Fatal Infraction

Mike Stoneman #4

by Kevin G. Chapman

“Get comfortable, because if you enjoy taut police procedurals and fast-paced thrillers, you’ll be reading all night. Highly recommend!”
-- Anna Willett, author of Dear Neighbour

Controversial quarterback Jimmy Rydell’s body is found naked . . .
. . . on the Central Park carousel.
Who killed him? How did he get there two days after he disappeared?
And why was the body frozen?

Jimmy’s team just wants to move on, after collecting on the $20 million insurance policy. Jimmy’s teammate – the one who threatened to kill him – swears he wasn’t there. Jimmy’s bodyguard had the night off, he says.

Somebody is lying, and they’re going down for this if Mike Stoneman and Jason Dickson can find a theory that explains all the bizarre facts. They just hope the case doesn’t tear the team, and the City, apart first.

FATAL INFRACTION - Coming in 2021 -- Book #4 in the Mike Stoneman Thriller series.

Genres: Football, Mystery

343 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 24, 2021

About the author

In 2025, I will be publishing my 10th novel, Treacherous Hack, book #7 in my Mike Stoneman series.

My 2023 stand-alone novel, The Other Murder, won the GRAND PRIZE CLUE award as the best suspense/thriller of 2023 (Chanticleer International Book Awards)! The Other Murder is about a high-profile murder and the media frenzy it creates, and the other murder that nobody cares about. When two journalists team up to investigate the two murders, nothing is as it seems, and the most dangerous thing . . . is the truth.

Be sure to also check out another stand-alone novel titled Dead Winner, where the quest for a $60 million dollar winning lottery ticket turns deadly. Dead Winner was named the BEST POLICE PROCEDURAL OF THE YEAR and Blue Ribbon winner of the CLUE Award.

Also new is a short story titled The Car, the Dog & the Girl, which is available FREE from Kevin's website and from Amazon and other ebook retailers.

And, of course, look for my 7-book Mike Stoneman series has garnered wonderful reviews and critical acclaim, including:

Book #4 -- Fatal Infraction, was the WINNER of the CLUE Award as best police procedural of 2021 and is a Semi-Finalist for the 2022 Kindle Book Award

Book #3, Lethal Voyage, was the WINNER of the 2021 Kindle Book Award (best mystery/thriller) and a Finalist for the CLUE and the 2021 RONE Award (InD'Tale magazine),

Kevin lives in Central New Jersey with his photographer wife. When not in times of global pandemic, they love to travel (on cruise ships, especially) and Kevin loves playing tournament poker and cheering on his beloved New York Mets.

Reviews

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fatal Infraction is the fourth book in the Mike Stoneman series about a seasoned New York Detective and his younger partner Jason. I’ve read and enjoyed them all, and it does help to know the characters, but if you’re new to the series you do get enough backstory to enjoy this one as a stand-alone. It wasn’t my favourite, because there’s a LOT about American Football which I have zero knowledge of or interest in, but it’s still an effective murder mystery.
I beta-read an early draft of this this for the author, and then skimmed through the final ARC version, which allowed me to give an honest review.

Mike & Jason are assigned the high-profile investigation into the murder of a controversial quarterback whose naked body was found dumped in Central Park. Jimmy Rydell was last seen fighting with another player in the team changing room, who threatened to kill him for sleeping with his girlfriend, and Jimmy had been stirring up protests by taking the knee and embracing the BLM cause - but was that enough to want him dead, and why did they first freeze his body?

What I’ve liked about this series is how different each book has been - the first a gory serial killer thriller, the second had a more political slant, the last one was almost a comedy buddy-story set on a cruise ship, while this one, set immediately afterwards in mid-2019, is back on the team’s home turf and enters the sometimes murky world of professional sport. Mike & Jason make a great team, and I particularly liked the strong sub-plot about racism and Mike’s efforts to become an anti-racist. This was obviously THE major issue in the USA at the time - it is very deliberately set pre-Covid - and is handled sensitively and intelligently.

The mystery was well plotted and I didn’t guess who was responsible, and I loved some of the minor characters like British insurance investigator Beckwith and plucky journalist Kristi. This would obviously appeal most to American sports fans as there was a lot of detail and discussion about football which went right over my head (I’ve googled it but still don’t understand point shaving - it’s OK, there’s no need to explain it, I got enough to work on).
There were some fun developments in our heroes’ personal lives, and cameos from characters introduced in earlier books, but they didn’t get in the way of the plot or slow the pace.
Fatal Infraction is out now in hardback and audiobook, while the ebook is available from July 15th.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5.0

The action starts on the first page of this whodunit that will leave readers questioning everything until the very end.

Read full review in the 2021 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. With so many cozy mysteries out there it is nice to settle down with a police procedural that keeps you hooked and entertained at the same time. I know nothing about American football but I still enjoyed it, as the author has created a gripping thriller which is so much more than just solving a murder and sports talk. The mystery was interesting and took lots of twists along the way, as you tried to puzzle out the who, how and why. But it was the characters that I really liked. The story mainly focus on the murder but it is broken up with home life drama, which helps the two main detectives become well rounded characters that you can't help but like. The author touches on the difficult subject of racism (well discrimination in general) really well and gives you a nice perspective of how it can have an effect on anybody and everybody. This is book four in the series and having just joined the series I had no problem following along, in fact I might just have to go back to the beginning to see what I have missed.
Jimmy Rydell the star quarterback is no stranger to controversy, he even needs his own bodyguard to keep him out of trouble but after putting the moves on his fellow team mates girl he is once again in the news headlines. This time it's because he is found naked on the central park carousel and very much dead. NYPD homicide detectives Mike Stoneman and his young partner Jason Dickson are assigned the case, the mayor wants the case solved quickly and the murder out of the news. An insurance investigator joins the team to find out of his company needs to pay out a large amount of money or if the policy is void because Jimmy was involved in illegal activity at the time of his death. Mike and Jason just want to find the killer. But finding the killer will have to wait as the body was frozen and an autopsy can't be done, the body was moved so they have no crime scene to investigate and his team mates and team are protecting there own and stonewalling them. Protest are sparked over Jimmys death and Mike needs to put out the fire and catch the killer before the match sets fire to the whole city and more bodies are found.
I liked the narrator. He used two very distinctive voices for the main characters, so I had no problems telling who was talking. He also did a good English accent that didn't make me laugh all the time.
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Anna Willett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapman delivers another thrilling tale staring the one and only, Detective Mike Stoneman - Think Harry Bosch but with a sense of humour.
Get comfortable because if you enjoy taut police procedurals and fast paced thrillers, you’ll be reading all night.
Shortly after a team mate threatens his life, high-flying football player, Jimmy Rydell’s body is found in Central Park and it’s up to Detectives Stoneman and Dickson to find the killer. The case throws up so many questions surrounding the athlete’s life and murder, like why was he frozen? When you think you have it figured out, think again.

It’s a pleasure to fall back into the easy back and forth between Stoneman and Dickson and follow along while they investigate Rydell’s murder. With outstanding writing and scrupulous attention to detail not to mention a fascinating murder mystery, Fatal Infarction will keep you guessing. Highly recommend!

[Phillip Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jimmy Rydell, a controversial NY Jets quarterback is found dead on a Central Park bench. Who did it? Just as important, why? This novel masterfully answers those questions, as veteran NYC Homicide Detective, Mike Stoneman, and his junior partner, Jason Dickson navigate the hallowed halls of the NFL and New York City life.

For fans of football, and strong detective procedural mysteries, this mystery thriller, Fatal Infraction is a must-have in your library. I highly recommend this novel. 5 out of 5 stars!!

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensational

I read all four books in this series and I can't choose which is the better . All have great stories with good characters. Mr Chapman is a great author and know how to make us to keep turning pages forgetting to do other things around the house.I only can recommend all the books. Now I'm eating for more adrenaline in book five

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoo this book was a ride. I don't often hear an author narrating their own book, but I have to admit Chapman did an amazing job! It was easy to follow the different characters, and I got sucked into the story before I knew what was happening. I'm sure most, (if not all), of us are familiar with recent-ish events in pro sports that have caused a lot of controversy. This was an interesting look at...what if. What if circumstances were a little different? What if it all ended in a horrific murder? I have to admit I was trying to guess who the murderer was right up until the big reveal. Just when I thought I had an idea where the story was going, another twist was thrown in. Cannot recommend enough for mystery and thriller lovers alike!

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

All police procedurals have certain qualities inherent in the genre. Unless the detectives in question are incompetent the basic story will be the searching for and interpretation of clues to determine who committed the particular crime being chronicled, in this case who killed the New York Jet’s quarterback, Jimmy Rydell. Different twists to the specifics of the crime, the different witnesses and evidence, and the reader trying to figure all this out with the fictional detectives is enough to come up with a solid and entertaining story.

This book throws a few unusual twists thrown into the normal mix. First, we have the team, who typically would want the killer found, but instead appear to care more about the insurance they’re poised to collect and moving on. Then we have an investigator from the insurance company who is allowed to tag along with Detectives Stoneman and Dickson who is hoping to find evidence that will allow him to deny the insurance payout. Last, we get a lot of what I’ll describe as timely issues influencing the case and the result is a story that kept me involved, curious, and on the edge of my seat the whole way.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Mike Markel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fatal Infraction is the fourth book in Kevin G. Chapman's Mike Stoneman Thriller series. The plot, which is quite complicated, centers on the murder of the New York Jets' quarterback, a black man named Jimmy, who is reminiscent of Colin Kaepernick. The initial suspect is a racist teammate, Nate, whose girlfriend Jimmy has recently seduced. But we assume that this suspect is there primarily to be ruled out quickly.

And it seems he is. The two detectives, Mike (older and white) and Jason (younger and black), diligently and skillfully untangle a plot that includes point shaving, organized crime, and the intricacies of salary caps, signing bonuses, and what happens if a star player is injured or dies. Chapman appears to be an expert on such matters. In fact, I think the readers who will be most satisfied with this book will be serious fans of American professional football.

Some readers might be put off by occasional writing lapses. A woman in a low-cut blouse "showed no visible cleavage." When Mike enters the kitchen where his girlfriend is cooking, "his nose was assaulted by the smell of baking bread." Later in the paragraph, when he sees her, "he burst into a grin."

And there are many cliches. Plans "go sideways." To emphasize a point, Jason says, "You can take that to the bank." Mike says that a character "was Jimmy's lap dog, apparently, but he's flown the coop and we can't find him." But I wasn't prepared to see--twice--that a character who was about to receive some bad news might "have a cow."

The most surprising thing about the book, to me, was that the two lead detectives were so well adjusted and so similar to each other. There was some friendly banter about how the black detective can relate to black suspects better than the white one can, but the white one agreed and wasn't offended. And when the white one attended the department's mandatory anti-bias training, he thought it was useful. I did not see any tension, let alone conflict, between the two detectives. They both worked hard, followed the rules, and caught the bad guys. If I were a crime victim, I'd be happy to have either of them handling my case.

These reservations aside, Kevin G. Chapman has written a clear, interesting, and informative story. If you're looking for a mystery about American football that chugs along well, you won't be disappointed by Fatal Infraction.

[Philip Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

NFL Quarterback gets Iced in NYC - A who done it with muscle - 4.5 stars

NYPD Detectives Mike Stoneman and Jason Dickson get the call to investigate and quickly find who killed the Giants' star quarterback, Jimmy Rydell. The story has a focus on race relations and the difficulty of Blacks dealing with White privilege. In the sports world, there are many gifted athletes who have to put up with a lot of harassment. Sure, there are friendships, but sometimes tempers snap.

The plot includes a woman sports reporter, a Mafia Crime Boss, many musclebound males who act as bodyguards or just toughs, and, of course, New York's finest. Most types of prejudices are front and center with a little extra light on where the highly paid athletes spend their wealth, desperately poor people with no wealth, and shows middle and low-income people just getting by.

Mike and Jason are long-term sports fans who are happy to see the headliners up close up and personal. Because their day job is the investigate and provide the safety that citizens expect. There were recent medical incidents that both Mike and Jason endured. They put on a good face and still manage to have relationships with family and friends.

It is clear that policemen have a stressful life. These public servants occasionally need to do some acting to convince the people being interviewed of opinions and facts which may not be exactly accurate. This enjoyable crime novel depicted many personal relations. Fatal Infraction goes beyond the ordinary crime story; it is an enjoyable read that deals with many current social ills.

[Audiobookreviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Professional Quarterback, Jimmy Rydell was a highly controversial player; he pushed the limits of everyone. Having made the headlines for kneeling during the National Anthem, Rydell turns up not only dead but frozen and naked! Now it is up to NYC detectives Stoneman and Dickson to solve the murder. It just happens to be a murder no one wants to be solved – they would rather forget Rydell and move on. Stoneman and Dickson find themselves knee-deep in secrets and the politics of the NFL while trying to figure out this puzzling murder.

This was an interesting listen. The author, Kevin Chapman does a good job of building the mystery and carrying it through to the end without losing focus or the listener's attention. He builds a solid whodunit with interesting twists. Each character was developed, although most had personalities that didn’t require a lot of depth, especially Rydell.

The narrator, Kevin Chapman did a good job of narration and giving voice to each character. It was easy to follow along as each character had a distinct voice. He spoke clearly and with enough conviction to keep the listener's attention.

A good mystery with a solid plot and characters that keep the listener on the edge of their chair.
There were no issues with the production or quality of this book. The quality of the sound was crisp and clear.

Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-bias, honest review.

[Robert Williscroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal Infraction continues the story of Mike Stoneman and his partner, Jason Dickson. Its timeline is between books three and five, but it stands entirely on its own, with only occasional references to previous books that Chapman explains. This is a whodunnit, but not in the traditional sense. This is a detective novel, but not in the traditional sense. If you like either, you will love this one. Even if you just like a good story, this is for you.

The story is about the murder of a black professional football team quarterback who took a knee early on in the take-a-knee movement that swept the nation. You don’t have to agree or disagree with why he did this, he plays a compelling role both alive and dead throughout the novel. The other players are the detectives, of course, and their ladies, the other players, coaches, owners, his agent, a reporter, the FBI, an organized crime wiseguy, and Tiger, a black street kid who shines shoes and was befriended by the victim. Chapman drops clues, but he doesn’t give it away. And, no matter whom you pick as the culprit, you probably are wrong.

Chapman knows his subject matter—football, good guys, and bad guys. He portrays them sympathetically, but he gives the reader the satisfaction of seeing justice prevail, one way or the other. 5-star all the way.

[Roxx Tarantini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stoneman is my kind of detective! Book Four in this series is a fast-paced, timely story of intrigue, backstabbing, and murder. Stoneman and his partner are in the thick of it when they're called out to investigate the death of a local football hero. Accident? Or something more sinister?

Chapman is a master at peppering the story with interesting lesser characters - reporters, mob bosses, henchmen; you name it, you'll see them here. Infraction will keep you on the edge of your seat - you won't easily put the book down till the story is told. You might even be surprised at the outcome!

Though this is the fourth in the series, Chapman laces the narrative with enough back story that it's eminently readable as a standalone. But trust me, you'll love these characters and will definitely want to catch up. Highly recommend!

[I was fortunate to have been a Beta reader on the pre-publication copy of the book, thanks to the author, with no obligation to review. The opinions herein are given freely and are entirely my own.]

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 4 out of 5]

The social justice issues facing the world and the NFL meet the mafia and the NYPD when the Jets' starting QB is found murdered and Mike and Jason have to solve the case amid a ton of media speculation as to how and why he was killed. They find an unlikely assistant in the Boyd's of Britain investigator who has been sent to identify whether there were factors in place that would block the payout of the insurance policies that the team has on its QB.

Chapman did a great job layering on the increased white supremacy in the last few years on top of the Colin Kapernick-led protests to develop in depth characters who were more than activists, or racists. I appreciated the complexities in all and the few detours before we (and the detectives) learned whodunnit. It was also great to see Jason's relationship develop. Loved Rachel Robinson living in a house painted in Dodger colors and so glad Mike and Jason found ways to balance their personal and professional lives.

A quick one day read, and another great title in this series.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, you need to know that this book can be read as a standalone even though it is the latest in this series. After reading this book, you will likely go back and read the others for the backstory. Plenty of suspense and drama along with well-placed humor make this book a one-click or at the very least, one for your TBR list. Moves quickly and has characters you love to love AND love to hate in a well-told story that although is football-related, will appeal to all readers who enjoy thrillers and murder mysteries. The author also does a wonderful job tastefully addressing some of today's sensitive issues including politics and racial intolerance. Certain to keep you guessing until the very end! Highly recommend this book!

[Barbara Daniels Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a hard-core football fan but after reading Fatal Infraction, I understand so much more about the sport and what the politics and details of contracts are all about. Mr. Chapman did not disappoint me, even though I was learning as I read. This is one great thriller. I especially respected his ability to portray (with diplomacy and respect) the racist issue facing athletes today. Kristi is a keeper. That woman is a dynamo and I admired her spunk. Those last chapters were so exciting and a perfect ending for the book. Wow, so much action, especially the falling through the air. In our wildest dreams, could we even imagine witnessing such a scene? Thank you Kevin for a great read.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fourth book in the "Mike Stoneman Thriller" series. I admired the creative way that the author has written this convoluted and complex mystery. I appreciated the development of the characters and the complicated relationship between the two detectives, Mike Stoneman and his partner Jason Dickson. I liked the intense action and flashes of humor found throughout the story. Kevin G. Chapman's narration was good. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! This one had me going! I was trying to figure out who did it! I was shocked and surprised at many things. The interaction between the characters is well done and makes it believable. The banter and relationship between Mike and Jason is always a good listen.

I did listen to this on audio. The author did the narrating. At first it had an echo and I am jot sire if I got used to it or just became so involved with the story that it did jot bother me anymore. He did do different voices for the characters and did a good job.

[Sebastian Barrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good novel.

Could not fault this story and it was as enjoyable as the others in the series. Yes, there were times when careful reading is required by an Englishman to get the head around American Football. But it all makes sense and loved the touch of an English insurance investigator
We keep following the personal lives of Mike and Jason which are on the up and up. Yup, a good all round thriller.

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great narration from Kevin G. Chapman

Detectives Mike Stoneman and Jason Dickson find themselves investigating the murder of NFL quarterback Jimmy Rydell.
Jimmy Rydell’s body was found naked on the Central Park carousel. Who killed him and why was the body frozen?

On the night of Jimmy's murder his bodyguard was not working, and team just wants to move on, after collecting on the $20 million insurance policy.

[Kay Hagan-Haller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Football Fans Will Appreciate This One!

Kevin takes Mike and Jason into the world of American football when a top QB disappears. With some help from a British insurance adjuster named Graham, they finally put it all together as to who and why Jimmy was murdered. Jason and Rachel progress in their relationship, while Mike and Michelle keep their’s steady. Another winner!

[Doc Honour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cohesion

Another Mike Stoneman story, building further the familiar characters to even greater depth. The plot of this one is as confusing and obfuscated as any I’ve seen, yet Chapman manages to pull it all together and account for every detail. Very nice job; I’m moving on to book five.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely intriguing murder story. A body that appears two days after and frozen. There’s no stopping until you find out what happened. A book well worth the time to read once it’s released. Received an ARC from the author and reviewed because I absolutely loved this book.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Mike Stoneman thriller series and it's the best one yet. In Fatal Infraction, Kevin G. Chapman does a great job of tying in a murder mystery along with football and social justice issues. Looking forward to the next book!

[Steve Isenhower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

An excellent continuation of a very good series. We see the main characters make significant progress in their personal development, especially Jason and Rachel. Very interesting storyline with a satisfying ending.

[H.G. Ahedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who did it?

When a famous athlete is murdered, Mike with his partner are trying to catch the killer. But this murder is shrouded with mystery, action, and lies.

Murder mysteries and thrillers are my favourite genre and this book was a delightful read. Highly recommend!

[Tina Kimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Audiobook Version***
Interesting and enjoyable characters. Suspense, action, just the right amount of sarcasm. It was well written and the narration was wonderfully preformed. I would recommend this book.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the free Arc
Love the character mike stoneman
Fast paced action packed

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to an audio version and had a lot of fun. Even though I haven't read anything else by this author I was able to follow the story. I'll go back and read the others in the series.

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a sports fan, but the storyline was interesting. The characters were intriguing.