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Nicholas Colt #3
Crosscut
Book 2 in the riveting series!
Nicholas Colt...
Former rock star, private investigator on hiatus. He has a loving relationship with his wife, a blues band with a house gig, and an adopted daughter finishing her senior year in high school. He has no intention of reactivating his PI license anytime soon.
Until...
An old girlfriend tells him something that makes his heart pause and his jaw drop. Could the militia group Colt shut down three years ago be responsible for a double homicide in another state?
A race against time...
Colt soon learns that the murders are only the tip of an unimaginably atrocious iceberg. Caught in a nightmare that is bigger, badder, and literally more earth-shattering than he could have possibly anticipated, Colt must find a way to derail the heinous and seemingly unstoppable machinations of a madman before it's too late.
This edition includes the first four chapters of Snuff Tag 9.
Suggested reading order for the
COLT (Prequel)
LADY 52 (Prequel)
POCKET-47
CROSSCUT
SNUFF TAG 9
RATTLED (Short story)
KEY DEATH
BLOOD TATTOO
SYCAMORE BLUFF
THE REACHER FUGITIVE
THE REACHER VELOCITY (Short story)
THE BLOOD NOTEBOOKS
Although published at a later date, the events in COLT and LADY 52 precede those in Jude Hardin's debut thriller POCKET-47. All of the books listed work as stand-alone thrillers, depending on reader preference.
Nicholas Colt...
Former rock star, private investigator on hiatus. He has a loving relationship with his wife, a blues band with a house gig, and an adopted daughter finishing her senior year in high school. He has no intention of reactivating his PI license anytime soon.
Until...
An old girlfriend tells him something that makes his heart pause and his jaw drop. Could the militia group Colt shut down three years ago be responsible for a double homicide in another state?
A race against time...
Colt soon learns that the murders are only the tip of an unimaginably atrocious iceberg. Caught in a nightmare that is bigger, badder, and literally more earth-shattering than he could have possibly anticipated, Colt must find a way to derail the heinous and seemingly unstoppable machinations of a madman before it's too late.
This edition includes the first four chapters of Snuff Tag 9.
Suggested reading order for the
COLT (Prequel)
LADY 52 (Prequel)
POCKET-47
CROSSCUT
SNUFF TAG 9
RATTLED (Short story)
KEY DEATH
BLOOD TATTOO
SYCAMORE BLUFF
THE REACHER FUGITIVE
THE REACHER VELOCITY (Short story)
THE BLOOD NOTEBOOKS
Although published at a later date, the events in COLT and LADY 52 precede those in Jude Hardin's debut thriller POCKET-47. All of the books listed work as stand-alone thrillers, depending on reader preference.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 15, 2012
Nicholas Colt had once fronted a big southern rock band, the Colt .45s. Twenty-one years before, a plane crash took the lives of the band and his wife and daughter, he the only survivor.
He'd worked as a PI for a number of years, retired now, and had a small house band in a blues club in Florida. Married, with an adopted daughter from his last case, he was content with life.
Then an ex-girlfriend comes to see him, wanting him to find her brother, a uniformed cop in a small Tennessee town that had disappeared while answering a domestic dispute call, His unit was there, along with two dead bodies and two more missing.
Nicholas wasn't really interested, he'd let his PI license lapse, until she mentioned one fact. The two dead bodies, an older woman and her daughter, had inverted crosses carved into their foreheads.
The Harvest Angels appeared to be back.
It all tied into his last case three years ago. Hired by a sister to find her runaway sibling, he'd run up against a religious cult and the Harvest Angels were their militant arm. They killed the sister who'd hired him, cutting that cross into her forehead.
He thought he'd destroyed that cult. For two reasons. The death of his client and that they were responsible for that long ago plane crash. You see, they were "offended" that he, a prominent white musician, had married a black woman and fostered a child.
Now he had to look into it.
Quite graphic at times, our hero gets put through the ringer in his pursuit of the truth.
Recommended.
He'd worked as a PI for a number of years, retired now, and had a small house band in a blues club in Florida. Married, with an adopted daughter from his last case, he was content with life.
Then an ex-girlfriend comes to see him, wanting him to find her brother, a uniformed cop in a small Tennessee town that had disappeared while answering a domestic dispute call, His unit was there, along with two dead bodies and two more missing.
Nicholas wasn't really interested, he'd let his PI license lapse, until she mentioned one fact. The two dead bodies, an older woman and her daughter, had inverted crosses carved into their foreheads.
The Harvest Angels appeared to be back.
It all tied into his last case three years ago. Hired by a sister to find her runaway sibling, he'd run up against a religious cult and the Harvest Angels were their militant arm. They killed the sister who'd hired him, cutting that cross into her forehead.
He thought he'd destroyed that cult. For two reasons. The death of his client and that they were responsible for that long ago plane crash. You see, they were "offended" that he, a prominent white musician, had married a black woman and fostered a child.
Now he had to look into it.
Quite graphic at times, our hero gets put through the ringer in his pursuit of the truth.
Recommended.
March 3, 2014
This was a quick, fun read but I got really tired of Colt behaving like a total moron.
August 9, 2019
Given the amount of briefly explained backstory included, I should have guessed that this is not the first book in this series. It is, however, the first book in a free four book boxed set, and the first of the series I've read. That said, Crosscut stands on its own quite well. The plot was interesting, with several twists I didn't see coming. The principal character was written with enough depth to be interesting, although several of the minor characters were not much more than caricatures.
The book was largely free of distracting proofreading and editing escapes, and I enjoyed it sufficiently that I'll probably read the next book in the boxed set, Snuff Tag 9, at some point soon.
The book was largely free of distracting proofreading and editing escapes, and I enjoyed it sufficiently that I'll probably read the next book in the boxed set, Snuff Tag 9, at some point soon.
December 1, 2017
I just discovered the Nicolas Colt series and started with book 1 titled "Colt". They list "Crosscut" as book 2 but when reading it you immediately realize you have missed a lot of the story. You need to read "Pocket 47" before "Crosscut" to get the rest of the story. I am reading that now.
"Crosscut" was another fun and exciting book to read. Hardin really keeps you intrigued with the story and at times you wonder how it will ever work out. I look forward to more of his stories.
"Crosscut" was another fun and exciting book to read. Hardin really keeps you intrigued with the story and at times you wonder how it will ever work out. I look forward to more of his stories.
October 20, 2021
While some may compare this to other action thrillers, I won't. It's a well written tale of dark adventure with some personal tragedy thrown in. There's lots of suspense, some good character development, okay editing, and a plot full of twists and turns that will keep you reading to the end. Not all is ever as it seems.
September 30, 2023
This was pretty good, but it had lacking parts and it wasn’t always a page turner. I guess I read this way out of sequence but so what. Kind of a stupid move on Nicolas Colts part, you would think he had more smarts? What can I say, the author felt the need for him to go there. Best is a 4.5 Sep/23
October 10, 2017
Enjoyable read that kept my attention. Author seems bent on punishing Nickolas Colt and it seems that nothing is to be left unmolested in this mans life. Good mystery, good action definitely worth reading
September 2, 2018
Good read, and I will try book 2, but I am not sure if I will stick with the series. I love detective novels, spy and political thrillers, etc. I am not sure what I think of this particular character... yet.
June 24, 2020
Drugs are for the sick patients
This story takes you into a nasty world of drugs, murder, world war of it cannot be stopped. Unfortunately, there is a price to pay. Will be be able to pay the master?
This story takes you into a nasty world of drugs, murder, world war of it cannot be stopped. Unfortunately, there is a price to pay. Will be be able to pay the master?
January 1, 2023
A Lot Different
Just gets a little too weird for my taste. French Connection meets Panic in Needle Park. Haven’t read Mr. Colt’s other works so I can’t say if this is typical or not.
Just gets a little too weird for my taste. French Connection meets Panic in Needle Park. Haven’t read Mr. Colt’s other works so I can’t say if this is typical or not.
May 16, 2024
WOOOWWWW!!! What Nicholas Colt is put through in this book had my jaw on the floor. I was in anguish anticipating how he would get out of that crazy predicament he was in. Looking forward to the next adventure.
April 29, 2020
Far-fetched, crudely violent, not my cup of tea.
June 24, 2020
Awesome thriller!
This book is one of a series, but appears to be okay to read as a stand-alone. I know the action gets resolved, but not how. Thanks!
This book is one of a series, but appears to be okay to read as a stand-alone. I know the action gets resolved, but not how. Thanks!
February 8, 2022
Nicholas Colt is an old-time hard-boiled private detective.
November 13, 2025
Not a bad read by Jude Hardin, twists and turns and I enjoyed the main character 🤩x8
August 1, 2026
Meh. Fell short for me
June 19, 2012
After reading Pocket-47 I was sure Nicholas Colt couldn't be put through more misery than he went through already. This novel proves me wrong, very wrong.
When the MO of his old enemies from the cult Harvest Angels is used in another few killings Colt decides to investigate. He ends up being captured and brainwashed and involved in an evil plot larger than anything I've read in PI fiction. It's very, very dark and the punishment Colt is forced to take sometimes made me stop reading, just to take a breath and not be enveloped totally in it's darkness.
This one is more of a thriller in the David Baldacci mode than a PI mystery but the writing is excellent and Colt still an interesting character. He ends up in a state that will make it very challenging for Jude Hardin to write about him in the third novel, so even more interesting for us.
When the MO of his old enemies from the cult Harvest Angels is used in another few killings Colt decides to investigate. He ends up being captured and brainwashed and involved in an evil plot larger than anything I've read in PI fiction. It's very, very dark and the punishment Colt is forced to take sometimes made me stop reading, just to take a breath and not be enveloped totally in it's darkness.
This one is more of a thriller in the David Baldacci mode than a PI mystery but the writing is excellent and Colt still an interesting character. He ends up in a state that will make it very challenging for Jude Hardin to write about him in the third novel, so even more interesting for us.
July 6, 2014
A must read
Another excellent read from a good writer! keep it up. More of Nick please . I really enjoyed the storyline of this one as Nick went out of the State of Florida this time to do his investigating. Very good read ,again!
Another excellent read from a good writer! keep it up. More of Nick please . I really enjoyed the storyline of this one as Nick went out of the State of Florida this time to do his investigating. Very good read ,again!
May 13, 2016
I haven't read any other of the Nicholas Colt books, but this book was okay. It was a quick, easy read and I finished it in one afternoon. However, because it is such a short book, the story and characters aren't as well developed as they could be. Still a pretty good read, though!
June 12, 2012
Fast read. Fast pace. Good story.
October 24, 2012
Quick Read and exciting plot.
Read
April 26, 2013Jude Hardin is my new favorite writer!
July 1, 2013
well plotted and entertaining. New author for me, but I will read again.
November 15, 2013
A bit more graphic than I expected, but written very well. Now I want to go back and read the earlier books about Colt.
March 28, 2014
Good read
Fast paced thriller. Breezes over some parts of the story that could be better explained. Not terrible, I would probably read another in the series.
Fast paced thriller. Breezes over some parts of the story that could be better explained. Not terrible, I would probably read another in the series.
March 21, 2015
Crosscut
This was my third Nicholas Colt book in a row. This one got a bit too far out for me. Lots n lots of violence.
This was my third Nicholas Colt book in a row. This one got a bit too far out for me. Lots n lots of violence.
June 19, 2012
Another great read.
March 4, 2013
fast moving and unnerving..
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews