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Tom Williams #3
Pronounced Ponce: The Midtown Murders
Allison Embry believes she has gotten away with the murder of her young boyfriend… until she gets a call from his drug supplier with a proposition that threatens to destroy her family and the comfortable life she has built.
Widowed newspaper reporter Tom Williams plans to travel the US and write of his experiences. Then his daughter, a criminal defense attorney, calls to say she’s leaving her husband and moving home with her two sons. Tom has just received word that an unknown assailant has killed a third lawyer in his neighborhood.
Atlanta police detective Paxton Davis, nearing retirement, must find the Midtown Murderer before he strikes again. For Davis, this case is all too reminiscent of the 1980s serial killings that marked the beginning of his career.
Widowed newspaper reporter Tom Williams plans to travel the US and write of his experiences. Then his daughter, a criminal defense attorney, calls to say she’s leaving her husband and moving home with her two sons. Tom has just received word that an unknown assailant has killed a third lawyer in his neighborhood.
Atlanta police detective Paxton Davis, nearing retirement, must find the Midtown Murderer before he strikes again. For Davis, this case is all too reminiscent of the 1980s serial killings that marked the beginning of his career.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2020
207 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Ray Dan Parker
6 books10 followersThere's an old Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times." Looking back on the fifties and sixties it appears that we did just that.
As a youngster one of my earliest memories was the gift of a collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling. Growing up reading Asimov, Heinlein, and Bradbury, I became convinced that I would someday become a writer. It's only been in my later years that I've finally realized that dream.
As a youngster one of my earliest memories was the gift of a collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling. Growing up reading Asimov, Heinlein, and Bradbury, I became convinced that I would someday become a writer. It's only been in my later years that I've finally realized that dream.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 7, 2021
Review
Lots of reading in this book. At times to many different characters hard to keep who's who straight at times . Otherwise an enjoyable read full of action and who's who and who did what. Keeps you guessing through out the story. Recommend highly.
Lots of reading in this book. At times to many different characters hard to keep who's who straight at times . Otherwise an enjoyable read full of action and who's who and who did what. Keeps you guessing through out the story. Recommend highly.
September 13, 2021
Captivating story with some shortcomings
The exciting story was what made me follow through, although there have been too many names created unnecessarily for minor, passing characters which confused the reader. We don’t learn the name of every person passing our path, and a story is just becoming more difficult to follow by such excess baggage. Then there was one paragraph that I simply could not understand although I reread it three times. It has never happened to me before in my more than 6 decades of reading voraciously. And finally there were too many characters and life situations, I would have needed to restart the book to catch who has been in which spot to connect names to characters and situations. No reader does that, it is simply disturbing, confusing, and downgrading the story. A pity.
The exciting story was what made me follow through, although there have been too many names created unnecessarily for minor, passing characters which confused the reader. We don’t learn the name of every person passing our path, and a story is just becoming more difficult to follow by such excess baggage. Then there was one paragraph that I simply could not understand although I reread it three times. It has never happened to me before in my more than 6 decades of reading voraciously. And finally there were too many characters and life situations, I would have needed to restart the book to catch who has been in which spot to connect names to characters and situations. No reader does that, it is simply disturbing, confusing, and downgrading the story. A pity.
September 14, 2021
Intriguing story; character development and POV are a mess!
I feel like this could have been an incredible book, because the storyline truly is interesting! Telling us "who dun it" in the very first chapter, and then watching the various characters bumble their way toward what we the readers already know? What a unique approach.
HOWEVER... (my three-star review should have told you that was coming!) The characters were a mess. I had a terrible time keeping track of whose perspective each page was from, what the difference was between the many characters, and what role each was supposed to play in the book. I had to let my brain fill in that "someone" did such-and-such because names like Williams and Paxton and Long and Carlisle meant nothing to me.
The author would do good to go back and choose one to three characters MAX whose perspective to tell the story from, and then actually develop those characters. (Also, go talk to an actual autistic person for a moment, then knock it off with the offensive stereotypes and straight-up inaccuracies in the book; autism isn't a learning disability, neither are autists "narcissistic.") If such a revision was published, I'd definitely go back and read it again.
I feel like this could have been an incredible book, because the storyline truly is interesting! Telling us "who dun it" in the very first chapter, and then watching the various characters bumble their way toward what we the readers already know? What a unique approach.
HOWEVER... (my three-star review should have told you that was coming!) The characters were a mess. I had a terrible time keeping track of whose perspective each page was from, what the difference was between the many characters, and what role each was supposed to play in the book. I had to let my brain fill in that "someone" did such-and-such because names like Williams and Paxton and Long and Carlisle meant nothing to me.
The author would do good to go back and choose one to three characters MAX whose perspective to tell the story from, and then actually develop those characters. (Also, go talk to an actual autistic person for a moment, then knock it off with the offensive stereotypes and straight-up inaccuracies in the book; autism isn't a learning disability, neither are autists "narcissistic.") If such a revision was published, I'd definitely go back and read it again.
September 10, 2021
Definitely add this to your list of books to read
A really good read and an easy one too. The charters were well written and easy to follow.
Sometimes it enjoyable to lose yourself in a relaxing book. Definitely recommend this novel to everyone who wants to lose themselves for a fe
Hours without the usual cast of characters that require deep thinking.
Grab yourself a glass of wine get comfortable and enjoy.
Can't wait to see what else this author has lined up.
you
ge
L
A really good read and an easy one too. The charters were well written and easy to follow.
Sometimes it enjoyable to lose yourself in a relaxing book. Definitely recommend this novel to everyone who wants to lose themselves for a fe
Hours without the usual cast of characters that require deep thinking.
Grab yourself a glass of wine get comfortable and enjoy.
Can't wait to see what else this author has lined up.
you
ge
L
November 5, 2020
Challenging, Complicated & Exciting
Thank you, Mr. Parker, for another mystery involving your character, Tom Williams, a writer for a large newspaper & investigator. You crafted this puzzle, leaving bits and pieces of information, characters and dead bodies all over Georgia. I couldn't wait to finish this story, but then was disappointed when I did! I certainly hope there will be many more plots to come.
Thank you, Mr. Parker, for another mystery involving your character, Tom Williams, a writer for a large newspaper & investigator. You crafted this puzzle, leaving bits and pieces of information, characters and dead bodies all over Georgia. I couldn't wait to finish this story, but then was disappointed when I did! I certainly hope there will be many more plots to come.
July 21, 2024
Goodbread
As murder mysteries go, it was not really a mystery. However, I always enjoy putting pieces of the puzzle together, figuring out how the police got to the conclusion they did.
That said, there are too many characters thrown at you, so you end up forgetting how they all tie in. Perhaps if the author put the title (such as officer /detective so and so) it would clarify who the people were.
All in alk, a good book.
As murder mysteries go, it was not really a mystery. However, I always enjoy putting pieces of the puzzle together, figuring out how the police got to the conclusion they did.
That said, there are too many characters thrown at you, so you end up forgetting how they all tie in. Perhaps if the author put the title (such as officer /detective so and so) it would clarify who the people were.
All in alk, a good book.
September 11, 2021
Great characters, great story.
Great characters, great story. Not too much mystery but that's ok. This book have me plenty to think about, putting everything in place and working out who did what. I like getting to know people and there is plenty of people to get to know in this book.
Great characters, great story. Not too much mystery but that's ok. This book have me plenty to think about, putting everything in place and working out who did what. I like getting to know people and there is plenty of people to get to know in this book.
September 25, 2021
I was tempted to knock a point off because there were so many characters that I couldn't remember why we knew them - very distracting from an otherwise great little mystery. Good development of the main characters, a great premise, and a couple of twists that kept you on your toes. I smiled a lot at the next to last chapter!
October 1, 2021
It All Happens In My Backyard...
I know one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much was because I am so familiar with all the locales described in the story. The characters were well-developed and the book had a very complex plot that twists and turns through many storylines. I'd recommend it as a well-done murder mystery/police procedural of sorts.
I know one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much was because I am so familiar with all the locales described in the story. The characters were well-developed and the book had a very complex plot that twists and turns through many storylines. I'd recommend it as a well-done murder mystery/police procedural of sorts.
November 1, 2023
This is a book which presents a scenario which should seem incredible but is presented as all too possible and this makes for a real white knuckle reading experience at times. The author has created characters and a setting which perfectly suit the suburban murder plot line. Well written and hopefully much more to come.
September 6, 2021
Was really good
I found it a bit confusing at times with all the different characters and their storylines but once they progressed and began to meld together I because determined to get to the end and the final outcome.
I found it a bit confusing at times with all the different characters and their storylines but once they progressed and began to meld together I because determined to get to the end and the final outcome.
October 10, 2021
Outstanding read!!
This is a read you can't put down. It gets better with each page that you turn! It was well edited and written. Lots of twists and turns that don't give the reader time to come up for air. Settle in and enjoy a wonderful thrilling mystery....
This is a read you can't put down. It gets better with each page that you turn! It was well edited and written. Lots of twists and turns that don't give the reader time to come up for air. Settle in and enjoy a wonderful thrilling mystery....
January 3, 2026
Very intriguing story
There we're so many people involved in this story I needed a scorecard to keep them all straight. The writing style was clean and straightforward which I appreciate. I will definitely read more from this author.
There we're so many people involved in this story I needed a scorecard to keep them all straight. The writing style was clean and straightforward which I appreciate. I will definitely read more from this author.
July 25, 2021
Review
Great story. There were a few good plot twists that I didn't expect. It was a good read. I had a tough time putting it down.
Great story. There were a few good plot twists that I didn't expect. It was a good read. I had a tough time putting it down.
July 31, 2021
This book was amazing! I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. If you are from the South you will connect with the references to Atlanta and Midtown .
September 8, 2021
Realistic
The story FL
Love it could not put it down the language flowed yet was concise letting the reader see the path but not being led down it
The story FL
Love it could not put it down the language flowed yet was concise letting the reader see the path but not being led down it
September 13, 2021
Thought this was the first book. Not bad and most everything summed up. A woman contract killer
September 19, 2021
An excellent story thourally enjoyable
October 4, 2021
Beware the strangers
This story shows how you can get roped into doing something you would never think you could do! Be careful who you associate with.
This story shows how you can get roped into doing something you would never think you could do! Be careful who you associate with.
October 23, 2021
Well told
Very good story of life and murder. Set in Atlanta, Georgia my home it was fun to read about places I recognized while learning the story and characters
Very good story of life and murder. Set in Atlanta, Georgia my home it was fun to read about places I recognized while learning the story and characters
December 29, 2021
Amazing.
Downloaded because of the title. Had to keep reading until I finished. I enjoyed it and need to read something more from this writer.
Downloaded because of the title. Had to keep reading until I finished. I enjoyed it and need to read something more from this writer.
Read
October 20, 2021Jolly good read
Well written, easy to read with interesting characters. Although we learn who the murderer is in the first chapter, it does not distract or prevent one from enjoying the remainder of the book as we watch the pieces of the puzzle put together by a retired writer and the case solved. All in all an enjoyable read. Would recommend this author.
Well written, easy to read with interesting characters. Although we learn who the murderer is in the first chapter, it does not distract or prevent one from enjoying the remainder of the book as we watch the pieces of the puzzle put together by a retired writer and the case solved. All in all an enjoyable read. Would recommend this author.
November 19, 2021
Good Read
First time reading this author….I enjoyed it. Good story line and plenty of sub-plots to keep you interested. Try it!
First time reading this author….I enjoyed it. Good story line and plenty of sub-plots to keep you interested. Try it!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews