When a bomber targets the city he loves, Detective Kelly must decide how far he’ll go to stop them.
A blast rips through downtown Boston on an early October morning and Detective Michael Kelly races to the scene. But before he can begin to make sense of the attack, another explosion sends shockwaves through the city.
Reeling, and desperate for answers, Kelly and his team begin a citywide manhunt. The only clue from the blast site leads Kelly to an inmate — who is less than eager to help.
As Kelly hones in on the forensics, his source reveals the killer’s next targets. Armed with this knowledge, Kelly and his team rush to get out ahead of the mysterious murderer.
But with the city at stake and the clock literally ticking, one wrong move could have catastrophic consequences.
BRIAN CHRISTOPHER SHEA has spent most of his adult life in service to his country and local community. He honorably served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. In his civilian life, he reached the rank of Detective and accrued ten years of law enforcement experience between Texas and Connecticut. Somewhere in the mix he spent five years as a fifth-grade school teacher. Brian’s myriad of life experience is woven into the tapestry of each character’s design. He resides in New England and is blessed with an amazing wife and three beautiful daughters.
Writing has always been a dream, but life seemed to find a way of interrupting. It wasn’t until recently that he dedicated time to this passion. His first book, The Camel’s Back, gave him a much-needed mental break from his work investigating atrocities against children. He allotted time in the morning each day. Usually waking at 5 to bang away on his manuscript. The second round of daily writing would occur after his children were asleep. He proved that working full-time and raising a family were no longer valid excuses to putting off his novel.
A Gritty, Down And Dirty Thriller Through The Streets Of Boston
This story will have you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning, not letting you go until the explosive ending!! A fast-paced, action filled tale with a Boston cop, who loves his city and does his very best to keep the community safe...Michael Kelly is out jogging with his partner when the first bomb rips through the area right near them...Immediately they are off to the scene...And this bomber does Not stop there...It seems he has a plan to disrupt the lives of a select few...But is not worried about the devastation to so many others!! The work and attention to every little detail from the entire team has them looking to an inmate for answers...But he is Not ready to talk! Can Kelly find this bomber, before his city suffers any more?! I highly recommend this amazing story, and offer you my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.
This is not the first book I have read by this author. I have read the whole series to date. I thought the story was ok but it did not always feel fresh to me-felt like yesterdays news at times. It moved at a good pace and did not bog down that much. I thought the first two books in the series were good the third one was meh and I felt the same way about this one. I thought some characters were not needed and all it did was add padding to a already short book. I still like the two main characters and they felt authentic for the most part naturally one had to be a hero again lol I would read the next book in the series to see ho w it goes but my eyes will be wide open to ending the series. I liked how the book ended that was decent and this series should be read in order that the books came out. I say go ahead and give it a spin.
Sign of the Maker is book 4 in the Boston Crime Thriller series by Brian Shea. In this book our hero Boston Homicide Detective Mike Kelly faces a ruthless bomber who targets specific people in Boston.
This was my first book by Brian Shea and it didn't disappoint at all. The book is superbly written and the story is dark, gritty, compelling and captivating. This was a fast-paced book that built up the excitement levels already from page 1. If you like me love crime books, police procedurals and great characters, then this is a must read. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Severn River Publishing for the opportunity to read this book and to share my honest review.
Boston is under attack again. A bomber has targeted the city.
Upon investigation, Detective Kelly finds a link to a notorious bomb-maker. Only problem is he has been behind bars for several years. Did he have an apprentice who's carrying on his work?
As more people are injured and killed in these bombings, Kelly is increasing frustrated and can't seem to get out ahead of the bomber. With the city at stake and the clock literally ticking, one wrong move could have catastrophic consequences.
Well-written, this thriller is action-packed with twists and turns around every corner. Featured characters are solidly drawn. I enjoyed the blend of professional along with the personal lives ... make them seem more credible. Although 4th in the series, this is easily read as a stand along. I do, however, recommend reading the books in order .. it's quite a series.
Many thanks to the author / Severn River Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this hard-boiled mystery / crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Brian Shea has done it again – he has created a thrilling roller coaster ride of action called Sign of the Maker. Each of these Mike Kelley stories sets a new bar, being better than the last not only in the complexity of the story, but in creating a much fuller picture of each of the main characters while bringing in new characters who propel the story on its way to its conclusion. I received an Advance Reader Copy and chose to provide this review.
What a new series by a first time author for me. Detective Kelly has his hands full trying to solve who the bomber is. Full of suspense and action to keep you intrigued. Don’t miss out once it’s released.
Detectives Michael Kelly and Kristen Barnes are out for a run when they hear the boom and the ground shakes. Barnes survived the Boston Marathon so she knows exactly what happened; a bomber has struck in Boston and people are dead and injured. Boston PD may have been first on the scene but the FBI, the ATF, and Homeland Security quickly join them in a deadly race to catch a serial bomber before more people die.
Brian Shea has created a crime thriller that gripped me from the first page. I have enjoyed every book in this series. Kelly and Barnes are good at their job but each has to deal with their own personal traumas and the stress and PTSD that accumulates for anyone in law enforcement. I give this book a thumbs up and five stars!
This story is a love declaration for the city of Boston and its community and in special the Police force. It has a lot of action, mystery, and also explain a little of the Irish roots in the region as well as the workings within the Boston Police Force and other law enforcement agencies such as the FBI. It also describes the workings of a criminal mind and his beliefs in the things he believes are correct. Great thriller, really entertaining. I downloaded a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
If you are looking for a book that that has thrills and who done it and why this author writes the best. The is one of the most riveting books I have read of him. He covers all the bases but the best is that he wraps everything up at the end the who and why. I have recommended this author to many people as a must read. Modern day events explained by a someone that you would think planned the whole plot. Stories taken right out of the news. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This wasn't my favorite story in the Boston Crime Series, but it was the best written thus far IMHO. Brian has been hitting all the highlights in the world of crime dramas, and this time it's about stopping a mad bomber.
Like all of Shea's books in this series, it hits the ground running and doesn't stop until the end. This time however, the explanation/exposition was kept to a minimum, so the pacing stayed pretty consistent since the very first chapter. There were a few new characters we got some background on, and they felt fleshed out quite nicely for the most part. The plot takes a couple twists and turns, and somehow ends where things sort of started in the investigation.
Despite praising the development of new characters, only one of them actually paid off though for me, and that one was through the overused FBI/local PD jurisdictional drama. I personally wanted to see more of the ATF explosives expert, but she had zero effect on the plot resolution. The FBI agent from the previous book did more to help, and that was via a phone call. Strangely enough, there was only one brief appearance of Kelly's mother, and his daughter wasn't in the book at all; only a couple mentions. That just seemed off to me.
Either way, this was a fun/quick read that can be recommended to even first-timers of the series. Everything that happened and everyone who was in it didn't require prior knowledge to enjoy or understand. I'd give this a sold 4.5 stars, so I rounded up. Keep them coming Brian!
I’ve read the previous books in this series and have always thought it was a solid 4 star police procedural. I have to say, that this latest installment fell flat for me. It was missing something. The other books had so many more layers, more drama, more excitement... this one read like a fast-paced action flick made just for the action scenes. I would have liked a little more depth. I’m wondering if maybe the characters have run their course and this is the end of the series? I don’t really see where the author can go next. I wasn’t left wanting more and I had no unanswered questions. It will be interesting to see if there is another in this series and what the story will be.
On that note, as it is my opinion, if you are looking for a quick, police procedural to read, pick this one up. It can be read as a stand alone. However, as a series reader, I definitely think you need to read the earlier books to really get an understanding of the characters.
Thank you #netgalley and #severnriverpublishing for the eARC.
I want desperately to like these books. The subject matter is interesting, and the setting is always intriguing to one who lives in Boston. But, I'm afraid I just find the writing style too plodding and repetitive and flat. And the long exposition of characters' backgrounds injected into scenes that are intended to portray fast-paced or high tension action completely bring the narrative to a screeching halt and pull me out of the moment. Finally, whoever edited this book should be fired, it's as simple as that. There were just far too many errors to be forgiven: things like the same ideas and, at times, virtually the same sentences being repeated unnecessarily within a few lines of one another; and I lost track of the numbers of times the wrong word was used - and I'm not talking about creative word choice, but a word that does not mean what was clearly intended to be conveyed. Frankly, I can forgive this from an author who is writing quickly in the heat of creativity. But, it's an editor's job to catch these kinds of errors. I wish Mr. Shea continued success, and am genuinely happy others enjoy these novels, but I'm afraid - after reading the first 4 books - I've determined that they just aren't for me.
A serial bomber is on a mission of vengeance. Mike Kelly is determined to protect the city he loves.
There is an interesting device used by the author in the setup before each bombing which makes the impacts of the bomb all the more devastating. It’s a fantastic writing device to make the impact of what’s happening pack more of a punch.
This book has quite a bit of emotion attached to it. Shea references the Boston Marathon bombings and discusses their impact. We get into the minds of Kelly and Barnes and the FBI agent working on the case to see the impact on them. Despite all the action at the bombing scenes this is very much a cerebral book.
My one disappointment was that Kelly’s group of friends,who are such an integral part of who he is, don’t appear in the book until very late and not for much time. I look forward to those interactions so I was bummed for there to be so little of it. It struck me particularly given the theme of this book.
PSA: MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS, READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Someone had to say it. The book 100% resembled to the Boston Bombing. And I'm sure the details in this book resembles somewhat to the investigation of the Bombing in Boston. The Author is a retired cop. Just saying
To tell you the truth, it was really sad, very tragic that THIS actually happened, of course the names in this book are changed and a different scenario but still...sad. disturbing even...
I also should add, I kept falling asleep reading. Its something I think MOST of us don't want to read because everyone lived it 7yrs ago in one way or another. Whether We watched it, lived it, survived it, was there etc, I don't think it needs to be relived again in a book...just saying
I love the Author. I do, this one just did not hit home with me. I think I'll pass this one.
I’m a real fan of Brian Shea, and this latest work of his has just re-enforced my love of his talent and style of storytelling. Kelly and Barnes are a great team, both professionally and personally, and they were on a wild ride in “Sign of the Maker” chasing down a serial bomber. I enjoyed every twist and turn, and found it hard to put down, because I felt so much a part of the adventure. I highly recommend that you snatch up this gem if you are a mystery lover. I received an advanced copy of this book from the author through SRP Mystery and Thriller Books, and I have given my voluntary and honest opinion.
This books a good read but not a great one as the previous books in this series have been. As always with Brian Shea it is very well written and researched and there is a good deal of tension in the book.But unfortunately as the book goes on the ending becomes more obvious and is slightly disappointing.Also the story gets bogged down with pages and pages of irrelevant information about witnesses and victims that have no impact on the story whatsoever which unfortunately made me skip a lot of pages but overall not a bad read if you have a few hours to spare and it still hasn't put me off downloading the next one in the series.
What began as a pleasant weekday morning turned into a frightening, disastrous day filled with bombings and deaths just like seven years before - the Marathon bombing - that the citizens of Boston were now reliving. Kelly and Barnes are on a quest to find the man creating the madness that has gripped the city. Chilling, breath-taking scenes, this book will hold your interest from start to finish. Perfect characters and an original, engrossing plot all add up to an exceptional book. Very Highly Recommended.
I've read many Brian Shea's books, and all of the Boston Crime series. The 4th in series, Sign of the Maker, was another gritty police procedural, about a bomb maker. While it could be read as standalone, I felt more character depth & development having read previous books. While I have no personal connection to the Boston Marathon bombing, I know someone whom it affected & it made this story hard for me to read. Solving the mystery of who the bomb maker is & their motive kept me guessing. Can't wait for next in series!
Mike and his team are searching for a ruthless bomber. Whenever they seem to make some progress in finding the bomber, he strikes again. Kelly receives some help from someone just as dangerous as the bomber but that help has a steep price. I have read all four books in the Mike Kelly series and they have all been great. I am looking forward to the next book.
I read the original three books of the series and couldn't put it down. Shea did not disappoint me with this one! I started reading this book and it was as though I was right in all the action and the ending - an interesting twist. I have recommended this series to my friends and am definitely going to recommend this installment! Can't wait to see/read more!
Boston homicide detective Mike Kelly, his partner and the FBI struggle to keep up with the frequent attacks of a serial bomber.
An interesting story in that they never really identify the killer or his next target until it's too late. That tends to be the problem with serial killers.
I still like the Mike Kelly character and I look forward the the paperback release of the next book in the series.
This was a devastating, complex, and suspenseful thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. A hidden past has come back to haunt several people, but unfortunately there are many others who also got caught in the blast. Will the many law enforcement agencies be able to figure it out before it's too late? You'll certainly want to read this book! I would definitely recommend this book, series, and outstanding author.
I always like the fast-paced action in this series. It has some of the familiar characters anda couple of new ones. I also like that the crime is different in each book. A murder, a drug deal, a bombing. It gives a different perspective to police work. The only complaint I have is Kristen Barnes is almost perfect in each book. I wish she was a messy housekeeper or afraid of heights or something. But that's just me, great book great series.
Brian Shea weaves a tale of about six compatriots arriving on U S soil twenty three ago with a mission to free Ireland from from the tyranny of Britain. But something went wrong, one goes to prison. Bombs start exploding and one by one each member of the group start to die.
Will Detective Kelly and Boston PD be able to stop the bomber?
Murder Board got me hooked, but this one is by far in my opinion the best. Kelly is completely on his game and the whole cast of characters suck you in! The only disappointing factor is I read it too fast and while I loved the ending I was sad it was over. Great job Brian Shea.
I thought the drawing the reader along from question to another and the next answer was pretty good, but I didn't think the writing was as good as another book I read of his. As the book neared the ending, I felt Brian was more sure if what he wanted to share with his readers. It felt even a little poetic. A man might enjoy the book better.
Mike Kelly is no Dave Robicheaux, Lucas Davenport or Spenser, but he's a good cop fighting the good fight with heart and intelligence. I think this is.Shea's best book yet. His plots and characters become more real with every book. You won't be disappointed. I gave it four stars instead of five, because I thought the ending was too easy.
The Boston Crime Thriller series is beyond entertaining. The characters are fully developed and the storyline is interesting. Each of these books builds onto the next to make you eager for the next bit of action in this city and it’s characters. Kudos to Brian Shea.