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Carson Ryder #3
The Broken Souls
Note: This is the UK title. The Broken Souls is published in the US as A Garden of Vipers.
A brilliant new psychological serial killer thriller featuring homicide detective Carson Ryder, hero of the bestselling 'The Hundredth Man' and 'The Death Collectors.'
A brilliant new psychological serial killer thriller featuring homicide detective Carson Ryder, hero of the bestselling 'The Hundredth Man' and 'The Death Collectors.'
533 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
35 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
About the author
Jack Kerley
22 books238 followersAKA J.A. Kerley
John Albert Kerley is an American author. He spent 20 years in a successful advertising career before writing his first book, The Hundredth Man.
He currently lives in Newport, Kentucky, and is married with two children. He enjoys the outdoors, particularly fishing.
He is the author of the acclaimed Alabama-set series of Carson Ryder novels
John Albert Kerley is an American author. He spent 20 years in a successful advertising career before writing his first book, The Hundredth Man.
He currently lives in Newport, Kentucky, and is married with two children. He enjoys the outdoors, particularly fishing.
He is the author of the acclaimed Alabama-set series of Carson Ryder novels
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
October 17, 2010
I enjoyed this one so much that halfway thru reading it ( yes I actually have the book) I searched online and found a used book vendor through Alibris that had really cheap, slightly used, copies of all Jack Kearlys books for sale. Three days after finishing Garden of Vipers, I have started the paperback Blood Brother which is going to bring brother Jeremy back into the story...any one that's read the earlier Carson novels knows to shiver at the thought of Jeremy. I'm off all week and reading is high on my list of pleasures.
May 29, 2017
Excellent book, thoroughly enjoyed. Read some time ago but would happily read again!
November 7, 2015
Three and a half stars. Not my favorite Carson Ryder novel, but still a solid, enjoyable read. The climax was very good.
June 22, 2016
AUTHOR...
Jack Kerley
CHARACTERS..
Carson Ryder, Danielle Danbury (Dee Dee) , Harry Nautilus, Pace Logan, Crendell, Buck Kincannon, Nelson Kincannon, Racine Kincannon, Lucas, Maylene Kincannon, Rudolnick, Clair Peltier, Carole Ann Hibney, Frederika Holtkamp, Taneesha Franklin and others...
LOCATION..
Mobile City (USA)..
GENRE..
Thriller...
PLOT...
THREE MUTILATED CORPSES...
TANEESHA FRANKLIN.....was found inside the open door of Mazda car, tumbled across the transmission hump, head on passenger seat. Her nose appeared to be broken. Her lower lip was torn. There were wounds across her torso, her blouse glossy with blood. Her throat had been slit. Three fingers were broken in one of her hand, the digits bent backward. MPD, Detective Inspector Carson Ryder and his partner Harry Nautilus start the Investigation...Victim Taneesha was reporter for a tiny radio station in Mobile city. During the investigation Detective Carson, learns that murdered Taneesha was a close friend of his girlfriend Danielle Danbury (Dee Dee)..sort of mentor and mentee.
CAROLE ANN HIBNEY..a prostitute went by the name Sonia, her corpse was found by the fire fighting team in the burning apartment building at Corcoran and Hopple. Her arms were handcuffed behind the body's back. Detective Carson Ryder was there when the body was found.
FREDERIKA HOLTKAMP.....A retired teacher, her body was found by hunters in a shack. Remained Unmarried. Lived alone. No narcotics in the blood. She was crumpled inside the little hunter's shack with over two dozen knife wound, with fingers broken in one of her hand. This four year unsolved murder, was told by Montgomery Police Department Detective Ben. T.Pettigrew To Carson, when he and Harry were searching clues for Taneesha's homicide.
THE BROKEN SOULS..
THE KINCANNON CLANS... A weird family consisting of Mama Maylene Kincannon and Papa Buck Sr. with four sons. Buck Jr, Nelson, Racine and Lucas. Maylene hailing from a family of total nutters. An eye blinking brother, A crazy Auntie howling, laughing and running naked all around the house. Maylene successfully passing this genetic sick qualities to her three sons. The Kincannon clans with their KEI enterprises,(Kincannon Enterprises International) and with their old money, pass out funds for charities, symphony, museums and all other cultural events to buy respect and acceptance, but they are heavy handed and self serving, making the insiders loathe them more.
The family by employing the biggest PR agency in the state, does all their public related events, posing as likeable and kind-hearted people in the public. They spend vast sums to appear like benevolent royalty, to be adored by the public. They show themselves as law abiding citizens, until something threatens their world. If that happens the dark side of their souls and broken side of their family will be seen. One never want to deal with that side. The family follow a policy "One hand giving, the other taking, if had a third hand, it would carry a knife".
Maylene's last boy LUCAS KINCANNON , came as a surprise when she was in her forties. Right from the beginning Lucas Questioned everything, argued about everything. He hated living with a family full of nutters. When he was fifteen he ran away from the family and was traced and brought back home. Though he was handfuls of troubles when he wanted to be, he was also a whip-smart boy. Helluva lot brighter than his siblings. Even at the age of ten, he can carry on a conversation better than most of the adults. When he was eighteen he ran away from the family once again, never heard afterwards, his whereabouts unknown.
CRANDELL, is a "fix-it" man working for the Kincannon family. He is a shark for sharks. He is a problem solver, working for the biggies, like Oil Companies, Brokerage houses, has an itch for killing, murdering anybody if it is a last resort. For doing a killing someone in the hierarchy has to point a finger towards a target and say go. Crandell's job, other than problem solving issues, is to return lost items where they belong. Such as Missing Art, Misappropriated Stocks and Wayward spouses.
THE INVESTIGATION...
Detective Carson and Harry, discovers that, there are strange goings on, that might center around the Kincannon family. Dr. Bernard Rudolnik a well known psychiatrist was treating a patient from the family for a long time. Carson suspects that it was runaway Lucas Kinconnon, the last boy of the family, since his finger prints were found in the crime scenes . But after reading the medical report of Dr. Rudolnik it turned to be the elder brother Buck Jr and his two siblings, performing murders and rapes as a fantasy, and dumping dead bodies, in deserted warehouses and barns with the assistance of the hit-man Crandell.
Carson, soon discovers That Lucas was framed by his elder brothers, by putting evidences containing his finger prints in the crime scenes, with the support of their police connections, and by insisting psychiatrist,Dr.Bernard Rudlnik, to write a false medical report on Lucas, that he was a psychopath and should be kept under close watch. Mother Maylene was manipulated by Dr.Bernard Rudlink's false medical report, that Lucas had terrible and incurable psychological problems that may worsen in the long run.
Buck with a help of a hired killer Leland Harwood, murders the Doctor and makes look like a bar fight gone wrong. Buck also discovers that Detective Carson is obsessive in finding the murderer of the unsolved homicide victims, with his paid informer cop in the police Department, Tyree Shuttles.
Crandell kidnaps Detective Carson and keeps him drugged in an isolated farm house out of the city. With the help of his partner Harry ,and his girlfriend Dee-dee, Carson arrests the three Kinconnon brothers, and Lucas takes over the Kinconnon family business.
TRIVIA...
In addition to the twists and turns of the novel, there are two trivial romantic angles which makes the story even more gripping. Detective Carson's love with the TV anchor Danielle Danbury (Mentioned as Dee Dee in the novel) and break up, after she went with Buick Kinconnon for better opportunities and big money. Carson's love budding afterward, with pathologist Dr.Clair Peltier, of the Forensics Bureau, her longings for Carson after he was kidnapped, were interestingly portrayed in the novel, in relevant portions, without deviating from story.
MY COMMENT...
THE BROKEN SOULS.......UNBROKEN THRILL and SUSPENSE..
Jack Kerley
CHARACTERS..
Carson Ryder, Danielle Danbury (Dee Dee) , Harry Nautilus, Pace Logan, Crendell, Buck Kincannon, Nelson Kincannon, Racine Kincannon, Lucas, Maylene Kincannon, Rudolnick, Clair Peltier, Carole Ann Hibney, Frederika Holtkamp, Taneesha Franklin and others...
LOCATION..
Mobile City (USA)..
GENRE..
Thriller...
PLOT...
THREE MUTILATED CORPSES...
TANEESHA FRANKLIN.....was found inside the open door of Mazda car, tumbled across the transmission hump, head on passenger seat. Her nose appeared to be broken. Her lower lip was torn. There were wounds across her torso, her blouse glossy with blood. Her throat had been slit. Three fingers were broken in one of her hand, the digits bent backward. MPD, Detective Inspector Carson Ryder and his partner Harry Nautilus start the Investigation...Victim Taneesha was reporter for a tiny radio station in Mobile city. During the investigation Detective Carson, learns that murdered Taneesha was a close friend of his girlfriend Danielle Danbury (Dee Dee)..sort of mentor and mentee.
CAROLE ANN HIBNEY..a prostitute went by the name Sonia, her corpse was found by the fire fighting team in the burning apartment building at Corcoran and Hopple. Her arms were handcuffed behind the body's back. Detective Carson Ryder was there when the body was found.
FREDERIKA HOLTKAMP.....A retired teacher, her body was found by hunters in a shack. Remained Unmarried. Lived alone. No narcotics in the blood. She was crumpled inside the little hunter's shack with over two dozen knife wound, with fingers broken in one of her hand. This four year unsolved murder, was told by Montgomery Police Department Detective Ben. T.Pettigrew To Carson, when he and Harry were searching clues for Taneesha's homicide.
THE BROKEN SOULS..
THE KINCANNON CLANS... A weird family consisting of Mama Maylene Kincannon and Papa Buck Sr. with four sons. Buck Jr, Nelson, Racine and Lucas. Maylene hailing from a family of total nutters. An eye blinking brother, A crazy Auntie howling, laughing and running naked all around the house. Maylene successfully passing this genetic sick qualities to her three sons. The Kincannon clans with their KEI enterprises,(Kincannon Enterprises International) and with their old money, pass out funds for charities, symphony, museums and all other cultural events to buy respect and acceptance, but they are heavy handed and self serving, making the insiders loathe them more.
The family by employing the biggest PR agency in the state, does all their public related events, posing as likeable and kind-hearted people in the public. They spend vast sums to appear like benevolent royalty, to be adored by the public. They show themselves as law abiding citizens, until something threatens their world. If that happens the dark side of their souls and broken side of their family will be seen. One never want to deal with that side. The family follow a policy "One hand giving, the other taking, if had a third hand, it would carry a knife".
Maylene's last boy LUCAS KINCANNON , came as a surprise when she was in her forties. Right from the beginning Lucas Questioned everything, argued about everything. He hated living with a family full of nutters. When he was fifteen he ran away from the family and was traced and brought back home. Though he was handfuls of troubles when he wanted to be, he was also a whip-smart boy. Helluva lot brighter than his siblings. Even at the age of ten, he can carry on a conversation better than most of the adults. When he was eighteen he ran away from the family once again, never heard afterwards, his whereabouts unknown.
CRANDELL, is a "fix-it" man working for the Kincannon family. He is a shark for sharks. He is a problem solver, working for the biggies, like Oil Companies, Brokerage houses, has an itch for killing, murdering anybody if it is a last resort. For doing a killing someone in the hierarchy has to point a finger towards a target and say go. Crandell's job, other than problem solving issues, is to return lost items where they belong. Such as Missing Art, Misappropriated Stocks and Wayward spouses.
THE INVESTIGATION...
Detective Carson and Harry, discovers that, there are strange goings on, that might center around the Kincannon family. Dr. Bernard Rudolnik a well known psychiatrist was treating a patient from the family for a long time. Carson suspects that it was runaway Lucas Kinconnon, the last boy of the family, since his finger prints were found in the crime scenes . But after reading the medical report of Dr. Rudolnik it turned to be the elder brother Buck Jr and his two siblings, performing murders and rapes as a fantasy, and dumping dead bodies, in deserted warehouses and barns with the assistance of the hit-man Crandell.
Carson, soon discovers That Lucas was framed by his elder brothers, by putting evidences containing his finger prints in the crime scenes, with the support of their police connections, and by insisting psychiatrist,Dr.Bernard Rudlnik, to write a false medical report on Lucas, that he was a psychopath and should be kept under close watch. Mother Maylene was manipulated by Dr.Bernard Rudlink's false medical report, that Lucas had terrible and incurable psychological problems that may worsen in the long run.
Buck with a help of a hired killer Leland Harwood, murders the Doctor and makes look like a bar fight gone wrong. Buck also discovers that Detective Carson is obsessive in finding the murderer of the unsolved homicide victims, with his paid informer cop in the police Department, Tyree Shuttles.
Crandell kidnaps Detective Carson and keeps him drugged in an isolated farm house out of the city. With the help of his partner Harry ,and his girlfriend Dee-dee, Carson arrests the three Kinconnon brothers, and Lucas takes over the Kinconnon family business.
TRIVIA...
In addition to the twists and turns of the novel, there are two trivial romantic angles which makes the story even more gripping. Detective Carson's love with the TV anchor Danielle Danbury (Mentioned as Dee Dee in the novel) and break up, after she went with Buick Kinconnon for better opportunities and big money. Carson's love budding afterward, with pathologist Dr.Clair Peltier, of the Forensics Bureau, her longings for Carson after he was kidnapped, were interestingly portrayed in the novel, in relevant portions, without deviating from story.
MY COMMENT...
THE BROKEN SOULS.......UNBROKEN THRILL and SUSPENSE..
October 7, 2019
Another in the Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus series. Enjoyable and interesting story with lots going on, all the way until the end.
July 5, 2021
Another fantastic read from this author. Very talented author. He draws you in to a spectacular story with action, suspense and heart too. The characters are so well drawn and presented you cannot help but follow them down their crazy path.
July 8, 2025
By book three in the Carson Ryder series, you’d think Jack Kerley might start to ease off the gas a little, but The Broken Souls dives even deeper into the twisted and the bizarre. This instalment is a haunting exploration of madness, corruption, and the lingering trauma that can shape not only killers, but the people hunting them.
The story kicks off with what seems to be a routine case: a mutilated body found on the grounds of an old psychiatric hospital. But Ryder quickly learns that this is no simple murder scene. The location—the former haven for Alabama’s most disturbed criminal minds—carries its own sinister legacy. As more bodies turn up and secrets from the asylum’s past start to unravel, the case takes on a deeply psychological edge that’s both disturbing and addictive.
Kerley excels at building an oppressive atmosphere, and The Broken Souls might just be his darkest yet. The setting of the asylum is brilliant—claustrophobic, eerie, and steeped in twisted history. It’s more than just a backdrop; it becomes a character in its own right. As Ryder and his ever-reliable partner Harry Nautilus dig deeper, they uncover ties to political power, abuse, and a cover-up that threatens to consume them.
Carson Ryder continues to be a fascinating lead. He’s smart, slightly damaged, and just the right amount of reckless. The continuing thread involving his mysterious brother adds a personal and often unsettling layer to the investigation. It’s a relationship I find both fascinating and unnerving—and it keeps me coming back for more.
What stands out in this book:
• The blend of psychological horror and gritty procedural
• A cast of eerie suspects with hidden motives
• The moral ambiguity that challenges Ryder at every turn
• And as always, a few twists you won’t see coming
The Broken Souls is a gritty, gothic thriller that doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths or dark themes. If you're already invested in the series, this book is a satisfying next step with even higher stakes and deeper shadows. And if you're new to Carson Ryder, be prepared to be drawn into a world where madness lingers just below the surface—and sometimes stares you right in the face.
https://featzreviews.com/the-broken-s...
The story kicks off with what seems to be a routine case: a mutilated body found on the grounds of an old psychiatric hospital. But Ryder quickly learns that this is no simple murder scene. The location—the former haven for Alabama’s most disturbed criminal minds—carries its own sinister legacy. As more bodies turn up and secrets from the asylum’s past start to unravel, the case takes on a deeply psychological edge that’s both disturbing and addictive.
Kerley excels at building an oppressive atmosphere, and The Broken Souls might just be his darkest yet. The setting of the asylum is brilliant—claustrophobic, eerie, and steeped in twisted history. It’s more than just a backdrop; it becomes a character in its own right. As Ryder and his ever-reliable partner Harry Nautilus dig deeper, they uncover ties to political power, abuse, and a cover-up that threatens to consume them.
Carson Ryder continues to be a fascinating lead. He’s smart, slightly damaged, and just the right amount of reckless. The continuing thread involving his mysterious brother adds a personal and often unsettling layer to the investigation. It’s a relationship I find both fascinating and unnerving—and it keeps me coming back for more.
What stands out in this book:
• The blend of psychological horror and gritty procedural
• A cast of eerie suspects with hidden motives
• The moral ambiguity that challenges Ryder at every turn
• And as always, a few twists you won’t see coming
The Broken Souls is a gritty, gothic thriller that doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths or dark themes. If you're already invested in the series, this book is a satisfying next step with even higher stakes and deeper shadows. And if you're new to Carson Ryder, be prepared to be drawn into a world where madness lingers just below the surface—and sometimes stares you right in the face.
https://featzreviews.com/the-broken-s...
July 26, 2009
A Garden of Vipers was a solid read from Jack Kerley. Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus are back and this time they catch a case that runs deeper than it appears. After racing to a crime scene, Ryder and Nautilus discover the body of a young reporter who has been brutally tortured and stabbed to death. This young female was a friend of Carson's girlfriend, reporter DeeDee Danbury, so Carson strongly wants to get to the bottom of this murder. The investigation leads him in a shocking direction towards a wealthy philanthropic family named the Kincannons. Money buys trouble in this case and soon Ryder and Nautilus are investigating a slippery slope of anger and deception. Meanwhile, DeeDee and Ryder have split and she is currently seeing one of the Kincannons. With tangled webs running in all directions and influence hiding clues at every turn, this case could be Ryder and Nautilus' last.
Jack Kerley's writing is engaging and thought-provoking. Each book that I read in this series draws me further into the characters and I enjoy each story more than the last. Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus have the perfect relationship as partners. Harry showed more of his emotions in this book and watching his character grow made him feel more real. As for Carson, he learns something about himself through each of his relationships and his growth leaves me rooting for him to prevail at every turn. The shocking absence of Jeremy (my favorite character) in this book made the plot even more interesting. The suspense was preserved at every turn and I liked the intricate details of the Kincannon family that were slowly delivered through the action taking place. Ryder's romantic situation enhanced the book rather than detracting from it and I would love to see something develop between him and Claire. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and see what adventure these partners will face!
Jack Kerley's writing is engaging and thought-provoking. Each book that I read in this series draws me further into the characters and I enjoy each story more than the last. Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus have the perfect relationship as partners. Harry showed more of his emotions in this book and watching his character grow made him feel more real. As for Carson, he learns something about himself through each of his relationships and his growth leaves me rooting for him to prevail at every turn. The shocking absence of Jeremy (my favorite character) in this book made the plot even more interesting. The suspense was preserved at every turn and I liked the intricate details of the Kincannon family that were slowly delivered through the action taking place. Ryder's romantic situation enhanced the book rather than detracting from it and I would love to see something develop between him and Claire. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and see what adventure these partners will face!
July 28, 2014
A nice discovery
The super-wealthy Kincannon family has earned its enormous fortune, like many other rich families, thanks to practices that cannot always tolerate the light of day. But that is not the only secret they want to keep hidden. At first the murder of a young reporter seems to be unrelated to the Kincannon’s, but when detectives Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus start to piece things together some harmful links start to pop-up. A serial-killer is on the loose with only one objective: to ruin the Kincannon’s reputation for good.
Having never read a novel by Jack Kerley before, I was truly taken by this book. It’s very strange that I never heard of this author before. Thanks to a sales bin and some divine intervention I became the proud owner of this audiobook for less than 5 euro. The rough voice of Kerry Shale quickly engulfed me in this mysterious world of dark intrigue. The build-up is supported by strong characterization of its main players. This a quite unique accomplishment because with most returning characters (Broken Souls is the third episode) this quickly tends to become a bland rehash of some need-to-know facts. Not with Broken Souls. It digests perfectly as a stand-alone novel.
I must admit that once the setting for the final confrontation is ready, the story becomes a bit too action-adventure like for my taste. Luckily this doesn’t hurt the narrative too much because it still stays true to its nature. No miracle solution or deus-ex-machina denouement, but a fair conclusion that does not hurt the personality of its characters (not like a Clive Cussler fantasy to just name an unfair comparison…).
I can only conclude that I am putting Jack Kerly high on my to-read list… a list that is getting longer and longer… I need more time! ;-)
The super-wealthy Kincannon family has earned its enormous fortune, like many other rich families, thanks to practices that cannot always tolerate the light of day. But that is not the only secret they want to keep hidden. At first the murder of a young reporter seems to be unrelated to the Kincannon’s, but when detectives Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus start to piece things together some harmful links start to pop-up. A serial-killer is on the loose with only one objective: to ruin the Kincannon’s reputation for good.
Having never read a novel by Jack Kerley before, I was truly taken by this book. It’s very strange that I never heard of this author before. Thanks to a sales bin and some divine intervention I became the proud owner of this audiobook for less than 5 euro. The rough voice of Kerry Shale quickly engulfed me in this mysterious world of dark intrigue. The build-up is supported by strong characterization of its main players. This a quite unique accomplishment because with most returning characters (Broken Souls is the third episode) this quickly tends to become a bland rehash of some need-to-know facts. Not with Broken Souls. It digests perfectly as a stand-alone novel.
I must admit that once the setting for the final confrontation is ready, the story becomes a bit too action-adventure like for my taste. Luckily this doesn’t hurt the narrative too much because it still stays true to its nature. No miracle solution or deus-ex-machina denouement, but a fair conclusion that does not hurt the personality of its characters (not like a Clive Cussler fantasy to just name an unfair comparison…).
I can only conclude that I am putting Jack Kerly high on my to-read list… a list that is getting longer and longer… I need more time! ;-)
August 12, 2007
A GARDEN OF VIPERS (Police Proc-Mobile, Al, Cont) – G
Kerley, Jack – 3rd in series
Dutton, 2006- US Hardcover – ISBN: 0525949526
*** Detectives Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus pick up a call from dispatch and beat another pair of detectives to the scene of a reporter found murdered in her car. The reporter is a friend of Carson’s girlfriend, Dani Danbury. The trail soon leads to other murders, a police cover-up and to the very wealthy, influential Kincannon family, including Buck who is counting Carson’s girlfriend.
*** This book lacked the spark of the previous two novels by Kerley. I found the plot implausible and imminently forgettable. Even to write this review, one week after reading the book, I had to go back and leaf through it to remember the plot. The best part of the book was the relationship between the two detectives, although even that didn’t have quite the impact of previous books, and the growing relationship between Carson and Claire Peltier, a forensic pathologist 11 years his senior. There is a suspenseful scene toward the end that does make the book exciting. It’s still a good series, but this wasn’t Kerley’s best effort.
Kerley, Jack – 3rd in series
Dutton, 2006- US Hardcover – ISBN: 0525949526
*** Detectives Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus pick up a call from dispatch and beat another pair of detectives to the scene of a reporter found murdered in her car. The reporter is a friend of Carson’s girlfriend, Dani Danbury. The trail soon leads to other murders, a police cover-up and to the very wealthy, influential Kincannon family, including Buck who is counting Carson’s girlfriend.
*** This book lacked the spark of the previous two novels by Kerley. I found the plot implausible and imminently forgettable. Even to write this review, one week after reading the book, I had to go back and leaf through it to remember the plot. The best part of the book was the relationship between the two detectives, although even that didn’t have quite the impact of previous books, and the growing relationship between Carson and Claire Peltier, a forensic pathologist 11 years his senior. There is a suspenseful scene toward the end that does make the book exciting. It’s still a good series, but this wasn’t Kerley’s best effort.
December 30, 2017
With A GARDEN OF VIPERS Jack Kerley and Carson Ryder are at their best yet. Compared to his first two books, the writing is better as well as the plot and character connections. From the start, the chemistry with Carter and Harry seem to flow more easily compared to THE HUNDREDTH MAN and THE DEATH COLLECTORS. Both good books, but this one seems to be better than the sum of it's parts. This is definitely a page turner and kept my interest. Maybe the ending is a little forced, but can a climax really be overdone? It's escapism at it's best and that's one of the main reasons I read. The twist kept me on my toes. Kerley makes Mobile come alive for the most part, enough to make me want to visit. If you like this genre I can't imagine you wouldn't enjoy this book.
July 5, 2017
The third in this by-the-numbers series changes the formula to ensure each book is not rinsed and repeated, however it's not enough to hide a dull plot. The violence is toned down as Carson and Harry investigate a power hungry family which may be involved in some nefarious deeds. The first three quarters of the book offer up plenty of misdirection, using previous characters in the series to add some emotional weight. The plot jumps about between (deliberately) unexplained characters and it becomes difficult to follow at times and this is hindered further by the protagonists who are still rather two-dimensional. The Broken Souls offers nothing new in this genre and only the finale makes it worthwhile.
April 22, 2023
Garden of Vipers is a commendable addition to the Carson Ryder series. Ryder is a detective in Mobile, Alabama, on the hunt for whomever violently stabbed a woman to death in her car. The investigation soon encompasses a prominent local family and its sordid secrets.
Like others in the series, the book paints a vibrant picture of live in Mobile, like how James Lee Burke handles Mobile’s big sister on the gulf, New Orleans. However, I found the story collectively a bit over the top. So if you enjoy a work of police fiction unbounded by much procedure, you’ll enjoy the book a bit more than I did.
Like others in the series, the book paints a vibrant picture of live in Mobile, like how James Lee Burke handles Mobile’s big sister on the gulf, New Orleans. However, I found the story collectively a bit over the top. So if you enjoy a work of police fiction unbounded by much procedure, you’ll enjoy the book a bit more than I did.
August 24, 2024
This is the second book I’ve read by Jack Kerley and confirmed that I rally like this author. It’s also set in Mobile, Alabama. His mysteries are set deeply in the environs and culture. I’m taking that slightly out of order. This is the third in the Carson Ryder series and it referred to some details in book 2 so be aware that you may want to pick them up in order if you want to read the stories as they unfold in time.
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August 30, 2025The feeblest book of the series so far. Inept and irational detectives, damsels falling in distress. The female characters took a nosedive in this one. The story is half-cooked, with the genius kid sort of having a plan at the onset and then that thread becoming threadbare. It seems that the author had an inkling of a story for the first hundred pages, but it all goes downhill on a cross-country bike from there.
June 22, 2020
Entertaining Series Continues
Entertaining episode with an intriguing storyline, a variety of interesting supporting characters and, of course, Carson and Harry. A couple of significant plot twists pop up about the time I thought I had it figured out. The writing is crisp keeping the story moving forward smoothly. Top notch in this genre; I highly recommend!
Entertaining episode with an intriguing storyline, a variety of interesting supporting characters and, of course, Carson and Harry. A couple of significant plot twists pop up about the time I thought I had it figured out. The writing is crisp keeping the story moving forward smoothly. Top notch in this genre; I highly recommend!
January 18, 2024
Solid and enjoyable crime/murder mystery! I’ve come to realise that there are VERY few murder mysteries that truly blow me away (can’t even name one rn) but the large majority of them are just pleasant and fun to read (yes they’re usually gruesome but so what)
February 6, 2018
Good main characters.
March 21, 2018
I keep enjoying this series, I got a bit lost in the story somewhere but kept reading, enjoyed it in the end
September 17, 2018
A Thrill Ride
Superb story line, believable characters with all kinds of twists, turns, action and humor. It grabs a hold of you and keeps you turning page after page.
Superb story line, believable characters with all kinds of twists, turns, action and humor. It grabs a hold of you and keeps you turning page after page.
June 15, 2019
Great vacation read. Love cop books and this was a good one
July 18, 2019
Sehr viele unterschiedliche Charaktere und eine verworrene Story. Spannend bis zum Schluss.
May 21, 2020
A better read than the Death Collectors.
May 26, 2020
A full 4. Great writing, solid story and believable dialogue. Look forward to reading more from Jack Kerley.
September 28, 2020
The more I read Jack Kerley, the better it gets!
August 2, 2021
I enjoyed it so much that I'll have to hunt up the others in the series. I particularly liked the fact that the story emphasises the old adage "you can't judge a book by its cover".
August 15, 2022
Nice little twists.
December 26, 2022
A book that kept me gripped from the very first page. I've never read jack Kerley before but now I'm keen to read more.
July 28, 2024
brilliant as always
I totally love this series. I read them few years ago and I am still loving them. The series aged like a fine wine
I totally love this series. I read them few years ago and I am still loving them. The series aged like a fine wine
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews