What do you think?
Rate this book
Violent Crime Investigations Team #2
The Day He Left
After he was gone, the only things left behind were secrets
Annie has fallen out of the habit of listening to her husband. She and Paul have been married for a long time; it's easy to nod as he drones on, responding to his voice while completely ignoring every word he says. That becomes a problem, of course, when Paul disappears and the police have questions. Was Paul having issues at work? Is there any reason to think he might harm himself? Annie doesn't know.
But someone does.
An unsettling photo found amongst Paul's things turns the investigation toward his job as a middle school teacher and a troubled girl who is hiding secrets of her own. But what exactly happened to Paul on the day he left for work and never made it to the classroom? Is his disappearance related to a local heroin trafficking operation? As Eddie Mahler and the members of the Santa Rosa Violent Crime Investigations Team rush to find the teacher, they discover the members of his family have hidden lives of their own, and that Paul may not have been running away but toward something that could ruin his career and marriage--and even cost his life.
Annie has fallen out of the habit of listening to her husband. She and Paul have been married for a long time; it's easy to nod as he drones on, responding to his voice while completely ignoring every word he says. That becomes a problem, of course, when Paul disappears and the police have questions. Was Paul having issues at work? Is there any reason to think he might harm himself? Annie doesn't know.
But someone does.
An unsettling photo found amongst Paul's things turns the investigation toward his job as a middle school teacher and a troubled girl who is hiding secrets of her own. But what exactly happened to Paul on the day he left for work and never made it to the classroom? Is his disappearance related to a local heroin trafficking operation? As Eddie Mahler and the members of the Santa Rosa Violent Crime Investigations Team rush to find the teacher, they discover the members of his family have hidden lives of their own, and that Paul may not have been running away but toward something that could ruin his career and marriage--and even cost his life.
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2022
38 people are currently reading
2242 people want to read
About the author
Frederick Weisel
4 books55 followersFrederick Weisel has been a writer and editor for more than 30 years. He graduated from Antioch College and has an MA in Victorian Literature and History from the University of Leicester in England. His short stories were awarded an Artists Fellowship from the Massachusetts Arts and Humanities Foundation, and his articles have appeared in the Boston Globe, Washington Post, and Christian Science Monitor.
The Silenced Women is his debut novel and the first in the Violent Crime Investigations Team Mystery series. The second novel, The Day He Left, will be published in February 2022. He is currently at work on the third novel in the VCI series. He lives with his wife in Santa Rosa, California, and shares a birthday with his favorite author, Raymond Chandler.
You can read his essay “Behind the Book: The Silenced Women” in Crimespree Magazine:
https://crimespreemag.com/behind-the-...
You can read his essay “Detective Fiction and Dementia: A Biopsy” in CrimeReads Magazine: https://crimereads.com/detective-fict...
You can read his essay “Five Things: Last Sentences in Five Novels” in Crimespree Magazine: https://crimespreemag.com/five-things...
The Silenced Women is his debut novel and the first in the Violent Crime Investigations Team Mystery series. The second novel, The Day He Left, will be published in February 2022. He is currently at work on the third novel in the VCI series. He lives with his wife in Santa Rosa, California, and shares a birthday with his favorite author, Raymond Chandler.
You can read his essay “Behind the Book: The Silenced Women” in Crimespree Magazine:
https://crimespreemag.com/behind-the-...
You can read his essay “Detective Fiction and Dementia: A Biopsy” in CrimeReads Magazine: https://crimereads.com/detective-fict...
You can read his essay “Five Things: Last Sentences in Five Novels” in Crimespree Magazine: https://crimespreemag.com/five-things...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 10, 2022
Leaving it at a 3.
February 23, 2022
A new crime team lead by Detective Eddie Mahler is the basis of The Day He Left, written by Frederick Weisel. This is in fact the second book of the Violent Crimes Investigations Unit series set in California. A school teacher leaves home one morning only to disappear without warning and totally out of character. The VCI team are called in to investigate and the model family is not all as seems and secrets are discovered but are only more confounding. The apparently innocuous crime is soon complicated by the revelations of various characters, then a teenage girl goes missing. Initially, this police procedural appeared somewhat lacklustre and the narrative side tracks into the VCI team members’ backstories. Whilst the pace and action does pick up, it only makes for a three-star rating. With thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given, without obligation.
February 1, 2022
The Day He Left is the second book in the Violent Crime Investigations Team series by American author, Frederick Weisel. When dedicated middle school teacher, Paul Behrens fails to turn up for work, it’s totally out of character for this man who loves his job. His wife Annie does not hesitate to call the Santa Rosa Police Department. Lieutenant Eddie Mahler decides his Violent Crimes Investigations Team will dedicate the next twenty-four hours to finding him.
But as they take a closer look at the man’s life, and those close to him, it seems that Paul had plenty more than the usual worries about money and job: an unfaithful wife with a drinking problem; a sixteen-year-old son dealing drugs; a thirteen-year-old daughter being bullied; accusations made by a student; and concern for the welfare of another student. He drove off to an appointment of which Annie knew nothing.
And when the team does find him, the mystery is far from solved.
As one team member does double shifts helping out Narcotics, the team’s analyst, Eden Somers is distracted from the case by a development in the case that ultimately caused her to resign from the FBI: the Highway 60 murders. An FBI security breach has brought her to the attention of the main suspect, recently arrested for the third time. Eden has sixty Bankers Boxes of case files to review if the man is not to be released again.
This is not a mystery where the reader has a chance of predicting the killer or motive: most information is only revealed as the police learn it, but the detective work the team carries out is smart and diligent. Weisel gives the characters the opportunity to philosophise about their lives during rare moments of downtime, with each adding depth.
It’s refreshing to note that this cast mostly don’t put themselves in danger unnecessarily, but share information, working well as a team and backing each other up when it matters. The story is let down by a number of annoying continuity issues following on from the first book in the series.
Setting aside the fact that the Violent Crimes Investigation Team takes on a missing-person case a mere three and a half hours after Paul Behrens has driven away from his home, retracing Paul’s steps after his departure, learning about his state of mind and his relationships: family, students, colleagues, all without any indication that a violent crime has occurred, this is an excellent police procedural.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press
But as they take a closer look at the man’s life, and those close to him, it seems that Paul had plenty more than the usual worries about money and job: an unfaithful wife with a drinking problem; a sixteen-year-old son dealing drugs; a thirteen-year-old daughter being bullied; accusations made by a student; and concern for the welfare of another student. He drove off to an appointment of which Annie knew nothing.
And when the team does find him, the mystery is far from solved.
As one team member does double shifts helping out Narcotics, the team’s analyst, Eden Somers is distracted from the case by a development in the case that ultimately caused her to resign from the FBI: the Highway 60 murders. An FBI security breach has brought her to the attention of the main suspect, recently arrested for the third time. Eden has sixty Bankers Boxes of case files to review if the man is not to be released again.
This is not a mystery where the reader has a chance of predicting the killer or motive: most information is only revealed as the police learn it, but the detective work the team carries out is smart and diligent. Weisel gives the characters the opportunity to philosophise about their lives during rare moments of downtime, with each adding depth.
It’s refreshing to note that this cast mostly don’t put themselves in danger unnecessarily, but share information, working well as a team and backing each other up when it matters. The story is let down by a number of annoying continuity issues following on from the first book in the series.
Setting aside the fact that the Violent Crimes Investigation Team takes on a missing-person case a mere three and a half hours after Paul Behrens has driven away from his home, retracing Paul’s steps after his departure, learning about his state of mind and his relationships: family, students, colleagues, all without any indication that a violent crime has occurred, this is an excellent police procedural.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press
March 19, 2022
Menacing, intricate, and engrossing!
In this enthralling second instalment in the VCI Team series, The Day He Left, Detective Eddie Mahler and the VCI team find themselves immersed in a new high-stakes case involving a missing middle-school teacher who is either a victim of infidelity, slander, and misfortune or a predator who enjoys preying on his vulnerable students.
The writing is edgy and tight. The characters are multilayered, meticulous, and persistent. And the plot is a fast-paced, electrifying tale full of twists, turns, familial drama, red herrings, manipulation, secrets, deception, mayhem, danger, and murder.
Overall, The Day He Left is another sinister, addictive, thrilling addition to what is quickly becoming a must-read series for me, with its flawed, complex characters, great pace, and consistent sense of urgency that I can’t seem to get enough of.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this enthralling second instalment in the VCI Team series, The Day He Left, Detective Eddie Mahler and the VCI team find themselves immersed in a new high-stakes case involving a missing middle-school teacher who is either a victim of infidelity, slander, and misfortune or a predator who enjoys preying on his vulnerable students.
The writing is edgy and tight. The characters are multilayered, meticulous, and persistent. And the plot is a fast-paced, electrifying tale full of twists, turns, familial drama, red herrings, manipulation, secrets, deception, mayhem, danger, and murder.
Overall, The Day He Left is another sinister, addictive, thrilling addition to what is quickly becoming a must-read series for me, with its flawed, complex characters, great pace, and consistent sense of urgency that I can’t seem to get enough of.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2022
Can we please stop using adultery as part of the plot of mystery books? I think that such troupe is already a cliche and it romanticizes the idea of cheating which is not OK.
Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2022
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and Frederick Weisel for my copy of this book. It is about Annie and Paul, a couple who have been married for a long time. Annie pretty much tunes him out, so when he does missing, Anne has no idea what was going on in Paul's life. When the police starting looking into Paul's disappearance, they discover that members of his family have hidden lives of their own, and that Paul may have been running toward something that could ruin his career and marriage.
Thoughts: This is book two in a series, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if I would have read book one. I was so excited because I am from Santa Rosa where the book was set, but that wasn't enough to make me fall in love with the book. I didn't like Annie as a main character at all, but I did enjoy Eddie as the detective. It is a well written police procedural that is interesting and fast paced. It isn't necessarily a thriller, but I did enjoy it for what it was. 4-stars.
Thoughts: This is book two in a series, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if I would have read book one. I was so excited because I am from Santa Rosa where the book was set, but that wasn't enough to make me fall in love with the book. I didn't like Annie as a main character at all, but I did enjoy Eddie as the detective. It is a well written police procedural that is interesting and fast paced. It isn't necessarily a thriller, but I did enjoy it for what it was. 4-stars.
March 5, 2022
Annie Behrens and her husband Paul could go days without seeing each other. He was a Middle School Literature teacher, and she was a Nurse working the second shift. On the day when Paul left for work in the morning and disappeared, Annie had not seen him for nearly three days. Even with their current work schedules making their lives like two ships passing in the night --- something that was taking a toll on their marriage and their two teen-aged children --- Annie was still quite surprised when Paul’s Principal phoned to see how he was feeling and to let her know that she had gotten a sub to fill in for him that day.
Here begins Frederick Weisel’s THE DAY HE LEFT, the second novel in his terrific Violent Crime Investigations Team Mystery series. Following the message from the Principal we begin to see things get pieced together. Annie finds Paul’s briefcase and cell phone still left in the living room, yet his car is gone and there is no note anywhere. When she looks inside the briefcase, she finds a disturbing photo which she immediately disposes of. It is then when she begins to hit the wine as we learn about her drinking problem. The police are called and thus the case into the mysterious disappearance of Paul Behrens is opened.
The team put on the case is an expert one --- Detective Eddie Mahler, leader of the Santa Rosa Violent Crime Investigations Team that consists of Daniel Rivas, Steve Frames, Eden Somers, and Martin Coyle. No stone will be left unturned as the team divides and conquers all aspects of Paul and Annie Behrens lives. A huge clue comes to light when a letter of resignation written by Paul is found and it refers to an alleged incident between him and a student that had taken place. They also find a copy of Twelfth Night by Shakespeare that was inscribed to Paul by someone named Jean, quoting from the text: ‘Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty.’ The investigators also notice that Paul had an appointment with someone named Jean on his calendar for the day he disappeared.
The Team pushes both Paul’s 16-year-old son, Jesse, who may be selling drugs, and his 13-year-old daughter, Claire, a loner of a girl who may know more than she is saying about the girls her father was alleged to have been involved with around school. It is not long when we learn about the affairs. Annie admits having been seeing intimately a doctor from her hospital and we also find out about a woman named Patty who is allegedly Paul’s girlfriend that he was leaving to meet the day he left. This novel is like a snowball being pushed down a mountain that just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Of course, we must remind ourselves that this is a Violent Crimes novel, and the inevitable moment arrives when Paul’s body is found --- parked on the side of the rode in the front seat of his vehicle with a single gunshot wound to the head, the apparent victim of suicide. Mahler and company will wait on the forensics and now can dig further knowing that the search portion of their case is over.
THE DAY HE LEFT is never predictable and the investigating team working this case are complex and top notch. This is one of the finer and more detailed police procedurals I have read in quite a while. The best way I can describe it is that it was like comparing a soft-soaped American Crime TV show to one that you can see on BBC, like say “Line Of Duty,” which is just a step above. That’s how I felt reading THE DAY HE LEFT --- it just goes there.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
Here begins Frederick Weisel’s THE DAY HE LEFT, the second novel in his terrific Violent Crime Investigations Team Mystery series. Following the message from the Principal we begin to see things get pieced together. Annie finds Paul’s briefcase and cell phone still left in the living room, yet his car is gone and there is no note anywhere. When she looks inside the briefcase, she finds a disturbing photo which she immediately disposes of. It is then when she begins to hit the wine as we learn about her drinking problem. The police are called and thus the case into the mysterious disappearance of Paul Behrens is opened.
The team put on the case is an expert one --- Detective Eddie Mahler, leader of the Santa Rosa Violent Crime Investigations Team that consists of Daniel Rivas, Steve Frames, Eden Somers, and Martin Coyle. No stone will be left unturned as the team divides and conquers all aspects of Paul and Annie Behrens lives. A huge clue comes to light when a letter of resignation written by Paul is found and it refers to an alleged incident between him and a student that had taken place. They also find a copy of Twelfth Night by Shakespeare that was inscribed to Paul by someone named Jean, quoting from the text: ‘Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty.’ The investigators also notice that Paul had an appointment with someone named Jean on his calendar for the day he disappeared.
The Team pushes both Paul’s 16-year-old son, Jesse, who may be selling drugs, and his 13-year-old daughter, Claire, a loner of a girl who may know more than she is saying about the girls her father was alleged to have been involved with around school. It is not long when we learn about the affairs. Annie admits having been seeing intimately a doctor from her hospital and we also find out about a woman named Patty who is allegedly Paul’s girlfriend that he was leaving to meet the day he left. This novel is like a snowball being pushed down a mountain that just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Of course, we must remind ourselves that this is a Violent Crimes novel, and the inevitable moment arrives when Paul’s body is found --- parked on the side of the rode in the front seat of his vehicle with a single gunshot wound to the head, the apparent victim of suicide. Mahler and company will wait on the forensics and now can dig further knowing that the search portion of their case is over.
THE DAY HE LEFT is never predictable and the investigating team working this case are complex and top notch. This is one of the finer and more detailed police procedurals I have read in quite a while. The best way I can describe it is that it was like comparing a soft-soaped American Crime TV show to one that you can see on BBC, like say “Line Of Duty,” which is just a step above. That’s how I felt reading THE DAY HE LEFT --- it just goes there.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
March 7, 2022
It's something we all dread – having someone we love disappear without a trace. No reason, no explanation, just gone. I’d be beside myself with worry and overflowing with questions for sure.
Annie Behrens isn’t a very sympathetic character at the start of the novel. She’s actually pretty unlikable, which might have been the point. She admits to not having listened to her husband in months and engages in a lot of questionable activity. And yet, when her husband, Paul, goes missing, everything seems to change perspective for her. Their son, Jesse, is a mess and also unlikable at times, but he’s also sixteen. A lot of kids are unlikable at that age, although he does come around by the end. Claire, their thirteen-year-old daughter seems to be the only one without any secrets.
I didn’t realize when I requested this book that it was the second in a series. If I’d read the first in the series, I probably would have been more comfortable with the VCI team investigating the disappearance. However, I did learn a lot about them as we moved through the novel and came to like them all by the end. Eddie was likable from the beginning, there was something about him that drew me in. Eden was the one I struggled with the most, but she’s a great analyst and has a good future with the team, I believe. Frames, Rivas, and Bailey round the group out and each have their own qualities and specialties that contribute towards the solve. I like it when each member has their own thing to add to the group, helping them to stand out amongst the others.
While the action takes a bit to pick up the pace, the story is laid out before you in an interesting and easy to follow manner. It builds on itself and throws you a couple times as you follow the investigation. Honestly, I had no idea why Paul had bolted or who the bad guy was. When it was revealed, it made sense and was both a surprise and not at the same time. I’m looking forward to reading the first in the series while I wait for the next to come out. I want to know more about this team and how they fit together as a unit.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Annie Behrens isn’t a very sympathetic character at the start of the novel. She’s actually pretty unlikable, which might have been the point. She admits to not having listened to her husband in months and engages in a lot of questionable activity. And yet, when her husband, Paul, goes missing, everything seems to change perspective for her. Their son, Jesse, is a mess and also unlikable at times, but he’s also sixteen. A lot of kids are unlikable at that age, although he does come around by the end. Claire, their thirteen-year-old daughter seems to be the only one without any secrets.
I didn’t realize when I requested this book that it was the second in a series. If I’d read the first in the series, I probably would have been more comfortable with the VCI team investigating the disappearance. However, I did learn a lot about them as we moved through the novel and came to like them all by the end. Eddie was likable from the beginning, there was something about him that drew me in. Eden was the one I struggled with the most, but she’s a great analyst and has a good future with the team, I believe. Frames, Rivas, and Bailey round the group out and each have their own qualities and specialties that contribute towards the solve. I like it when each member has their own thing to add to the group, helping them to stand out amongst the others.
While the action takes a bit to pick up the pace, the story is laid out before you in an interesting and easy to follow manner. It builds on itself and throws you a couple times as you follow the investigation. Honestly, I had no idea why Paul had bolted or who the bad guy was. When it was revealed, it made sense and was both a surprise and not at the same time. I’m looking forward to reading the first in the series while I wait for the next to come out. I want to know more about this team and how they fit together as a unit.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Want to read
June 9, 2025Synopsis: a teacher, Paul went to work one day and didn't arrive. But the Santa Rosa Violent Crimes team can get nothing from his wife, Anne.
April 9, 2022
I think one of the main reasons I struggled with this one was because I hadn't read the first book in the series before picking this one up. I didn't connect with any of the detectives at all. I did find the case itself interesting, but I just struggled with the detective chapters.
I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2022
Paul Behrens is missing and Annie, his wife, has no idea where he has gone. He never made it to his teaching job at Brookwood Middle School. Instead, he just left the house, at some point, and vanished. Annie, who works nights as a nurse hardly ever saw him. It isn’t until after he vanished and police start asking questions, that she fully realizes how far they had drifted apart in their marriage and how little she knew of his day-to-day activities.
She did not know all of his secrets, though she did know some things. Of course, she had her own secrets as well. She thinks her husband had no idea, but is that really true? When a spouse goes missing, everything is on the table and there are no more secrets. As the fiction of their marriage gradually tears apart, Lieutenant Eddie Mahler and the other members of the Santa Rosa Violent Crime Investigative Team start finding out various truths in the missing persons case.
As in the first book of the series, The Silenced Women, things are very complicated in The Day He Left: A Violent Crime Investigations Team Mystery by Fredrick Wesel. There is the current case as well as the ongoing backstories of numerous characters, and other cases. While this reader did not enjoy this book as much as the first one, it is a good book that builds solidly on the first. As such, it is recommended to read in order.
My reading copy came by way of Lesa Holstine who, months ago, sent her copy to me. She also reviewed the book here and you should read that review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2022
She did not know all of his secrets, though she did know some things. Of course, she had her own secrets as well. She thinks her husband had no idea, but is that really true? When a spouse goes missing, everything is on the table and there are no more secrets. As the fiction of their marriage gradually tears apart, Lieutenant Eddie Mahler and the other members of the Santa Rosa Violent Crime Investigative Team start finding out various truths in the missing persons case.
As in the first book of the series, The Silenced Women, things are very complicated in The Day He Left: A Violent Crime Investigations Team Mystery by Fredrick Wesel. There is the current case as well as the ongoing backstories of numerous characters, and other cases. While this reader did not enjoy this book as much as the first one, it is a good book that builds solidly on the first. As such, it is recommended to read in order.
My reading copy came by way of Lesa Holstine who, months ago, sent her copy to me. She also reviewed the book here and you should read that review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2022
June 27, 2022
This sophomore installment in this crime procedural continues to provide consistent multi-layered plotting with excellent procedural detail, as well as an ensemble cast of CHs where no one in particular grabs the spotlight, rather the reader sees each compelling member of the Unit deal with their own personal demons and develop as CHs and as a team, as the investigation techniques are applied and chronicled. These a flawed, quirky, multi-generational men and women dealing with a missing high school English teacher and a drug bust in this novel, as well as the vestiges of past cases and eventually a murder. Very insightful thematic material about relationships, policing, PTSD, trust, grief, and family legacy make this a rich and thoughtful crime novel. Great setting descriptions of the San Francisco area towns and coastal areas add texture. The build-up of an ongoing case as evidence gets discovered and sifted, as well as CH interviews and discoveries add to the increasing Pace and foreboding Tone. Red Flags: Suicide; violence. Look forward to what Weisel does with this team in the future. For fans of police procedurals and Ed McBain’s 57th Precinct series, Michael Connelly (without the obvious White Knight), and maybe Tana French if the reader is not looking for that much Place as CH.
January 19, 2024
This year’s Nero Award winner, Frederick Weisel’s The Day He Left, starts with us meeting a long-married wife whose husband talks and talks and talks, while she faux listens. This non-communication is routine, and fine, until he disappears and the police start asking questions. Any trouble at work? Any money troubles? And she can’t answer. It is tightly plotted, with great characterizations. An irresistible police procedural.
October 1, 2021
The Day He Left is an easy five star read. I was able to finish this nail-biter in one sitting with very minimal bathroom breaks. This is my first novel by Frederick Weisel but it will not be my last. Weisel needs to be on everyone's radar. This is an author that truly knows how to tell a story.
Annie and Paul have been married for too long. Annie had become content with just shaking her head and going along with whatever it is that Paul wanted but now Paul is missing and the police have questions they need Annie to answer.
Annie has no idea what happened or who would ever want to harm Paul. Did he do this to himself? Was he having trouble at work?
The a picture is found. Paul is a middle school teacher and there is a young girl who is hiding some big secrets.
Everyone has secrets and little by little, the detectives on this case start to expose them.
This is a MUST READ! I know February seems far off but this novel is totally worth the wait! Get your hands on a copy February 8, 2022!
Annie and Paul have been married for too long. Annie had become content with just shaking her head and going along with whatever it is that Paul wanted but now Paul is missing and the police have questions they need Annie to answer.
Annie has no idea what happened or who would ever want to harm Paul. Did he do this to himself? Was he having trouble at work?
The a picture is found. Paul is a middle school teacher and there is a young girl who is hiding some big secrets.
Everyone has secrets and little by little, the detectives on this case start to expose them.
This is a MUST READ! I know February seems far off but this novel is totally worth the wait! Get your hands on a copy February 8, 2022!
April 24, 2022
I enjoyed it. I'm SO glad it didn't dwell too much on Annie, as she was unlikable from the start. A lot of current novels have unlikable women protagonists, here she's not the focus.
I enjoyed it, yes. However, first I had to get past my doubts that the police would investigate Paul's disappearance. One, so quickly. He's an adult, within a couple of hours after noticing he's missing, his wife (Annie) notified the police. OK, he left his phone and work material behind. He didn't show up at work. Lots of reasons that might happen. Most likely, he took a runner from his unfaithful, alcoholic wife and drug dealer teenage son. It's more likely Annie would be told that he's an adult, call back when he's REALLY been missing.
Then, second, and bigger to me, is that after a co-worker tells the police she got a call around the time his wife reported him missing, from Paul, who told her he had a meeting, an appointment, and where he was. Again, OK. "Sorry, Mrs. Behren, your husband, an adult, is not considered a missing person, as he left on his own accord, and has been in contact with an acquaintance." The police spend hours with many detectives looking for him by this time.
Sure, turns out there WAS a murder, but they didn't know that yet.
So, Annie now has to live with the fact her affair is partially responsible for her husband's murder. Why? If her doctor lover hadn't drugged Paul, he may have been able to do more to get away from his murderer. He may have been able to say something to the dog walker (the dog, Larry) when asked if he needed help. Beyond the drug charges, the "good" doctor needs to be charged with accessory to murder (or something, I don't know what it would be called).
Still, even with these pickiness things, I did like reading it, and will look for the first in this series. It helps I know where the places in it are, having grown up not far from there.
I enjoyed it, yes. However, first I had to get past my doubts that the police would investigate Paul's disappearance. One, so quickly. He's an adult, within a couple of hours after noticing he's missing, his wife (Annie) notified the police. OK, he left his phone and work material behind. He didn't show up at work. Lots of reasons that might happen. Most likely, he took a runner from his unfaithful, alcoholic wife and drug dealer teenage son. It's more likely Annie would be told that he's an adult, call back when he's REALLY been missing.
Then, second, and bigger to me, is that after a co-worker tells the police she got a call around the time his wife reported him missing, from Paul, who told her he had a meeting, an appointment, and where he was. Again, OK. "Sorry, Mrs. Behren, your husband, an adult, is not considered a missing person, as he left on his own accord, and has been in contact with an acquaintance." The police spend hours with many detectives looking for him by this time.
Sure, turns out there WAS a murder, but they didn't know that yet.
So, Annie now has to live with the fact her affair is partially responsible for her husband's murder. Why? If her doctor lover hadn't drugged Paul, he may have been able to do more to get away from his murderer. He may have been able to say something to the dog walker (the dog, Larry) when asked if he needed help. Beyond the drug charges, the "good" doctor needs to be charged with accessory to murder (or something, I don't know what it would be called).
Still, even with these pickiness things, I did like reading it, and will look for the first in this series. It helps I know where the places in it are, having grown up not far from there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2022
A few weeks back, I entered into a newsletter giveaway from the Poisoned Press. I forgot I entered and was pleasantly surprised when I received an email that I had won, however, like most people, I delete emails and, like many book readers, I don't necessarily keep track of the giveaways I enter, so I had no clue what was going to show up. Poisoned Pen shipped promptly (insanely fast, quicker than Amazon), and this was the first book I pulled out of the box. I'd never heard of the author, or this series, but I was immediately captivated. The characters were fully fleshed out. The storylines were both plausible and realistic, with a minimum of suspension of disbelief required. The descriptions were simply stunning. Weisel either has a solid friend base to be able to create realistic portrayals of different positions (teacher, builder, etc.) or he's got phenomenal research skills, or both. On top of all of that, in addition to bodies, procedural investigations, and, of course, murder, he's also got philosophical discussions and social commentary on pertinent issues. This book is the whole kit and kaboodle. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book and since finishing the book a few days ago, I have ordered Weisel's other books. This author rocks.
January 24, 2022
Paul enjoys his job as a teacher so when he doesn't show up for work or phone in one day it is out of character. His wife, Annie, works night shifts and is stuck in a rut as they've been married for many years. She is tired of life in general and when he quotes poetry she doesn't pay attention. Their two teenaged kids have troubles of their own at and outside of school which start to unravel as they are interviewed by police. Not only is the household troubled but the neighbourhood is as well with drug trafficking and other crimes. There are secrets galore!
Angst is pervasive in the story. Though I do typically enjoy books which aren't all roses and light, this family was too dysfunctional and angry with few redeeming qualities for me to become emotionally invested in. They just weren't at all likeable which cast a shadow over my overall enjoyment. It was also not as thrillery as I had hoped. However, I did enjoy the psychology at play and twisty turns and did care enough to find out what happened to the family. The first pages were my favourites in the book.
My sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.
Angst is pervasive in the story. Though I do typically enjoy books which aren't all roses and light, this family was too dysfunctional and angry with few redeeming qualities for me to become emotionally invested in. They just weren't at all likeable which cast a shadow over my overall enjoyment. It was also not as thrillery as I had hoped. However, I did enjoy the psychology at play and twisty turns and did care enough to find out what happened to the family. The first pages were my favourites in the book.
My sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.
July 25, 2024
Not a great book, but far superior to the abject mediocrity of the first installment in the series. I recommend giving that one a wide berth, as everything you'd need to know about the characters is repeated again in this one.
The biggest difference is that the focus in this one is the internal thoughts of the characters as they go about their business of committing and solving crimes. While there's still plenty of detail on the process and procedure, it's no longer the sole focus of the narrative, yielding a much more interesting read.
Unfortunately, the premise is somewhat preposterous, the plot clunky, and the dialogue contrived. All of the characters think in the same voice, whether a 13 year old girl, a ruthless drug dealer, or a grizzled veteran cop. Most of the characters are still mostly two-dimensional, defined by a single characteristic (e.g. New England pragmatism, hard-working, analytical, suffering from PTSD, etc.)
It's a quick read, and there's just enough suspense in figuring out whodunnit and why things happened the way they did to mostly ignore the deficiencies and enjoy the piecing together of disparate clues to get to bottom of things.
The biggest difference is that the focus in this one is the internal thoughts of the characters as they go about their business of committing and solving crimes. While there's still plenty of detail on the process and procedure, it's no longer the sole focus of the narrative, yielding a much more interesting read.
Unfortunately, the premise is somewhat preposterous, the plot clunky, and the dialogue contrived. All of the characters think in the same voice, whether a 13 year old girl, a ruthless drug dealer, or a grizzled veteran cop. Most of the characters are still mostly two-dimensional, defined by a single characteristic (e.g. New England pragmatism, hard-working, analytical, suffering from PTSD, etc.)
It's a quick read, and there's just enough suspense in figuring out whodunnit and why things happened the way they did to mostly ignore the deficiencies and enjoy the piecing together of disparate clues to get to bottom of things.
January 25, 2022
It seems like a typical family, teacher Paul, housewife Annie and two teenaged kids. Everything is taken for granted and no one really listens to each other but somehow this is just okay with them. But when Paul’s school calls that he is not at work, Annie (who has secrets of her own), realizes he didn’t even come home last night….she realizes he is missing.
Clues show up that lead to the involvement of Eddie Mahler and his Santa Rosa Violent Crime Unit. They are always busy. Currently some are helping out in a drug bust for another department. They also have some personal issues of their own. All of them are portrayed with heart and authenticity.
Following the initial incident, the family dynamics and the challenges of SRVC unit make this a police procedural with twists, high stakes, and intrigue. This is the second book in the series and can be read alone, but don’t miss the first one. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.
Clues show up that lead to the involvement of Eddie Mahler and his Santa Rosa Violent Crime Unit. They are always busy. Currently some are helping out in a drug bust for another department. They also have some personal issues of their own. All of them are portrayed with heart and authenticity.
Following the initial incident, the family dynamics and the challenges of SRVC unit make this a police procedural with twists, high stakes, and intrigue. This is the second book in the series and can be read alone, but don’t miss the first one. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.
February 9, 2022
Annie’s husband, Paul, is a teacher who loves his job and his students. So, when he unexpectedly fails to show up for work one day, Annie knows something is wrong and reports him missing. As more information and secrets are uncovered the Violent Crime Investigation team becomes involved in the search for the missing man.
The Day He Left is an excellent police procedural, with a variety of interesting characters as well as a good plot. It is well-written and sets a good pace. Not only is the investigation solid, the characters are well-developed, with each of the detectives possessing unique skills and experiences.
Even though this is the second book in the series by Frederick Weisel, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I thoroughly enjoyed The Day He Left and I’m looking forward to the author’s next book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
The Day He Left is an excellent police procedural, with a variety of interesting characters as well as a good plot. It is well-written and sets a good pace. Not only is the investigation solid, the characters are well-developed, with each of the detectives possessing unique skills and experiences.
Even though this is the second book in the series by Frederick Weisel, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I thoroughly enjoyed The Day He Left and I’m looking forward to the author’s next book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
October 16, 2021
I did not realize this book is the second of a series until I started to read it. While it does work as a stand alone novel, I think I would have been more into character development had I read the beginning of the series first.
Annie's husband, Paul, disappears. Annie and the two teens in the family all have secrets that could lead to what happened to Paul. This is a multilayered story that includes not only on Paul's disappearance but also details of the various officers that work on his case.
I enjoyed the focus on police procedures and how the plot unfolded with unraveling the details of the missing person. I wanted the characters to be more engaging to me, though as a book in a series there is an opportunity for the characters to grow.
I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
Annie's husband, Paul, disappears. Annie and the two teens in the family all have secrets that could lead to what happened to Paul. This is a multilayered story that includes not only on Paul's disappearance but also details of the various officers that work on his case.
I enjoyed the focus on police procedures and how the plot unfolded with unraveling the details of the missing person. I wanted the characters to be more engaging to me, though as a book in a series there is an opportunity for the characters to grow.
I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
December 1, 2021
This book was a pleasant page turner. I don't typically read a series out of order in fear I'll miss out on references to the earlier volumes, but this one stands alone as a complete story. The character development is presented mostly as inner monologue and memory flashes that sometimes interrupt the action and make the timeline jump around in my poor brain. There are actually two side stories that add to the realism. Crime stories are usually unreal in the idea that LEOs just work one case at a time. The case resolution here is extremely fast in keeping with the tradition of unrealistic expectations, but the multiple angles add a depth that I appreciate in a police procedural. Naturally, I've ordered Book one of VCI because I know I must have missed out on those references to the first book.
March 3, 2022
Paul Behrens got up early one morning, dressed in a suit, got in his car and drove off, not to work at the middle school, but off … where? When his wife Annie gets a phone call that staid, boring Paul hadn't shown up for work, she immediately goes to the police who note the oddity of Paul's disappearance and begin immediately to investigate.
The circle of characters is small – a handful of detectives, a cluster of relatives, friends, colleagues, students, parents – but these are interesting characters, far more interesting than I expect in a detective story. The police officers especially. They are reflective and developed as individuals. Not a clown among them. Very nice.
I received a digital review copy of "The Day He Left" by Frederick Weise from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley.com.
The circle of characters is small – a handful of detectives, a cluster of relatives, friends, colleagues, students, parents – but these are interesting characters, far more interesting than I expect in a detective story. The police officers especially. They are reflective and developed as individuals. Not a clown among them. Very nice.
I received a digital review copy of "The Day He Left" by Frederick Weise from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley.com.
March 28, 2022
The Day He Left is the second novel in the Violent Crime Investigations Team Mystery books. Annie and Paul have been married for several years. When Paul disappears, Eddie Mahler and his team will try to find the teacher. What starts off as a missing person investigation will turn into something much darker. The secrets that they uncover can have dangerous consequences if they don’t get to the bottom of them. Frederick Weisel has done it again. He brings us on an incredible journey, weaving together a great storyline and intriguing characters. An interesting police procedural with a fast-paced, suspenseful story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 26, 2022
At the center of this novel is a teacher who has gone missing, leaving behind evidence of being intertwined with one of his students. I liked that this book didn't rely solely on typical "male teacher" tropes and added some complexity to the storyline. I did not read the first book in this series, but that didn't seem to put me at a disadvantage. I really enjoyed learning details of the lives of various detectives involved in the case. I know not everyone loves when the focus is expanded behind only the case into the personal lives of the detectives involved, but I do - it gives me Law and Order vibes :) Definitely interested in reading the first in the series and following along with the series.
September 5, 2022
A teacher fails to show up for work and is immediately reported as missing to the police by his wife. This is the second book in a series that is based on a violent crimes investigation team. At first it appears the teacher, a man named Paul, has an ideal life and family. However upon closer look, the police discover it's the opposite. Money, job issues, his wife is having an affair and has a drinking problem, their children also have issues going on. One thing I really liked about this book is it revealed information little by little, as the police in the story learn new things, so do you as the reader. It was a great read, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
April 3, 2024
This is the second book in the Violent Crime Investigations series and the winner of the Nero Award for 2023.
The story was good, but I was looking for something different. I think that the runner-up should have won the award, and I'll review that book soon.
Dad goes missing, but no one knows why. He's a teacher. Students trust him and like him. Wife is an alcoholic and having an affair. Kids, son and daughter, have their problems. Dad has a moral dilemma and decides to pursue the good and ends up dead. The VCI goes to work to figure it all out.
If you read the first book then you're probably ahead of the game with all of the backstory stuff. The author didn't make me care about the VCI unit.
The story was good, but I was looking for something different. I think that the runner-up should have won the award, and I'll review that book soon.
Dad goes missing, but no one knows why. He's a teacher. Students trust him and like him. Wife is an alcoholic and having an affair. Kids, son and daughter, have their problems. Dad has a moral dilemma and decides to pursue the good and ends up dead. The VCI goes to work to figure it all out.
If you read the first book then you're probably ahead of the game with all of the backstory stuff. The author didn't make me care about the VCI unit.
March 11, 2022
An average middle school teacher leaves for work one day and disappears. His wife received a phone call saying he has not showed up for work. Should she be worried?? Should she report him missing?
What secrets is everyone hiding?
This is an exciting thriller. What was the teacher involved in? Is his marriage falling apart? Do his children also have secrets. There are many twists and turns in this book. The police are also and interesting part of the story. If you like stories that will keep you guessing, then this is a book for you.
Thank you to #earlyreads, @FrederickWeisel, and @PoisonedPenPress for a copy of this book.
What secrets is everyone hiding?
This is an exciting thriller. What was the teacher involved in? Is his marriage falling apart? Do his children also have secrets. There are many twists and turns in this book. The police are also and interesting part of the story. If you like stories that will keep you guessing, then this is a book for you.
Thank you to #earlyreads, @FrederickWeisel, and @PoisonedPenPress for a copy of this book.
March 22, 2022
This is the second book in a series, which I didn't know when I chose it because I was just looking for a mystery story that I could listen to on audiobook based on what my library has made available. This is my first by this author. This book definitely had a little different feel than most of the other mysteries that I read. The author seem to focus on the character issues/flaws of all of the main characters and their attempts to deal with (or not deal with) these issues. While normally this would be the "backstory" to the solving of the missing persons/murders/crimes, it took on a bit more emphasis. A good read.
January 17, 2022
When Paul, a middle school teacher, disappears, his wife Annie contacts the police.
As questions are asked about Paul, she realizes how out of touch the two have been.
Items found in his briefcase raise more questions.
As the members of the Violent Crime Investigation team look into the lives of the family and associates, secrets are uncovered. Along with the missing person case, team members
are also involved with other investigations which reveal more information on Paul’s disappearance. Definitely a page turner.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy.
As questions are asked about Paul, she realizes how out of touch the two have been.
Items found in his briefcase raise more questions.
As the members of the Violent Crime Investigation team look into the lives of the family and associates, secrets are uncovered. Along with the missing person case, team members
are also involved with other investigations which reveal more information on Paul’s disappearance. Definitely a page turner.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews