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The Jena Halpern Mysteries #1
The Bullhead Murders
This year's 'The Girl On The Train'. Out of nothingness, she discovers the truth beneath the homicides. Four murders within six months, a record for the riverside community of Bullhead City. A serial killer is suspected by local police, the work of one maniac. But they can't do it alone. Is it a closeted homophobe or the desperate diversion of an abused girl-child?
Eyes in the sky, she sees. Head in the clouds, she searches. Feet on the ground, she answers the call--Jena Halpern, the reluctant police consultant.
A mystery/thriller whose hidden characters, their secret motivations, and the unintended consequences are as real as it gets. Treat yourself to a twisted thrill ride, tonight.
Eyes in the sky, she sees. Head in the clouds, she searches. Feet on the ground, she answers the call--Jena Halpern, the reluctant police consultant.
A mystery/thriller whose hidden characters, their secret motivations, and the unintended consequences are as real as it gets. Treat yourself to a twisted thrill ride, tonight.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2019
297 people are currently reading
833 people want to read
About the author
Michael Allan Scott
20 books496 followersMichael Allan Scott, his wife, Cynthia, and their rescue Doberman, Roxie live with coyotes, bobcats, and javelina on their 'dove ranch' in the Arizona desert.
The Route 66 mystery series, as well as the Jena Halpern and Lance Underphal murder mystery/thriller series are available on Amazon.
For more on Michael Allan Scott, and his new breed of mystery/thriller series, go behind the scenes with an “Access Pass” available at Michael Allan Scott Author of Mystery Thriller Series.
You may also check out book trailers, NBC interviews, and other stuff on YouTube.
Please join him on BookBub, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and Goodreads.
The Route 66 mystery series, as well as the Jena Halpern and Lance Underphal murder mystery/thriller series are available on Amazon.
For more on Michael Allan Scott, and his new breed of mystery/thriller series, go behind the scenes with an “Access Pass” available at Michael Allan Scott Author of Mystery Thriller Series.
You may also check out book trailers, NBC interviews, and other stuff on YouTube.
Please join him on BookBub, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 15, 2020
Jena Halpern has a gift ... or a curse as she sees it. She's a reluctant police consultant when it comes to crime.
Normally a small quiet town, Bullhead City has become the target of a serial killer. There have been 4 brutal murders within just a few months. They are all older men and they are all killed in the same manner. What connects these men?
That's why Jena has been asked to investigate. Working along side police Lt. Dan Kropp, they will learn that not everyone tells the truth, there are dark secrets, and there are those who seem to have motives for the killings.
Be on the lookout for the huge twist before the surprising unpredictable ending. I especially enjoyed the background setting of my part of Arizona. It's rather fun being able to connect to places you've visited, lived in, and otherwise enjoyed.
Many thanks to the author/ Goodreads Give Away for the digital copy of this paranormal crime mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Normally a small quiet town, Bullhead City has become the target of a serial killer. There have been 4 brutal murders within just a few months. They are all older men and they are all killed in the same manner. What connects these men?
That's why Jena has been asked to investigate. Working along side police Lt. Dan Kropp, they will learn that not everyone tells the truth, there are dark secrets, and there are those who seem to have motives for the killings.
Be on the lookout for the huge twist before the surprising unpredictable ending. I especially enjoyed the background setting of my part of Arizona. It's rather fun being able to connect to places you've visited, lived in, and otherwise enjoyed.
Many thanks to the author/ Goodreads Give Away for the digital copy of this paranormal crime mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 16, 2020
If only every series began with the kind of patient backstory that Scott gives his intrepid heroine. With her sole companion a black cat named Bagheera, Jena is both graced and tortured by past family relationships. To complicate matters further, her shop in Cave Creek, Arizona, is a money pit, and she’ll be leaving town just as tourist season is gearing up. And even if she manages to help solve the case, skeptics will accuse her of fraud. To Scott’s credit, her willingness to risk it all to stop the killing comes off as entirely authentic.
Fans of Scott’s Lance Underphal mysteries will recognize themes of the relationship between psychics and police work, which he does remarkably well. The uneasy relationship between Jena and Kropp crackles with uncommon energy. And while the book features plenty of action, The Bullhead Murders is a potboiler of a crime thriller that builds gradually to its spectacular payoff.
Check out the rest of my review at BestThrillers.com
Fans of Scott’s Lance Underphal mysteries will recognize themes of the relationship between psychics and police work, which he does remarkably well. The uneasy relationship between Jena and Kropp crackles with uncommon energy. And while the book features plenty of action, The Bullhead Murders is a potboiler of a crime thriller that builds gradually to its spectacular payoff.
Check out the rest of my review at BestThrillers.com
February 19, 2020
Well, what can I say? The book started out well enough to catch my attention. However, the story really didn't pick up speed to grab me and shake me. I felt as though it was like sparkling soda gone flat.
There are some gory moments, so some readers may not appreciate the graphic descriptions. I for one don't mind and that's what made the book interesting in a way.
In the end, I was left feeling empty and can't put my finger on the reason why. Maybe it was the ending or something in between?
Three stars -- I liked it enough to finish. Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways, and Amazon for a digital copy of the book.
There are some gory moments, so some readers may not appreciate the graphic descriptions. I for one don't mind and that's what made the book interesting in a way.
In the end, I was left feeling empty and can't put my finger on the reason why. Maybe it was the ending or something in between?
Three stars -- I liked it enough to finish. Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways, and Amazon for a digital copy of the book.
March 12, 2020
The Bullhead Murders by Michael Allan Scott is a solid crime novel that will be a series. Scott has created a strong female lead - Jena Halpern. Halpern defines herself with a toughness and no nonsense attitude. She performs her role as a consultant to the cops with tenacity - she's a dog on the leg.
She is called to assist in serial killings which she reluctantly accepts. There are plenty of suspects as she navigates Bullhead City on a quest for a killer.
Good Read - 4 stars.
She is called to assist in serial killings which she reluctantly accepts. There are plenty of suspects as she navigates Bullhead City on a quest for a killer.
Good Read - 4 stars.
August 23, 2019
Wow! I do love Scott's vision. And make no mistake, this is a dark, disturbing vision. Scott writes of the murky, painful side of having a psychic gift. To make it even more difficult for herself, Jena steps in to consult on a set of inexplicable, seemingly unsolvable murders, to all appearances, the work of a serial killer. The police investigator she works with, Dan, has a brush with psychic phenomena himself, but has no idea what's going on, in that regard; he's just confused and suffering a massive headache that won't quit. He's also somewhat attractive to, and attracted by, Jena. Damnation! She feels she can't help him through his psychic experience without causing him more pain and she can't move on the attraction, because of the professional link. She just wants to go home, but can't. Meanwhile, lots of pain all around--physical (Dan's head is like to kill him; there is a drug-addict being weaned, which is not fun; and the daughter of the last victim, who was abused in every way possible by her (now dead) father), emotional pain (Jena & everyone else) and, of course, existential pain (that would be Jena's department).
The ending of this mystery was unexpected, disconcerting, and upsetting. In fact, it is still preying on my mind. I can't say that I liked the ending. The fact that I'm still fussing over it, after a good night's sleep, tells you that Scott got to me. I believe that's a sign of a great author.
I can't tell you about the plot without wandering into spoiling it. And this book deserves better treatment than spoilers. This means, of course, that you've got to read it yourself. Please get yourself sufficient wine and turn on the lights. Because things get more difficult in the dark. This is not your grandmother's paranormal mystery. Or your YA niece's.
The ending of this mystery was unexpected, disconcerting, and upsetting. In fact, it is still preying on my mind. I can't say that I liked the ending. The fact that I'm still fussing over it, after a good night's sleep, tells you that Scott got to me. I believe that's a sign of a great author.
I can't tell you about the plot without wandering into spoiling it. And this book deserves better treatment than spoilers. This means, of course, that you've got to read it yourself. Please get yourself sufficient wine and turn on the lights. Because things get more difficult in the dark. This is not your grandmother's paranormal mystery. Or your YA niece's.
January 4, 2021
I love this author!
December 31, 2020
Interesting characters acting very differently in the case.
October 3, 2019
Michael Allan Scott is long known for his “Lance Underphal Mysteries,” a police series featuring a psychic detective in suspense crime thrillers that can make readers want to shield their eyes. But now comes The Bullhead Murders, the first in a new hardboiled suspense series named “The Jena Halpern Thrillers.”
Jena is a mid-40s, enigmatic woman who helps police solve the most brutal of crimes. Her reputation precedes her, but she is called only when the police are out of options and up against a dead end in finding the killer or killers. And is their choice even optional? They can risk the embarrassment of using a psychic or jeopardize their cities when it’s all but clear that a serial killer is at large. And indeed one appears to be, what with four gruesome deaths in short succession in tiny Bullhead City, a small, grubby town away from the glitzy casinos in Laughlin, Arizona.
Jena doesn’t delight in her paranormal gifts and would far prefer to spend time alone with her cat, or otherwise making in-store and online sales from her Sister Moon Arts & Crafts Emporium. The slim woman feels doomed, though, to clear unsolved murders despite the skepticism of people who believe her nothing other than a fraud. Reluctantly, she accepts the call to Bullhead City.
It’s a tough go from the start. Jena is teamed with Lieutenant Dan Kropp, a decent investigator, but known for vomiting at crime scenes. His ex-wife’s words about his failures also echo in his head, reinforcing to himself that secretly, he’s a loser. Neither boosts his self-esteem. And Jena? She tends to be set in her ways and not always kind. One minute she feels sorry for Kropp and would like to comfort him. The next? She won’t hesitate to unleash mean-spirited observations.
The two are verbal sparring partners and yet feel sexual tension while Kropp wades through victim files, again and again, looking for something he’s certain he missed, and Jena waits — sometimes futilely — for words from the victims to settle in her mind. Both wait for a conclusion, some missing puzzle piece, some new revelation, none of which may ultimately be satisfying or worthy of taking to court.
Author Michael Allan Scott is a master at setting scene and atmosphere, and as a teller of dark fiction is practically unparalleled. Indeed, as if they were there themselves, readers will feel the swirling dust of Arizona, and smell the acrid horrors of brutal murder. To move the story along, however, Scott might have considered reducing some of the landscape descriptions, which occasionally can slow the story down. But that’s a small quibble. Scott’s thumbprint as an author who dabbles in the dark world of homicides and fuses extrasensory perception into the investigative mix stands in a class of its own.
Bottom line? You’ll want to kick the tires on "The Bullhead Murders" and likely go on to explore more of the Jena Halpern thriller series. It’s new, it’s refreshing, and it’s hard to put down.
April 13, 2024
A FANTASTIC READ
Michael Allan Scott, writes such great descriptions of sunrises and Sunsets in all its glory. He also describes the horror of murder with a sense you are there as well, watching on.
This is the first book in the series with the introduction of Jena Halpern.
It's a dark and disturbing story, yet you don't linger on the murders. With the two main characters, both damaged from life, in different ways, makes it equally hard for them to see eye to eye and working together is too hard, yet both have very strong feelings of attraction for each other.
It's a cleverly written piece of writing ,with a brilliant ending that leaves you surprised, and satisfied.
I will be reading more of M. A. Scott's work.
A Highly recommended read. ... Frances
Michael Allan Scott, writes such great descriptions of sunrises and Sunsets in all its glory. He also describes the horror of murder with a sense you are there as well, watching on.
This is the first book in the series with the introduction of Jena Halpern.
It's a dark and disturbing story, yet you don't linger on the murders. With the two main characters, both damaged from life, in different ways, makes it equally hard for them to see eye to eye and working together is too hard, yet both have very strong feelings of attraction for each other.
It's a cleverly written piece of writing ,with a brilliant ending that leaves you surprised, and satisfied.
I will be reading more of M. A. Scott's work.
A Highly recommended read. ... Frances
February 1, 2022
Interesting book - unlike any I've read lately. While reading I thought there could be several suspects for the murders but the ending was a big surprise. The books has lots of twists and turns that make each of my suspects seem like the right choice only to be found wrong. The only thing I didn't especially care for is that the book ends but the story is still unfinished between Jena & Dan.
September 6, 2019
A Real Shocker
This book begins in a pretentious style, often the mark of a new author. The style quickly calms into an easy-to-read and very engrossing approach. Jena is an empath and very good at reading people. The story teases with a possible romance, but focuses mainly on the investigation by Jena and the Bullhead City police into a series of vicious murders. The story is filled with suspense, and it's very difficult to put down.
This book begins in a pretentious style, often the mark of a new author. The style quickly calms into an easy-to-read and very engrossing approach. Jena is an empath and very good at reading people. The story teases with a possible romance, but focuses mainly on the investigation by Jena and the Bullhead City police into a series of vicious murders. The story is filled with suspense, and it's very difficult to put down.
May 24, 2021
If Jena was as good as she thinks she is, she would have figured out what to do a long time ago. I feel sorry for Dan. In spite of this, I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.
December 27, 2021
Thriller
In the small town of Bullhead Officer Kropp, and his partner Sykes are investigating a new murder. This quiet town where nothing normally happens has seen several murders recently. Could it be the same serial killer for all the murders. As an Empath Jena Halpern sees some very disturbing things about the murder as she’s remembering it. You follow both of them through all the horrors of the murders. It has a twist that was not expected. Can’t wait for the next book to see where Jena and Kropp go from here.
In the small town of Bullhead Officer Kropp, and his partner Sykes are investigating a new murder. This quiet town where nothing normally happens has seen several murders recently. Could it be the same serial killer for all the murders. As an Empath Jena Halpern sees some very disturbing things about the murder as she’s remembering it. You follow both of them through all the horrors of the murders. It has a twist that was not expected. Can’t wait for the next book to see where Jena and Kropp go from here.
February 20, 2020
A Different kind of mystery
I won this book on Goodreads. Jena Halpern is not your usual mystery consultant. Other characters are also quirky, but compelling. Plot is good, action pacing is realistic (life is not always highspeed, breakneck terror). Surprise ending was a treat.
I won this book on Goodreads. Jena Halpern is not your usual mystery consultant. Other characters are also quirky, but compelling. Plot is good, action pacing is realistic (life is not always highspeed, breakneck terror). Surprise ending was a treat.
March 17, 2020
I won this book from Goodreads. Very interesting crime book. I'd definitely recommend this book.
May 5, 2024
Raw, biting, hard hitting. I found reading this book to be quite disturbing. I really disliked the two main characters; especially Jena Halpern. This added to the realism of these people. The sorts of thoughts that went on in Jena's head were quite nasty and unwholesome. Not the sorts of thoughts I would expect a true empath to have. The ending of the book is quite unexpected. I would hope that, in future volumes of this series, Jena develops more compassion for her fellow human beings, and develops some positive thinking. I would also hope that Dan becomes more intuitive too.
September 10, 2019
This is the first novel of Michael Allen Scott I’ve read. His style is
laced with detail. Scenes are described in such detail, the reader can imagine, easily, every pixel. Consider the Opening:
“Past the street entrance, a half dozen bare-dirt RV pads dimly wait for the next transient, their hookups overgrown with stickery weeds. Slotting between empties are week-to-week rentals, used-up travel trailers, and broken-down motorhomes. Abandoned or confiscated for back rent, they wait, rotting tires flat, tin-can flanks oxidizing in the desert heat. Down the Sandbar’s gut, a strip of crumbling asphalt dead-ending in dirt, the broken bones of blown-down trailers in heaps at the rear.”
One can see the scene, almost breathe the air. One reviewer aptly cited this cinematic style, in the author’s description of the murder scene.
The story is told about two people. One, Jena Halpern, a psychic, who is called into unsolved homicides, and one Lt. Daniel Kropp, for the town of Bullhead.
Jena considers her gifts a curse: “Baffling, why Jena always feels she must help. Her great-grandmother, Theresa called her natural traits “gifts,” gifts that came with certain responsibilities. Not for personal gain, but for the benefit of others. Jena considers her so-called gifts a curse. Damned to answer their call, her life has never been her own, doomed to clear unsolved murder cases while skeptics accuse her of fraud. Her notoriety, a rotting albatross forever strung around her neck.”
No one seems to believe her telekinetic insights into a murder. Dan, on the other side, thinks he is not created to be a homicide investigator. The author, cleverly, uses his intro chapters to bend back’n’forth between vivid descriptions of Dan’s queasiness to see dead bodies, and Jena’s memories of her past and its use of her special powers.
Finally, they meet, as Jena is called on to research the strange and ghastly murders in Bullhead. And the reaction? It’s just what she expected.
The author allows us to get inside these characters, which is why I loved the writing. They are real; Scott builds them brick by psychological brick.
The style allows the reader to turn page after page, with suspense and intrigue. I want to read more of this author’s work. He is a natural! The ending? I guessed it, as a fan of the genre, but you have to pay close attention. Five stars! Good job!
laced with detail. Scenes are described in such detail, the reader can imagine, easily, every pixel. Consider the Opening:
“Past the street entrance, a half dozen bare-dirt RV pads dimly wait for the next transient, their hookups overgrown with stickery weeds. Slotting between empties are week-to-week rentals, used-up travel trailers, and broken-down motorhomes. Abandoned or confiscated for back rent, they wait, rotting tires flat, tin-can flanks oxidizing in the desert heat. Down the Sandbar’s gut, a strip of crumbling asphalt dead-ending in dirt, the broken bones of blown-down trailers in heaps at the rear.”
One can see the scene, almost breathe the air. One reviewer aptly cited this cinematic style, in the author’s description of the murder scene.
The story is told about two people. One, Jena Halpern, a psychic, who is called into unsolved homicides, and one Lt. Daniel Kropp, for the town of Bullhead.
Jena considers her gifts a curse: “Baffling, why Jena always feels she must help. Her great-grandmother, Theresa called her natural traits “gifts,” gifts that came with certain responsibilities. Not for personal gain, but for the benefit of others. Jena considers her so-called gifts a curse. Damned to answer their call, her life has never been her own, doomed to clear unsolved murder cases while skeptics accuse her of fraud. Her notoriety, a rotting albatross forever strung around her neck.”
No one seems to believe her telekinetic insights into a murder. Dan, on the other side, thinks he is not created to be a homicide investigator. The author, cleverly, uses his intro chapters to bend back’n’forth between vivid descriptions of Dan’s queasiness to see dead bodies, and Jena’s memories of her past and its use of her special powers.
Finally, they meet, as Jena is called on to research the strange and ghastly murders in Bullhead. And the reaction? It’s just what she expected.
The author allows us to get inside these characters, which is why I loved the writing. They are real; Scott builds them brick by psychological brick.
The style allows the reader to turn page after page, with suspense and intrigue. I want to read more of this author’s work. He is a natural! The ending? I guessed it, as a fan of the genre, but you have to pay close attention. Five stars! Good job!
Read
April 10, 2024A great murder mystery story with an ending that you will never see coming. A true whodunit.
This is a true shocker of a whodunit that will take your breath away when you find out who did what. I know that Michael Allan Scott had hidden the character so well I had to read the final pages twice before it sunk in. Absolutely brilliant and a truly shocking ending.
This is a true shocker of a whodunit that will take your breath away when you find out who did what. I know that Michael Allan Scott had hidden the character so well I had to read the final pages twice before it sunk in. Absolutely brilliant and a truly shocking ending.
May 24, 2024
A serial killer plagues bullhead City. With four grisly murders on their hands, Lieutenant Kropp convinces the Bullhead City Police Department to call on Jena Halpern, a psychic consultant, to help find the killer. Reluctantly, Jena accepts.
A portion of the book focuses on the two main characters' relationships. Dan battles extreme insecurities brought on by his ex-wife, who degraded him constantly and stripped Dan of his value as a man and officer of the law. Jena is strong-willed, and often moody. Seemingly both opposites, there remained a cord of sexual attraction running between them. What I love about Scott's writing is that he gradually builds the characters up in such a way that it gives the reader deep insight into what makes them both tick.
One place in the book made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, and my heart pick up a beat. Scott paints vivid scenes that put you right into the person's head. I never had to guess what his characters were feeling or thinking.
"Kropp's world shrinks, his sweaty fingers refusing to slide into the latex gloves. He's boxed in, panic rising, fluttering at the edge of madness until he sees it - a way out."
There is a surprising twist at the end that I didn't see it coming. An excellent author leaves you thinking about the book long after you finish, and that describes Michael Allan Scott.
Although very graphic, this is a gripping novel and worthy of a five-star review. I highly recommend The Bullhead Murders, and I am looking forward to digging into his next book and learning more about Jena Halpern. 5 thrilling stars.
A portion of the book focuses on the two main characters' relationships. Dan battles extreme insecurities brought on by his ex-wife, who degraded him constantly and stripped Dan of his value as a man and officer of the law. Jena is strong-willed, and often moody. Seemingly both opposites, there remained a cord of sexual attraction running between them. What I love about Scott's writing is that he gradually builds the characters up in such a way that it gives the reader deep insight into what makes them both tick.
One place in the book made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, and my heart pick up a beat. Scott paints vivid scenes that put you right into the person's head. I never had to guess what his characters were feeling or thinking.
"Kropp's world shrinks, his sweaty fingers refusing to slide into the latex gloves. He's boxed in, panic rising, fluttering at the edge of madness until he sees it - a way out."
There is a surprising twist at the end that I didn't see it coming. An excellent author leaves you thinking about the book long after you finish, and that describes Michael Allan Scott.
Although very graphic, this is a gripping novel and worthy of a five-star review. I highly recommend The Bullhead Murders, and I am looking forward to digging into his next book and learning more about Jena Halpern. 5 thrilling stars.
August 24, 2019
ONE HELLUVA READ!!
"The Bullhead Murders" is a spine-tingling, page-turning read! I read it in 3 days!! I couldn't put it down!
Michael has weaved a dramatic and intense story. As the tale unfolds, you begin to care about Dan Kropp and Jena Halpern. Their past gets in the way of their present situation. You can tell that Dan and Jena care about each other but their "inner demons" keep them apart. Michael's attention to detail is graphic and vivid. As he describes the murder scene, the reader can visually see it in their minds eye.
Jena Halpern is a complicated woman - she is a psychic - she's been called in to help the police find the killer of 4 murders. She's working with Lt. Dan Kropp...
Dan is a troubled soul - he has his own personal issues; mainly with his ex and the hurtful things she said to him. He doesn't trust his emotions and the decisions he makes. When he tries to tell Jena how he feels - he decides to remain silent - what if she doesn't feel the same way?
Dan and Jena have a difficult time working together - he doesn't believe in ESP and Jena knows it.
The ending is absolutely heart-stopping!! I didn't see that coming! I'll not spoil anything - you've got to read it to find out what happens. It's a story that will stay with you long after you've read it!!
As a fan of Michael's work - The Bullhead Murders is a superb story with lots of twists and turns! I look forward to the sequel! OUTSTANDING, Michael!!
"The Bullhead Murders" is a spine-tingling, page-turning read! I read it in 3 days!! I couldn't put it down!
Michael has weaved a dramatic and intense story. As the tale unfolds, you begin to care about Dan Kropp and Jena Halpern. Their past gets in the way of their present situation. You can tell that Dan and Jena care about each other but their "inner demons" keep them apart. Michael's attention to detail is graphic and vivid. As he describes the murder scene, the reader can visually see it in their minds eye.
Jena Halpern is a complicated woman - she is a psychic - she's been called in to help the police find the killer of 4 murders. She's working with Lt. Dan Kropp...
Dan is a troubled soul - he has his own personal issues; mainly with his ex and the hurtful things she said to him. He doesn't trust his emotions and the decisions he makes. When he tries to tell Jena how he feels - he decides to remain silent - what if she doesn't feel the same way?
Dan and Jena have a difficult time working together - he doesn't believe in ESP and Jena knows it.
The ending is absolutely heart-stopping!! I didn't see that coming! I'll not spoil anything - you've got to read it to find out what happens. It's a story that will stay with you long after you've read it!!
As a fan of Michael's work - The Bullhead Murders is a superb story with lots of twists and turns! I look forward to the sequel! OUTSTANDING, Michael!!
October 10, 2019
In this book Scott takes a different slant on the whodunnit and takes his readers on a wild ride into the paranormal realm
"The Bullhead Murders: A Jena Halpern Mystery (The Jena Halpern Mysteries Book 1)" by Michael Allan Scott takes a hard turn from his previous paranormal detective series, the Lance Underphal mysteries. His characters have sharper edges and darker natures, making most of them difficult to like; his writing has a much harder edge (as well as a disquieting edginess); his clues are more subtle—except for the ons that aren't; his plot twists are not more devious, though his blind alleys and false leads certainly are.
The book was hard to get into: the style he uses—probably for impact, which it does—is disconcerting. Sentences without subjects. Or without verbs. Lacking both. I have an idea this style was a signature style of some classic noir novels of the past (and candidly admit my ignorance of this).
I also will candidly admit that Scott tricked me several times, making me falsely accuse someone who was just trying to do the right thing. And in fact, the solution was a total surprise.
I am certain that this will be another great series, and may be more popular than Lance Underphal. I dearly hope so because I'm really looking forward to "Blood Red Mist", and won't be satisfied with just one more serving.
"The Bullhead Murders: A Jena Halpern Mystery (The Jena Halpern Mysteries Book 1)" by Michael Allan Scott takes a hard turn from his previous paranormal detective series, the Lance Underphal mysteries. His characters have sharper edges and darker natures, making most of them difficult to like; his writing has a much harder edge (as well as a disquieting edginess); his clues are more subtle—except for the ons that aren't; his plot twists are not more devious, though his blind alleys and false leads certainly are.
The book was hard to get into: the style he uses—probably for impact, which it does—is disconcerting. Sentences without subjects. Or without verbs. Lacking both. I have an idea this style was a signature style of some classic noir novels of the past (and candidly admit my ignorance of this).
I also will candidly admit that Scott tricked me several times, making me falsely accuse someone who was just trying to do the right thing. And in fact, the solution was a total surprise.
I am certain that this will be another great series, and may be more popular than Lance Underphal. I dearly hope so because I'm really looking forward to "Blood Red Mist", and won't be satisfied with just one more serving.
September 11, 2019
Loaded with atmosphere and tension
I was hooked and caught by the imagery of the words by the end of the first page. There is a reason why I would much rather read books than spend an hour in front of the TV. A good written story makes you work to see the world an author has conceived. A stream of images. Which you build and arrange and rearrange as the narrative moves ahead.TV shows you the images and you just have to sit there and watch.
The Bullhead Murders is a dark story, though the brutality comes through by way of atmosphere, more so than through the use of gratuitous violence.
The main characters, Dan and Jena, are frustratingly complex by times, but they are riveting and addictive. The cast of secondary characters are no less fascinating, as they imprint themselves in the story as it moves along.
And there is an ending that will put you back on your heels, because you won’t see it coming, but it neatly ties everything together.
I had already picked up three other stories by Michael Allan Scott, all unread and, best I can remember, all downloaded for free, when The Bullhead Murders came out. I bought it on impulse, and now have found another “favourite” author.
I was hooked and caught by the imagery of the words by the end of the first page. There is a reason why I would much rather read books than spend an hour in front of the TV. A good written story makes you work to see the world an author has conceived. A stream of images. Which you build and arrange and rearrange as the narrative moves ahead.TV shows you the images and you just have to sit there and watch.
The Bullhead Murders is a dark story, though the brutality comes through by way of atmosphere, more so than through the use of gratuitous violence.
The main characters, Dan and Jena, are frustratingly complex by times, but they are riveting and addictive. The cast of secondary characters are no less fascinating, as they imprint themselves in the story as it moves along.
And there is an ending that will put you back on your heels, because you won’t see it coming, but it neatly ties everything together.
I had already picked up three other stories by Michael Allan Scott, all unread and, best I can remember, all downloaded for free, when The Bullhead Murders came out. I bought it on impulse, and now have found another “favourite” author.
September 26, 2019
Michael Allan Scott’s books tend to revolve around characters with varying abilities of paranormal insight. This book follows that idea, but with a few twists and turns along the way. The book is quite graphic about the murders, so if you don’t enjoy murder stories that are this descriptive you might want to skip this one. However, I enjoyed the story and the characters, especially because they were flawed, trying to make their way through life despite the problems they faced. I felt that the police officer was portrayed as rather immature and volatile, but I have known people that had those character traits, so they weren’t unrealistic. I was quite surprised at the end, and not sure that it jived with my understanding of the characters. I don’t want to say more because it would devolve into spoilers, but when you read the book you will understand what I mean. And do read the book, it’s interesting and catches you up into the story very quickly.
September 11, 2019
Journey into darkness.
Jena Halpern can perceive psychic trails left after murders. Dan is a brash police Lieutenant looking into a series of murders that appears to be the work of a serial killer. Jena gets drawn into the case and begins witnessing ghostly images of the murders but not the perpetrator. She and Dan suffer highs and lows as the investigation proceeds, but Dan experiences the darkness of a psychic experience causing their relationship to become fractious. The police captain wants the case dropped even though Dan wants to continue. Jena cannot bring herself to give up the case even though she can’t identify the killer. The descriptions of psychic darkness and of confused relationships are chilling as the pair go back and forth on whether to continue. The story is hard to put down.
Jena Halpern can perceive psychic trails left after murders. Dan is a brash police Lieutenant looking into a series of murders that appears to be the work of a serial killer. Jena gets drawn into the case and begins witnessing ghostly images of the murders but not the perpetrator. She and Dan suffer highs and lows as the investigation proceeds, but Dan experiences the darkness of a psychic experience causing their relationship to become fractious. The police captain wants the case dropped even though Dan wants to continue. Jena cannot bring herself to give up the case even though she can’t identify the killer. The descriptions of psychic darkness and of confused relationships are chilling as the pair go back and forth on whether to continue. The story is hard to put down.
August 28, 2019
Another hit by Mr. Scott.
This one had me hooked from the first page. I really enjoyed the rollercoaster that Jena went on in this book. This book just had so much action packed into one book that I couldn't tell what might happen next. I will say that I never expected the ending. It was an amazing ending to a great read.
If you are even thinking about it then please do get this and start reading today.
This one had me hooked from the first page. I really enjoyed the rollercoaster that Jena went on in this book. This book just had so much action packed into one book that I couldn't tell what might happen next. I will say that I never expected the ending. It was an amazing ending to a great read.
If you are even thinking about it then please do get this and start reading today.
May 21, 2020
I like Jena. I feel sorry for her carrying her burden or gift depending upon one's view. A police consultant, imagine the skepticism she receives. This series looks to be different from the Lance Underphal books. Mr. Scott's writing is precise and the twists and turns never fail to amaze me. I follow his work and was curious as to how the beginning of this series would stack up. If you enjoy the paranormal, this is for you. I highly recommend the book.
September 17, 2019
This really is a great read.
I love Mr Scotts writing, it's almost like reading poetry.
The characters feel so real even though this a paranormal type story, because it's always possible...
Kropp seems a bit of a wimp even though Jena Halpern tried to help him.
The storyline kept me guessing till the end, it's a real mystery who dunnit.
Thoroughly exciting a real rollercoaster of a ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning right through to the end....
I love Mr Scotts writing, it's almost like reading poetry.
The characters feel so real even though this a paranormal type story, because it's always possible...
Kropp seems a bit of a wimp even though Jena Halpern tried to help him.
The storyline kept me guessing till the end, it's a real mystery who dunnit.
Thoroughly exciting a real rollercoaster of a ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning right through to the end....
April 1, 2024
Great story line with very interesting characters that keep you involved through the entire book!! I can’t wait to read more by this author.
April 1, 2024
A reluctant police consultant takes on a series of murders. A lieutenant from the local pd is her liaison. Jena, police consultant, lives in a world of her own. Her unusual ways along with the lieutenant’s dogged determination make this a very interesting situation.an outstanding cast of characters, action/intrigue/mystery and a very well written story line make this a very interesting read.
March 23, 2021
A story of a psychic helping out the police to catch a serial killer with an ending I did not see coming!
When Jena Halpern is called in to help solve a series of grisly murders her empathic abilities means she gets more than she bargained for, but no one expects the twist in this tale.
When Jena Halpern is called in to help solve a series of grisly murders her empathic abilities means she gets more than she bargained for, but no one expects the twist in this tale.
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