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Brown and de Luca #4.5
Cry Wolf
Hey, I’m Rachel and just so you know up front, I’ve got a mouth on me. Not in public–when I can help it. Cussing is bad for the image of a bona fide guru of self-help, or that which I call “the bullsh*t I write.”
Only, I’m not so sure it’s bullsh*t, because in trying it out, I got my eyesight back after 20 years. Yeah, the corneal tissue came from a serial killer, and yeah, I started seeing his crimes. But still, eyesight.
I also have the hottest detective in the universe attached to my proverbial–and, okay, wider than I’d like–hip. I got his 2 nephews with the package and I couldn’t fu–freaking love Jeremy and Josh more if I was their mother, which I’m way too young to be.
That’s a lie, Rache. They’re twelve and eighteen. You’re thirty–
Don’t interrupt, Inner B*tch, I’m on a roll.
I also have my amazing bulldog, Myrtle. I understand her. She’s blind like I used to be.
And I got a little something extra with my cornea transplant. “It’s a blessing and a curse,” said the greatest TV detective ever.
Only my something extra was…let’s say down. And one of Josh’s sixth-going-into-seventh-grade pals has been kidnapped. The sick prick snatched him off his bicycle and left a note behind. “Wait for instructions.” Only none ever came.
What a time for my antennae to be out of whack!
So my wires are down, there’s a kid missing, I’m bathing in my pity pool, and things get even worse. A big celebrity psychic shows up to help the cops find the missing kid. In my town.
Yeah. No.
So there’s all that. But I’m out of room, so…just get the book, and I’ll tell you the rest.
NOTE: This is a 25,000-word novella. There will be a new Brown and de Luca Novel, GIRL BLUE later in 2019.
“Shayne has hit the jackpot with the pairing of self-help author Rachel de Luca and Detective Mason Brown. …she is a master storyteller.”
–RT Book Reviews on Innocent Prey, a Brown and de Luca Novel
#
#
“This is page-turning, non-stop suspense at its finest.”
–RT Bookclub on Deadly Obsession, A Brown and de Luca Novel
The Brown and de Luca Series
Sleep With the Lights On
Dream of Danger
Wake to Darkness
Innocent Prey
Deadly Obsession
Cry Wolf
and coming soon...
Girl Blue
Only, I’m not so sure it’s bullsh*t, because in trying it out, I got my eyesight back after 20 years. Yeah, the corneal tissue came from a serial killer, and yeah, I started seeing his crimes. But still, eyesight.
I also have the hottest detective in the universe attached to my proverbial–and, okay, wider than I’d like–hip. I got his 2 nephews with the package and I couldn’t fu–freaking love Jeremy and Josh more if I was their mother, which I’m way too young to be.
That’s a lie, Rache. They’re twelve and eighteen. You’re thirty–
Don’t interrupt, Inner B*tch, I’m on a roll.
I also have my amazing bulldog, Myrtle. I understand her. She’s blind like I used to be.
And I got a little something extra with my cornea transplant. “It’s a blessing and a curse,” said the greatest TV detective ever.
Only my something extra was…let’s say down. And one of Josh’s sixth-going-into-seventh-grade pals has been kidnapped. The sick prick snatched him off his bicycle and left a note behind. “Wait for instructions.” Only none ever came.
What a time for my antennae to be out of whack!
So my wires are down, there’s a kid missing, I’m bathing in my pity pool, and things get even worse. A big celebrity psychic shows up to help the cops find the missing kid. In my town.
Yeah. No.
So there’s all that. But I’m out of room, so…just get the book, and I’ll tell you the rest.
NOTE: This is a 25,000-word novella. There will be a new Brown and de Luca Novel, GIRL BLUE later in 2019.
“Shayne has hit the jackpot with the pairing of self-help author Rachel de Luca and Detective Mason Brown. …she is a master storyteller.”
–RT Book Reviews on Innocent Prey, a Brown and de Luca Novel
#
#
“This is page-turning, non-stop suspense at its finest.”
–RT Bookclub on Deadly Obsession, A Brown and de Luca Novel
The Brown and de Luca Series
Sleep With the Lights On
Dream of Danger
Wake to Darkness
Innocent Prey
Deadly Obsession
Cry Wolf
and coming soon...
Girl Blue
105 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2019
259 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
258 books2,575 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 4, 2019
I adore Rachel! I'm still convinced that I want to be Rachel when I grow up!
And I want Myrtle too!!! And Mason! And Josh and Jeremy! And, of course, Hugo!!!!
This was too short, but still good!
And I'm so happy that a new book in the series, Girl Blue, will be coming! Yeahhh!!!!
And I want Myrtle too!!! And Mason! And Josh and Jeremy! And, of course, Hugo!!!!
This was too short, but still good!
And I'm so happy that a new book in the series, Girl Blue, will be coming! Yeahhh!!!!
January 4, 2020
Twelve-year-old Josh Brown is shaken to find the bike that was ridden by his friend Hunter, laying in a ditch along the road. There is blood on the handlebars. Josh quickly calls his uncle for help. Mason Brown and Rachel de Luca arrive and find a note reading "wait for instructions". But Hunter's parents never receive a call. Rachel is upset because her psychic abilities seem to have left her just when they could come in handy for a case like this. She is also bothered that well-known psychic Natalia Davine has shown up to lend a hand to the police. Why is she bothered? Because Rachel believes she is a fraud. As the minutes tick by and nothing is heard from the kidnappers, Mason and Rachel work together to find Josh's friend.
I am so glad the Brown and de Luca series is back. Even though it's been a few years since the last book, reading this novella brought everything back to me. The characters are still fresh and Rachel is still as snarky as she was in the previous books. I love Rachel and Mason's relationship. I love Mason's nephews Jeremy and Josh. And, of course, I love Myrtle, everyone's favorite blind bulldog. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
I am so glad the Brown and de Luca series is back. Even though it's been a few years since the last book, reading this novella brought everything back to me. The characters are still fresh and Rachel is still as snarky as she was in the previous books. I love Rachel and Mason's relationship. I love Mason's nephews Jeremy and Josh. And, of course, I love Myrtle, everyone's favorite blind bulldog. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
Want to read
September 30, 2019 🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/30/2019)! 🎁
November 8, 2019
Originally Reviewed Bewitching Bibliophile
This is another of the quick stories that movies the overall story ahead while giving us a brief case to solve and letting us know more about Rachel & Mason. In this one Rachel and Mason are still rebuilding their home after the events of Deadly Obsession and living in an RV with the boys. It starts off at a local carnival with Josh hanging with his friends and having a blast. When it's time to head to home Jeremy who is heading off to college soon comes to get him with his new badass car. Events lead to them heading away from home and on the way there discover that one of the boys from the group has been taken.
The events play out and a well known psychic is brought in to find the boy which pisses Rachel off to no end; as she is feeling blocked in her NFP and is wondering if it's left her. There is a lot of growth that happens here for Rachel and I really enjoyed her realizing that not appreciating a talent can destroy it just as easily as if you actually physically destroyed it. Rachel is determined to prove that the psychic is a fraud and help find the kidnapped boy. Rachel hates the word 'psychic' and hates that the woman seems to be getting things right, while her "Not Fucking Psychic" knowing seems to be blocked. She's not jealous of the woman she just hates people who take advantage of the vulnerable and she's going to prove this woman is a scam. While she's not a fan of the psychic once she has a discussion she's given an idea of how to cultivate it and is shocked when it actually works.
How does Rachel balance her need to prove this woman wrong when it seems like her talents are being proven correct while Rachel herself is struggling to accept her gift and get it to work again. For a novella it packed a bit in and I loved it. I liked Rachel's progression and the discussion of therapy for the boys. It's good to see them coming together as a family.
I highly recommend it, normally I used to skip the novellas while reading a series, now that authors are sharing such good tidbits in between and letting it move the series forward I'm not skipping anymore.
★★★☆☆
This is another of the quick stories that movies the overall story ahead while giving us a brief case to solve and letting us know more about Rachel & Mason. In this one Rachel and Mason are still rebuilding their home after the events of Deadly Obsession and living in an RV with the boys. It starts off at a local carnival with Josh hanging with his friends and having a blast. When it's time to head to home Jeremy who is heading off to college soon comes to get him with his new badass car. Events lead to them heading away from home and on the way there discover that one of the boys from the group has been taken.
The events play out and a well known psychic is brought in to find the boy which pisses Rachel off to no end; as she is feeling blocked in her NFP and is wondering if it's left her. There is a lot of growth that happens here for Rachel and I really enjoyed her realizing that not appreciating a talent can destroy it just as easily as if you actually physically destroyed it. Rachel is determined to prove that the psychic is a fraud and help find the kidnapped boy. Rachel hates the word 'psychic' and hates that the woman seems to be getting things right, while her "Not Fucking Psychic" knowing seems to be blocked. She's not jealous of the woman she just hates people who take advantage of the vulnerable and she's going to prove this woman is a scam. While she's not a fan of the psychic once she has a discussion she's given an idea of how to cultivate it and is shocked when it actually works.
How does Rachel balance her need to prove this woman wrong when it seems like her talents are being proven correct while Rachel herself is struggling to accept her gift and get it to work again. For a novella it packed a bit in and I loved it. I liked Rachel's progression and the discussion of therapy for the boys. It's good to see them coming together as a family.
I highly recommend it, normally I used to skip the novellas while reading a series, now that authors are sharing such good tidbits in between and letting it move the series forward I'm not skipping anymore.
★★★☆☆
February 13, 2020
WHEN THE BOYS WERE AT THE CARNIVAL IN THE BEGINNING REMINDED ME OF “STAND BY ME”. I ENJOYED DELUCA AND HER CONVERSATIONS WITH HER INNER BITCH, FUNNY. THIS WAS A NOVELLA PREDICTABLE BUT VERY ENJOYABLE. ;D
March 3, 2024
3.5 for this one. I liked seeing some of the story told from Josh’s pov as he’s really not been given that kind of voice before. The mystery was actually pretty good although easily worked out early on. I also liked that (Again) Rachel’s ‘I am always right’ because of her ‘gift’ was questioned in this book. It’s nice to see her humbled a little. I still love her but boy this woman needs to know that no one is right 100% of the time!
This is a novella so a quick read, I did enjoy it but I’m not a fan of short stories and feel things get lost in them. Still it was a good read and can’t wait to jump into the next one.
This is a novella so a quick read, I did enjoy it but I’m not a fan of short stories and feel things get lost in them. Still it was a good read and can’t wait to jump into the next one.
April 28, 2020
Rachel DeLuca is asked to work with psychic Natalia DaVine to find a missing boy. Hunter went to the local carnival with friends and started home on his bike but he never got there. His bike was found in a ditch and blood was on the handlebars. Natalia thought he might be in a state forest and one of his sneakers was found near a trail. Rachel doesn’t believe Natalia is a psychic and is sure of it when she gets a vision of a map of the forest with a starred area marked in green glitter ink. Natalia uses a pen with green glitter ink when she signs out of her hotel. Coincidence? No way.
August 17, 2019
When Josh’s friends bike is found with blood on it Mason and Rachel are on the case! Rachel’s psychic powers are in the grit but when a “psychic” comes to town to help she’s furious and positive the woman is a fake. I absolutely love this series and this author! I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. This book can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend the series!
November 2, 2019
Rachel de Luca and boyfriend Detective Mason Brown are on the hunt for missing boy Hunter, abducted off his bike on his way home from a fair. Rachel has a gift, or a curse, depending on how you look at it, that she calls her NFP, but whatever it is, now is not the time to loose it. Follow the trail as they search for Hunter, following clues as Rachel's NFP starts to return.
November 14, 2019
This was a fun book. I love Maggie Shayne, so therefore, I liked the book.
This was about a boy that was kidnapped on his way home from a fair. Rachel is a, shall we say psychic, she has other words for it, but she helps find the young man.
This was a good short story. As I said, this was a fun book to read, and I love Myrtle.
This was about a boy that was kidnapped on his way home from a fair. Rachel is a, shall we say psychic, she has other words for it, but she helps find the young man.
This was a good short story. As I said, this was a fun book to read, and I love Myrtle.
November 17, 2019
NFP
Never been a better time to be NFP than when a child goes missing. A gift so long seen as a curse could be a blessing in disguise if she can just embrace it. This was an excellent albeit sad story. Very well written and definitely makes you wonder whether all gifts are good and whether they are worth utilizing.
Never been a better time to be NFP than when a child goes missing. A gift so long seen as a curse could be a blessing in disguise if she can just embrace it. This was an excellent albeit sad story. Very well written and definitely makes you wonder whether all gifts are good and whether they are worth utilizing.
March 29, 2019
OMG!!! This one is so good! “Just a novella,” she said. “Just a quick read,” she said. She forgot to say “freaking awesome!!!” One of the best Brown and de Luca stories yet. It’s a quick ride, but one worth taking. So buckle up, get int the car, and take a ride along!
March 31, 2019
This is a wonderful series, love Rachel
This is a wonderful series, love Rachel. Watching all the characters grow throughout the series is great, especially watching Rachel evolve either "NFP". Hearing her describe Myrtle is hilarious.
This is a wonderful series, love Rachel. Watching all the characters grow throughout the series is great, especially watching Rachel evolve either "NFP". Hearing her describe Myrtle is hilarious.
October 28, 2019
Cry Wolf was an amazing book to experience.
This book was absolutely beautifully written. It deserves more than 5 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone else who loves to read.
This book was absolutely beautifully written. It deserves more than 5 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone else who loves to read.
March 17, 2020
Interestting
This is firstly a crime novel. It is not a dry detailed crime novel though. It is full with an ironic snarky sense of humor, a clear direction, meaningful characters and a definite climax. An interesting engrossing story/book to read.
This is firstly a crime novel. It is not a dry detailed crime novel though. It is full with an ironic snarky sense of humor, a clear direction, meaningful characters and a definite climax. An interesting engrossing story/book to read.
June 18, 2020
Nancy
Cute book didn’t know it was so short. Love the main character and her inter BI as she calls it! , she has such great conversations with her self ! great series. Great mysteries in the series!
Cute book didn’t know it was so short. Love the main character and her inter BI as she calls it! , she has such great conversations with her self ! great series. Great mysteries in the series!
June 7, 2021
Fantastic short
Loved that it featured young Joshua a bit in this story. Nice family dynamic has settled into stories but Rachel hasn't lost any of her sarcasm and humor, maybe just tweaked into new direction.
Loved that it featured young Joshua a bit in this story. Nice family dynamic has settled into stories but Rachel hasn't lost any of her sarcasm and humor, maybe just tweaked into new direction.
January 13, 2026
Good mystery
This book is a nice update on Rachel, Mason, the boys, Myrtle and Hugo, plus bonus, it was a good mystery too. I really enjoy the Brown and de Luca books and look forward to more of their mysteries.
This book is a nice update on Rachel, Mason, the boys, Myrtle and Hugo, plus bonus, it was a good mystery too. I really enjoy the Brown and de Luca books and look forward to more of their mysteries.
March 20, 2019
I absolutely love this series. Rachel and Mason are awesome together. Myrtle is my favorite!!There is nothing about this series I don’t like. Can’t wait for the next book in August.
March 22, 2019
GREAT STORY
I love all books by Maggie Shayne I especially love the Brown and deLuca series.. I love her dogs and the boys.....
I love all books by Maggie Shayne I especially love the Brown and deLuca series.. I love her dogs and the boys.....
September 25, 2019
Cry Wolf
Great book. De Luca is not your usually hero. She has an Inner Bitch, she swears like there is no tomorrow and she has a heart of gold. I hope there will be more books.
Great book. De Luca is not your usually hero. She has an Inner Bitch, she swears like there is no tomorrow and she has a heart of gold. I hope there will be more books.
October 4, 2019
Cry Wolf (Brown and de Luca, #4.5) by Maggie Shayne
The books in this series are stand alone books. This novella is a great installment in this series. The characters are very likable and I enjoy reading about their exploits. A solid 4 stars.
The books in this series are stand alone books. This novella is a great installment in this series. The characters are very likable and I enjoy reading about their exploits. A solid 4 stars.
October 26, 2019
Interesting. Just a little short. Nice quick read.
November 12, 2019
Great series
This author doesn't disappoint. Maggie isn't happy being psychic but she acts as consultant to her detective, significant other. Must read
This author doesn't disappoint. Maggie isn't happy being psychic but she acts as consultant to her detective, significant other. Must read
Want to read
March 4, 20204 March 2020: $0.00 FREE on Kindle
July 20, 2021
This wasn't bad, a little predictable for me but still a decent entry in the series.
July 12, 2025
After reading this book , I want to go back and find out about her getting her sight back
July 13, 2025
This book was amazing, I really liked it a lot. Especially Myrtle bulldogs are great. The characters were awesome and the story out of this world. I can't wait to read more from Maggie Shayne.
April 1, 2020
A good shortish story to bring the characters back to life in preparation for the next book. It's been a little while since I read the last Brown and de Luca so it was a much needed refresher. Not a shocker if you've read much of the genre but good characterisation and thoroughly readable. Looking forward to the next book.
March 19, 2019
Maggie does it again with Rachel and Myrtle.
Rachel is a psychic..(cough cough) married to Officer Mason Brown..Sometimes she helps with his cases.But her gift seems a little out of whack..
Enter nationally known psychic Natalia DaVine.....To volunteer to help with a missing young boy case..
But this is Rachel's town..She is not happy, her inner bitch is really upset..
Is Natalia really what she says? Or does she have an agenda of her own?
Great next in the Brown and Deluca series..Can't wait for the next one..
Rachel is a psychic..(cough cough) married to Officer Mason Brown..Sometimes she helps with his cases.But her gift seems a little out of whack..
Enter nationally known psychic Natalia DaVine.....To volunteer to help with a missing young boy case..
But this is Rachel's town..She is not happy, her inner bitch is really upset..
Is Natalia really what she says? Or does she have an agenda of her own?
Great next in the Brown and Deluca series..Can't wait for the next one..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews