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Adrian Cervantes #1
Clearcut
Adrian Cervantes’s Ranger squad was betrayed and ambushed in Iraq, sent to deliver an embezzled payoff to a man who didn’t exist. The lone survivor, Cervantes went AWOL, returning to the States to distribute his purloined cash to the families of his squad. But it’s not as simple as leaving a check in the mailbox. Every family he visits has their own troubles. Law enforcement hunts him at every turn. And Cervantes’s need to see justice done earns him plenty of enemies.
Cervantes’s first stop is the fading lumber town of Cullinan, WA. His plans to visit the Quinones family are complicated by the death of the father and the suspicions of the widow. Teaming up with a local lawyer, Cervantes uncovers enough questions to cast doubt that the father’s death was a drunken accident. But his investigation puts him in the sights of local bruisers, crooked cops, and the real power behind the lumber mill. In the end, Cervantes discovers a conspiracy that’s robbing Cullinan of its livelihood, and he puts it to rest the only way he knows how.
Cervantes’s first stop is the fading lumber town of Cullinan, WA. His plans to visit the Quinones family are complicated by the death of the father and the suspicions of the widow. Teaming up with a local lawyer, Cervantes uncovers enough questions to cast doubt that the father’s death was a drunken accident. But his investigation puts him in the sights of local bruisers, crooked cops, and the real power behind the lumber mill. In the end, Cervantes discovers a conspiracy that’s robbing Cullinan of its livelihood, and he puts it to rest the only way he knows how.
336 pages, Unknown Binding
Published December 6, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 4, 2018
Clearcut - This is my first read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is my favorite genre and I'm happy to add Mr. Maloney to my list of "wanna read more of their books". Well written, but in need of minor editing, and fast paced, this novel is filled with suspense, intrigue and action. Some of the word usage is pretentious and won't be understood by today's average reader but that is the purpose of dictionaries.
The storylines are well planned and mesh into an intriguing plot. The characters I found to be realistic and were developed enough for the story. Adrian is interesting because he is shades of gray instead of black or white. He stands on both sides of the law and I would say Reacher and Bourne are close character references. There is violence but it's not graphic, it's left to the reader's imagination, except for the hand-to-hand combat, which is precise in its execution. We're not talking blood and guts, but methods and training. There is infrequent use of vulgar language, but where appropriate.
This read like a book from Ludlum (my all-time favorite author), Follette or Balducci, instead of the copied pseudo-Hollywood dribble so common nowadays. There is a sneak peek at the next book Fair Trade. I contacted the author to review his book and received a copy through Hidden Gems. 5*
The storylines are well planned and mesh into an intriguing plot. The characters I found to be realistic and were developed enough for the story. Adrian is interesting because he is shades of gray instead of black or white. He stands on both sides of the law and I would say Reacher and Bourne are close character references. There is violence but it's not graphic, it's left to the reader's imagination, except for the hand-to-hand combat, which is precise in its execution. We're not talking blood and guts, but methods and training. There is infrequent use of vulgar language, but where appropriate.
This read like a book from Ludlum (my all-time favorite author), Follette or Balducci, instead of the copied pseudo-Hollywood dribble so common nowadays. There is a sneak peek at the next book Fair Trade. I contacted the author to review his book and received a copy through Hidden Gems. 5*
February 16, 2019
GNa Cullinan is a tiny Washington state town, a place left behind 50 years ago but with good bones, and dependent entirely on the timber industry. And the timber industry is dying a slow and painful death.
Adrian Cervantes is a classic second generation Mexican American. Raised on the Texas border with Mexico, he has a sense of loyalty to his new country that takes him into the military and Ranger school, where he then served in the same squad overseas with the 75th, 4th Battalion, Echo Company alongside another second generation chicano, Ricky Quinones. Ricky was born of middle class parents, and raised in Cullinan. Seven years after Ricky died along with what was thought to be their whole unit in a helicopter crash in Nineveh, Adrian makes his way to the home of the parents of his best friend to impart what he hopes will be good news - and crashes the wake for Ricky's father. Adrian winds up in jail, charged with assault and disorderly conduct. Enter Ms. Virginia Hue, a second generation Vietnamese immigrant and attorney tasked with Adrian's defense in court.
The bad guys are classic also. Working under the command of Frank Gaulder, an outsider who is tasked with nursing the lumber company in Cullinan through bankruptcy and closure, the most visible bad guys are not the brightest bulbs in the box.
The bodies keep piling up and Virginia and Adrian seem to be two steps behind those bad guys. This was a very intriguing tale, one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Clearcut is a novel I am happy to recommend to family and friends, and is the first in a series I will want to keep up with.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley and Jack Mahoney. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Netgalley
pub date Dec 6, 2018
rec Dec 1, 2018
Publisher
Adult General Fiction, Mysteries and Thrillers
Adrian Cervantes is a classic second generation Mexican American. Raised on the Texas border with Mexico, he has a sense of loyalty to his new country that takes him into the military and Ranger school, where he then served in the same squad overseas with the 75th, 4th Battalion, Echo Company alongside another second generation chicano, Ricky Quinones. Ricky was born of middle class parents, and raised in Cullinan. Seven years after Ricky died along with what was thought to be their whole unit in a helicopter crash in Nineveh, Adrian makes his way to the home of the parents of his best friend to impart what he hopes will be good news - and crashes the wake for Ricky's father. Adrian winds up in jail, charged with assault and disorderly conduct. Enter Ms. Virginia Hue, a second generation Vietnamese immigrant and attorney tasked with Adrian's defense in court.
The bad guys are classic also. Working under the command of Frank Gaulder, an outsider who is tasked with nursing the lumber company in Cullinan through bankruptcy and closure, the most visible bad guys are not the brightest bulbs in the box.
The bodies keep piling up and Virginia and Adrian seem to be two steps behind those bad guys. This was a very intriguing tale, one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Clearcut is a novel I am happy to recommend to family and friends, and is the first in a series I will want to keep up with.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley and Jack Mahoney. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Netgalley
pub date Dec 6, 2018
rec Dec 1, 2018
Publisher
Adult General Fiction, Mysteries and Thrillers
Read
December 11, 2018I think this guy has potential, but let's reserve judgment until Book 2.
December 7, 2018
A man turns up in a desolate town, Cullinan in WA, a lumber mill town down on its luck, in a posh car and smart suit. He is definitely not one of the locals. He has turned up to give something to the parents of one of his former Ranger squad, who died in Iraq. Adrian Cervante’s was a Ranger in Iraq and his squad were all killed in a helicopter crash. He was the only survivor. Their mission had been to hand over a briefcase of money to a local contact in Iraq, but they never made contact as the helicopter was taken down. Cervante has made his way back to the States and is now on his own mission.
He has turned up at the wrong moment, to the family of ‘Prep’, as other events have been taking place in the town, which he knows nothing of. When he has to rethink his plan of delivery, he puts himself in the way of local law enforcement and seems to twist a few arms the wrong way. The father of Prep has died and the mother is suspicious of any mention of money. Cervante’s mixing with the family at the father’s funeral causes an affray and he ends up arrested.
The local lawyer he retains, helps with the questions he has about what has been happening and this causes Cervantes to investigate the father’s death and look at more issues within the town. This puts him in the sights of the corrupt local cops, local bruisers wanting revenge and finally the person behind the lumber mill’s takeover and the power plan behind the towns demise. Cervantes realises there is a conspiracy behind the lumber mills takeover and the towns livelihood and he will solve it the only way he knows.
He has to see justice served and will stay until he solves the conspiracy and can see Prep’s remaining family right. A great lead character, who you get to know the story of as you go through. Not everything it obvious from the start, but that’s how it should be. If everything was laid out to you on a board, there would be no anticipation of events to come. I would love to see some more of Adrian Cervante, by this author and no doubt there will be more to come. There is still the rest of his squad to be sorted.
I loved this book and the main character, Cervante, is believable and not too experience in some parts of the investigation and has to ask for help in those areas. Not a man who is afraid to ask. He believes in justice and will follow through with his mission. Great back story in Iraq, almost like the local tribesmen taking in the character played by Mark Wahlberg in Lone Survivor.
I received An ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
He has turned up at the wrong moment, to the family of ‘Prep’, as other events have been taking place in the town, which he knows nothing of. When he has to rethink his plan of delivery, he puts himself in the way of local law enforcement and seems to twist a few arms the wrong way. The father of Prep has died and the mother is suspicious of any mention of money. Cervante’s mixing with the family at the father’s funeral causes an affray and he ends up arrested.
The local lawyer he retains, helps with the questions he has about what has been happening and this causes Cervantes to investigate the father’s death and look at more issues within the town. This puts him in the sights of the corrupt local cops, local bruisers wanting revenge and finally the person behind the lumber mill’s takeover and the power plan behind the towns demise. Cervantes realises there is a conspiracy behind the lumber mills takeover and the towns livelihood and he will solve it the only way he knows.
He has to see justice served and will stay until he solves the conspiracy and can see Prep’s remaining family right. A great lead character, who you get to know the story of as you go through. Not everything it obvious from the start, but that’s how it should be. If everything was laid out to you on a board, there would be no anticipation of events to come. I would love to see some more of Adrian Cervante, by this author and no doubt there will be more to come. There is still the rest of his squad to be sorted.
I loved this book and the main character, Cervante, is believable and not too experience in some parts of the investigation and has to ask for help in those areas. Not a man who is afraid to ask. He believes in justice and will follow through with his mission. Great back story in Iraq, almost like the local tribesmen taking in the character played by Mark Wahlberg in Lone Survivor.
I received An ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
December 6, 2020
Cullinan, WA. Roadhouse. The old man didn’t stand a chance.
Vince Payden (26, oldest, ringleader), Jimmy Blaylock (22), & Tommy Blaylock (20) stole his truck.
Cullinan website. Adrian Cervantes (US Army 75th Rangers, 4th Battalion, Echo Company Sergeant, x 3 Iraq) had returned & had a mission to do. When he arrived, he thought this looked like a tourist town.
Adrian went to give Mrs. Marie Quinones the bad news about her son’s: Ricky Quinones (US Army 75th Rangers, 4th Battalion, Echo Company Sergeant, Iraq) & Eric Quinones.
Eric Quinones’s body had been found.
Adrian had to go before Judge Bach.
ADA Liz Weissel (prosecution) Virginia “Ginny” Hue (defense, Thurston County Legal Aid Society)
Adrian bailed out.
What were Virginia & Marie Quinones discussing over the phone?
Silverlane Payroll & Processing. What were Frank Gaulder (MBA), Deputy Sheriff Cam Slade (Thurston County), & Vince Payden discussing?
What was Adrian & Frank’s confrontation about?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written crime thriller book. It was extremely easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. I was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Vince Payden (26, oldest, ringleader), Jimmy Blaylock (22), & Tommy Blaylock (20) stole his truck.
Cullinan website. Adrian Cervantes (US Army 75th Rangers, 4th Battalion, Echo Company Sergeant, x 3 Iraq) had returned & had a mission to do. When he arrived, he thought this looked like a tourist town.
Adrian went to give Mrs. Marie Quinones the bad news about her son’s: Ricky Quinones (US Army 75th Rangers, 4th Battalion, Echo Company Sergeant, Iraq) & Eric Quinones.
Eric Quinones’s body had been found.
Adrian had to go before Judge Bach.
ADA Liz Weissel (prosecution) Virginia “Ginny” Hue (defense, Thurston County Legal Aid Society)
Adrian bailed out.
What were Virginia & Marie Quinones discussing over the phone?
Silverlane Payroll & Processing. What were Frank Gaulder (MBA), Deputy Sheriff Cam Slade (Thurston County), & Vince Payden discussing?
What was Adrian & Frank’s confrontation about?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written crime thriller book. It was extremely easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. I was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
December 1, 2018
This book starts of with a bang and just keeps going up hill from there. The story is about an Army Ranger named Adrian Cervantes. He is on his own personal mission to deliver large sums of money to the families of the men he served with in Iraq. Without giving anything away, he pretty much won't rest until he has achieved this goal. I kind of felt like this story had a little tinge of Rambo in there somewhere. It takes place in the Pacific Northwest, small town cops that are not the kindest to outsiders, etc. It's not a criticism of it, just a little vibe I got. Cervantes is definitely a force to be reckoned with as he works to bring those people to justice who are taking advantage of the townspeople, and murdering whoever gets in their way. With every turn of the page, the details start falling into place about what exactly is going on, building up to a very satisfying ending to this story. I look forward to learning more about Adrian Cervantes in the next book. He definitely has so much more to reveal about himself and his time in the war. I did receive an arc of this book for review and these are my honest opinions.
December 5, 2018
A very interesting plot that hopefully sets up a good series. Good story and characters, but the action and reactions may be a little unrealistic and naive.
December 2, 2021
A good book.
January 25, 2022
An interesting adventure novel, very much the kind of thing you’d buy in an airport to enjoy on a long flight. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
April 10, 2023
Fantastic
I thought this was a fantastic story. Full of suspense, intrigue and drama with some violence scattered throughout the story.
I thought this was a fantastic story. Full of suspense, intrigue and drama with some violence scattered throughout the story.
September 26, 2019
I very much enjoyed this novel and am finally turning my marginalia into a review!
What has stuck with me about Clearcut since finishing has been how well location and plot work together throughout. Cullinan is a portrait of so many declining American industrial towns, many of which are undergoing an identity crisis as that industry slowly disappears. Being from one of these towns myself (a coal town, not lumber) I was impressed at how well Mahoney captured the melancholy of these places, and how well he used the quiet panic of life in Cullinan to drive the narrative forward. Adrian Cervantes' task at the outset is simple enough, and had Ricky Quinones been from Seattle or Spokane the novel would have been over by page 8. But each protagonist or antagonist Cervantes encounters is a manifestation of some part of Cullinan--its beauty, its corruption, its pride, its history--and it's that collective shared narrative that makes these characters so compelling.
The characters sometimes fall into archetypes, but all do an excellent job of driving (and complicating) the plot to Mahoney's liking. I particularly enjoyed Payden's arc, which felt authentic given his situation. I didn't grow tired of Adrian, either, which can sometimes happen when I read something driven by a protagonist as calculated as he is. Virginia has a great "hell yeah" moment I won't spoil that was gratifying after watching her character develop.
Finally, again without spoiling anything, the ending is terrific and memorable.
Looking forward to reading the next installment!
What has stuck with me about Clearcut since finishing has been how well location and plot work together throughout. Cullinan is a portrait of so many declining American industrial towns, many of which are undergoing an identity crisis as that industry slowly disappears. Being from one of these towns myself (a coal town, not lumber) I was impressed at how well Mahoney captured the melancholy of these places, and how well he used the quiet panic of life in Cullinan to drive the narrative forward. Adrian Cervantes' task at the outset is simple enough, and had Ricky Quinones been from Seattle or Spokane the novel would have been over by page 8. But each protagonist or antagonist Cervantes encounters is a manifestation of some part of Cullinan--its beauty, its corruption, its pride, its history--and it's that collective shared narrative that makes these characters so compelling.
The characters sometimes fall into archetypes, but all do an excellent job of driving (and complicating) the plot to Mahoney's liking. I particularly enjoyed Payden's arc, which felt authentic given his situation. I didn't grow tired of Adrian, either, which can sometimes happen when I read something driven by a protagonist as calculated as he is. Virginia has a great "hell yeah" moment I won't spoil that was gratifying after watching her character develop.
Finally, again without spoiling anything, the ending is terrific and memorable.
Looking forward to reading the next installment!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews