leo informed. After being bitten by a homeless young man, Leo is terrified about possible health implications which has him connecting with SDPD officer, Sergeant Carolyn Saunders, with whom he is forced to come clean about his real identity. Leo, along with Gabe, begins to investigate the death of the child, particularly as Saunders has concerns but cannot follow up as the case has been closed. As Leo follows the trail to Mexico, he and Gabe find themselves against powerful and ruthless forces as they return to Ocean Beach, forces that have strong contacts in the police and politically. With danger coming from all directions, it is going to take a miracle for Leo and Gabe to survive.
This may be the 12th in the series, but GM Ford still has me completely engaged with the series, even though the location has shifted to California. It is the characters that I have followed for so long that have me committed to the books, and the Seattle links are still here with Captain Eagen and Charity, working with Carl Cradduck, delving deep to come up with vital information for Leo. I loved the introduction of Sergeant Saunders, a woman who will do what needs to be done despite the obstacles she faces. I hope she returns in future books. As usual, this is a wonderfully entertaining crime read, and I look forward to seeing where Ford takes Leo next. Many thanks to Thomas and Mercer for an ARC.
It is in the process of cleaning up rubbish on a cliff that Leo comes across the body of a dead child, which his conscience insists that he call in, which he does anonymously. Only thing is that he left behind his picker bucket at the scene, which naturally has the police arriving at his doorstep. The chatter from the white supremacists is being closely monitored and Captain Eagen from Seattle is keeping Leo informed. After being bitten by a homeless young man, Leo is terrified about possible health implications which has him connecting with SDPD officer, Sergeant Carolyn Saunders, with whom he is forced to come clean about his real identity. Leo, along with Gabe, begins to investigate the death of the child, particularly as Saunders has concerns but cannot follow up as the case has been closed. As Leo follows the trail to Mexico, he and Gabe find themselves against powerful and ruthless forces as they return to Ocean Beach, forces that have strong contacts in the police and politically. With danger coming from all directions, it is going to take a miracle for Leo and Gabe to survive.
This may be the 12th in the series, but GM Ford still has me completely engaged with the series, even though the location has shifted to California. It is the characters that I have followed for so long that have me committed to the books, and the Seattle links are still here with Captain Eagen and Charity, working with Carl Cradduck, delving deep to come up with vital information for Leo. I loved the introduction of Sergeant Saunders, a woman who will do what needs to be done despite the obstacles she faces. I hope she returns in future books. As usual, this is a wonderfully entertaining crime read, and I look forward to seeing where Ford takes Leo next. Many thanks to Thomas and Mercer for an ARC.
July 31, 2019
A few months ago PI Leo Watterman and his bodyguard, Gabe, disappeared after a band of white supremacists came after them with a vengeance. Both are suffering from injuries received, yet happy they survived.
Keeping busy and keeping his head down, Leo is working as a volunteer to help clean the beach ... but then he discovers the body of a young boy. Reporting what he found anonymously doesn't keep him out of trouble.
He can't help himself ... he takes himself out of hiding in order to help the police investigate. The young boy had never been reported as missing ....
Leo and Gabe find themselves caught in the crosshairs of the white supremacists and this new evil. They all want the two men dead .....
As with all the books in this series, this is well written with lots of action that jumps off the pages right into the fast-beating hearts of the readers. Leo and Gabe are getting older, healing slower, but they continue on as terrific series characters.
Although the 12th book in this series, it is easily read as a stand alone, although I would recommend, at least, the 11th book (The Soul Survivor). There are many references to what happened just prior to this book, but to get the full picture, you need to read it in its entirety.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the digital copy of this continuing crime fiction series. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 10, 2022
This is a mystery, and this is the 12th book in the Leo Waterman series. This book is about Leo and Gabe working to solve a mystery. During this book Leo and Gabe almost dies and they save a ton of kids. I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters in this book. I found the mystery parts to be good. I won a kindle edition of this book from a goodreads giveaway, but this review is 100% my opinion.
July 24, 2019
Note: This review has been rewritten.
Leo Waterman is one of my favorite detectives, but the opening of this twelfth entry finds him trying to keep a low profile and stay out of trouble. In Soul Survivor, which precedes this one, Leo and his bodyguard, Gabe more or less destroyed a white supremacists’ compound in Idaho, and now they are both wanted men. They’ve traveled as far south as they can from their mossy, misty Seattle homeland without leaving the country, but even in Southern California, trouble follows them.
My thanks go to Net Galley and Thomas and Mercer, and of course to author G.M. Ford, whose annual entries in this entertaining series have become one of the best parts of summer.
It’s a tricky thing, braiding dark social issues with humor, and Ford does it expertly. At the outset, Leo and Gabe find the body of a dead child on the beach. They are trying not to be noticed, but they can’t just leave him there. As the story progresses, cop Carolyn Saunders quietly encourages Leo to dig further into the incident, because the official story smells fishy; she can’t do it without risking her job, but Leo is retired, and as long as he can stay out of view of his would-be assassins, he can pretty much do as he likes. When the story concludes, the role of Saunders is left open. She may be back, or she may not. Her role here is to advocate that Leo stand on the side of justice but within sane limits; this is a role previously occupied by Leo’s ex-girlfriend, Rebecca. The real fun is had when Leo and Gabe team up, since neither one of them gives a single shit about their social standing or, when it comes down to it, their own personal safety.
As far as I know, the character of Gabe, a sidekick with loyalty, heart, and the tenacity of a pit bull, is the first gender-fluid character to show up regularly (okay, twice so far) in a long-running series. I love this character.
A longstanding hallmark of the Waterman series is the large yet sometimes invisible homeless population. This was true in 1995 when Ford published Who in Hell is Wanda Fuca, and that was before homelessness burgeoned and became a national issue. As far as I know, Ford is the first to feature homeless people in every book of the series; although his characters are often quirky and sometimes bizarre, they are ultimately human beings possessed of worth and dignity. I’ve believed every one of them, and so it’s no surprise that I believe the man with the barcode tattooed on his forehead, the one that bites Leo when he collides with him while running from cops. I like how this thread of the story resolves, too.
As the plot moves forward, we have assassins chasing the assassin that is chasing Leo, and it is simultaneously suspenseful and hilarious. This is important, because the crimes that are uncovered in pursuit of the truth about the dead child on the beach are dark indeed. In less skilled hands, the issue of human trafficking could well trip my ick-switch, that boundary line each of us possesses where the sordid but compelling central focus of a detective story suddenly becomes too sickening to be fun anymore; but the author’s less-is-more instinct is on point, and so once we touch that hot stovetop, we withdraw and move on to other things, circling back—briefly again—at its conclusion.
Anyone that reads the genre unceasingly across decades develops a mental list of overworked character and plot devices that we never care to see again; at the same time, a badass writer can take one of those elements and make it seem brand new and shiny. For me, the place where so many protagonists arrive, the one where they are knocked out, or drugged, or simply overpowered and tossed into the back of a truck (or van, or car) is one that can make me close a book. Nope; done. But in this instance, the truck abduction is a critical component, and to try to carry off the climax and conclusion in any other way would be artificial and most likely hamper the pace. But to aspiring writers: Ford is an experienced professional; don’t try this in your book.
This book will be for sale July 23, 2019, and earlier entries in the series are selling digitally for a buck each. Get your plastic out now; you can thank me later. Highly recommended.
Leo Waterman is one of my favorite detectives, but the opening of this twelfth entry finds him trying to keep a low profile and stay out of trouble. In Soul Survivor, which precedes this one, Leo and his bodyguard, Gabe more or less destroyed a white supremacists’ compound in Idaho, and now they are both wanted men. They’ve traveled as far south as they can from their mossy, misty Seattle homeland without leaving the country, but even in Southern California, trouble follows them.
My thanks go to Net Galley and Thomas and Mercer, and of course to author G.M. Ford, whose annual entries in this entertaining series have become one of the best parts of summer.
It’s a tricky thing, braiding dark social issues with humor, and Ford does it expertly. At the outset, Leo and Gabe find the body of a dead child on the beach. They are trying not to be noticed, but they can’t just leave him there. As the story progresses, cop Carolyn Saunders quietly encourages Leo to dig further into the incident, because the official story smells fishy; she can’t do it without risking her job, but Leo is retired, and as long as he can stay out of view of his would-be assassins, he can pretty much do as he likes. When the story concludes, the role of Saunders is left open. She may be back, or she may not. Her role here is to advocate that Leo stand on the side of justice but within sane limits; this is a role previously occupied by Leo’s ex-girlfriend, Rebecca. The real fun is had when Leo and Gabe team up, since neither one of them gives a single shit about their social standing or, when it comes down to it, their own personal safety.
As far as I know, the character of Gabe, a sidekick with loyalty, heart, and the tenacity of a pit bull, is the first gender-fluid character to show up regularly (okay, twice so far) in a long-running series. I love this character.
A longstanding hallmark of the Waterman series is the large yet sometimes invisible homeless population. This was true in 1995 when Ford published Who in Hell is Wanda Fuca, and that was before homelessness burgeoned and became a national issue. As far as I know, Ford is the first to feature homeless people in every book of the series; although his characters are often quirky and sometimes bizarre, they are ultimately human beings possessed of worth and dignity. I’ve believed every one of them, and so it’s no surprise that I believe the man with the barcode tattooed on his forehead, the one that bites Leo when he collides with him while running from cops. I like how this thread of the story resolves, too.
As the plot moves forward, we have assassins chasing the assassin that is chasing Leo, and it is simultaneously suspenseful and hilarious. This is important, because the crimes that are uncovered in pursuit of the truth about the dead child on the beach are dark indeed. In less skilled hands, the issue of human trafficking could well trip my ick-switch, that boundary line each of us possesses where the sordid but compelling central focus of a detective story suddenly becomes too sickening to be fun anymore; but the author’s less-is-more instinct is on point, and so once we touch that hot stovetop, we withdraw and move on to other things, circling back—briefly again—at its conclusion.
Anyone that reads the genre unceasingly across decades develops a mental list of overworked character and plot devices that we never care to see again; at the same time, a badass writer can take one of those elements and make it seem brand new and shiny. For me, the place where so many protagonists arrive, the one where they are knocked out, or drugged, or simply overpowered and tossed into the back of a truck (or van, or car) is one that can make me close a book. Nope; done. But in this instance, the truck abduction is a critical component, and to try to carry off the climax and conclusion in any other way would be artificial and most likely hamper the pace. But to aspiring writers: Ford is an experienced professional; don’t try this in your book.
This book will be for sale July 23, 2019, and earlier entries in the series are selling digitally for a buck each. Get your plastic out now; you can thank me later. Highly recommended.
August 7, 2019
4.5*
The Leo Waterman series is one of my favourites and one I’ve followed from the start. I love the way G.M. Ford writes and Patrick Lawlor’s narrations have been very enjoyable and easy to listen to throughout.
Bringing down a white supremacist group in the previous book necessitated Leo and his sidekick Gabe, leaving their home in Seattle and disappearing for a while. They’d been in Ocean Beach, California for the last seven months and were just beginning to relax and feel safe, counting on the fact Ocean Beach had such a diverse population no-one would notice or think twice about two newcomers.
Leo and Gabe have integrated into the community, Gabe taking classes and Leo volunteering in a clean up the beach group. During one of the clean ups Leo comes across a child’s body, in such a position that pointed to someone putting him there. He calls it in anonymously but forgets to take the picker for his rubbish bucket, so leading the police to his door. Both Leo and Gabe can’t help but get involved in the investigation, helping their new acquaintance Detective Carolyn Saunders, especially when they learn the boy’s death is not an isolated case and he hasn’t even been reported as missing. The official verdict doesn’t ring true—a red rag to Leo and Gabe regardless of the high risk situation.
The white supremacist fanatics targeting Leo haven’t given up trying to find him and, acting on information received from a local bank teller, have sent two men to verify Leo’s identity. One of the men is determined to avenge his brother, a member of the group who died during the siege, and kill Leo himself.
G.M. Ford strikes the perfect balance between the darker side of humanity and humour without compromising on the seriousness of the subject and social issues or the suspenseful plot. The issue of child trafficking is handled sensitively without any gratuitousness. I appreciate that Leo and Gabe show the passing of time and the effects of injuries sustained, reenforcing their realism and engaging personalities.
Heavy on the Dead is another well crafted and action driven plot, with great characterisations and dialogue. I love that despite the move, this plot still involves the homeless, who have always provided a distinct backdrop throughout the stories.
The Leo Waterman series is one of my favourites and one I’ve followed from the start. I love the way G.M. Ford writes and Patrick Lawlor’s narrations have been very enjoyable and easy to listen to throughout.
Bringing down a white supremacist group in the previous book necessitated Leo and his sidekick Gabe, leaving their home in Seattle and disappearing for a while. They’d been in Ocean Beach, California for the last seven months and were just beginning to relax and feel safe, counting on the fact Ocean Beach had such a diverse population no-one would notice or think twice about two newcomers.
Leo and Gabe have integrated into the community, Gabe taking classes and Leo volunteering in a clean up the beach group. During one of the clean ups Leo comes across a child’s body, in such a position that pointed to someone putting him there. He calls it in anonymously but forgets to take the picker for his rubbish bucket, so leading the police to his door. Both Leo and Gabe can’t help but get involved in the investigation, helping their new acquaintance Detective Carolyn Saunders, especially when they learn the boy’s death is not an isolated case and he hasn’t even been reported as missing. The official verdict doesn’t ring true—a red rag to Leo and Gabe regardless of the high risk situation.
The white supremacist fanatics targeting Leo haven’t given up trying to find him and, acting on information received from a local bank teller, have sent two men to verify Leo’s identity. One of the men is determined to avenge his brother, a member of the group who died during the siege, and kill Leo himself.
G.M. Ford strikes the perfect balance between the darker side of humanity and humour without compromising on the seriousness of the subject and social issues or the suspenseful plot. The issue of child trafficking is handled sensitively without any gratuitousness. I appreciate that Leo and Gabe show the passing of time and the effects of injuries sustained, reenforcing their realism and engaging personalities.
Heavy on the Dead is another well crafted and action driven plot, with great characterisations and dialogue. I love that despite the move, this plot still involves the homeless, who have always provided a distinct backdrop throughout the stories.
August 6, 2019
First Sentence: The door burst open and banged against the wall.
Private Investigator Leo Waterman destroyed the plans, men, and millions of dollars in materials and equipment of a white supremacist group. Badly injured, Leo and his androgynous friend and protector Gabe, have taken refuge to recover in Ocean Beach, California, trying to keep a very low profile. Finding a body on the beach, and being bitten by a homeless man, propels Leo into an investigation which takes the pair into Mexico and the world of sex trafficking, caught between two groups out to kill them.
Ford does create unique characters. From those one has met before, such as Gabe and other Seattle characters; to Chub and Lamar—one hopes never to meet them. Who else would think up a guy with an afro and a barcode tattooed on his forehead? But then there's SDPD officer, Sergeant Carolyn Saunders. She is someone of whom one would love to see more in the future.
Ford's perceptiveness—"Borders are lines in the sand. Bloody lines. Lines that people fought and died for."—is as good as his sense of humor—"You know how people like to pretend they're more familiar with places than they really are … That was us. …neither of us wanted to admit we didn't quite remember the way…so we'd …wandered …for half an hour before realizing our mistake and sheepishly asking a truck driver for directions." He also takes one places one pretends don't exist; places one doesn't want to see where life is as one hopes never to experience. But it is his humor which creates balance—"Take the 5 to the 8 … then over the bridge into Mission Bay." "Ooooh … don't we sound like Californians now," I joked."
The plot has a slowly-building flame with a very good intersection between the two threads of the plot. What's nice is that it's not all action. Ford also makes one stop and think along the way. Still, he does take the story from crescendo to crescendo. When things get serious, they get very serious and uncomfortably relevant to today's issues, which are important and handled extremely well.
"Heavy on the Dead" is one cracking good, fast-paced, suspenseful story. It is exciting, but it's way more than an airplane book due to its focus. One thing is for certain: one never gets bored reading Ford.
HEAVY ON THE DEAD (PI-Leo Waterman-California/Mexico-Contemp) - Ex
Ford, G.M. – 12th in series
Thomas & Mercer – July 2019
Private Investigator Leo Waterman destroyed the plans, men, and millions of dollars in materials and equipment of a white supremacist group. Badly injured, Leo and his androgynous friend and protector Gabe, have taken refuge to recover in Ocean Beach, California, trying to keep a very low profile. Finding a body on the beach, and being bitten by a homeless man, propels Leo into an investigation which takes the pair into Mexico and the world of sex trafficking, caught between two groups out to kill them.
Ford does create unique characters. From those one has met before, such as Gabe and other Seattle characters; to Chub and Lamar—one hopes never to meet them. Who else would think up a guy with an afro and a barcode tattooed on his forehead? But then there's SDPD officer, Sergeant Carolyn Saunders. She is someone of whom one would love to see more in the future.
Ford's perceptiveness—"Borders are lines in the sand. Bloody lines. Lines that people fought and died for."—is as good as his sense of humor—"You know how people like to pretend they're more familiar with places than they really are … That was us. …neither of us wanted to admit we didn't quite remember the way…so we'd …wandered …for half an hour before realizing our mistake and sheepishly asking a truck driver for directions." He also takes one places one pretends don't exist; places one doesn't want to see where life is as one hopes never to experience. But it is his humor which creates balance—"Take the 5 to the 8 … then over the bridge into Mission Bay." "Ooooh … don't we sound like Californians now," I joked."
The plot has a slowly-building flame with a very good intersection between the two threads of the plot. What's nice is that it's not all action. Ford also makes one stop and think along the way. Still, he does take the story from crescendo to crescendo. When things get serious, they get very serious and uncomfortably relevant to today's issues, which are important and handled extremely well.
"Heavy on the Dead" is one cracking good, fast-paced, suspenseful story. It is exciting, but it's way more than an airplane book due to its focus. One thing is for certain: one never gets bored reading Ford.
HEAVY ON THE DEAD (PI-Leo Waterman-California/Mexico-Contemp) - Ex
Ford, G.M. – 12th in series
Thomas & Mercer – July 2019
July 29, 2019
Another entertaining book from Ford featuring Leo Waterman now trying to lay low in Ocean Beach as Leon Marks. Gabe is his sidekick and will be right alongside Leo as they can't help but investigate the death of a young boy. Yeah, this is not how you stay under the radar. Of course they come close to death in pursuit of the truth. The Brotherhood (white supremacist group) sends a couple goons to California to look for Waterman and the description of how these two dudes interact is nothing short of hilarious. The Brotherhood purchases a smart car for them to use to go to Mexico to discover through a Mexican banking connection how they can locate Waterman. The thinking was - no rental car, no ability to trace. Problem number one: the size of one of these men, though both are large. Removal of sunroof is problematic but necessary for the two of them to fit in the car, but then they shrug as it breaks off - "it never rains in California" they think. Of course it pours down all the way to Mexico. When the giant gets out he lifts the car up tipping it to empty the swirling water.
There are serious crimes investigated in this book (selling children) and there are many amusing segments throughout. Of course Leo meets a lady cop.
The author obviously knows San Diego very well (as do I), so the descriptions are spot on and it makes a welcome and fun change from Seattle, Waterman's usual home.
I have read most of these books, but I think you could read this without knowing the history.
Kindle Unlimited
There are serious crimes investigated in this book (selling children) and there are many amusing segments throughout. Of course Leo meets a lady cop.
The author obviously knows San Diego very well (as do I), so the descriptions are spot on and it makes a welcome and fun change from Seattle, Waterman's usual home.
I have read most of these books, but I think you could read this without knowing the history.
Kindle Unlimited
February 2, 2023
This is the twelth and last Leo Waterman book. After the events of the last book, Leo and his bodyguard Gabe are in a self-designed witness protection on Ocean Beach near San Diego to avoid the group of white supremacists. His natural curiosity sees Leo get drawn into a case of a dead boy he finds in undergrowth atop an unaccessible cliff while a snitch in a bank identifies his approximate location to the supremacists.
Although not shown on Goodreads at the moment, I see on the internet that this author passed away in 2021. Having read all the Watermans I will now jump back to his earlier Frank Corso books.
Although not shown on Goodreads at the moment, I see on the internet that this author passed away in 2021. Having read all the Watermans I will now jump back to his earlier Frank Corso books.
October 7, 2019
If the reader hasn't read Soul Survivor a lot of this novel will not make any sense.
After the events in Soul Survivor with the white supremacists, Waterman and Gabe are hiding out under assumed names in Ocean Beach area of San Diego. Waterman discovers the body of a child while on civic beach cleanup. Thus begins the search for how and why the body was dumped in the scrub of the beach flora. Add to that the two 'hit men' from the white supremacists in Seattle and you have a pretty good story.
Hopefully the move to San Diego is not a permanent one for Waterman. He just doesn't fit into the San Diego life style the way he did with Seattle. But, that's just my feeling.
After the events in Soul Survivor with the white supremacists, Waterman and Gabe are hiding out under assumed names in Ocean Beach area of San Diego. Waterman discovers the body of a child while on civic beach cleanup. Thus begins the search for how and why the body was dumped in the scrub of the beach flora. Add to that the two 'hit men' from the white supremacists in Seattle and you have a pretty good story.
Hopefully the move to San Diego is not a permanent one for Waterman. He just doesn't fit into the San Diego life style the way he did with Seattle. But, that's just my feeling.
February 3, 2020
After the ending of "Soul Survivor" I worried Leo was gone for good but not to worry, he has returned only now he is living in Ocean Beach, California instead of Seattle. He is living under an alias, trying to make everyone believe he died at the end of the last book but gets involved with a nefarious bad group when he finds a boy's body on the ocean bank. Turns out others have discovered he's still alive and so begins a cat-and-mouse plot line that kept me engrossed the entire time.
With the plethora of fast action and chase scenes, along with likable and interesting characters, this series is perfect for fans of J. A. Jance, Sue Grafton, and even Lee Child's Jack Reacher series.
Thanks to the publisher for the advance digital reading copy.
With the plethora of fast action and chase scenes, along with likable and interesting characters, this series is perfect for fans of J. A. Jance, Sue Grafton, and even Lee Child's Jack Reacher series.
Thanks to the publisher for the advance digital reading copy.
May 28, 2021
The most recent, and I hope not the last of this series, with Waterman's signature lame humor and his relentless pursuit of the truth, this time still with his new backup Gabriella Funicello (Gabe), tougher than he is and of indeterminant sex. This one closely follows its predecessor, with the two in their own witness protection program, hoping to avoid the vengeful white-supremacists who survived the last one. Here they stumble upon serious villainy and acquire some memorable help from a dedicated Ocean Beach policewoman. They are also left in the desert to die in an episode that is vivid and tense, even when the reader knows they will survive.
June 24, 2021
3.5 It's been a while since I picked up a Leo Waterman mystery, so I'm sure a lot of things have happened with the characters that I've missed, but I didn't feel lost resuming with a gap. The story was predictable fairly early on, but still good, so I enjoyed this and wouldn't hesitate to pick up another in the series should I happen across one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2019
As always, Ford delivers another page turning romp of a tale.
July 28, 2019
I have fond memories of reading the first several books in GM Ford’s Leo Waterman series back in paperback editions, long before e-books, so I was happy to get a chance to renew my acquaintance with the series with an ARC of the latest title in the series, Heavy on the Dead.
In the time that I’ve missed, a lot has happened, but the biggest surprise for me was finding that this book is set in Ocean Beach/San Diego, rather than in the Seattle area. This anomaly is explained right in the blurb – Leo and his sidekick, Gabe, are taking a discreet break in California to avoid unwelcome attention from some baddies left over from the previous book in the series. Once I got over my surprise, though, Ford does a good job of portraying a slightly seedy beach city where the contrast between immense wealth and homelessness is often a matter of just a few city blocks in one direction or another. His Ocean Beach feels pretty realistic, and more than a little like the slightly seedy southern California beach town I live in. So I enjoyed the setting a lot.
The plot was also engaging, with lots of action, and kept me reading late into the night. Even in sunny southern California, and without his Seattle network, Leo is still Leo, with the same sense of humor. There was a little bouncing back and forth between the plotline of the baddies who are after Leo and Gabe and the plotline of the current “investigation”. I found myself liking the current investigation more than the baddies thread and being just a teeny bit annoyed when the baddies kept reappearing. But they did add to the feeling of tension overall. I also wasn't a fan of the “desert” scene, and had a little bit of trouble imagining that Leo and Gabe really would have lasted as long as they did. But hey, I’m not a desert survival expert, so what do I know.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and now will go back and read some of the titles in the middle of the series that I’ve missed.
NOTE: As mentioned above, I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. Also, please note that for me, four stars is a really good ranking. I reserve five stars for a very few absolute favorite books; probably no more than one in twenty or thirty books that I read gets a five star ranking.
In the time that I’ve missed, a lot has happened, but the biggest surprise for me was finding that this book is set in Ocean Beach/San Diego, rather than in the Seattle area. This anomaly is explained right in the blurb – Leo and his sidekick, Gabe, are taking a discreet break in California to avoid unwelcome attention from some baddies left over from the previous book in the series. Once I got over my surprise, though, Ford does a good job of portraying a slightly seedy beach city where the contrast between immense wealth and homelessness is often a matter of just a few city blocks in one direction or another. His Ocean Beach feels pretty realistic, and more than a little like the slightly seedy southern California beach town I live in. So I enjoyed the setting a lot.
The plot was also engaging, with lots of action, and kept me reading late into the night. Even in sunny southern California, and without his Seattle network, Leo is still Leo, with the same sense of humor. There was a little bouncing back and forth between the plotline of the baddies who are after Leo and Gabe and the plotline of the current “investigation”. I found myself liking the current investigation more than the baddies thread and being just a teeny bit annoyed when the baddies kept reappearing. But they did add to the feeling of tension overall. I also wasn't a fan of the “desert” scene, and had a little bit of trouble imagining that Leo and Gabe really would have lasted as long as they did. But hey, I’m not a desert survival expert, so what do I know.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and now will go back and read some of the titles in the middle of the series that I’ve missed.
NOTE: As mentioned above, I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. Also, please note that for me, four stars is a really good ranking. I reserve five stars for a very few absolute favorite books; probably no more than one in twenty or thirty books that I read gets a five star ranking.
August 11, 2021
I've read everything by Mr. Ford and this is one of my favorites from his Leo Waterman series.
Doorway: Story (and character as this is a series)
Story: This was a page turner for me. After destroying a group of white nationalists, the entire movement is looking for Leo and Gabe. They go off grid, relocate, change their names, blend with the locals and lay low until it’s safe. But things change…
Character: Ford has done an excellent job in creating Leo Waterman and his supporting cast. The characters feel real and the capers are intersting. Waterman’s dad was a morally flexible, big-wig, Seattle City Councilman. The old man’s influence created lots of connections for Leo and aid in his investigations (and can hinder for the handful of enemies his dad left behind in Seattle government). Leo’s resourceful and creative and not without a sense of humor. He's a big guy with the necessary skill sets, knows his terrain, knows his limitations, but he takes chances and makes mistakes (think Rockford Files) which means he takes his lumps.
Leo, et al., play fair (mostly), have a sense of justice, protect the vulnerable, have some skills and do not suffer fools. They don’t have to look for trouble as trouble usually finds them.
Setting: Most of the Waterman mysteries are set in the present-day, Pacific Northwest, this one takes place in greater San Diego. Ford does a nice job of esatblishing place.
Language: This is a rough and tumble, working class, hard-boiled, detective series. Not a gentle read. Great sense of the Pac NW, its treasures and trash, and the richness that drew us here in the first place.
Doorway: Story (and character as this is a series)
Story: This was a page turner for me. After destroying a group of white nationalists, the entire movement is looking for Leo and Gabe. They go off grid, relocate, change their names, blend with the locals and lay low until it’s safe. But things change…
Character: Ford has done an excellent job in creating Leo Waterman and his supporting cast. The characters feel real and the capers are intersting. Waterman’s dad was a morally flexible, big-wig, Seattle City Councilman. The old man’s influence created lots of connections for Leo and aid in his investigations (and can hinder for the handful of enemies his dad left behind in Seattle government). Leo’s resourceful and creative and not without a sense of humor. He's a big guy with the necessary skill sets, knows his terrain, knows his limitations, but he takes chances and makes mistakes (think Rockford Files) which means he takes his lumps.
Leo, et al., play fair (mostly), have a sense of justice, protect the vulnerable, have some skills and do not suffer fools. They don’t have to look for trouble as trouble usually finds them.
Setting: Most of the Waterman mysteries are set in the present-day, Pacific Northwest, this one takes place in greater San Diego. Ford does a nice job of esatblishing place.
Language: This is a rough and tumble, working class, hard-boiled, detective series. Not a gentle read. Great sense of the Pac NW, its treasures and trash, and the richness that drew us here in the first place.
August 10, 2019
Wow! What a great read! I’ve been a fan of G.M. Ford and his Leo Waterman series since I read the first book. In this latest installment, former private eye, Leo, and his gender-neutral bodyguard, Gabe, are in a self-created witness protection program and have relocated to Ocean Beach, California. Their main objective is to keep a low profile and avoid being spotted (and possibly eliminated) by the white nationalists that they seriously angered when they blew up their compound and vaporized some of their members. While it sounds like a doable plan, they don’t count on finding the body of a Hispanic child, which launches them into an unofficial investigation of the circumstances.
I found the first few chapters to be somewhat laborious, but then the story took off. The narrative mainly moves back and forth from Leo and Gabe and the two men who are tracking them. It is a fast-paced plot that morphs and twists. The characters are well-drawn, the plot is superb, and the dialogue adds just the right amount of humor. All of the Leo Waterman books have memorable characters and this book is no exception. However, this book is also a bit grittier than the previous ones.
Although the reader might find it helpful to have read the books in order, I don’t think it’s totally necessary in order to enjoy Heavy on the Dead. Mr Ford does a find job weaving elements of the previous book into this one so that the reader will have a sense of the backstory.
I found the first few chapters to be somewhat laborious, but then the story took off. The narrative mainly moves back and forth from Leo and Gabe and the two men who are tracking them. It is a fast-paced plot that morphs and twists. The characters are well-drawn, the plot is superb, and the dialogue adds just the right amount of humor. All of the Leo Waterman books have memorable characters and this book is no exception. However, this book is also a bit grittier than the previous ones.
Although the reader might find it helpful to have read the books in order, I don’t think it’s totally necessary in order to enjoy Heavy on the Dead. Mr Ford does a find job weaving elements of the previous book into this one so that the reader will have a sense of the backstory.
August 25, 2019
Received this book on the Goodreads Giveaways and loved it. Have read all the books in the series and this latest one is great. Leo Waterman and his pal Gabe have gone into hiding in Ocean Beach, California after thwarting the plans of a white supremacist group in Conway, Washington. They have taken on assumed names and are living quiet lives until Leo discovers the dead body of a young boy. He decides to help and that leads him and Gab into lots of trouble.
The white supremacists are still looking for them and send a couple of people after them when they get some clues to their hiding place. Leo gets caught up in the apprehension of a bum who takes off and he has to track him down which leads him thru the homeless camps in the area. He befriends the female detective on the case and comes clean to her about being in hiding. She ends up on leave and helps him out. As he tries to find out more about what is going on with the dead boy it leads him into some very dangerous waters. There are questions about what is going on with a rich old lady and the trust she runs. No one has seen her in awhile and the people running things are very mysterious and seem a bit shady. Gabe and Leo finds themselves in a dire situation at one point and nearly die which only angers them and makes them want to get to the bottom of things even more.
Great writing nd a great story as usual by G. M. Ford.
The white supremacists are still looking for them and send a couple of people after them when they get some clues to their hiding place. Leo gets caught up in the apprehension of a bum who takes off and he has to track him down which leads him thru the homeless camps in the area. He befriends the female detective on the case and comes clean to her about being in hiding. She ends up on leave and helps him out. As he tries to find out more about what is going on with the dead boy it leads him into some very dangerous waters. There are questions about what is going on with a rich old lady and the trust she runs. No one has seen her in awhile and the people running things are very mysterious and seem a bit shady. Gabe and Leo finds themselves in a dire situation at one point and nearly die which only angers them and makes them want to get to the bottom of things even more.
Great writing nd a great story as usual by G. M. Ford.
July 16, 2019
Leo and Gabe were forced to decamp from Seattle to Ocean Beach, California to get away from the white supremacists who want them dead. Better weather, for sure, but Leo is unable, it seems to keep away from investigations. He finds a young boy dead on the beach while he's out picking up litter and hoping to keep himself under cover (he's in alias now), calls it in anonymously. Unfortunately, he forgot his litter bucket and that raises questions about him! Luckily, Detective Carolyn Saunders understands. Turns out there's a bigger issue with dead bodies turning up and of course Leo is on the case. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. As always, this is well written and topical with great dialogue, especially from Leo. This may be the 12th in the series but you will be fine if it's your first.
November 11, 2021
Quite entertaining, Heavy on the Dead has well-crafted characters and easy to follow storyline.
Synopsis:
After seven months laying low in Ocean Beach, California, Seattle PI Leo Waterman has finally stopped looking over his shoulder—specifically, for the vengeful band of Washington white supremacists who blame Leo for blindsiding their big plans for America. Where better to disappear with his bodyguard, Gabe, than this laid-back stretch of San Diego heaven? But when Leo finds a boy’s body on the beach, he comes out of hiding to investigate.
That’s when Leo discovers that the victim is not an isolated missing-persons case. It’s the key to something bigger, and it’s leading Leo and Gabe into the dark heart of a human trafficking ring in Mexico. But whatever dangers lay ahead of them, they’re matched threat for threat by what’s coming up from behind.
Synopsis:
After seven months laying low in Ocean Beach, California, Seattle PI Leo Waterman has finally stopped looking over his shoulder—specifically, for the vengeful band of Washington white supremacists who blame Leo for blindsiding their big plans for America. Where better to disappear with his bodyguard, Gabe, than this laid-back stretch of San Diego heaven? But when Leo finds a boy’s body on the beach, he comes out of hiding to investigate.
That’s when Leo discovers that the victim is not an isolated missing-persons case. It’s the key to something bigger, and it’s leading Leo and Gabe into the dark heart of a human trafficking ring in Mexico. But whatever dangers lay ahead of them, they’re matched threat for threat by what’s coming up from behind.
July 25, 2019
Pretty good. Ford reboots the Waterman series by moving it to SoCal where Leo is hiding out after the destruction of the white power camp in the previous book. This clears out all the old narratives about his politician dad, his girlfriend the medical examiner and especially the uncomfortable stories of the down and out-ers he uses on cases; uncomfortable because they were played for comic effect. Leo’s chance discovery of a dead Mexican boy leads to the uncovering of a child slavery operation and an elaborate con game. In the meantime, white power guys are after Leo and Gabe (friend/body guard). The ending is a bit chaotic and I thought the digression with the rattlesnake was overkill but otherwise a good read. Pro tip: never short change a contract killer.
July 29, 2019
For the first couple chapters I was wondering what happened to my good ol’ Leo but it soon didn’t matter. But I still felt like maybe I’d even just missed his last book (Soul Survivor.) So I just pulled my copy from the shelf and saw from my notes that I felt exactly the same way after reading that book. And not only didn’t it seem like the Leo Waterman I remembered, it just wasn’t anything all that special either, much below his usual quality of story and writing. But I liked this one much better and might have given it 5 stars had it been a longer, more complex story and if I didn’t feel that Leo Waterman was now becoming just another tough-guy, buddy book. (Fortunately for me, I like those kind of books.) -J.
May 21, 2019
I was really concerned after the last book in this series that Leo would be in. Luckily it wasn't.
Leo and Gabe have hightailed it out of Seattle as the white nationalist movement wants them dead. They end up in Ocean Beach, California trying to live their lives. The movement finds them and sends 2 men to track them down. One of these men wants Leo dead now as his brother was at the compound that Leo and his gang blew up. In the meantime, Leo stumbles upon the body of a child and Leo being Leo has to find out what happened. So now, lots of people want Leo dead.
This isn't the strongest book in the series but it is still a good read and I'm so happy he's alive and kicking.
Leo and Gabe have hightailed it out of Seattle as the white nationalist movement wants them dead. They end up in Ocean Beach, California trying to live their lives. The movement finds them and sends 2 men to track them down. One of these men wants Leo dead now as his brother was at the compound that Leo and his gang blew up. In the meantime, Leo stumbles upon the body of a child and Leo being Leo has to find out what happened. So now, lots of people want Leo dead.
This isn't the strongest book in the series but it is still a good read and I'm so happy he's alive and kicking.
July 3, 2019
I'm a big fan of the Leo Waterman series of mystery novels by G.M. Ford and this latest book in the series is terrific! The earlier books were all set in Seattle and the Seattle setting was a big part of the books, so I was a little worried when I saw that in this book Leo has moved to Ocean Beach, California. But I need not have worried - Mr. Ford's trademark humor and great plotting are still at the forefront and he does a great job with the new setting. Ocean Beach feels like a natural choice for Leo, being just as offbeat as he is. Highly recommended.
Full Disclosure - I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Full Disclosure - I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
July 30, 2019
Satisfying
I think G.M. is underrated. He's got plot, characters to love and admire and he's consistently readable. Plus, like my favorite mystery writers, Ford tackles issues explicitly. Sure we love Bosch's personal angst and journey to right the wrongs of the LAPD. But Leo, embracer of the down and outers, has long since paid forward the sins of his father. I'm sorry that Mr. Ford has abandoned Seattle, but as a former Portlander living in Sacramento I understand; Ocean Beach works because it has an underbelly that most of us never see but in Ford's capable hands provides a setting that shows us the best and worst of humanity.
I think G.M. is underrated. He's got plot, characters to love and admire and he's consistently readable. Plus, like my favorite mystery writers, Ford tackles issues explicitly. Sure we love Bosch's personal angst and journey to right the wrongs of the LAPD. But Leo, embracer of the down and outers, has long since paid forward the sins of his father. I'm sorry that Mr. Ford has abandoned Seattle, but as a former Portlander living in Sacramento I understand; Ocean Beach works because it has an underbelly that most of us never see but in Ford's capable hands provides a setting that shows us the best and worst of humanity.
January 8, 2020
I've long been a fan of Leo Waterman, especially since the stories take (took) place in Seattle. Heavy on the Dead is typical Leo, albeit a moving a bit slower Leo. Not the story, Leo himself!
I found it a bit of a struggle to follow the story line in the beginning because I had forgotten the plot of the previous book, Soul Survivor, from 2018. Once I figured it out, it was all Leo. The dual complex story lines move along quickly. Despite some harrowing circumstances, Leo's attitude is front, center and still sassy fun. I hope he ditches sunny California and rejoins us in damp Seattle! Come on home, Leo.
4 stars.
I found it a bit of a struggle to follow the story line in the beginning because I had forgotten the plot of the previous book, Soul Survivor, from 2018. Once I figured it out, it was all Leo. The dual complex story lines move along quickly. Despite some harrowing circumstances, Leo's attitude is front, center and still sassy fun. I hope he ditches sunny California and rejoins us in damp Seattle! Come on home, Leo.
4 stars.
October 31, 2020
On the lam from vengeful white supremacists, ex-PI Leo Waterman hides out in T. Jefferson Parker territory – a going-upscale coastal town near San Diego. Far from his Seattle home turf and his previous personal charms, Leo almost willfully maneuvers himself and his back-watcher Gabe into a situational ultimatum of “Hard time vs. heroism” (p223). Mister Liberryhead advises readers to ignore Satchel Paige’s admonition, “Don’t look back,” and remember the eccentric, ambitionless Leo of Books 1-6 in this series. The post-Book 7 rich-guy, action-hero version of Leo Waterman is an uninteresting jerk. Go read a T. Jefferson Parker novel instead.
July 25, 2019
There’s a lot going on here...
A Goodreads giveaway. From the PI being hunted by white supremacists, to the PI’s discovery of (different) shady activity going on, to rattlesnakes in the desert, to contract killers...kinda hard to keep up with everything. Kind of an improbable ending, but very enjoyable, nonetheless. The fact that it was based in Ocean Beach, CA, where I lived for a short time years ago, made it all the more interesting.
A Goodreads giveaway. From the PI being hunted by white supremacists, to the PI’s discovery of (different) shady activity going on, to rattlesnakes in the desert, to contract killers...kinda hard to keep up with everything. Kind of an improbable ending, but very enjoyable, nonetheless. The fact that it was based in Ocean Beach, CA, where I lived for a short time years ago, made it all the more interesting.
July 26, 2019
Hang on for a wild ride. This book grabs your attention at the start and keeps it until the end. If you have read the other books in the series this one won't dissapoint . They just keep getting better. The characters in these books are among the most interesting you will find. Now I can't wait for the next episode in the saga of Leo Waterman or what name he may using. G.M. Ford has a winner with this series.
July 30, 2019
I have read all of the books written by G.M.Ford. Intricate plotting and excellent execution. Occasional bits of humor, and to my immense relief, the grammar, punctuation, and spelling are almost 100% correct. My one cavil is that Leo, the protagonist, pays a little too much attention to the physical attributes of the women he encounters. On the other hand, his sidekick Gabe is gender non-binary and we are all cool with that.
July 31, 2019
I enjoyed this book much better than the previous one which was gratuitously violent. I really enjoyed the earlier books in the series which were not so dark. I have an enormous pet peeve with author since he changed the back stories of many characters that I loved. I even sent a letter to him to try to find out why, but never got a reply. I’ve heard back from some of the leading mystery writers, but not this one. He must have a bit of Leo in him.
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