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Stephanie Chalice Mystery #1
Don't Close Your Eyes
"Don't Close Your Eyes" begins with a whimper and a bang--two seemingly unrelated deaths. The first is a teenage girl whose asthma suffocates her while sleeping. The second is a man shot on the tram that connects Roosevelt Island to Manhattan. Lying next to the man is the real puzzle: a woman who might appear to have died of natural causes if not for the handwritten note stuffed in her mouth that simply reads "Look back."
Murder mystery thrillers are often driven by tough, fast-talking, streetwise detectives with a sad story about their past and a penchant for nabbing perps. The cop on the case in "Don't Close Your Eyes" is all these things and more. Meet Stephanie Chalice. She's a smart, beautiful, 28-year-old NYPD homicide detective whose acerbic repartee is like an arsenal of nuclear missiles--it convinces her male colleagues that she means business.
Behind all the bluster, though, is a young woman with fierce passions who shows the same tremendous dedication to her ill mother as she does her job. Chalice is an excellent detective, but it comes at a cost. She suffers recurring nightmares, and obsesses that the diabetes that killed her father and weakens her mother will one day come for her.
When a second woman is found dead with a rag in her mouth and another cryptic note nearby, Chalice realizes a serial killer stalks Manhattan's Upper East Side. Her detective work combines intelligence, persistence, a skilled partner, and well-connected friends. Secret allies also work on her behalf to thwart dangers that lie just beyond her periphery. As she follows a trail of clues and corpses to the murderer, she also pursues her own demons, uncovering startling truths about who she really is.
Murder mystery thrillers are often driven by tough, fast-talking, streetwise detectives with a sad story about their past and a penchant for nabbing perps. The cop on the case in "Don't Close Your Eyes" is all these things and more. Meet Stephanie Chalice. She's a smart, beautiful, 28-year-old NYPD homicide detective whose acerbic repartee is like an arsenal of nuclear missiles--it convinces her male colleagues that she means business.
Behind all the bluster, though, is a young woman with fierce passions who shows the same tremendous dedication to her ill mother as she does her job. Chalice is an excellent detective, but it comes at a cost. She suffers recurring nightmares, and obsesses that the diabetes that killed her father and weakens her mother will one day come for her.
When a second woman is found dead with a rag in her mouth and another cryptic note nearby, Chalice realizes a serial killer stalks Manhattan's Upper East Side. Her detective work combines intelligence, persistence, a skilled partner, and well-connected friends. Secret allies also work on her behalf to thwart dangers that lie just beyond her periphery. As she follows a trail of clues and corpses to the murderer, she also pursues her own demons, uncovering startling truths about who she really is.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2005
631 people are currently reading
626 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Kelter
69 books137 followersLawrence Kelter is the bestselling author of the Stephanie Chalice Mystery Series. A resident New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn and residing on Long Island. He often uses Manhattan and Long Island as backdrops for his stories. He is the author of three novels featuring street savvy NYPD detective, Stephanie Chalice: Don't Close Your Eyes, Ransom Beach, and most recently, The Brain Vault. Early in his career, he received direction from bestselling novelist Nelson DeMille, who put pencil to paper to assist in the editing of his first book. He was also a member of a private writing workshop led by the late soap opera legend and AFTRA president, Ann Loring. His novels are quickly paced and routinely have a twist ending.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
September 5, 2023
Introducing Stephanie Chalice ...
Never mind what the title says! Lawrence Kelter's new police procedural thriller is guaranteed to keep your eyes wide open and probably your mouth as well in the bargain!
Stephanie Chalice is a real pip! In many ways, she's reminiscent of her namesake, Janet Evanovich's off-the-wall character, Stephanie Plum - humorous, sarcastic, sharp-witted, irreverent, sassy, sexy and attractive, hot-blooded and endowed with a distinct libido (among other things, of course). But, Kelter's purpose in making this a more dramatic suspense novel is clear. The humour is kept well within bounds. It's never Vaudevillian, slap-stick or over the top. In fact, there are definite whiffs of the influence of today's current crop of much darker, angstier sleuths such as Harry Bosch and Kelter has achieved a unique blend of the light and heavy that makes this a very readable and enjoyable novel indeed.
You'll want to keep your wits about you as read. The plot is best described as thick, labyrinthine and even, at times, somewhat tortuous. Don't let your attention lag!
That said, the ending is rewarding and enjoyable and I've no doubt that, like me, you'll find yourself looking forward to other chapters in Stephanie's life to see where Kelter is going to take that relationship with Mr Lido.
Paul Weiss
Never mind what the title says! Lawrence Kelter's new police procedural thriller is guaranteed to keep your eyes wide open and probably your mouth as well in the bargain!
Stephanie Chalice is a real pip! In many ways, she's reminiscent of her namesake, Janet Evanovich's off-the-wall character, Stephanie Plum - humorous, sarcastic, sharp-witted, irreverent, sassy, sexy and attractive, hot-blooded and endowed with a distinct libido (among other things, of course). But, Kelter's purpose in making this a more dramatic suspense novel is clear. The humour is kept well within bounds. It's never Vaudevillian, slap-stick or over the top. In fact, there are definite whiffs of the influence of today's current crop of much darker, angstier sleuths such as Harry Bosch and Kelter has achieved a unique blend of the light and heavy that makes this a very readable and enjoyable novel indeed.
You'll want to keep your wits about you as read. The plot is best described as thick, labyrinthine and even, at times, somewhat tortuous. Don't let your attention lag!
That said, the ending is rewarding and enjoyable and I've no doubt that, like me, you'll find yourself looking forward to other chapters in Stephanie's life to see where Kelter is going to take that relationship with Mr Lido.
Paul Weiss
September 1, 2011
When a book has as many typos as this one does, it does not portend well for reading enjoyment. And then there is the "is it a typo or just stupidity?" items like "I will not cow town to anyone." I'm assuming the author meant "kowtow" but with this disaster of a book, who knows?
The characters were utterly ridiculous and unbelievable. It was clear that the main character represented a male fantasy of a female detective.
The plot would cause explosions of disbelief even the most credulous among us. And I wanted to hurl when we got to the gratuitous use of the n-word...which was somehow even more gratuitous than it is in any Stephen King book.
All in all, avoid this book like the plague.
The characters were utterly ridiculous and unbelievable. It was clear that the main character represented a male fantasy of a female detective.
The plot would cause explosions of disbelief even the most credulous among us. And I wanted to hurl when we got to the gratuitous use of the n-word...which was somehow even more gratuitous than it is in any Stephen King book.
All in all, avoid this book like the plague.
March 7, 2022
Thriller
Twisted crime thriller. Hints given but final outcome not know until the last chapter. Even then, had to think about what I read
Twisted crime thriller. Hints given but final outcome not know until the last chapter. Even then, had to think about what I read
March 6, 2022
I HAD'NT GOT TO 20% BEFORE THINKING OF PUTTING THIS ON MY DNF SHELF. I REALLY HATED THE MAIN CHARACTER STEPHANIE CHA-LEE-SEE, HER WAY OF TALKING & THINKING BOTHERED ME. I HATED HER JOKES WHIICH WERE CRUEL, RUDE, SEXIST AND RACIST, TOPPED WITH HER MAJOR MENTAL PROBLEMS. GRR, I COULD'NT STAND IT. BUT I DECIDED TO CONTINUE, ABOUT 48%-50% IT ALL STARTED TO CLICK INTO PLACE AND I FIGURED OUT QUITE A BIT AND IT STARTED TO INTEREST ME. I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND I WAS RIGHT ON POINT. THANK GOODNESS STEPHANIE WAS THE ONLY CHARACTER I DID NOT LIKE, THE STORYLINE WAS WELL WRITTEN SHE WAS JUST OBNOXIOUS (she was like Jessica rabbit, written that way). WELL, BY THE END SHE WAS SORTA' GROWING ON ME LIKE A FUNGUS. HAHAHA. I WOULD HAVE GAVE 5*stars BUT I KNOCKED OFF 1/4* SO I GIVE THIS 4 3/4*stars REALLY BECAUSE IT TOOK ME TILL THE END OF THE BOOK TO START LIKIN' HER. ;D
August 20, 2011
This book introduces Stephanie Chalice, a NYPD homicide detective. Smart, sexy, fun and funny with a detective's finely tuned instincts and a little sixth sense thrown in for good measure.
There is a deadly psychopath on the loose, choosing, stalking, finally - asphyxiation. He leaves clues as if daring the police to find him. Chalice doesn't know what is compelling him to murder women. She does know she must find him before her beeper signals his next victim. And the information she's receiving from others on the case is gonna get way more complicated!
The writing flows, the plot thickens/flows/twists/surprises. A fun read.
There is a deadly psychopath on the loose, choosing, stalking, finally - asphyxiation. He leaves clues as if daring the police to find him. Chalice doesn't know what is compelling him to murder women. She does know she must find him before her beeper signals his next victim. And the information she's receiving from others on the case is gonna get way more complicated!
The writing flows, the plot thickens/flows/twists/surprises. A fun read.
September 1, 2023
I loved the beginning of the story. Then I had some issues, but overall I liked the whole book.
The story is about hunting for a serial killer in NY City and the female homicide detective chasing him.
What I liked:
-The writing struck me as too informal at first, as the female detective, Det. Chalice often talked right to the reader. But I got used to it. Her voice sounded so female to me, I felt this had to be a woman writer. I checked it was not. That was a surprise. But she was funny, honey, and a unique character. I liked her.
-The story started well in action.
-The serial killer was a nut job.
-He killed high-powered women, it's explained in the story. Made for good side stories.
-I liked the black, bald, LSD experienced, can't tough people psychiatrist.
-It wrapped up nicely.
-lots's of cute humor involved too.
What I didn't like:
-When Det. Chalice went absent from the story. For about 40%-50% of the story, the main character, the female cop, got no page time, then a big section of the back end of the book, except the climax, she didn't get much time either. The book felt very different when she was missing from the pages. That was disappointing.
-Became a little predictable about 80% into the story.
I would recommend the book, I liked it.
The story is about hunting for a serial killer in NY City and the female homicide detective chasing him.
What I liked:
-The writing struck me as too informal at first, as the female detective, Det. Chalice often talked right to the reader. But I got used to it. Her voice sounded so female to me, I felt this had to be a woman writer. I checked it was not. That was a surprise. But she was funny, honey, and a unique character. I liked her.
-The story started well in action.
-The serial killer was a nut job.
-He killed high-powered women, it's explained in the story. Made for good side stories.
-I liked the black, bald, LSD experienced, can't tough people psychiatrist.
-It wrapped up nicely.
-lots's of cute humor involved too.
What I didn't like:
-When Det. Chalice went absent from the story. For about 40%-50% of the story, the main character, the female cop, got no page time, then a big section of the back end of the book, except the climax, she didn't get much time either. The book felt very different when she was missing from the pages. That was disappointing.
-Became a little predictable about 80% into the story.
I would recommend the book, I liked it.
August 1, 2020
A beautiful ambitious detective is on a collision course with a serial killer. She has no clue that the killer has an unbelievable connection to her.
This book has plusses and minuses. Stephanie is a poor man's Stephanie Plum (Janet Evanovich's wisecracking PI). Her constant articulation of unfettered sexual attraction to pretty much every attractive male that moves is annoying and unbelievable. She is astute enough to realize broadcasting seeking psychological help is a career-ender. She should be smart enough to realize that women in law enforcement are held to a different standard than men and messing where you eat is not smart, even if your dad was a cop. Her expression of juvenile sexuality is a disservice to the women in law enforcement. The killer is diabolical although his motive is not especially clear. I liked Nigel the shrink. The switches in POV were annoying. Stephanie's narration was first person. Others, Nigel, killer, victims , were third person. Bottom line it is fast and fairly entertaining. But you have to suspend disbelief and overlook the cliches. Best read with a pitcher of quarrantinis.
This book has plusses and minuses. Stephanie is a poor man's Stephanie Plum (Janet Evanovich's wisecracking PI). Her constant articulation of unfettered sexual attraction to pretty much every attractive male that moves is annoying and unbelievable. She is astute enough to realize broadcasting seeking psychological help is a career-ender. She should be smart enough to realize that women in law enforcement are held to a different standard than men and messing where you eat is not smart, even if your dad was a cop. Her expression of juvenile sexuality is a disservice to the women in law enforcement. The killer is diabolical although his motive is not especially clear. I liked Nigel the shrink. The switches in POV were annoying. Stephanie's narration was first person. Others, Nigel, killer, victims , were third person. Bottom line it is fast and fairly entertaining. But you have to suspend disbelief and overlook the cliches. Best read with a pitcher of quarrantinis.
September 9, 2017
Not a fan. I don't care for stories that switch between POVs as this one does. I also wasn't moved by the sexual play and innuendos. I also did not like that the perp was introduced halfway through. It' like the author was just making things up as he went along rather than having it planned out. Granted the nightmares worked into the story, but even that part seemed contrived and something added just to increase tension. I'm glad it was only 216 pages. I don't think I would have bothered to finish it if it were much longer. I won't be reading any more of this series.
January 29, 2020
Don’t waste your time
I like mysteries police procedurals and similar novels. I bought this one because it came up on a list of recommendations. The book includes absolutely impossible claims about forensic evidence that are obviously flawed and unbelievable psychobabble (trust me I am a psychologist). It was so annoying I gave up about 1/2 way through and removed it from my Kindle.
I like mysteries police procedurals and similar novels. I bought this one because it came up on a list of recommendations. The book includes absolutely impossible claims about forensic evidence that are obviously flawed and unbelievable psychobabble (trust me I am a psychologist). It was so annoying I gave up about 1/2 way through and removed it from my Kindle.
September 14, 2021
I did like the protagonist Stephanie Chalice. But this one did need some work. At times the LSD/ dream sequences were somewhat confusing. The conclusion was jumbled and not well thought out. Although Stephanie's dialog was sassy and funny at times it was kind of unprofessional for a serious detective. The supporting characters were colorful and well developed. This one could have been oh so much more. I'm going to check out the next entry in this series. I'd almost say check this out.
April 5, 2023
It's different but good 👍
A good mystery the female lead. It's interestand it would have been more interesting if it was written by a woman meeting at her point of view may have been more authentic however the author is male which puts the point of view as a little suspected? All in all I hope you enjoy to read.
A good mystery the female lead. It's interestand it would have been more interesting if it was written by a woman meeting at her point of view may have been more authentic however the author is male which puts the point of view as a little suspected? All in all I hope you enjoy to read.
November 23, 2020
You did a good. like a good. Read it if you one twist and turn with lots to think about I like
Kinder language some were not to my taste but I think he will very as he writes
More you will like his main. Character he. Deserve to have a good following
Kinder language some were not to my taste but I think he will very as he writes
More you will like his main. Character he. Deserve to have a good following
October 19, 2021
Do not close you eyes
This is a murder mystery about a man on LSD trying to kill his daughter again he keeps trying to kill her over and over he kill many people before he died he was chalice father
This is a murder mystery about a man on LSD trying to kill his daughter again he keeps trying to kill her over and over he kill many people before he died he was chalice father
March 19, 2022
Excellent read
This is a great book. The author writes really well, with excellent grammar and very few mistakes. The story itself is fast paced, with characters that are likeable, believable and well described.
This is a great book. The author writes really well, with excellent grammar and very few mistakes. The story itself is fast paced, with characters that are likeable, believable and well described.
May 22, 2022
good plot…
Not sure I love the Chalice character. It’s more some of the words/thoughts that the author puts in her mouth. It feels a bit disingenuous and as if it is a make writer trying to write what he thinks a woman thinks and says. And it misses the mark for me.
Not sure I love the Chalice character. It’s more some of the words/thoughts that the author puts in her mouth. It feels a bit disingenuous and as if it is a make writer trying to write what he thinks a woman thinks and says. And it misses the mark for me.
September 3, 2022
This is the first book in this series and it is off to a great start. Very fast paced, great cast of characters, an end you will never see coming written by an excellent author! I read this in one day. I couldn’t put it down.
September 23, 2022
Where is she?
I was introduced to Stephanie early in the book but a couple of chapters and she was gone until the end of the book! Where did she go? It seemed like the author lost subject of Stephanie Chalice and the middle was just filler.
I was introduced to Stephanie early in the book but a couple of chapters and she was gone until the end of the book! Where did she go? It seemed like the author lost subject of Stephanie Chalice and the middle was just filler.
March 20, 2023
I love finding a new series
I’m partial to heroine books. Especially when the women are no nonsense and speak their minds. It doesn’t hurt that they can kick butt, too.
I’m looking forward to the next one.
I’m partial to heroine books. Especially when the women are no nonsense and speak their minds. It doesn’t hurt that they can kick butt, too.
I’m looking forward to the next one.
April 14, 2023
Enjoyable Thriller
An enjoyable thriller with a strong, intelligent female lead. Loved Stephanie's dialog which was sassy and funny, although at times a tad unprofessional. Colourful supporting characters. Looking forward to reading other books in this series.
An enjoyable thriller with a strong, intelligent female lead. Loved Stephanie's dialog which was sassy and funny, although at times a tad unprofessional. Colourful supporting characters. Looking forward to reading other books in this series.
April 2, 2021
Great thriller
This book kept you y your toes until the end. Lots of twist and turns. Loved the main character who was really gritty.
This book kept you y your toes until the end. Lots of twist and turns. Loved the main character who was really gritty.
May 30, 2021
A good detective story
This book has a great female detective as the main character we find out about her past as she tries to solve a case.
This book has a great female detective as the main character we find out about her past as she tries to solve a case.
Read
March 8, 2022Read 3/22
March 15, 2022
Decent book. Very fast paced, so much so, I was actually lost in some spots. That's just a little TOO fast for me. Not a bad read.... just a little overwhelming.
April 4, 2022
Very good book.
I give this a five star rating. It will keep you on the edge of your seat , as they say some things are not as they seem.
I give this a five star rating. It will keep you on the edge of your seat , as they say some things are not as they seem.
June 26, 2022
This book was included in a 13-book boxed set. It is fast-paced with several likeable protagonists, touches of weirdness and a mind-boggling ending. I rate it 4.7 stars.
July 13, 2022
Lots of twists and turns
I like the lead character, Detective Chalice. She has that cop attitude without being overbearing. Good writing style! Can’t wait to read book two!
I like the lead character, Detective Chalice. She has that cop attitude without being overbearing. Good writing style! Can’t wait to read book two!
February 4, 2023
Good
A good story, but the main character, Stephanie Chalice really had a mouth on her. The ending was a complete surprise.
A good story, but the main character, Stephanie Chalice really had a mouth on her. The ending was a complete surprise.
April 14, 2023
Twisted in a way I didn't expect
Great read.
Did not expect that ending
Recommended to all thrill and suspense readers
Can't wait to read the next in the series
Great read.
Did not expect that ending
Recommended to all thrill and suspense readers
Can't wait to read the next in the series
September 27, 2023
Interesting plot
Great read fascinating ending. New author for me will read sequels. Reckoned to those who enjoy a combination of mystery murder and suspense
Great read fascinating ending. New author for me will read sequels. Reckoned to those who enjoy a combination of mystery murder and suspense
June 17, 2024
Decent chalice worth a read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews