Fatal Blow

Sean Richardson #3

by James L. Thane

An unfaithful husband, an aggrieved wife, and a cunning plan for revenge that's too clever by half. What could possibly go wrong?

Becky Miller is stunned to discover that her husband, Walter, is having an affair with a scatter¬brained cocktail waitress. In retaliation, she devises a clever plan that will place her philandering husband squarely in the sights of both the police and the IRS before she divorces him and leaves him to the tender mercies of his dopey girlfriend. But as she sets her scheme into motion, things go tragically wrong and Becky winds up a victim of her own carefully-orchestrated plan. Shortly thereafter, a female torso floats to the surface of a Phoenix canal and the case is assigned to homicide detective Sean Richardson and his partner, Maggie McClinton. DNA tests confirm that the victim is Becky Miller. But what seems at first to be a fairly straight-forward investigation turns out to be much more complicated, and as their case becomes increasingly convoluted, Sean and Maggie must sort through the havoc that Becky Miller has left in her wake and somehow find the solution to an especially gruesome crime before anyone else pays the ultimate price for a scheme that’s gotten way out of hand.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Procedural, Crime

255 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2018

About the author

James L. Thane was born and raised in northwestern Montana and has worked as a janitor, a dry cleaner, an auto parts salesman, a sawyer, an ambulance driver and a college professor. While working as an historian, Thane wrote one non-fiction book and a number of magazine and journal articles. But he always loved reading crime fiction and so decided to take a crack at writing a suspense novel. The result was NO PLACE TO DIE, the first Sean Richardson novel. The next three, in order, are UNTIL DEATH, FATAL BLOW, and SOUTH OF THE DEUCE. Thane has also written two traditional mystery novels, CROSSROADS, which is set in Montana, and TYNDALL, which is set in South Dakota. He has also written two stand-alone thrillers, PICTURE ME GONE, which was released in 2022, and A SHOT TO THE HEART, which will be released on October 31, 2023.

Reviews

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fatal Blow is the third book in the Sean Richardson series and worked perfectly as a stand-alone novel for me.

When Becky Miller finds emails on her husband's computer which show he is having an affair she is shocked and then angered when she reads that the woman, he is having an affair with wants her out of the picture - for good! The cocktail waitress has given Becky's husband an ultimatum: she will end their relationship if Becky is still in the picture. This doesn't sit well with Becky and she decides to devise a plan to teach both a lesson. But how?

Phoenix homicide detective Sean Richardson and his partner Maggie McClinton are called in to investigate when a woman's torso is found floating in a canal. The body is missing the arms and head, so DNA evidence is gathered in order to identify the body. Around the same time, Becky Miller's husband has reported her missing after she fails to return home after book club. When the testing comes back from the lab, it is confirmed that the body belongs to Becky Miller.

This book is told through Becky in the past when she suspects and discovers her husband's infidelity and her plans to seek revenge; and through Detective Sean Richardson’s in the present as he investigates the case and works on his personal life. The differing chapters work nicely together and as Sean gets closer to the truth, we read Becky's thoughts and the steps she took to plot and implement her plan. A quote form Robert Burns came to mind while reading this: “The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.” translated to "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry."

So, what happened to Becky's plans? How did she go from being a shocked/angry wife to a murder victim floating in a canal? I enjoyed how we are shown how Becky's love of crime novels influenced her plot of revenge. As a reader, one might wonder, what might he/she have done? Should she have confronted her husband or filed for divorce? Did someone find out about her revenge plot? hmm..
As the truth comes out, it is evident that not everything is as it seems in this book. On the surface things look right but forensics tell a different tale in this book. You will have to read to learn what really happened!

I appreciated how this well written crime novel had equal amounts of backstory and present-day investigations. Often it feels as if a book is heavy on one or the other, but it was nice to read a book, where as I mentioned about, both parts worked nicely together. I found this helped move the book along at a nice pace and enhanced my reading enjoyment. How can things that seem so well thought out go so wrong?

I really enjoyed this crime novel and especially enjoyed watching as the detectives solved the case. Even if you figure out things early on, it is fun to watch the detectives do their job, interrogate suspects, track down clues, and interact with other forensic experts. I also enjoyed how the reader gets to know the detectives and what is going on in their personal lives, the investigation is the focus in this book. The issues in the personal lives do not take away from the professional demeanor or detective work. The police procedural part was straight forward, and everything made sense.

A great murder mystery/police procedural/crime book which does not disappoint!

I received a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars.
Dynamic, Intriguing and Suspenseful. An All-Around Great Read!

Becky Miller has been married to her husband Walter for years. Unfortunately, the passion left their relationship ages ago. Becky finds fulfillment in art shows, culture and her book club. Her husband Walter finds it in Cathy Stanton, his mistress. Walter has no plans to leave his wife however, she is quite wealthy and if he leaves, he loses everything. His girlfriend Cathy has had it, either get rid of the wife, or she out! Little does Walter know, Becky just found out about his affair and she’s not going to put up with it.

Sean Richardson and Maggie McClinton are Homicide Detectives. Upon finding a woman’s torso floating in a canal in Scottsdale, they have a heck of a time making an identification, seeing as the woman’s head and arms are unattached. Scouring missing persons reports, their investigation leads them to Walter Miller, whose wife Becky has been reported missing. Soon a DNA match is confirmed – it’s Becky Miller’s.

Told in two timelines with Becky Miller, before and Detective Richardson, after, this is a dynamic, intriguing and interesting novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. Becky Miller’s thoughts and suspicions are laid out in a very careful manner, while Detective Richardson’s investigation left me racing to finish. Though I had the novel figured out by around 35%, the story itself was laid out so well, that it didn’t take anything away from the mystery at all. This was a very quick fast-paced read which I finished in less than a day. While the ending was a bit far-fetched, I truly enjoyed it. Detective Sean Richardson is a multi-layered character who wears his heart on his sleeve and you can’t help but love him for it. This novel is part of the Sean Richardson Detective series but was my first read in this series – thankfully for me, it can definitely be read as a standalone.

When the author, James Thane approached me to read “Fatal Blow,” I accepted because he is a friend of mine on Goodreads and my book buddy, Kaceey had already accepted. I will admit however, that I was initially a bit hesitant to read the book due to what I perceived to be a controversial cover. What I learned is that the age old adage of “don’t judge a book by its cover” rings true. James Thane’s writing is absolutely masterful. Simply put, he is a brilliant storyteller. His writing flows extremely well and the suspenseful storyline immediately draws you in. In addition, his character development is spot on, and the character of Becky is fantastic.. her desperation, her need to know and her drive, it pulled me in like a fish on a reel and grabbed my attention from the very first second. I bring this up, simply because I want all of you to read this book. I am not saying this because James is my friend - I’m not that nice. This book is truly is THAT GOOD (it’s better than most popular author’s books out there, in fact). So please don’t hesitate - if offered this book, accept it or seek it out, you will not regret it.

A huge thank you to James Thane for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you also to my book buddy Kaceey for convincing me to read this. So glad we read this one! I had a great time.

Published on Goodreads and Amazon on 12.18.18.

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book three of the Sean Richardson series. Normally I take the logical approach, starting at the beginning of a series. But when the opportunity arose to read this latest release, I couldn’t pass it up.
No worries! This book reads easily as a stand-alone. I even had to remind myself that this was mid-series.

Do you fancy yourself an armchair detective? Think you can figure out all the turns before they happen? Well, all my fellow super sleuths… you’ve got your work cut out for you!

Becky Miller knows her marriage isn’t exactly smooth-sailing. She may have even somewhat fallen out of love with her husband. It happens sometimes.
But when Becky suspects her dear hubby of stepping out?Well... hell hath no fury! She’s going to see to it he’s sufficiently punished for that little transgression! But along the way, her twisted plan for revenge may have just taken a fatal turn.

Sean Richardson is a Phoenix homicide detective. Recently widowed, he’s hoping to piece his life back together after his own personal tragedy. There is equal measure of the personal and professional life of Detective Richardson revealed, and I enjoyed both sides. He’s an honest, likable man. An easily relatable character you can develop a real connection with.

James Thane writes a dark, gritty crime thriller that will grab and hold you throughout. He has the potential to become a top crime writer in the industry! His writing reels in the reader with an easy flow. The storyline was brilliant and twisted (though a bit gruesome!).

Once I started this book, that was it! I was all-in till the end, devouring the book in one day! I am very much a series reader and will be adding this series to my list and watching for his next release!

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to the author, James Thane for providing an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 What a wicked web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. The big question here is who is weaving the web, and who is doing the deceiving. When a torso of a body turns up, Sean and Maggie are assigned the case. At first it looks like a fairly easy solve, especially when Walter reports his wife missing, and dna evidence leads back to Becky. But, in this twisty case, looks as I said are deceiving.

Think anything you put on your computer is safe. Of course, those of us who watches the news know the answer is absolutely not. Unfortunately Walter didn't get the memo, and of course he underestimated the motivation of a woman scorned.

I enjoyed how this book was structured, we hear from the police investigation, and then we hear from Becky. It seems the conclusion is a foregone one, but for Sean and Maggie, things don't add up. They must make use of all their abilities to solve this one, and I found it interesting how they pieced things together. Looking forward to the next step in their further investgations.

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a tale as old as time: a woman realizes her husband is being unfaithful to her, and she needs to decide how to handle it. Does she confront him? Ignore the evidence, because at least he's some other woman's problem now? Or should she try to punish him for his transgressions?

When Becky Miller discovers that her husband Walter is having an affair with a cocktail waitress, she tries to figure out what her next move should be. After spying on the email communication between her husband and his mistress, when the woman's threats to end the relationship if he doesn't leave Becky turn to suggestions that they'd be better off if Becky were out of the picture, Becky realizes she needs to act—fast.

When a female corpse is fished out of a drainage canal, Phoenix homicide detective Sean Richardson and his partner Maggie McClinton need to figure out who she is and what happened to her—no mean feat given that the corpse is missing its head and arms. DNA tests reveal the corpse is Becky's, and after doing some digging, her husband is identified as the leading suspect in her apparent murder.

But while it seems like a fairly open-and-shut case, despite Walter's vehement protests of innocence, there are definitely some anomalies that Sean and Maggie can't figure out. The deeper they dig, the more complicated the case actually becomes. It turns out Becky, who is quite the fan of crime novels, created a scheme or two before her apparent death. And as both Sean and Maggie deal with personal challenges of their own, this case is more work than they bargained for.

I really enjoyed this book and found it both a compelling crime novel and a well-written story to boot. I figured things out before the facts started to be revealed but found myself devouring the book anyway, as I wanted to find out how James Thane wrapped everything up.

While this is the third book in Thane's Sean Richardson series, it's the first one I've read, and I'll definitely be going back to read the first two books. I really enjoyed these characters and their complexities—Thane drew them as much more detailed than your typical detectives. In particular, Sean had some emotional issues to deal with, but they didn't leave him damaged or brooding, just trying to cope and move on, and that made his character refreshing.

Fatal Blow is a well-told, solid, and compelling crime novel as well as an enjoyable character study. You might not have heard of Thane or read any of his books, but if you're a fan of this genre, you should add him and this series to your reading list.

The author provided me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.

[Kemper · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s another brutally hot summer day in Phoenix, and homicide detective Sean Richardson has to spend it fishing a headless and armless torso out of a canal. The only good news is that it still has the feet including a toe ring, and this clue leads Sean and his partner to suspect that a missing housewife, Becky Miller, is probably the victim and her cheating husband looks awfully guilty.

In the interest of full disclosure I need to note that James Thane is a longtime friend of mine here on Goodreads so I’m not even gonna try to pretend that this is an objective review. Please take my word that if it stank I’d just quietly ignore it, but fortunately it’s pretty good so I can talk about it.

There’s two parallel stories at work in this. One is the first person narration from Richardson which mixes a straight-up realistic police procedural with some on-going developments in his personal life which has been built up over the last couple of books. The other third-person story focuses on Becky in the weeks leading up to the discovery of the body in the canal. Regular readers of crime fiction can probably guess where the story is going yet there’s a couple of good twists and turns in there, and the ending was a nice surprise.

Overall, it’s a solid piece of crime fiction that has a good page turning vibe to it, and while it’s obviously a little gory with the whole chopped up body in the canal thing it doesn’t wallow in that like some books would. It’s also got an interesting shifting tone to it. The police stuff is a straight line narrative that you might see on something like Law & Order, but the Becky plot dealing with the crime has a much messier and emotional feel to it. It’s an unusual way to play it, but I particularly enjoyed Becky’s story which had a lot of clever crime elements. There’s also some nice detail work done that makes the reader really feel the desert heat as the characters roam around the city.

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third novel in the Sean Richardson series of police procedurals is the best, and the two others—No Place to Die and Until Death—are excellent entertainments as well. Sean Richardson is a no-nonsense detective, relentless in his pursuit of the facts, and his creator Thane writes the way Richardson detects: he unhurriedly accumulates a body of evidence through the examination of divergent narratives, until—at last—the revelation of truth shines through.

The plot begins simply enough, from the point of view of Becky Miller. Becky, no longer finding her now-fat husband Walter attractive, has deprived him of the comforts of the marriage bed. Nevertheless, when she finds he’s found relief in the arms of a cocktail waitress named Candy, she is offended, and outraged, and begins to plot an elaborate revenge. But then, after a brief chapter, we shift point of view, and begin to see things through the eyes of Detective Richardson of the Phoenix Police Department. He and his partner Maggie McClinton have been assigned a new case: a “floater,” in the CAP Canal, a “female torso” with “no head or arms.”

The points of view of the novel alternate between Becky the plotter and Sean the investigator, and then, about forty pages into the novel, we learn that DNA has identified the “torso” woman: it is none other than Becky Miller. After that, the points of view continue to shift, as we follow Becky—in the past—set her plot in motion, and Sean—in the present—discerning the traces of Becky’s plot, beginning to see how the whole darn revenge scheme went wrong.

I love this novel for the way James Thane subtly and carefully arranges his details so that the Becky and Sean narratives continually compliment and enrich each other without any needless repetition. I’m a difficult man to please, for, as a general rule, I dislike such alternation of points of view in mystery novels, for I believe they take the emphasis away from the detective hero himself and his or her quest—which iswhere the emphasis belongs . Here, though, the effect is more like a duel taking place in two different time periods, or two tunes which—when juxtaposed-- reveal themselves as one rhythmically unified, achronological dance.

Forgive me for getting so philosophical here. Fatal Blow deserves better than that. I might use a word like “achronological,” but Thane is too good a writer to use pretentious words like that. He merely shows you the facts—Becky’s facts, Sean facts—and lets you draw your own conclusion. But I bet your conclusion will be the same as mine: Fatal Blow is an excellent mystery novel, worthy of your time and attention.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually read series in order but I seem to have stepped into this one at #3. Not that it mattered as the book stood well on its own although I assume reading the other books first would have given Sean and his offsider more depth.

Never mind because I liked them as characters anyway and I especially enjoyed Sean's calm and reflective approach to his work. The way the author alternated the police progress in the case with chapters showing the reader what really happened was very well done. Becky's chapters were so good. I loved her cool attitude and her brilliant organisation. It was a pity it all went so wrong for her.

All in all this was a very readable mystery, cleverly written with lots of clues for the reader along the way. There is a very interesting example of why DNA is not the answer to everything and some useful hints on spying on your partner if you are into that kind of thing!

Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

James L Thane's third novel featuring detectives Sean Richardson & Maggie McClinton works extremely well as part of the series, & as a great stand alone novel. Thane's narrative flows incredibly smoothly & each character is beautifully brought to life.
Telling the story in alternate past & present timelines racks up tension that even Alfred Hitchcock would have been proud of. Thane continues to develop his detective's private lives, but keeps the main focus on the investigation & the result is another great crime novel.

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent page-turner from James Thane. I was a bit put off in the beginning by the insertion of the wife's POV, but as the story unfolded leading to an ethically challenging ending, it made a lot of sense and fit right in. I won't give away anything by summarizing the plot; just read it.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, like many other goodreads readers, I'm more than a little familiar with this author. Though we've never met, I feel an affinity that probably makes my review somewhat biased, however, I am pleased that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so therefore can write a positive review that feels genuine.

There are two parallel stories here, one that is told from the perspective of the Phoenix PD, and the two principal detectives, Sean Richardson and his partner, Maggie McClinton, working the case of a murder victim's body (torso, really, sans head and arms), found in the CAP canal. Living here in the desert southwest, I'm very familiar with the Phoenix area and enjoyed Mr. Thane's obvious knowledge of the environs in which he sets his story. Sean goes about his police work very methodically, and we also get a view into his personal life, as he finally begins to put the death of his wife behind him and becomes ready to emotionally move on with a new female companion.

The other story, certainly related, focuses (using the third person voice) on an intelligent woman called Becky Miller, who discovers that her husband has become involved with another woman. Becky's story involves a rather complicated and ill-judged plan to teach her wayward husband a lesson he won't soon forget prior to hitting him with divorce papers. But, as so often happens, the best laid plans go awry, and Becky finds herself in an ever deepening hole where one bad decision leads to another.

And it is here that my only real nit to pick occurs. I question whether Becky's character really could/would have committed some of the behaviors that propel her story forward. It didn't feel true to the character that the author had created, but the story required it, and every work of fiction asks the reader for some degree of forgiveness when credulity is bruised. Granted, I say.

As the investigation continues, and the apparent & obvious becomes less and less likely, the case grows increasingly more puzzling for Sean and Maggie. Though the plot is clever, it's within reach to deduce prior to the ending. Nevertheless, Sean is a pleasant character and I'm glad to see him inhabit several books in a series. He is the kind of detective that remains professional yet sympathetic, and Thane does a good job of letting the reader in on the character's personal life and the very human need for connection, in a job that makes that somewhat difficult.

I've read two of the books in this series and have enjoyed both very much. I believe this genre and this character are in Thane's wheelhouse and hope he decides to produce another Sean Richardson novel in the future. So, my bias disclosed, I raise a glass of Jameson to James Thane and wish him well, and wish anyone interested in a good murder mystery to give this series a try. Enjoy.

[Marty Fried · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, and didn't want to put it down once it got going. I began to suspect what was going on fairly early on, but wasn't really sure, and it was still interesting to see the details. When books have twists like this one, you never know when another one is around the corner.

The telling of the story was very straight-forward; in fact, I found myself thinking of the narrator, Sean Richardson, with a voice of Joe Friday (from the early TV series Dragnet). Kind of a just-the-facts-ma'am kind of guy, except he also had a personal life. I personally thought it was a bit too serious, and needed something like a wise-cracking sidekick or something to keep him from taking himself too seriously. Or, maybe a little more happening to keep the book from being too one-dimensional. It would have made a good audiobook though, since it was pretty easy to follow, without too many characters.

But aside from that, the story was entertaining and complete. There were no loose ends, and it seemed pretty realistic, if you can believe a seemingly sane woman would do some of these things. But who says she was actually sane? She was an avid reader, and member of a book club that discussed the books, so perhaps she just got too many ideas from books like Gone Girl.

If you want a fairly quick and easy read for a trip or weekend, this would be a good one. And as an added bonus, the author is active here on Goodreads, and is very approachable - and an all-round nice guy.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive.”

For the first few pages, it seemed that Thane was going to give us a fairly straightforward police procedural, a solid, satisfying read. Well, Fatal Blow is solid and quite satisfying, but the mystery is not straightforward. Of course I can't tell you anything about the plot, beyond--he cheats; she plans a revenge; someone dies--without giving away too much. And there is much in the way of twists and turns and just some wild crazy shit that someone gets her/himself into. Thane takes us back and forth between perspectives, between crime-solving and crime doing (or perhaps 'stepping into crime'), which is an approach I enjoy, seeing things unfold/fall-apart on both sides of the crime puzzle.

Thane's characters are solid and believable. Poor Walter (the cheating husband)! He's an asshole, ok, granted, but just your basic asshole. Even detectives Richardson and McClinton find themselves having trouble not believing him, despite all the evidence piling up against him. Becky Miller, the jilted wife, is too clever by half; what a hash she makes of things. At the same time, as readers, we can see how she gets herself in, can't figure out how to dig herself out. What I like here, character-wise, is that while Thane does bring us into Richardson's life a bit--pretty necessary in mystery fiction these days--he doesn't allow that to overshadow the story itself; it's more a bit of a window into the guy that a main focus.

Read this. You'll like it!

[aPriL does feral sometimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am still sitting here feeling a bit stunned after I turned the last page of the third Phoenix detective Sean Richardson mystery, ‘Fatal Blow’ by James L. Thane. Wow! I did not expect that finish to this twisty procedural. Gentler reader, this is a very very different story than what I had been expecting. And, to tell the truth, I am quite a bit in awe of one of the characters. However, the thought crossed my mind that that character inadvertently put in motion kind of a Rube Goldberg machine of murder, so stupidly cleverly! Thane has written a very cool character study of a sort.

I have copied the book blurb:

”An unfaithful husband, an aggrieved wife, and a cunning plan for revenge that's too clever by half. What could possibly go wrong?

Becky Miller is stunned to discover that her husband, Walter, is having an affair with a scatterbrained cocktail waitress. In retaliation, she devises a clever plan that will place her philandering husband squarely in the sights of both the police and the IRS before she divorces him and leaves him to the tender mercies of his dopey girlfriend. But as she sets her scheme into motion, things go tragically wrong and Becky winds up a victim of her own carefully-orchestrated plan.

Shortly thereafter, a female torso floats to the surface of a Phoenix canal and the case is assigned to homicide detective Sean Richardson and his partner, Maggie McClinton. DNA tests confirm that the victim is Becky Miller. But what seems at first to be a fairly straight-forward investigation turns out to be much more complicated, and as their case becomes increasingly convoluted, Sean and Maggie must sort through the havoc that Becky Miller has left in her wake and somehow find the solution to an especially gruesome crime before anyone else pays the ultimate price for a scheme that’s gotten way out of hand.”


It is not the main characters Sean and Maggie who held my interest in this book - it is Becky Miller. The chapters switch back and forth between Sean and Maggie’s investigation, and Becky Miller’s point of view. She is one of the few characters created by an author in a novel where one could say, “she is too clever for her own good.”

There are continuing personal life issues of the two main protagonists which thread through all three novels, but I think this book could be read as a standalone.

[Kaiju Reviews · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm torn on how to proceed with the review for Fatal Blow. I elected to receive a free copy from Goodreads, not realizing that it wasn't a professionally written or published book. Additionally, as having copies printed and given away probably cost the author a decent chunk of change, I felt obligated to finish it and to try to offer some form of constructive criticism. So this will be a radical departure from the other reviews I've written.

Writing a novel is hard work. And James Thane has done it here. For that alone, good for you James. Seriously. Most people have not written a novel. And honestly, if you enjoy the process, I'd say keep at it. But remove the possibility of 'success' from your list of hopes and dreams - not because success isn't possible, but instead because if that's why you're writing, you'll continue on this vanity press bandwagon, which isn't helping you at all. Instead, here's what you do. When you finish your next novel, instead of printing it and setting up publicity giveaways, and spending all that time to get cover blurbs and stuff, rewrite it. Then, rewrite it again. Then workshop it. Join a writers group and have them tear it to pieces and then rewrite it again. Then put it in a box, put the box in your closet, and start again. Do this until someone you trust - someone you really trust - says - "Wow, James, I think this might be the one..." then try to sell it to a publisher or get an agent.

That said, I'm deeply respectful of anyone who has the willpower and discipline to sit down and crank out a few books. But I'm going to continue on and critique the work here...

Fatal Blow is easily the worst book I've ever read. But, it's also the first vanity press book I've ever read, so maybe in that space its top tier, I don't know. Compared to a professional book (even a bad one), this is a complete mess. And I'm not even going to go on about punctuation and spell check and word usage and stuff like that - there are a ton of errors here, but that's not the problem, the problems are much bigger.

Sean Richardson, I guess he's the main character, is so boring as to almost be an afterthought. There is virtually nothing going on in or around him that is even remotely interesting. The 'mystery' at hand - which isn't a mystery since Mr. Thane reveals what's happening with an alternate point of view - is as interesting as reading a grocery list - and depending on the shopper, maybe even less interesting. There is a huge twist at the end in that there's no twist at all. Parents, if you have a child that wants to be a detective when they grow up and that scares the hell out of you, nothing makes being a detective seem more boring than this. Actually, cool twist idea: Richardson is a robot! That would explain some of the repetition and the flat emotionless dialogue.

For any potential customer that might actually consider purchasing and reading this book, unless you are a close friend of Mr. Thane and just want to support him, do not buy this. Actually, even if you are a close personal friend, still don't buy this, that sends the wrong message. Fatal Blow has absolutely no business being for sale, and enabling the writer with a purchase only reinforces this false conception that when you type that last word you're done... you're not. You've just begun.

There's really nothing else to say on it. I wish James L. Thane the best and hope he continues to hone his craft (in private). And I'm sorry I elected to receive a free copy of this book, it would have been better served in the hands of a writer's group - which I hope he joins - in exchange for notes on a second draft.

[Jim Thomsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

FATAL BLOW, the third novel in James L. Thane's series featuring Phoenix homicide detective Sean Richardson, works marvelously as a procedural, and is most compelling at the granular-detail level. The setup is ingenious, involving three people: a husband, his wife and his mistress. Both women are missing, then one is found dead — but without her head or arms. Who did what to who, and how, and why, and who will be punished for it? Those question will keep you on the hook until the very last page, and the eventually unfolding details of an ingenious double-cross are cleverly constructed.

FATAL BLOW has some drawbacks, however. One, the story is entirely about the initial questions, and the investigation into them. Little happens to escalate the stakes or suspense, however; there's no sense of a ticking clock or a threat of more killings. That has a flattening effect on the final third or so of the story, as does the flatness of the prose. The writing is colorless and anodyne, full of tell-don't-show sentences and bereft of texture or originality of voice. Nothing about it elevates the pulse or engenders an emotional bond with the characters, and this bland approach limits the book's appeal. An example:

"Alone in her car, Becky finally surrendered to the storm of emotions swirling within her. For ten minutes, she sat, sobbing uncontrollably. Then, feeling thoroughly spent, she wiped her face with a couple of tissues and forced herself to focus again on the tasks at hand.

Worse, the same approach extends to the dialogue, giving the sense that every character speaks in the same stentorian voice: “No. It was clear that the gift came from the heart and with no strings attached. In some cases, I’m sure, a guy might do something like that in an effort to demonstrate that he’s still the alpha male in his little girl’s life and he might try to use it as a means of exerting control over his daughter and her husband. But it wasn’t like that with John. He’s a real salt-of-the-earth kind of a guy who pulled himself up by the bootstraps and became a huge success. But for all of that, he’s very modest and self-effacing, and he insists that a lot of his success was due to good luck as much as anything else."

That said, it cannot be said that FATAL BLOW does not ultimately succeed at what it sets out to do — create an absorbing and completely plausible procedural puzzle with authoritative knowledge and brisk page-turning confidence. If you're fine with that and OK without the extra textures and original touches that engender series loyalty and repeated re-reads at the Michael Connelly level, you'll find FATAL BLOW a fine enough novel.

[Aravind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another worthy entry to the Sean Richardson series which, so far, has been excellent in terms of characterisation, plots, and general storytelling. Unlike the first two novels, there is no serial killer here. The torso of a woman washes up the canal and all clues point to the husband as the killer. But, as the detectives delve deep, the case turns into something else altogether, with a very clever woman at the centre of it all. The reader gets to know what has happened early into the novel, but what makes it interesting is the 'how' of it, which unfolds slowly with each passing chapter. Parallelly, the detectives, Sean and Maggie, have moved forward in their respective lives, maintaining continuity with the previous books in the series. I do not know about other readers, but I could not help being reminded of Gone Girl while reading this book. That said, Fatal Blow holds its own as an engaging thriller.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third reading (June 2025). Has it really been 4.5 years since I read this last?! Still highly satisfying, and I still want to be Becky Miller when I grow up.


Second reading (Dec 2020). This remains one of my favourites: plot twists, revenge, murder, strong and intelligent female characters - what's not to love? Maybe just the book cover. I've recommended this one to a number of people but I always have to preface my recommendation with a disclaimer to ignore the tacky and totally misleading cover.

[Ron Chicaferro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real stunner! Unlike any other police procedural - it's an exceptional plot and the story is perfectly written - James Thane deserves high praise for keeping the reader glued to the book - Detective Sean Richardson and his partner Maggie McClinton are tearing their hair out in this case - but just what kind of case is it? Murder? Missing person? Fraud? There are lots of clues but the frustration level is through the ceiling - the reader will have to decide on their own who to believe and who is lying. The story takes place in and around the Phoenix area, and, like me, if you are from this area you will see the name of your favorite restaurant or bar and the name of streets that you drive down. It makes the story that much more fun and enjoyable - but have no fear - if you're not from this area you will still have fun trying to figure out just what the heck is going on! Two thumbs up!!

[Fred Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third read by Goodreads friend James Thane and I must say it is the best of them. Same linear, crisp clear writing style which I enjoy, and good character development - not only of the "heroes" but the "villains" as well. (In quotes since I suppose it is all relative to one's perspective.)

Interesting red herrings as the story unfolds, employed in a delightful manner. If you predict the ending you will be doing far better than I did, which certainly added to my enjoyment. If you do manage to figure it out, I think you will still find it a worthy journey.

[Nan Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another most enjoyable read from James Thane!

Again, he grabbed my attention from page one and kept me enthralled through the finale.

With the same setting and the same detectives as his previous two, this one is a delightful tale of the plotting of revenge and how that, ultimately, misfired! Great twists and turns!

Characterization, character development and plot sequences were excellent. It got a bit bogged down in the 2nd half with all the shenanigans of the perp; but then, I guess that was the logical sequel to unexpected developments she encountered.

There was no fluff nor filler, just telling the tale in a very straightforward manner.

Highly recommended murder mystery.

[Michael Martz · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Thane's 'Fatal Blow' is a nice addition to his Richardson series. Sean Richardson and Maggie McClinton, the two detectives who drive the action, are both competent, likable, and realistic. Thane's done a nice job fleshing out their characters as the series has progressed. Their 'home' territory, Phoenix, sounds like a nice place to avoid over the summertime.

The detectives catch an interesting case when a woman's body, sans head and hands, is found floating in a Phoenix canal. Despite the missing body parts, they quickly nail down some candidates for the deceased identity and begin an investigation that gets curious-er and curious-er by the page. DNA helps identify the victim, whose husband had reported her missing a short time before. However, the detectives discover evidence that points to the husband as a suspect. He's eventually arrested but strange discoveries continue to take place. Is justice eventually served? You'll need to read it to find out.

Sean narrates much of the book but part of the story is told through one of the other major characters. I thought this was a pretty effective technique. From Sean, you're getting the forensic approach and evidence, along with the ongoing hypotheses the detectives are attempting to prove or disprove as they work the case, while the narration shift provides the background of what really took place.

Fatal Blow is well-plotted and although the conclusion wasn't entirely satisfactory it at least made sense. Thane's writing is competent, though I think dialogue remains a weakness. This is a nice series and I hope there's more to come.

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid police procedural after a torso and legs are discovered in the canal in Phoenix - told in two alternating timeframes to allow the narrative to unfold. Some more personal background to the lead investigator, now 18 months after the death of his wife, but not enough to intrude into the core story.
Enjoyed this one.

[Lawrence FitzGerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good prose, decent characterization, decent world building, good story, no theme.

I believe that I had already read this. Maybe 10 years ago. I didn't remember the story at all. What I remembered was sentences, turns of phrase. How good is that?! I said he wrote well. This is the fourth novel I've read by Thane and I have liked them all.

Hmmm.

[Albert Riehle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another satisfying entry in the Sean Richardson Series from James Thane. This one involves an intricate and nuanced plot and the continuation of character development that connects this entry to the other books really well.

The arc of our protagonist continues to grow as he starts to learn to live again after the loss of his wife (not a spoiler, it pre-dates book 1). The chapters where Sean Richardson tries to navigate his personal life are interspersed nicely and add a nice rich depth to the story. Possibly due to the demands of the way the story is told, we don't get much from his partner Maggie in this book, which is a shame. The rest of the squad is absent entirely. Hopefully, future installments will make up for that and help make more of these characters feel like old friends.

My only real "complaint" about this book is that there's, what I would call, a big "Gone Girl" element to this book. It's not the same, but it has enough similarities that I wish it had been called out. There was a point when Thane seemed to subtly try to do so, mentioning that the character was acting like a character from one of her Book Club mystery/thrillers, but it came pretty late, felt like an add-on and again, was done subtly rather than called out specifically which I think would have been a way to say to the reader, "Hey, I'm not trying to pull one over on you here. I know this shares some things with GG but it's not, it's more about the way a person might think in a post-GG world." This would help strengthen the way one of the main characters acts so rashly. One of the main questions you'll ask yourself is why does the female lead act so stupidly? If she goes into book mode, which would be understandable for someone in a book club who loves mysteries, it hammers home her motivations.

As always though, it's just a minor point of contention in an otherwise smooth read. It's well-paced and interesting. The peripheral characters are well rounded and well-drawn. And the plot, which must have been tricky to write, was carried out flawlessly. Another easy book to recommend.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal Blow (2018) is James Thane's third detective novel. It's been a pleasure to see his growth over those three books, from a solid start in No Place to Die (2010) through the better Until Death (2011), to this crisp, inventive, and compelling novel with a message: crime may not pay, but it sure is interesting.

Thane's novels take place in Phoenix, Arizona, where PPD Detectives Sean Richardson and Detective Maggie McClinton are on the job. We begin with a two-character vignette. Walter and Becky Miller are late-thirtyish and have been married fourteen years. Over the years, as the fat has gone onto Walter the bloom of passion has faded from Becky. They (well, she) now have an understanding: she won't let him touch her. But, of course, Walter's willy has its needs, and we watch over her shoulder as Becky discovers emails suggesting that Little Bill has not retired. Revenge, Becky knows, is a dish best served cold.

A headless and limbless female torso is found floating in one of Phoenix's canals (I lived in Phoenix as a toddler in 1947 and I recall the frequent warnings about those ubiquitous and deadly canals). Yes, DNA says that the torso is Becky's, and the attention naturally goes to poor Walter, whom we can almost hear exultantly shouting "Free Willy!" in the background. But the physics of fiction demand that early identification of a culprit is wrong identification. So we read on to test that hypothesis.

There is no indication of use of force in Becky's abduction—her car is found in a parking lot with no signs of a scuffle and no unusual DNA. This points the finger at an acquaintance who could entice Becky out of the car. Becky's arms and legs remain on a walkabout so they can shed no light on her death other than suggesting it wasn't suicide. Strangely, the "other woman" has also disappeared. Walter Miller says "I know nada" and the mystery deepens. The detectives are very confused by it all, but, as we know, fiction requires resolution.

Gradually we realize that Becky is a very smart woman who has thought of (almost) everything.

Thanks, James Thane. Keep it up!

4½ Stars.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell hath no fury..... clever book! A woman whose husband has cheated on her decides to get even by disappearing and making it look as though he is somehow involved in her disappearance. In the first chapter this plan is laid out quite clearly. Becky Miller is dissatisfied with her college sweetheart who was a jock and she a cheerleader when they met and fell in love and married. As the time went on, Walter Miller allowed himself to grow a bit flabby and otherwise unattractive. They've moved into separate bedrooms and Becky, who has bank-rolled his businesses, has cut off all physical contact. Walter has found a cocktail waitress to satisfy his needs, both physical and ego. So the two of them continue to live a congenial if bland relationship. Then, Becky finds an email from Cathy Stanton that totally rocks her equilibrium. Hence the plot!

Second chapter, Sean Richardson and his partner, Maggie catch a case. The torso of a woman has been found in the CAP canal near Phoenix. Around the same time, Walter has reported his wife missing to the police. Fairly soon the evidence appears to indicate the body is that of Becky Miller!

From then on, the chapters alternate between Becky carrying out her plans until her disappeance and the investigation into her death. This plotting keeps the story moving and interesting. But halfway through the book, a sudden twist takes everyone down a totally different path. As to the ending--well, let's just say, life goes on.

The best of the series thus far--On to the next installment.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

"the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" as Becky Miller tragically finds out when she seeks revenge against her philandering husband. I am not a fan of multiple POVs and alternate timelines and first person narration. But James does it well. In Parallel, Sean's personal story develops, but it doesn't overpower the main detective story line.

It was a page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the killer plants false trails, though they were completely implausible. Also, how did the killer hide the head of the corpse? I don't know if it was mentioned anywhere and I haven't skipped any pages.

I have read the first book, but missed the 2nd one. I have to get to that book sometime soon.

[Timothy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed beginning the new year with "Fatal Blow". James L. Thane has the ability to write mysteries of crimes committed in the heat of Phoenix, Arizona. His third book “Fatal Blow” is entertaining with well-developed characters. The action never stops using alternating viewpoints in chapters from detectives to suspects. His research and knowledge of the canals and police procedure keep the story moving smoothly. The clues left for the reader skillfully keep you aggressively in pursuit along with Phoenix P.D. Detectives Sean Richardson and Maggie McClinton.

[Don Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3 1/2). Sean Richardson is such a good guy, he has been in the first two installments of this franchise and he continues on. This story starts off as a stunner, is easily figured out, only to hook you in with an ongoing, improbable direction. Jim Thane is one of those not quite rockstar authors who is nothing but rock solid. I understand we will have a new book of his the end of the year. Put him on your must read list, he is definitely on mine. Good stuff.