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Rick Cahill #7
Blind Vigil (7)
San Diego Writer’s Festival Mystery Writer of the Year for 2021
Winner of the Shamus Award and nominated for Macavity, Barry, and Lefty Awards
A friend arrested for murder. A vicious killer lurking in the shadows. A world of darkness.
Blinded by a gunshot wound to the face while working as a private investigator nine months ago, Rick Cahill is now sure of only one he has to start a new life and leave his old one behind.
He’s still trying to figure out what that life is when his onetime partner, Moira MacFarlane, asks for his help on a case she’s taken for Rick’s former best friend. The case is simple and Moira only needs Rick for one interview, but Rick is wary of waking sleeping demons.
Ultimately, he goes against his gut and takes the case which quickly turns deadly. Rick’s old compulsion of finding the truth no matter the cost—the same compulsion that cost him his eyesight and almost his life—battles against his desire to escape his past.
The stakes are raised when Rick’s friend is implicated in murder and needs his help. Can he help the friend he no longer trusts while questioning his own lessened capabilities? His life depends on the answer as a shadowy killer lurks in the darkness.
Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly and John Sandford
While all of the novels in the Rick Cahill PI Crime Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence
Yesterday’s Echo
Night Tremors
Dark Fissures
Blood Truth
Wrong Light
Lost Tomorrows
Blind Vigil
Last Redemption
Doomed Legacy
Winner of the Shamus Award and nominated for Macavity, Barry, and Lefty Awards
A friend arrested for murder. A vicious killer lurking in the shadows. A world of darkness.
Blinded by a gunshot wound to the face while working as a private investigator nine months ago, Rick Cahill is now sure of only one he has to start a new life and leave his old one behind.
He’s still trying to figure out what that life is when his onetime partner, Moira MacFarlane, asks for his help on a case she’s taken for Rick’s former best friend. The case is simple and Moira only needs Rick for one interview, but Rick is wary of waking sleeping demons.
Ultimately, he goes against his gut and takes the case which quickly turns deadly. Rick’s old compulsion of finding the truth no matter the cost—the same compulsion that cost him his eyesight and almost his life—battles against his desire to escape his past.
The stakes are raised when Rick’s friend is implicated in murder and needs his help. Can he help the friend he no longer trusts while questioning his own lessened capabilities? His life depends on the answer as a shadowy killer lurks in the darkness.
Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly and John Sandford
While all of the novels in the Rick Cahill PI Crime Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence
Yesterday’s Echo
Night Tremors
Dark Fissures
Blood Truth
Wrong Light
Lost Tomorrows
Blind Vigil
Last Redemption
Doomed Legacy
336 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2020
110 people are currently reading
1269 people want to read
About the author
Matt Coyle
20 books318 followersMatt Coyle is the bestselling author of the Rick Cahill crime series. His books have won the Anthony, Shamus, Lefty, Ben Franklin Silver, Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Silver, and San Diego Book Awards, and have accrued nominations for the Macavity, Anthony, Shamus, Lefty, WRONG LIGHT, his latest novel and came out in December and has been nominated for the Lefty Award and been named a Bookreporter.com Top Pick for 2018. Matt lives in San Diego with his yellow Lab, Angus, where he is writing the sixth Rick Cahill novel. You can find him online at: www.mattcoylebooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
November 11, 2020
That’s the second time in a row I’ve jumped ahead in a series 😱. Although in this case I had read the first book (this is no. 7) which I enjoyed enough to want to read more. And I really enjoyed this one. The lead character, Rick Cahill, is a PI in the vein of the ‘hard-boiled’ private detectives of old, so a bit of fun. Only in this story his progress is hampered somewhat through being blind!
Nine months earlier a shot in the face nearly killed him and rendered him sightless. He is now fully fit and stir crazy from inactivity so when old friend and fellow PI, Moira McFarland, seeks his help he jumps at the opportunity. The client is another old friend of Rick’s (although they had had a falling out), Turk Muldoon. Muldoon wants to know if his girlfriend, Shay Summers, is cheating on him as he is sure she has been lying about something. Rick is along to determine the truth of what Muldoon is saying as, due to blindness, his other senses have become more acute - and he knows Muldoon well.
They are on the job for less than 24 hours when Shay is discovered dead in her apartment. The police look no further than Turk Muldoon for their suspect. It doesn’t help that a witness and certain evidence points his way. But Rick is convinced of his friend’s innocence and, pig-headed as he is, he doesn’t give up trying up trying to clear Turk. Soon he has another line of inquiry with its origins firmly rooted in the past but nobody is interested. Can this explain why Shay was murdered and can Rick convince the police to listen to him before he, too, becomes a victim? Although (don’t tell anyone) his vision is very slowly returning.
This was a fast paced story with lots of good, snarky dialogue. Rick was a bit annoying at times so I can’t give this 5 stars, but his accomplices in his quest to clear Turk were all great characters in their own right. It was a fun and entertaining story that was even (shock, horror) plausible! This will appeal to all readers who enjoy hard-boiled PI stories or just murder mysteries. There was no gratuitous violence, swearing or animal abuse. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Matt Coyle for providing a copy of the book. My opinions are my own.
Nine months earlier a shot in the face nearly killed him and rendered him sightless. He is now fully fit and stir crazy from inactivity so when old friend and fellow PI, Moira McFarland, seeks his help he jumps at the opportunity. The client is another old friend of Rick’s (although they had had a falling out), Turk Muldoon. Muldoon wants to know if his girlfriend, Shay Summers, is cheating on him as he is sure she has been lying about something. Rick is along to determine the truth of what Muldoon is saying as, due to blindness, his other senses have become more acute - and he knows Muldoon well.
They are on the job for less than 24 hours when Shay is discovered dead in her apartment. The police look no further than Turk Muldoon for their suspect. It doesn’t help that a witness and certain evidence points his way. But Rick is convinced of his friend’s innocence and, pig-headed as he is, he doesn’t give up trying up trying to clear Turk. Soon he has another line of inquiry with its origins firmly rooted in the past but nobody is interested. Can this explain why Shay was murdered and can Rick convince the police to listen to him before he, too, becomes a victim? Although (don’t tell anyone) his vision is very slowly returning.
This was a fast paced story with lots of good, snarky dialogue. Rick was a bit annoying at times so I can’t give this 5 stars, but his accomplices in his quest to clear Turk were all great characters in their own right. It was a fun and entertaining story that was even (shock, horror) plausible! This will appeal to all readers who enjoy hard-boiled PI stories or just murder mysteries. There was no gratuitous violence, swearing or animal abuse. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Matt Coyle for providing a copy of the book. My opinions are my own.
August 4, 2022
After reading the excellent "Last Redemption" I had to go back and see earlier treatments of this Rick Cahill series. The character is fascinating and is a believably flawed human. In this case he has to do battle blindly-- having lost his vision to an earlier attack.
Once again Matt Coyle keeps us invested in Rick's thoughts, his emotions, and his struggles with his conscience as he faces the physical challenge of being a blind investigator in danger.
Thank you Oceanview Publishing, Edelweiss, and Matt Coyle for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
***And the great news is there is a new Matt Coyle / Rick Cahill book "Doomed Legacy" set for release Nov 2022
Once again Matt Coyle keeps us invested in Rick's thoughts, his emotions, and his struggles with his conscience as he faces the physical challenge of being a blind investigator in danger.
Thank you Oceanview Publishing, Edelweiss, and Matt Coyle for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
***And the great news is there is a new Matt Coyle / Rick Cahill book "Doomed Legacy" set for release Nov 2022
December 19, 2020
My first Rick Cahill, but after reading this one, I have got to read the others!
This book stayed interesting, suspenseful and unpredictable. A fun, enjoyable read that turned into time well spent.
This book stayed interesting, suspenseful and unpredictable. A fun, enjoyable read that turned into time well spent.
August 19, 2020
Blind Vigil is the seventh book in Coyle's Rick Cahill private investigator series. Oddly enough, San Diego has hosted only a relative few detective series over the years. But now, the Cahill series has firmly set modern San Diego (primarily the La Jolla area) as a great location for private eye fare. Like old time series, Cahill is not on the best of terms with the local law enforcement, has one or two good buddies, and is haunted by his past, which includes once being accused of his wife's murder. This novel begins where the last one left off with Cahill now blind and learning to cope with simply functioning and getting around. He can't really operate as a private eye or can he? Coyle does a masterful job of capturing Cahill dealing with his lost eyesight, finding himself reliant on his other senses, and dealing with the fact that no one seems to take his career seriously now. This novel has Cahill's best friend Turk in a jam and Cahill trying desperately to find answers as the exits all lockdown for his friend. This is a well-written book that moves along at a rapid pace.
December 20, 2023
I jumped into this series at book #7 because a) I'm a grizzled old veteran of the private-eye book wars, 2) the character undergoes the titular loss of sight, therefore is going to have to make big adjustments...thus effectively starting a new series, and lastly, I am always down for something escapist and plot-driven during the long nighttimes of the northern US's winters.
Billed as just right for John Sandford fans, this is one where I think the publsher undersells the read. The pacing and prose work together, a thing it never felt to me that Sandford does. There's no stop the action while I talk to you gubbins in these books.
Billed as just right for John Sandford fans, this is one where I think the publsher undersells the read. The pacing and prose work together, a thing it never felt to me that Sandford does. There's no stop the action while I talk to you gubbins in these books.
December 1, 2020
Blind Vigil is the seventh instalment in the Rick Cahill Private Investigator Crime series, set in and around San Diego, California. Having sustained a life-threatening gunshot wound to the face during his last case after coming face to face with his wife's killer, which left him blind, Rick is trying to adapt to life as best he can along with his trusty sidekick and pooch Midnight. He is unsure exactly how he can remain a superb PI without the use of his sight but his understandable action of wallowing in self-pity is placed aside when fellow PI and friend Moira MacFarlane asks him for help on a case she's just been hired for. Restauranteur and Rick's ex-best friend, Turk Muldoon, is looking for proof his girlfriend, Shay, is cheating on him. Having discovered she has met with someone else, Moira takes Rick along in the hope that he'll know how to calm Turk’s distress. It's premature to assume she's seeing the guy at this stage and Moira vows to continue surveillance the following morning and report back. But when the pair arrive at Shay's the next morning to begin their stakeout, they discover a crime scene with a large police presence and an intensive investigation underway. They see Shay's limp body being taken away and Turk in handcuffs.
Rick, having knowing Turk several years, believes him to be innocent and sets out to prove it despite his difficulties of late. He manages to get himself into some dangerous scrapes while on the job due to his inability to see and manages to rope a reticent Moira back in but only because she hopes to see her friend complete another case successfully regardless of his disability. This is a compulsive and exciting thriller with a whole lot of action, a believable plot and a cast of engaging characters. I love Rick as a protagonist as he's a strong, independent guy who knows his own mind, gets results and is nobody's fool, and you really feel for the situation he is in right now. It's well written, perfectly paced and is an unadulterated slice of pure escapism. Entertaining and compelling from the very beginning, I couldn't stop myself racing through its pages. Usually, a book can be described as either plot or character-driven, but I must admit that this does a pretty good job of being both. There are ample twists and turns and a great use of red herrings/misdirection with Coyle really pulling out all of the stops by ratcheting up the tension towards the end culminating in a spectacular conclusion. Highly recommended.
Rick, having knowing Turk several years, believes him to be innocent and sets out to prove it despite his difficulties of late. He manages to get himself into some dangerous scrapes while on the job due to his inability to see and manages to rope a reticent Moira back in but only because she hopes to see her friend complete another case successfully regardless of his disability. This is a compulsive and exciting thriller with a whole lot of action, a believable plot and a cast of engaging characters. I love Rick as a protagonist as he's a strong, independent guy who knows his own mind, gets results and is nobody's fool, and you really feel for the situation he is in right now. It's well written, perfectly paced and is an unadulterated slice of pure escapism. Entertaining and compelling from the very beginning, I couldn't stop myself racing through its pages. Usually, a book can be described as either plot or character-driven, but I must admit that this does a pretty good job of being both. There are ample twists and turns and a great use of red herrings/misdirection with Coyle really pulling out all of the stops by ratcheting up the tension towards the end culminating in a spectacular conclusion. Highly recommended.
October 13, 2020
No doubt I sound like a broken record, but I really, really like this series. The central character, Rick Cahill, is the perfect combination of tough background and no-nonsense approach to his life and his job as a private detective (empathy, perhaps not so much). As this one begins, though, he's having a hard time; he's still recovering from being shot in the face nine months earlier, which, among other things, left him totally blind.
He's not sure where his path will lead next, but given his condition, being a private eye is pretty much out of the question when neither of yours is working. But then he gets a call from old partner Moira MacFarlane, who tells him another old (but now estranged) friend Turk Moldoon wants to hire her to find out if his girlfriend Shay is cheating on him. Moira says she needs Rick's insights when she goes to interview Turk - if the man doesn't seem on the up and up, she doesn't want to take the case.
Turk doesn't seem all that happy to see Rick again, but he's desperate to learn the truth about his girlfriend. Meantime, Rick must deal with his own issues that come with adjusting to blindness and a somewhat long-distance romance with his partner Leah. Soon, though, he's drawn into the case in a way he never expected as Turk finds himself the primary suspect in a murder case. Just about everyone involved, including Moira, think Turk is guilty. But Rick is certain his old friend isn't capable of such an act and sets out to prove it - even if he can't see his own hand in front of his mangled-up face.
Much of the book focuses on how Rick deals with his injuries - and I must say to that end he's got amazing intestinal fortitude (I'm pretty sure I'd just hole up in my house and let the rest of the world pass me by unseen). Rick isn't one to feel sorry for himself, though - at least not when his friend is looking at a lifetime in prison. There's plenty of action, some of which puts Rick's life in danger, all making for a terrific adventure that made me sorry when I got to the end. Thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
He's not sure where his path will lead next, but given his condition, being a private eye is pretty much out of the question when neither of yours is working. But then he gets a call from old partner Moira MacFarlane, who tells him another old (but now estranged) friend Turk Moldoon wants to hire her to find out if his girlfriend Shay is cheating on him. Moira says she needs Rick's insights when she goes to interview Turk - if the man doesn't seem on the up and up, she doesn't want to take the case.
Turk doesn't seem all that happy to see Rick again, but he's desperate to learn the truth about his girlfriend. Meantime, Rick must deal with his own issues that come with adjusting to blindness and a somewhat long-distance romance with his partner Leah. Soon, though, he's drawn into the case in a way he never expected as Turk finds himself the primary suspect in a murder case. Just about everyone involved, including Moira, think Turk is guilty. But Rick is certain his old friend isn't capable of such an act and sets out to prove it - even if he can't see his own hand in front of his mangled-up face.
Much of the book focuses on how Rick deals with his injuries - and I must say to that end he's got amazing intestinal fortitude (I'm pretty sure I'd just hole up in my house and let the rest of the world pass me by unseen). Rick isn't one to feel sorry for himself, though - at least not when his friend is looking at a lifetime in prison. There's plenty of action, some of which puts Rick's life in danger, all making for a terrific adventure that made me sorry when I got to the end. Thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
January 17, 2021
“Blind Vigil” by Matt Coyle finds Rick Cahill starting his life over again. It is part of a series, and while it is important to read the entire series to fully appreciate Rick, his troubled past, and his complicated journey, this book briefly introduces each character and incorporates relationships into current scenarios to help new readers catch up on previous action.
Rick’s plight unfolds in his first person narrative. His years as a private investigator enabled him to pursue his own version of truth, and yet when he ultimately confronted that one great wrong, he generated a disaster. His previous life ended when he was shot, and people he cared about died as a result of his actions.
The story is essentially Rick’s redemption as he searches for truth in his world of darkness. He talks directly to the reader as he goes through each day, each new experience, each frustration, and each tiny success. He also talks to himself - a lot. Rick struggles with everything; he battles his own guilt and his physical limitations. He wallows in self-pity, aches for a better life, and craves redemption. However, somewhere in his world of darkness there lurks a killer, and he is driven to save those who are left after losing so many friends in the past.
Rick Cahill is a dark, distressed person; he suffers unendingly in this book and in every book, but trauma has initiated some tiny amount of change. He attempts to distance himself from his past guilt and find a glimmer of brightness in future. There is light at the end of the tunnel, however, and as the story unfolds, he achieves a modicum of self-confidence, independence, and proficiency. While this book can certainly be read by itself, to get the full impact, new readers should at least read book one “Yesterday’s Echo,” and book six, “Lost Tomorrows.” I recommend the entire Rick Cahill series.
I received a review copy of “Blind Vigil” from Matt Coyle and Oceanview Publishing. The fact that “Blind Vigil” exists at all is a tribute to the exceptional writing skill of Matt Coyle. Most writers would have stopped with “Lost Tomorrows.” Thanks Matt for pushing readers to the brink and wrenching us back. Only time will tell what the future holds.
Rick’s plight unfolds in his first person narrative. His years as a private investigator enabled him to pursue his own version of truth, and yet when he ultimately confronted that one great wrong, he generated a disaster. His previous life ended when he was shot, and people he cared about died as a result of his actions.
The story is essentially Rick’s redemption as he searches for truth in his world of darkness. He talks directly to the reader as he goes through each day, each new experience, each frustration, and each tiny success. He also talks to himself - a lot. Rick struggles with everything; he battles his own guilt and his physical limitations. He wallows in self-pity, aches for a better life, and craves redemption. However, somewhere in his world of darkness there lurks a killer, and he is driven to save those who are left after losing so many friends in the past.
Rick Cahill is a dark, distressed person; he suffers unendingly in this book and in every book, but trauma has initiated some tiny amount of change. He attempts to distance himself from his past guilt and find a glimmer of brightness in future. There is light at the end of the tunnel, however, and as the story unfolds, he achieves a modicum of self-confidence, independence, and proficiency. While this book can certainly be read by itself, to get the full impact, new readers should at least read book one “Yesterday’s Echo,” and book six, “Lost Tomorrows.” I recommend the entire Rick Cahill series.
I received a review copy of “Blind Vigil” from Matt Coyle and Oceanview Publishing. The fact that “Blind Vigil” exists at all is a tribute to the exceptional writing skill of Matt Coyle. Most writers would have stopped with “Lost Tomorrows.” Thanks Matt for pushing readers to the brink and wrenching us back. Only time will tell what the future holds.
December 1, 2020
Rick Cahill is back for another adventure. Nine months ago he was shot in the face which resulted in blindness. He's still to determine what he's to do now when he receives a request for help.
Moira MacFarlane was his one-time partner in the private eye business. She has taken on the case of Rick's former best friend. The case seems easy and she only wants Rick with her for one review. Rick and his friend have a history, which ended badly.
The friend wants to find out if his girlfriend is cheating on him .. simple, right? Follow her for a few days and see what happens.
But it turns out to be more of a problem than originally thought. The girlfriend turns up murdered and the friend is the prime suspect.
And how is Cahill going to help his friend when he's unable to see through the darkness?
This has been a terrific series with outstanding characters that seem, at times, to run amok thought expertly written plots filled with twists and turns that rival a roller coaster ride. Although 7th in the series, this reads easily as a stand alone .. there are some hints to what happened in the previous book. I'm hoping this series continues .. I love the character development.
Many thanks to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Edelweiss / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Moira MacFarlane was his one-time partner in the private eye business. She has taken on the case of Rick's former best friend. The case seems easy and she only wants Rick with her for one review. Rick and his friend have a history, which ended badly.
The friend wants to find out if his girlfriend is cheating on him .. simple, right? Follow her for a few days and see what happens.
But it turns out to be more of a problem than originally thought. The girlfriend turns up murdered and the friend is the prime suspect.
And how is Cahill going to help his friend when he's unable to see through the darkness?
This has been a terrific series with outstanding characters that seem, at times, to run amok thought expertly written plots filled with twists and turns that rival a roller coaster ride. Although 7th in the series, this reads easily as a stand alone .. there are some hints to what happened in the previous book. I'm hoping this series continues .. I love the character development.
Many thanks to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Edelweiss / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 3, 2020
Rick Cahill #7
Blinded by a gunshot wound to the face while working as a private investigator nine months ago, Rick Cahill is now only sure of one thing: he has to start a new life and leave his old one behind.
Moira MacFarlane, his onetime partner, asks for his help on a case she's taken for Rick's former best friend. The case is simple and Moira only needs Rick for one interview. Wary of waking sleeping demons, Rick reluctantly agrees to help. It's not long before the case turns deadly.
There's some vulgar language in this story that some readers might find offensive, but it's a quick and easy book to read. Not even blindness stops Rick. The suspense builds from the beginning and I was hooked straight away. The plotline is believable and the characters are complex. I haven't read all of the books in this series but this book can be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #OceanviewPublishing and the author #MattCoyle for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blinded by a gunshot wound to the face while working as a private investigator nine months ago, Rick Cahill is now only sure of one thing: he has to start a new life and leave his old one behind.
Moira MacFarlane, his onetime partner, asks for his help on a case she's taken for Rick's former best friend. The case is simple and Moira only needs Rick for one interview. Wary of waking sleeping demons, Rick reluctantly agrees to help. It's not long before the case turns deadly.
There's some vulgar language in this story that some readers might find offensive, but it's a quick and easy book to read. Not even blindness stops Rick. The suspense builds from the beginning and I was hooked straight away. The plotline is believable and the characters are complex. I haven't read all of the books in this series but this book can be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #OceanviewPublishing and the author #MattCoyle for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2020
Love is blindness i don't want to see won't you wrap the night around me.
Oh my heart, love is blindness.
Second rate storytelling.
A blind Private Investigator. Now that's a new one for sure.
I won this, Book 7 of 7, on Goodreads so i read book one to see who Rick was.
Just an okay book for a first time author but i thought it would improve. It hasn't.
Rick was blinded in the last book so in this one we follow Rick as he smells peoples deodorant and the type of shampoo they used. We are reminded of his heightened sense of smell, over and over.
We are also told how his sight is slowly returning, over and over
Rick's friend Turk is accused of killing his girlfriend. Rick with his super sense of smell is on the case to prove him innocent. So so dialogue and characters that just didn't jump out of the page.
An okay read but not a series i would recommend.
Oh my heart, love is blindness.
Second rate storytelling.
A blind Private Investigator. Now that's a new one for sure.
I won this, Book 7 of 7, on Goodreads so i read book one to see who Rick was.
Just an okay book for a first time author but i thought it would improve. It hasn't.
Rick was blinded in the last book so in this one we follow Rick as he smells peoples deodorant and the type of shampoo they used. We are reminded of his heightened sense of smell, over and over.
We are also told how his sight is slowly returning, over and over
Rick's friend Turk is accused of killing his girlfriend. Rick with his super sense of smell is on the case to prove him innocent. So so dialogue and characters that just didn't jump out of the page.
An okay read but not a series i would recommend.
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March 10, 2021I haven't read the first six books in this series. That being said I might have missed something.
The best of the read for me was Private Investigator, Rick Cahill's, struggle with blindness, his descriptions of how he "sees" using his other senses, and his dog, Midnight. Though I'm not enamored by dogs, in this case, Midnight stole the show.
This was just an OK read for me. I was not tempted to go back and read the beginning of the series. However, be certain to read other reviews as many raved about this book. It is also a nominee for a Lefty Best Mystery Novel 2021 Award among other kudos.
The best of the read for me was Private Investigator, Rick Cahill's, struggle with blindness, his descriptions of how he "sees" using his other senses, and his dog, Midnight. Though I'm not enamored by dogs, in this case, Midnight stole the show.
This was just an OK read for me. I was not tempted to go back and read the beginning of the series. However, be certain to read other reviews as many raved about this book. It is also a nominee for a Lefty Best Mystery Novel 2021 Award among other kudos.
October 4, 2020
Another excellent story in this series--and so well written. I absolutely love the entire series. This is a 5-star all the way. Can't wait for the next one.
August 30, 2020
Rick Cahill series # 7
What a great read this turned out to be. Although this is the 7th book in the series I had no trouble getting into it from the get-go Matt Coyle gives us snippets of what happened to his protagonist without lingering on his past and has masterfully moved forward his storyline with a blend of hard-boiled, noirish and a breath of fresh life to the PI tradition.
Blinded by a gunshot wound to the face while working as a PI nine months ago Rick Cahill is still trying to start a new life. But when his one-time partner Moira MacFarlane asks for his help on a case he couldn’t refuse...as always when Rick is involved things always turns deadly....
Mr. Coyle captured masterfully Cahill dealing with the loss of his eyesight and how he carries himself in the dark: he counts steps and is reliant on his others sense to move around. The mystery if told from the point of view of a blind person. I do have a weak spot for a first person narrative definitely my preferred style by a long shot.
Without a murder we wouldn’t have a captivating mystery Oh yes, Shay gets killed and Turk, Cahill’s best friend is the main suspect ...but he doesn’t believe his friend could do such a thing...and we have police, lawyers, suspects, friends and oh yes the Invisible Man with the Dove underarm smell...all in the fray... to entertain us and they do captivate till the very last page.
“Blind Vigil”, is well-written, fast-paced, has amazing and diverse characters and is a page turner very hard to put down. Excellent read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
What a great read this turned out to be. Although this is the 7th book in the series I had no trouble getting into it from the get-go Matt Coyle gives us snippets of what happened to his protagonist without lingering on his past and has masterfully moved forward his storyline with a blend of hard-boiled, noirish and a breath of fresh life to the PI tradition.
Blinded by a gunshot wound to the face while working as a PI nine months ago Rick Cahill is still trying to start a new life. But when his one-time partner Moira MacFarlane asks for his help on a case he couldn’t refuse...as always when Rick is involved things always turns deadly....
Mr. Coyle captured masterfully Cahill dealing with the loss of his eyesight and how he carries himself in the dark: he counts steps and is reliant on his others sense to move around. The mystery if told from the point of view of a blind person. I do have a weak spot for a first person narrative definitely my preferred style by a long shot.
Without a murder we wouldn’t have a captivating mystery Oh yes, Shay gets killed and Turk, Cahill’s best friend is the main suspect ...but he doesn’t believe his friend could do such a thing...and we have police, lawyers, suspects, friends and oh yes the Invisible Man with the Dove underarm smell...all in the fray... to entertain us and they do captivate till the very last page.
“Blind Vigil”, is well-written, fast-paced, has amazing and diverse characters and is a page turner very hard to put down. Excellent read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2021
This seventh Matt Coyle mystery is dark indeed, in that protagonist Rick Cahill is blinded at the end of book six. As Cahill tries to regain his vision, he's also trying to help an old friend who's suspected of a cold-blooded murder. Steeped in themes of loss, loyalty and the resisting of tragedy with belief in oneself, this novel is suspenseful, harrowing and believable. Coyle's La Jolla and San Diego come alive beautifully.
October 24, 2020
What happens to a man when his profession requires him to be observant of practically everything around him but his present reality is total blindness? Rick Cahill is a good private investigator even if he doesn't exactly play by all the legal rules of the game. He takes his job seriously and doesn't hesitate to slip over the line if it will benefit his client. Now Cahill has been nine months trying to recover from a gunshot wound which took his sight but almost took his life. How can a private eye have a profession without any vision? Well, he can let his friends help him as much as possible when he finds that his friend Turk Muldoon wants to hire someone to find out if his girlfriend is cheating on him.
Cahill is the type of PI who gets things done and rubs folks wrong along his way to doing it. Lots of things in his past have made him the hard, tough guy he is now and he's learned those lessons along the way. In this book author Matt Coyle has added a new component - blindness - to kick up the tension throughout this story. Cahill begins to rely heavily on his other senses to get along in his daily life and in learning how to operate as an investigator again. Because others still rely on sight, Cahill has an almost impossible task of getting someone to believe in his Invisible Man.
This story was well plotted and executed. My only point of negativism was the overload of repetition of things that had happened to Rick previously. Yes, I know, it was to give readers a full understanding of the man as he is now, but those are pretty easy concepts for a reader to pick up after one or, at the very most, two mentions. Less is definitely best for me in these cases.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for an e-galley of this novel.
Cahill is the type of PI who gets things done and rubs folks wrong along his way to doing it. Lots of things in his past have made him the hard, tough guy he is now and he's learned those lessons along the way. In this book author Matt Coyle has added a new component - blindness - to kick up the tension throughout this story. Cahill begins to rely heavily on his other senses to get along in his daily life and in learning how to operate as an investigator again. Because others still rely on sight, Cahill has an almost impossible task of getting someone to believe in his Invisible Man.
This story was well plotted and executed. My only point of negativism was the overload of repetition of things that had happened to Rick previously. Yes, I know, it was to give readers a full understanding of the man as he is now, but those are pretty easy concepts for a reader to pick up after one or, at the very most, two mentions. Less is definitely best for me in these cases.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for an e-galley of this novel.
November 8, 2021
This series just keeps getting better. You really don’t want to miss this. I think this may be the best one yet and I loved the last one a lot. Devoted Cahill fan. #5starmustread!
November 4, 2020
Award-winning author Matt Coyle's next entry in the Rick Cahill is up for grabs during this Goodreads giveaway,
Enter here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/en...
Blinded by a gunshot wound to the face while working as a private investigator nine months ago, Rick Cahill is now sure of only one thing: he has to start a new life and leave his old one behind.
He's still trying to figure out what that life is when his onetime partner, Moira MacFarlane, asks for his help on a case she's taken for Rick's former best friend. The case is simple and Moira only needs Rick for one interview, but Rick is wary of waking sleeping demons.
Ultimately, he goes against his gut and takes the case which quickly turns deadly. Rick's old compulsion of finding the truth no matter the cost—the same compulsion that cost him his eyesight and almost his life—battles against his desire to escape his past.
The stakes are raised when Rick's friend is implicated in murder and needs his help. Can he help the friend he no longer trusts while questioning his own lessened capabilities? His life depends on the answer as a shadowy killer lurks in the darkness.
Enter here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/en...
Blinded by a gunshot wound to the face while working as a private investigator nine months ago, Rick Cahill is now sure of only one thing: he has to start a new life and leave his old one behind.
He's still trying to figure out what that life is when his onetime partner, Moira MacFarlane, asks for his help on a case she's taken for Rick's former best friend. The case is simple and Moira only needs Rick for one interview, but Rick is wary of waking sleeping demons.
Ultimately, he goes against his gut and takes the case which quickly turns deadly. Rick's old compulsion of finding the truth no matter the cost—the same compulsion that cost him his eyesight and almost his life—battles against his desire to escape his past.
The stakes are raised when Rick's friend is implicated in murder and needs his help. Can he help the friend he no longer trusts while questioning his own lessened capabilities? His life depends on the answer as a shadowy killer lurks in the darkness.
November 28, 2020
What a wonderful read Matt Coyle has delivered to his readers in Blind Vigil, another in his Rick Cahill series!
Rick is recovering from being shot in the face after taking on his wife's killer in the culmination of years of looking for him. Now he spends his days with his dog Midnight, wondering how to pick up the pieces of his life. It's not like he left on good terms with the police, and it's tough to be a good private eye when you can't see. Leah, his long-time girlfriend, wants him to move to Santa Barbara with her, but San Diego is his home, his job is/was his life, and he's not ready to let it go yet.
Moira MacFarlane, a good friend and private investigator herself, tells him she needs his help on a case she's just been hired for. Turk Muldoon, restraunteur, and Rick's former best friend, wants to know if his girlfriend, Shay, is seeing someone else. Moira's last domestic inquiry ended in tragedy, and Moira doesn't want to take the chance of it happening again. Moira is convinced Rick will be able to give her a good gauge on how Turk takes her report. So with Rick along, she meets with Turk, telling him Shay did meet with someone, but they don't know who or why yet. Cahill senses no danger in Turk, and Rick and Moira tell him that they will continue their surveillence the next morning to bring him the answers he seeks.
When Moira and Cahill arrive at Shay's the next morning, they find an active police investigation going on, with Shay's body being taken away and Turk in handcuffs. Moira wants no part of Turk, but Rick is certain of his innocence and sets out to prove it. It's even easier to walk into trouble when you can't see it coming, and Cahill finds himself in danger multiple times. Rick calls in some favors from Moira, who grudgingly agrees to help, not because she believes Muldoon is innocent, but because she wants her friend to live to work another case.
The book is filled with twists and turns as Moira, Rick and Turk try to find the truth that will set Muldoon free. An engaging read, this book is pure escapism and I loved it! In fact, I became annoyed when my life kept interfering and made it put it down again and again. I couldn't wait to get back and find out the conclusion!
I love the character of Rick Cahill, a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-he-sees-it guy, gruff, but with a soft center for his friends. I love the way he interacts with Moira and Turk, a man who gave him his start, and even saved his life, but who also broke their friendship seemingly forever. This novel is a good blend of personalities and action.
My thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing who allowed me to read an ARC copy of this novel which is scheduled to be published 12/1/2020.
Rick is recovering from being shot in the face after taking on his wife's killer in the culmination of years of looking for him. Now he spends his days with his dog Midnight, wondering how to pick up the pieces of his life. It's not like he left on good terms with the police, and it's tough to be a good private eye when you can't see. Leah, his long-time girlfriend, wants him to move to Santa Barbara with her, but San Diego is his home, his job is/was his life, and he's not ready to let it go yet.
Moira MacFarlane, a good friend and private investigator herself, tells him she needs his help on a case she's just been hired for. Turk Muldoon, restraunteur, and Rick's former best friend, wants to know if his girlfriend, Shay, is seeing someone else. Moira's last domestic inquiry ended in tragedy, and Moira doesn't want to take the chance of it happening again. Moira is convinced Rick will be able to give her a good gauge on how Turk takes her report. So with Rick along, she meets with Turk, telling him Shay did meet with someone, but they don't know who or why yet. Cahill senses no danger in Turk, and Rick and Moira tell him that they will continue their surveillence the next morning to bring him the answers he seeks.
When Moira and Cahill arrive at Shay's the next morning, they find an active police investigation going on, with Shay's body being taken away and Turk in handcuffs. Moira wants no part of Turk, but Rick is certain of his innocence and sets out to prove it. It's even easier to walk into trouble when you can't see it coming, and Cahill finds himself in danger multiple times. Rick calls in some favors from Moira, who grudgingly agrees to help, not because she believes Muldoon is innocent, but because she wants her friend to live to work another case.
The book is filled with twists and turns as Moira, Rick and Turk try to find the truth that will set Muldoon free. An engaging read, this book is pure escapism and I loved it! In fact, I became annoyed when my life kept interfering and made it put it down again and again. I couldn't wait to get back and find out the conclusion!
I love the character of Rick Cahill, a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-he-sees-it guy, gruff, but with a soft center for his friends. I love the way he interacts with Moira and Turk, a man who gave him his start, and even saved his life, but who also broke their friendship seemingly forever. This novel is a good blend of personalities and action.
My thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing who allowed me to read an ARC copy of this novel which is scheduled to be published 12/1/2020.
January 4, 2021
Blind Vigil is the seventh book from Rick Cahill series. Rick is a private investigator but nine months ago he got shot in the face and lost his sight.
Moira, his partner asked for his help on a case that she take from his former best friend, Turk. Turk wanted her to find out whether his girlfriend, Shay is seeing someone else because she lies to him.
They followed her and the next day they found out she was murdered. Turk is the main suspect but Rick believe he is innocent so he wanted to find the truth to help Turk.
I loved Moira lol the way she treated him make me chuckles. Ohh I loved Rick and Tuck friendship too.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author for Blind Vigil ARC!
Moira, his partner asked for his help on a case that she take from his former best friend, Turk. Turk wanted her to find out whether his girlfriend, Shay is seeing someone else because she lies to him.
They followed her and the next day they found out she was murdered. Turk is the main suspect but Rick believe he is innocent so he wanted to find the truth to help Turk.
I loved Moira lol the way she treated him make me chuckles. Ohh I loved Rick and Tuck friendship too.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author for Blind Vigil ARC!
November 16, 2020
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I don't know whether I struggled with this because I had not read any of the previous books in the series.
I just found it far fetched that a man supposed, blinded by a gun shot of which we were repetitively reminded could still carry on being a PI.
This was just not for me.
I don't know whether I struggled with this because I had not read any of the previous books in the series.
I just found it far fetched that a man supposed, blinded by a gun shot of which we were repetitively reminded could still carry on being a PI.
This was just not for me.
August 3, 2020
This is more like it!
The last (and only) Rick Cahill book I read was Lost Tomorrows, and I found him to be a bit of an Eeyore, constantly mired in guilt about his wife's death.
SPOILER!
He also got shot in the face and that was a helluva way to end things.
He survived, and it's now nine months later. Cahill is blind - with the chance that his eyesight may or may not return - and his girlfriend Leah (you may remember her as the sister of his former partner at the Santa Barbara PD) is splitting time between Santa Barbara and Cahill's place in San Diego.
Moira - a San Diego-based PI - gets in touch with Cahill and wants him to come with her on a job. What job? Turk Muldoon, and old friend of Cahill's, has hired her to spy on his girlfriend Shay, whom he thinks is seeing someone else. Cahill points out he can't see anything, but Moira is more interested in his ears, and if he can tell what Turk is feeling and how apt he would be to snap and kill Shay if she was seeing someone else. Moira had given news of a wife's infidelity previously to a doctor (her own son's pediatrician, no less) who proceeded to off his wife, child, and then himself. She'd rather that not be the case here, and Cahill assures her Turk would never do something like that.
Shay, of course, is then found dead, and all indications are it's Turk who killed her after an argument overheard by neighbors. Moira rails at Cahill, that he was wrong and now they've gotten Shay killed, but Cahill disagrees. Moira exits the case, but Cahilll wants to help his pal any way he can, even if he still can't see.
Turk is arrested for murder, but Cahill has found information that tells him Idaho is where he needs to go. He ropes Moira back in, and they're off, to talk to one recalcitrant cowboy but then to a more garrulous one. From there, it's off to a PI who was trying to track down Shay's father, who disappeared with over $800K dollars from the sale of the family ranch, leaving Shay and her mother with nothing. Her father was identified as the decedent in an auto wreck in Mexico, under his own name - this after the PI tells them Shay's father used various aliases.
While all of this is going on, Rick keeps smelling the same man, repeatedly - following him and Moira, following just Cahill. But Moira never sees him, and Cahill dubs him the Invisible Man.
With that information, they head back to San Diego, to figure out a way to find Shay's maybe/maybe-not dead father and a ranch hand who worked on the ranch prior to its sale. By now, we are all fairly sure Shay found her dad, and that he likely had something to do with her death. I will reiterate for whatever nth time it is that I still don't like characters going to the bad guy, alone, without telling anyone.
I won't go into details about the end except to say that "blind vigil" certainly is in play the last 20% of the book
Four and a half stars, dinged for character stupidity. I'm feeling generous, though, and I did like the story quite a lot, so I'm rounding up this time: five stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview for the reading copy.
Release date: 01 Dec 2020.
The last (and only) Rick Cahill book I read was Lost Tomorrows, and I found him to be a bit of an Eeyore, constantly mired in guilt about his wife's death.
SPOILER!
He also got shot in the face and that was a helluva way to end things.
He survived, and it's now nine months later. Cahill is blind - with the chance that his eyesight may or may not return - and his girlfriend Leah (you may remember her as the sister of his former partner at the Santa Barbara PD) is splitting time between Santa Barbara and Cahill's place in San Diego.
Moira - a San Diego-based PI - gets in touch with Cahill and wants him to come with her on a job. What job? Turk Muldoon, and old friend of Cahill's, has hired her to spy on his girlfriend Shay, whom he thinks is seeing someone else. Cahill points out he can't see anything, but Moira is more interested in his ears, and if he can tell what Turk is feeling and how apt he would be to snap and kill Shay if she was seeing someone else. Moira had given news of a wife's infidelity previously to a doctor (her own son's pediatrician, no less) who proceeded to off his wife, child, and then himself. She'd rather that not be the case here, and Cahill assures her Turk would never do something like that.
Shay, of course, is then found dead, and all indications are it's Turk who killed her after an argument overheard by neighbors. Moira rails at Cahill, that he was wrong and now they've gotten Shay killed, but Cahill disagrees. Moira exits the case, but Cahilll wants to help his pal any way he can, even if he still can't see.
Turk is arrested for murder, but Cahill has found information that tells him Idaho is where he needs to go. He ropes Moira back in, and they're off, to talk to one recalcitrant cowboy but then to a more garrulous one. From there, it's off to a PI who was trying to track down Shay's father, who disappeared with over $800K dollars from the sale of the family ranch, leaving Shay and her mother with nothing. Her father was identified as the decedent in an auto wreck in Mexico, under his own name - this after the PI tells them Shay's father used various aliases.
While all of this is going on, Rick keeps smelling the same man, repeatedly - following him and Moira, following just Cahill. But Moira never sees him, and Cahill dubs him the Invisible Man.
With that information, they head back to San Diego, to figure out a way to find Shay's maybe/maybe-not dead father and a ranch hand who worked on the ranch prior to its sale. By now, we are all fairly sure Shay found her dad, and that he likely had something to do with her death. I will reiterate for whatever nth time it is that I still don't like characters going to the bad guy, alone, without telling anyone.
I won't go into details about the end except to say that "blind vigil" certainly is in play the last 20% of the book
Four and a half stars, dinged for character stupidity. I'm feeling generous, though, and I did like the story quite a lot, so I'm rounding up this time: five stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview for the reading copy.
Release date: 01 Dec 2020.
November 18, 2020
Blind Vigil by Matt Coyle is a very highly recommended classic PI novel and the seventh in the Rick Cahill series.
Private investigator Rick Cahill was blinded by a gunshot wound to the face nine months ago while on his last case (Lost Tomorrows, #6 in the series). Now he is trying to learn to live without sight at his home in San Diego and, perhaps, find a new direction to his life. When his friend and sometimes partner Moira MacFarlane asks for his help on a case, he acquiesces. Apparently Moira is interviewing Rick's estranged friend, Turk Moldoon, and she wants Rick to sit in on her interview of Turk about the case. She is sure Rick will be able to tell if Turk is telling her the truth or not, something that is important to her after a previous case turned out disastrously. Turk wants Moira to follow his girlfriend, Shay, to find out if she is having an affair. Rick is sure Turk is telling the truth, so Moira takes on the case. Then Shay is killed, Turk is the main suspect, Moira is furious with Rick, and Rick is determined to discover the truth behind Shay's murder and defend his friend. And who is the man Rick keeps smelling as he follows Rick?
First, you can jump into Blind Vigil without having read the previous novels. I have read the previous novel, Lost Tomorrows, but I'm sure anyone could read Blind Vigil as a stand-alone. The writing is straightforward, the investigation is logical, and the pace is quick. This really is an entertaining, engaging, fast read that will also holding your attention from start to finish. If you like classic noir PI novels, you really need to check out this series.
Personally, I like the way Coyle portrays his hard boiled detective in this series and Rick Cahill is a great character. Rick is compelled to discover the truth no matter the cost and with his current lack of sight this compulsion may put him in danger. He may also be putting any chance of personal happiness at risk with his girlfriend, Leah, as they try to make a long distance romance work. As he investigates the case on his own with some help from Moira due to his impairment, he makes very logical connections and observations, putting the pieces together while trying to prove Turk is not guilty.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Oceanview Publishing.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2020/1...
Private investigator Rick Cahill was blinded by a gunshot wound to the face nine months ago while on his last case (Lost Tomorrows, #6 in the series). Now he is trying to learn to live without sight at his home in San Diego and, perhaps, find a new direction to his life. When his friend and sometimes partner Moira MacFarlane asks for his help on a case, he acquiesces. Apparently Moira is interviewing Rick's estranged friend, Turk Moldoon, and she wants Rick to sit in on her interview of Turk about the case. She is sure Rick will be able to tell if Turk is telling her the truth or not, something that is important to her after a previous case turned out disastrously. Turk wants Moira to follow his girlfriend, Shay, to find out if she is having an affair. Rick is sure Turk is telling the truth, so Moira takes on the case. Then Shay is killed, Turk is the main suspect, Moira is furious with Rick, and Rick is determined to discover the truth behind Shay's murder and defend his friend. And who is the man Rick keeps smelling as he follows Rick?
First, you can jump into Blind Vigil without having read the previous novels. I have read the previous novel, Lost Tomorrows, but I'm sure anyone could read Blind Vigil as a stand-alone. The writing is straightforward, the investigation is logical, and the pace is quick. This really is an entertaining, engaging, fast read that will also holding your attention from start to finish. If you like classic noir PI novels, you really need to check out this series.
Personally, I like the way Coyle portrays his hard boiled detective in this series and Rick Cahill is a great character. Rick is compelled to discover the truth no matter the cost and with his current lack of sight this compulsion may put him in danger. He may also be putting any chance of personal happiness at risk with his girlfriend, Leah, as they try to make a long distance romance work. As he investigates the case on his own with some help from Moira due to his impairment, he makes very logical connections and observations, putting the pieces together while trying to prove Turk is not guilty.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Oceanview Publishing.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2020/1...
December 2, 2020
Although this is the 7th book in this series, it is, in fact, my first book of Rick Cahill and reads well as a stand-alone book. I liked how the author managed to give so much information about the main character in the story, as a bit of a ‘this is how we got here’ sort of thing right at the start of this book.
Cahill is a man to be admired. He used to be a Private Investigator before he was shot in the face nine months earlier and blinded. Cahill had become confident getting around his home and still keeps a fitness routine going each day, working out in his garage. His dog is super, he isn’t a trained helper dog but Rick’s pet, but he has adapted to Rick’s needs and dangers around them.
When his old partner comes to see him, it is to offer him a little work as a PI but only in a consulting way, as a case she has taken on is for someone that Rick knows very well. The man who saved Rick’s life. It should have been easy, judge his state of mind and assess if he is stable and not likely to blow a fuse and do anything rash. But life is never that simple is it?
I was mesmerised with this story as it was told through the senses that Rick experienced, the background things that we don’t often notice because we use the obvious one, sight. Rick could recognise someone’s gait, an aroma and that feeling that someone is almost close enough to touch but just keeping out of reach. All things he could use to his advantage. The story kept me on my toes with directions that I hadn’t known were coming. The story ties up all the loose ends to the case so hopefully ready for another outing for Rick and co soon.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
Cahill is a man to be admired. He used to be a Private Investigator before he was shot in the face nine months earlier and blinded. Cahill had become confident getting around his home and still keeps a fitness routine going each day, working out in his garage. His dog is super, he isn’t a trained helper dog but Rick’s pet, but he has adapted to Rick’s needs and dangers around them.
When his old partner comes to see him, it is to offer him a little work as a PI but only in a consulting way, as a case she has taken on is for someone that Rick knows very well. The man who saved Rick’s life. It should have been easy, judge his state of mind and assess if he is stable and not likely to blow a fuse and do anything rash. But life is never that simple is it?
I was mesmerised with this story as it was told through the senses that Rick experienced, the background things that we don’t often notice because we use the obvious one, sight. Rick could recognise someone’s gait, an aroma and that feeling that someone is almost close enough to touch but just keeping out of reach. All things he could use to his advantage. The story kept me on my toes with directions that I hadn’t known were coming. The story ties up all the loose ends to the case so hopefully ready for another outing for Rick and co soon.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
June 22, 2021
Blind Vigil is the seventh instalment in the Rick Cahill Private Investigator Crime series, set in the area of San Diego, California.
Sustaining a gunshot wound to the face during his last case which left him blind, Rick is trying to adapt to life as it is now along with his dog, Midnight. He is unsure how he can remain a PI without the use of his sight but when fellow PI and friend Moira MacFarlane asks him for help on a case for which she has just been hired, he agrees to help. Restaurateur and Rick's ex-best friend, Turk Muldoon, is looking for proof his girlfriend, Shay Sommers, is cheating on him. Having discovered she has met with someone else, Moira takes Rick along but when they arrive back later to begin their stakeout, they discover a crime scene, and an intensive investigation is underway. They see Shay's body being taken away and Turk in handcuffs. Rick has known Turk for several years and believes him to be innocent, so sets out to prove it.
This is a compulsive thriller with plenty of action, a believable plot and a cast of engaging characters. Rick makes for a great protagonist; he's strong, is nobody's fool, and gets results. It's well written, perfectly paced and compelling from the very beginning. There are ample twists and turns and great use of misdirection by Matt Coyle who really ratchets up the tension, pulling out all the stops towards the end with a spectacular finale. I really need to read the other books in this series!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
Sustaining a gunshot wound to the face during his last case which left him blind, Rick is trying to adapt to life as it is now along with his dog, Midnight. He is unsure how he can remain a PI without the use of his sight but when fellow PI and friend Moira MacFarlane asks him for help on a case for which she has just been hired, he agrees to help. Restaurateur and Rick's ex-best friend, Turk Muldoon, is looking for proof his girlfriend, Shay Sommers, is cheating on him. Having discovered she has met with someone else, Moira takes Rick along but when they arrive back later to begin their stakeout, they discover a crime scene, and an intensive investigation is underway. They see Shay's body being taken away and Turk in handcuffs. Rick has known Turk for several years and believes him to be innocent, so sets out to prove it.
This is a compulsive thriller with plenty of action, a believable plot and a cast of engaging characters. Rick makes for a great protagonist; he's strong, is nobody's fool, and gets results. It's well written, perfectly paced and compelling from the very beginning. There are ample twists and turns and great use of misdirection by Matt Coyle who really ratchets up the tension, pulling out all the stops towards the end with a spectacular finale. I really need to read the other books in this series!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
July 29, 2020
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
A very satisfying read featuring a determined private investigator.
I liked everything about “Blind Vigil”, by Matt Coyle (Oceanview Publishing): the dark, sarcastic wounded hero, who happens to be very affectionate and loyal with his friends, the well-developed characters, the suspense plotline with its underlying feelings of sadness and loss and the well written first person point of view.
Rick Cahill is a great wounded hero and the cohesiveness the author brought to his blindness is awesome. We readers are always aware that the story is being told from the point of view of a blind person. Being deliberately vague here, I’ll just add that the progress is well written and believable, too, with a compelling focus on how Rick absorbs and deals with the changes.
The various characters are all relatable and complex and added depth to the story. Turk is another delightful wounded male character, I really felt for him and how he was struggling with grief. I particularly loved Rick and Turk’s friendship, how they’re so affectionate and loyal to each other despite their conflicts. It reminded me how friendship can be such a powerful thing in our lives.
A very satisfying read featuring a determined private investigator.
I liked everything about “Blind Vigil”, by Matt Coyle (Oceanview Publishing): the dark, sarcastic wounded hero, who happens to be very affectionate and loyal with his friends, the well-developed characters, the suspense plotline with its underlying feelings of sadness and loss and the well written first person point of view.
Rick Cahill is a great wounded hero and the cohesiveness the author brought to his blindness is awesome. We readers are always aware that the story is being told from the point of view of a blind person. Being deliberately vague here, I’ll just add that the progress is well written and believable, too, with a compelling focus on how Rick absorbs and deals with the changes.
The various characters are all relatable and complex and added depth to the story. Turk is another delightful wounded male character, I really felt for him and how he was struggling with grief. I particularly loved Rick and Turk’s friendship, how they’re so affectionate and loyal to each other despite their conflicts. It reminded me how friendship can be such a powerful thing in our lives.
December 19, 2020
This was the first book I ever read by Matt Coyle and it will definitely not be the last. I recommend reading some of the other books in the series to learn more about all of the things that happen to Rick Cahill but I enjoyed the story even though I had not read any others. Rick starts this book with a huge handicap that makes it hard for him to help his friends. There are a lot of twists and turns so it is not easy to know who really is the murderer. I really like that. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
March 7, 2021
When I heard that Rick was going to be blind in this book all I could think about was the TV show that I used to watch after I graduated from high school it was Longstreet he was a blind investigator and he had a white German shepherd and I had a white German shepherd so it’s a perfect fit to watch. I’m so glad this book ended the way he did looking forward to the next one 😀
December 7, 2020
This is the first novel I have read by Coyle so this is my introduction to his hero, Rick Cahill. I found the novel to be a good character study about a man who is faced with the possibility of no longer being able to pursue his profession. How could a man blinded by a gunshot to the head (in a previous novel) ever hope to continue being a PI? That provides a bit of a twist on the PI genre.
There is an interesting additional aspect to the PI plot. Turk, an old friend of Rick's, suspects his girl is cheating and hires Moire to find out. Moire and Rick have worked together before so she asks Rick to help, more to buffer Turk than to actually do PI work. Tension ensues when the girlfriend is murdered and Turk is suspect. A boyfriend killing a cheating girlfriend had happened before to Moire so she splits. Rick is loyal to Turk, however. Is it loyalty to Turk or Rick's own desire to continue being a PI that drives his actions?
Coyle's writing style is good and this is a good book in the hard boiled PI genre. There is no snappy dialogue, however, nor memorable sentences. Cahill is a flawed character who can be harsh yet have a soft heart. This novel would be better appreciated if the previous ones in the series have been read to get the full sense of Rick's character and his struggles.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
There is an interesting additional aspect to the PI plot. Turk, an old friend of Rick's, suspects his girl is cheating and hires Moire to find out. Moire and Rick have worked together before so she asks Rick to help, more to buffer Turk than to actually do PI work. Tension ensues when the girlfriend is murdered and Turk is suspect. A boyfriend killing a cheating girlfriend had happened before to Moire so she splits. Rick is loyal to Turk, however. Is it loyalty to Turk or Rick's own desire to continue being a PI that drives his actions?
Coyle's writing style is good and this is a good book in the hard boiled PI genre. There is no snappy dialogue, however, nor memorable sentences. Cahill is a flawed character who can be harsh yet have a soft heart. This novel would be better appreciated if the previous ones in the series have been read to get the full sense of Rick's character and his struggles.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
August 18, 2022
2.75 ⭐'s
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