End of Watch

Detective L.A. Franco Mysteries #5

by Baxter Clare

Francis M. Franco. Shot for three bucks and change. The only witness, his ten-year old daughter.

Thirty-five years later, that daughter is LAPD Lieutenant L.A. Franco. Tired of running, Frank realizes its time to either face the past or die by its long hand. In an effort to quiet her demons she returns home, to New York's Lower East Side. But the journey intended to rest old ghosts only resurrects them.

While visiting her mother's grave Frank is stunned to discover a lead in her father's long-unsolved murder. Aided by NYPD Detective Annie Silvester, Frank follows the lone clue down the unlit steps of memory to a final, unthinkable resolution.

In End of Watch, L.A. Franco at last kneels before Fate and in so doing becomes its master.

Genres: Mystery, LGBT, Lesbian, Crime

257 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2006

Reviews

[Baxter Clare Trautman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a delightful fan point out some traits of Frank that I had forgotten about between this, the 5th novel, and #6, which I am currently writing. Thought I'd better go back and remind myself about where Frank's been.

The best part? I've forgotten most of what I wrote so it's like discovering a new author! How fun!

[Irene Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful. To see LA start to clean up her act and to start realizing all she has sacrificed for her addiction was amazing. Also setting it in the place of her childhood and getting the closure she needed was gratifying for me. Definitely a great path to set her on. Can't wait for the next book!!!

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly liked how this book addressed Frank's attempt to find faith and belief as she tries to stay sober. It's a powerful look into the psychology of the character that is very moving.

[Ummi Shedd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course, I started with the 5th book lol

[Katia M. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll say 3.75 for this one. It would have been a full 4 but it took me a while to get into it. At first I thought it was just a change in what I was reading style wise, but the more I got in to it, the more I realised it was just a slow starter. I wasn't fully invested until about page 120. Franco is an unreliable narrator, a drunk who stuck a Beretta in her mouth one day and realised she'd hit bottom. She's haunted by the murder of her father, to which she was the only witness when she was 10 - aside from the killer. She's a cop, and and has been chasing the ghosts of the past her entire career.

The story tracks her first couple of months in recovery with AA along side the investigation of her father's cold-case in New York. We see her grow as a person, become less closed, more trusting. We see her try to pick up the pieces of her life and try to make some form of sense out of them. It does get a little preachy at some points, but it fits with the narration. The theme of Fate is pretty heavy throughout and that does work well with the conclusion. Although I did think the end was a little too convenient. As Franco would say, "What're the chances, huh?"

I liked the dialogue, it was true to character and flowed smoothly. Although it's just as well this half Australian-half English woman living in Yorkshire has watched plenty of Law and Order: SVU, or the phonetic spelling of dialect/accent might have tripped me up a bit. You get used to it though.

Overall, I enjoyed this. If you are after something you can savour and take your time reading, this is a good one.

[Margaret L. Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

I loved End of Watch by Baxter Clare. This is the last (?) book in the LA Franco series. Great book. Great series. Detective series with romantic interests.

[Caroline Hislop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series of books