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Sherman Iron #1
Irons in the Fire
When a gangland murder shocks the town of Hunter, Montana, the citizens want justice and they want it fast. The prime suspect got out of prison way too easily; reporter Sherman Iron needs to know why. But he breaks the law in his quest for answers, and Iron stumbles on the dead body of a corrupt judge with a million in cash in a briefcase in front of him.
Then the cops show up.
Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, Sherman Iron must clear his name and find the killer who ordered the shooting. But everyone in Hunter has a secret, and learning them might take Iron from the frying pan to the fire.
Then the cops show up.
Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, Sherman Iron must clear his name and find the killer who ordered the shooting. But everyone in Hunter has a secret, and learning them might take Iron from the frying pan to the fire.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2020
About the author
Bowen Greenwood
35 books37 followersBowen Greenwood: Marksman, martial artist, motorcyclist. Once a resident of Washington D.C., once a political operative, once a reporter. He reviews other indie writers' books and posts updates about his own at www.bowengreenwood.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 19, 2021
Riveting and exciting!!💜
Fantastic murder mystery! So many plot twists and suspenseful. Grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely loved it.
The narration was amazing. Alan Adelberg does a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. There were some scenes that required a little extra acting on his part, and Alan absolutely nailed it. This is book 1 and can be read as a standalone.
I highly recommend this book.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
Fantastic murder mystery! So many plot twists and suspenseful. Grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely loved it.
The narration was amazing. Alan Adelberg does a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. There were some scenes that required a little extra acting on his part, and Alan absolutely nailed it. This is book 1 and can be read as a standalone.
I highly recommend this book.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
August 9, 2020
Clean romp through dirty business
I enjoyed reading this fresh take on the war against drugs. No string language, no gratuitous sex, but believable violence one would expect from the seedy underbelly of drug trafficking and turf wars.
The story circles around Sherman Irons, a young reporter with big journalistic dreams, a tech savvy high school senior, a drug lord, a used up reporter with a drug habit he is willing to have his own daughter killed for, a scummy drug runner, a pretty weather girl, a crooked judge and a crooked cop. The writing is strong and tight. I believe readers are able to keep the action and the characters straight.
I enjoyed reading this fresh take on the war against drugs. No string language, no gratuitous sex, but believable violence one would expect from the seedy underbelly of drug trafficking and turf wars.
The story circles around Sherman Irons, a young reporter with big journalistic dreams, a tech savvy high school senior, a drug lord, a used up reporter with a drug habit he is willing to have his own daughter killed for, a scummy drug runner, a pretty weather girl, a crooked judge and a crooked cop. The writing is strong and tight. I believe readers are able to keep the action and the characters straight.
July 22, 2020
What started out a bit dry for my taste ramped up to become a pretty decent whodunnit.
Sherman Iron, journalist and protege of legendendary foreign correspondent, Evrett "Ev" Talbot, is unwillingly thrust onto a journey to find answers that will both clear his name and find the one responsible for the murder of Ev's school teacher daughter.
Refreshingly free of foul language & sex scenes, I really enjoyed IRONS IN THE FIRE, even with its bit of 'sophomoric' feel, and look forward to reading its sequel.
*I was given a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Sherman Iron, journalist and protege of legendendary foreign correspondent, Evrett "Ev" Talbot, is unwillingly thrust onto a journey to find answers that will both clear his name and find the one responsible for the murder of Ev's school teacher daughter.
Refreshingly free of foul language & sex scenes, I really enjoyed IRONS IN THE FIRE, even with its bit of 'sophomoric' feel, and look forward to reading its sequel.
*I was given a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
July 14, 2020
Wow!
Well, I’ve just finished this book and absolutely loved it!
The story had me hooked right from the start - it baffled me, then gave me ‘aha’ moments of clarity, and kept me engaged throughout. There were surprising twists and turns that left me confused and then enlightened as the plot unfolded. I really like how the author writes their characters and develop them, too. I kept thinking Iron was older than he was, I don’t know why, but he felt like he was in his late 20s/early 30s, so it was a surprise to find he was only 22! I’m hoping we will see more of Jaden in another book, as she’s an interesting character. How sad that Ev was (whoops, spoilers!), and that his daughter was (more spoilers). See, that’s how much I invested in the characters - feeling sad for someone who was really only in the start and end of the story. I heartily recommend this book to anyone!
Well, I’ve just finished this book and absolutely loved it!
The story had me hooked right from the start - it baffled me, then gave me ‘aha’ moments of clarity, and kept me engaged throughout. There were surprising twists and turns that left me confused and then enlightened as the plot unfolded. I really like how the author writes their characters and develop them, too. I kept thinking Iron was older than he was, I don’t know why, but he felt like he was in his late 20s/early 30s, so it was a surprise to find he was only 22! I’m hoping we will see more of Jaden in another book, as she’s an interesting character. How sad that Ev was (whoops, spoilers!), and that his daughter was (more spoilers). See, that’s how much I invested in the characters - feeling sad for someone who was really only in the start and end of the story. I heartily recommend this book to anyone!
May 9, 2025
Summary:
This is a straight up murder mystery of the best sort - simple, direct, and delicious. I'm a fan of murder mysteries. I loved Mickey Spillane. I have a weakness for Bond-type thrillers. This offering isn't noir, but it's right at home. Sherman Iron has to slueth his way out of his own noose. And it's great fun watching him blunder into the answers. He's working with just enough guts and determination to stay one step ahead of a progressively more complicated antagonists, and we had everything we needed from page one. I loved it.
The Good: Sherman Iron is a great protagonist. He's every man. Well, he's been successful finding beautiful girlfriends, but otherwise, he's normal. He's us. And he's taking big risks to set things right for a friend and his murdered lover. Greewood gives him plenty of chances to stumble and learn. Most of his gambles don't work out the way he planned, even if they work out the way they need to.
Each of the challenges Sherman has to overcome are logical. They may be convenient, but they don't feel contrived. I never found myself thinking - yeah, right.
Sherman's sidekicks are perfect. They fit his character. They aren't overpowered. They bring something he does not, but don't overpower him in the process.
The Bad: I really wanted a satisfying end to the town bad guy. I get it, the resolution totally worked and absolutely made sense, but I really wanted a comeuppance that I didn't get. Not really.
We all like a femme fatale, but it's not that important that Sherman had two gorgeous, talented, fit and looks great in a tight dress girlfriends. One of the two would have been plenty to tell the tale. It would have been fine to have the TV reporter and the teacher where we get Ginger and Maryanne.
Overall: If you like a good murder with a pacey, quick resolution, this is a good example. I liked the characters. I liked the flow. I liked the murders and the resolution. It was a very satisfying meal.
This was a 4.6 out of 5.0 for me.
The Good: Sherman Iron is a great protagonist. He's every man. Well, he's been successful finding beautiful girlfriends, but otherwise, he's normal. He's us. And he's taking big risks to set things right for a friend and his murdered lover. Greewood gives him plenty of chances to stumble and learn. Most of his gambles don't work out the way he planned, even if they work out the way they need to.
Each of the challenges Sherman has to overcome are logical. They may be convenient, but they don't feel contrived. I never found myself thinking - yeah, right.
Sherman's sidekicks are perfect. They fit his character. They aren't overpowered. They bring something he does not, but don't overpower him in the process.
The Bad: I really wanted a satisfying end to the town bad guy. I get it, the resolution totally worked and absolutely made sense, but I really wanted a comeuppance that I didn't get. Not really.
We all like a femme fatale, but it's not that important that Sherman had two gorgeous, talented, fit and looks great in a tight dress girlfriends. One of the two would have been plenty to tell the tale. It would have been fine to have the TV reporter and the teacher where we get Ginger and Maryanne.
Overall: If you like a good murder with a pacey, quick resolution, this is a good example. I liked the characters. I liked the flow. I liked the murders and the resolution. It was a very satisfying meal.
This was a 4.6 out of 5.0 for me.
July 14, 2020
A corrupt judge, police on the take, a rookie reporter on the run while trying to find the bad guys and get the story. His only friend is a high school computer nerd. With a twist ending didn't see coming. And what a help she is! Great start to a new series.
July 13, 2020
Really good read
I liked the characters and the twists and turns of the plot. Well done. Was surprised about ‘who dun it’.
I liked the characters and the twists and turns of the plot. Well done. Was surprised about ‘who dun it’.
Read
October 26, 2020It was a great book with lots of intrigue. I enjoy his characters.
January 9, 2023
wow
I started to read the Irons series with book 3, but I wished I had started with book 1. This was amazing, well thought out and a fun read.
I started to read the Irons series with book 3, but I wished I had started with book 1. This was amazing, well thought out and a fun read.
October 21, 2024
lots of plot twists and turns
Just when I thought Iron was dead, he finds to stay alive. I love it when the bad guys get justice. I felt his pain over losing his friends and wished he could have saved them. It was a bitter sweet story.
Just when I thought Iron was dead, he finds to stay alive. I love it when the bad guys get justice. I felt his pain over losing his friends and wished he could have saved them. It was a bitter sweet story.
April 23, 2023
Irons in the Fire is told from the point of view of Sherman Irons, a small-town reporter who stumbles into a world of deadly intrigue after investigating a local judge he believes to be on the take.
The main strength of Irons in the Fire is its strong voice, which makes Sherman Irons an engaging character from the very first page. While the writing is of a high quality throughout, the voice gives the story and character an additional level of authenticity. What I enjoyed most about Irons is that he’s full-blooded, with merits and flaws other readers can relate to.
The story is structurally sound and well-plotted throughout. Like all good thrillers, just when Irons thinks he’s about to get a handle on his perilous situation, he often stumbles into an even more dangerous predicament. There is a steady tension from beginning to end, fueled largely by the character being unsure who he can and cannot trust. The stakes he faces are gradually raised until the story culminates in a climax that is built on a firm foundation.
While Irons is an engaging character throughout most of the story, there are a few scenes in the middle where he reads a little too ruminative. And while it’s necessary for characters to reflect as they resolve the conflict around them, some of the scenes felt a little long. Irons is most interesting when he’s reacting to the immediate. Still, these scenes were few and they didn’t greatly impact my ability to enjoy the story.
Overall, Irons in the Fire is a terrific novel that I would recommend to any reader who enjoys a good thriller.
The main strength of Irons in the Fire is its strong voice, which makes Sherman Irons an engaging character from the very first page. While the writing is of a high quality throughout, the voice gives the story and character an additional level of authenticity. What I enjoyed most about Irons is that he’s full-blooded, with merits and flaws other readers can relate to.
The story is structurally sound and well-plotted throughout. Like all good thrillers, just when Irons thinks he’s about to get a handle on his perilous situation, he often stumbles into an even more dangerous predicament. There is a steady tension from beginning to end, fueled largely by the character being unsure who he can and cannot trust. The stakes he faces are gradually raised until the story culminates in a climax that is built on a firm foundation.
While Irons is an engaging character throughout most of the story, there are a few scenes in the middle where he reads a little too ruminative. And while it’s necessary for characters to reflect as they resolve the conflict around them, some of the scenes felt a little long. Irons is most interesting when he’s reacting to the immediate. Still, these scenes were few and they didn’t greatly impact my ability to enjoy the story.
Overall, Irons in the Fire is a terrific novel that I would recommend to any reader who enjoys a good thriller.
January 30, 2021
If you enjoy whodunnits, you MUST read this book!
Young reporter, Sherman Irons, has written an article about a drug related school shooting and the drug kingpin that should have gotten justice...but was given a slap on the wrist by a judge. When Irons receives an anonymous tip that the judge was bribed, he and his mentor break into the judge’s home to look for evidence. Except, what they find is a dead judge...and the cops showing up! Now Irons is a murder suspect and on the run. Who can he trust? Told from Irons POV, the story is well written with the right amount of snark, and of course, mystery. Great ending to the story and I’m looking forward to the next book.
Young reporter, Sherman Irons, has written an article about a drug related school shooting and the drug kingpin that should have gotten justice...but was given a slap on the wrist by a judge. When Irons receives an anonymous tip that the judge was bribed, he and his mentor break into the judge’s home to look for evidence. Except, what they find is a dead judge...and the cops showing up! Now Irons is a murder suspect and on the run. Who can he trust? Told from Irons POV, the story is well written with the right amount of snark, and of course, mystery. Great ending to the story and I’m looking forward to the next book.
March 23, 2021
As the first installment of a series, Bowen Greenwood's Irons in the Fire is an excellent beginning with a likable protagonist. Sherman Iron has the tenacity and the abilities needed to carry a series. At over 200 pages, the story is fast-paced with just the right amount of intrigue to keep the reader interested in finding out what happens next but at the same time not giving away too much and thereby spoiling the fun. Also, the PG-13 style, with its apparent subdued nature regarding foul language and violence, makes the book more accessible to a broader audience. Overall, Irons in the Fire is a heck of a suspenseful joyride into a seedy world, and I can't wait to start the next book.
September 11, 2020
I can't even give this book 3 stars. The writing is not good, the editing is not good. I wanted to take a red pencil to all the errors I found. It's snowing outside in a small Montana town. A man in a T-shirt and a young girl in a coat many sizes too large are walking down the street. Their faces have been plastered in the news as being wanted for a murder investigation. And no one seems to notice them? Sherman has been out in the cold for quite a while waking, walking, walking. How can even a young fit person do all that walking? And I don't know that he's ever found anything to eat. At the end of the book the author raves about the next book in the series. We're supposed to be thrilled to follow the adventures of Sherman Irons, Jaden Waverly, and Ram Castro. Well, Sherman is a poor dumb schmuck who listens carefully as Jaden tries to explains things to him. At least the female is the smart one this time instead of the male, like in Dan Brown's book. I can't get too thrilled about still reading about him. Jaden is certainly a clever girl but she's written more like a 16-year-old just starting high school rather than the 18-year-old senior MIT bound that she is. Ram Castro we just had a couple of glimpses of, but I have no desire to follow him.
December 27, 2020
Young reporter for a small town paper is being mentored by an old reporter at the paper when they get an anonymous tip that pertains to a drive by shooting at the high school that kills a teacher and several students. They follow the tip but the older reporter helps the younger escape when the police arrive to find a dead judge in his house where they were looking for clues. Young reporter is on the run from the police and from the head of a drug cartel. Any way an interesting story but for me somewhat spoiled by the always to frequent these days examples of poor English. Too many authors/editors seemed to have skipped English class. There is more to the story of course, but this is a peek at the beginning.
January 19, 2021
Bowen Greenwood’s “Irons in the Fire” opens with energy and ease, pulling a young and naïve small-town journalist into a criminal conspiracy with endless layers, many of them within the dark web. In fact, some of the technological moves in the story seem like twenty-first century magic, most managed by a high school student headed to MIT. Character development could be richer and more attention paid to details. (Greenwood’s characters on the run get cold, but not hungry.) But there are memorable lines, good scenes, and Sherman Iron seems like a fellow worth following.
March 19, 2021
Good, pretty clean read
I enjoyed the story and characters. The plot is well developed and all the pieces don’t fall into place until the end, which is just how a mystery should be. I appreciate the lack of profanity and other mature content. The one draw back is several instances of repeating information already given. If the reader already knows it, it doesn’t need to be said or recapped. Love forward to the rest of the series.
I enjoyed the story and characters. The plot is well developed and all the pieces don’t fall into place until the end, which is just how a mystery should be. I appreciate the lack of profanity and other mature content. The one draw back is several instances of repeating information already given. If the reader already knows it, it doesn’t need to be said or recapped. Love forward to the rest of the series.
September 2, 2021
Sherman Irons, a reporter in Hunter, Montana. He gets falsely accused of murder and now he is on the run.
Jaden Waverly, a senior high school student ready for graduation and heading off to college next fall. She ends up being a partner in crime.
A lot of ups and downs throughout the story with an amazing ending of who did all the murders.
The characters are awesome.
Jaden Waverly, a senior high school student ready for graduation and heading off to college next fall. She ends up being a partner in crime.
A lot of ups and downs throughout the story with an amazing ending of who did all the murders.
The characters are awesome.
September 12, 2020
Irons in the Fire
I have mixed feelings about this book. I really like the authors writing style; Effortless reading. But... The scenarios in the book are highly unlikely and illogical.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I really like the authors writing style; Effortless reading. But... The scenarios in the book are highly unlikely and illogical.
September 13, 2020
Great read
Two reporters, start looking for who killed the others daughter. They find dead bodies, payoff money, and information about drug dealers in the town. Things are not always as they seem.
Two reporters, start looking for who killed the others daughter. They find dead bodies, payoff money, and information about drug dealers in the town. Things are not always as they seem.
September 22, 2020
Action packed mystery
I don't normally select this sort of book. I got hooked on the first page. I am not going to give any clues to the plot but I read this book genuinely in one session. I could not put it down!! Complete immersion. Best action story I have read in ages
I don't normally select this sort of book. I got hooked on the first page. I am not going to give any clues to the plot but I read this book genuinely in one session. I could not put it down!! Complete immersion. Best action story I have read in ages
November 22, 2020
Nice to read a book without gratuitous sex and language.
Sherman Iron is a recently graduated newspaper reporter in a small town in Montana. He gets embroiled in the murder of a judge which turns out to involve quite a few people.
Sherman Iron is a recently graduated newspaper reporter in a small town in Montana. He gets embroiled in the murder of a judge which turns out to involve quite a few people.
February 8, 2021
Excellent Story
Fast paced read full of twists,and turns will keep the reader on the end of his seat and leave you filled with shock in the end. Great character development and tangled relationships bring the reader along the path of destruction caused by the modern drug trade.
Fast paced read full of twists,and turns will keep the reader on the end of his seat and leave you filled with shock in the end. Great character development and tangled relationships bring the reader along the path of destruction caused by the modern drug trade.
August 8, 2023
A compelling read
I found the story a little bit confusing at times. Also a little boring at times. But as the story moved along it became quite compelling and you want to keep reading.
I found the story a little bit confusing at times. Also a little boring at times. But as the story moved along it became quite compelling and you want to keep reading.
September 5, 2020
Enjoyed this start..
....of more stories of an unlikely pair of main characters. There is just enough detail to taken you from one fast-paced part to another.
....of more stories of an unlikely pair of main characters. There is just enough detail to taken you from one fast-paced part to another.
September 9, 2020
The story tended to stall at times and get burdened in dialogue. There was good explanations of technology that helped the story. I would consider reading the next book in the series.
September 11, 2020
Heart stopper
A thoroughly well written and engrossing book. Would highly recommend for true enthusiasts of murder mystery thrillers. Look forward to more from this serIes
A thoroughly well written and engrossing book. Would highly recommend for true enthusiasts of murder mystery thrillers. Look forward to more from this serIes
Read
November 25, 2020No rating because I could just not get past the first few pages. There was no hook for me. So I can’t give a score.
November 30, 2020
It's a good read. There were several excellent plot twists that kept the story interesting.
February 16, 2021
Don't bother!
I just couldn't get into this book. The story is almost unbelievable and I had to make myself keep reading.
I just couldn't get into this book. The story is almost unbelievable and I had to make myself keep reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews