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★★★★★ “When I open a Colin Conway book, I know I’m in for a good ride.” - Faye★★★★★ “Great start in this new series. Well-written, twists, and surprises along the way.” - Karin★★★★★ “I love this author’s vivid descriptions of the story. I feel like I am a fly on the wall watching it in technicolor.” - JP★★★★★ “Lots of twists and turns in this one, enough action to satisfy also.” - Ron★★★★★ “John Cutler is a spiritual son to Travis McGee and Parker.” - Frank

AN INTENSE CRIME FICTION THRILLER FILLED WITH MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE

How far would you go for the person who broke your heart? John Cutler is about to find out.

When a past love calls for help, John Cutler returns to Seattle. He didn’t want to go, but she offered the one thing he needed more than distance from her—money.

After the former cop arrives in the Emerald City, old feelings resurface, and new lies are told. Soon, Cutler doesn’t know which way is up, and that’s a dangerous place to be.

For influential people are in the orbit of this past love, and they want to silence a secret she keeps. Money and political connections lead to corruption and intimidation. Murder is only a heartbeat away.

As he gets closer to the truth, does death await Cutler?

AN EXCITING MYSTERY THAT YOU WON’T WANT TO PUT DOWN.

This gripping series is perfect for fans of Lawrence Block’s Matt Scudder mysteries and Robert B. Parker’s Spenser novels.

Scroll up and join the action by grabbing Cutler’s Return today!

ADDITIONAL SERIES BY COLIN CONWAYThe 509 Crime Stories – fast-paced police proceduralsThe John Cutler Mysteries – hard-hitting private detective storiesThe Flip-Flop Detective – light-hearted amateur sleuth mysteriesThe Cozy Up series – not your grandma’s coziesThe Charlie-316 series – political/criminal thrillers

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2021

102 people are currently reading
86 people want to read

About the author

Colin Conway

80 books130 followers
Are you on BookBub? You can follow Colin there at: www.bookbub.com/profile/colin-conway

Colin Conway is the creator of the 509 Crime Stories, a series of novels set in Eastern Washington with revolving lead characters. They are standalone tales and can be read in any order.

He also created the Cozy Up series which pushes the envelope of the cozy genre. Libby Klein, author of the Poppy McAllister series, says Cozy Up to Death is “Not your grandma’s cozy.”

Colin co-authored the Charlie-316 series. The first novel in the series, Charlie-316, is a political/crime thriller that has been described as “riveting and compulsively readable,” “the real deal,” and “the ultimate ride-along.”

He served in the U.S. Army and later was an officer of the Spokane Police Department. He's owned a laundromat, invested in a bar, and ran a karate school. Besides writing crime fiction, he is a commercial real estate broker.

Colin lives with his beautiful girlfriend, three wonderful children, and a codependent Vizsla that rules their world.

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5 stars
98 (44%)
4 stars
76 (34%)
3 stars
36 (16%)
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10 (4%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Cathy Geha.
4,339 reviews118 followers
October 10, 2021
Cutler’s Return by Colin Conway
John Cutler Mystery #1

Beginning a new series, meeting a new main character, delving into that character’s personality, and creating a relationship with them is always an interesting experience. It is a bit like going on a first date to see if you click or not and if you click, will it be worth a second date. I have to say that John Cutler IS a character that grew on me as I read and one that I would like to watch grow, and perhaps change, as the series progresses.

What I liked:
* John “J.C.” Cutler: ex—policeman once based in Seattle, hire-work employed in the 509 area code-Portland, wild card, hot head, mouthy with possible filter issues, anger-temper issues, impulsive, aggressive, protective, has some good friends, has great potential, intrigues me.
* Miles Tombari: John’s friend, owner of Micky Finn’s bar, music aficionado, divorced, sounding board for John, can see him in future books and look forward to it.
* Erin: John’s pre-teen daughter that could play a part in future books of the series. Would like to see more of her and perhaps of her mother, Maria
* Getting to meet John’s mother and seeing the impact she must have had on him.
* The look into the police system and how situations sometimes play(ed) out for John
* Seeing that not all police are good or evil
* The potential power has to corrupt and how it seemed to do so in this story
* That John was not perfect but perfectly himself
* Seeing some of the policemen that still consider themselves friends of John and how they stepped up for him at times
* The plot and how it played out…kept me interested from beginning to end
* Knowing that there will be a second book to look forward to and wondering what will happen next.

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like – and there were a few
* Watching John act/speak and wanting to step into the scene to help and knowing I couldn’t
* Having to wait for book two

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars
240 reviews2 followers
September 13, 2022
Very uneven

This book had some goods but lots of bads for me. Broken-down, disgraced, bitter, former cops are a totally overworked cast of characters for me but here's another one. I found the constant switching from past to present to be confusing. He began the book with a page that read 2004 and I have to assume that is when the bulk of the narrative takes place but I could see no reason for this since there was very little technology involved and I don't remember what was available then. But there must be something for other readers here as he has produced three more books in this series.
Profile Image for Richard Youngstrom.
21 reviews
June 25, 2022
I was very disappointed with the book, primarily because the main character was filled with issues that I find undesirable and disappointing. He constantly berates himself for making bad choices, but continues to do make them. He has impulse control issues, anger control issues and, as another character states, he is unreasonably slow to learn. After 16 chapters, I decided that it was unlikely that the plot would develop any redeeming value.
Profile Image for Ricki.
1,378 reviews14 followers
January 5, 2022
A good start to a new series with John Cutler, a damaged soon to be ex-cop targeted by IA for one complaint & yet the investigator seems to consistantly target him directly (turns out the motivation is of course power and politics).

It was surprising though that a former love (stripper) could so easily deceive a cop.


28 reviews
June 30, 2022
Good Read

John Cutler is a very flawed individual. No matter how hard he tries he can't seem to get out of his own way. Conway does a good job of guiding the reader through the mess Cutler has made of his life while spinning an interesting story that will have you rooting hard for Cutler to not only survive, but thrive.
1,471 reviews7 followers
February 5, 2024
Good detective thriller

The main character Cutler was one seriously screwed up individual. The story was pretty good with lots of twists and turns. It kept you guessing until the end. Great read!
179 reviews3 followers
July 27, 2022
Almost like he never left!

Didn’t see any Parker in my there, but a little bit of Reacher was shining through.
Conway has a way with words, hold you right there till the very end.
Profile Image for Julia.
94 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2024
Meh. Cop with anger issues experiences unrequited love. Not great.
4 reviews
August 16, 2024
Too flawed, too many issues both personal and professional...just didn't like the main character
Profile Image for karin whitehead.
1,008 reviews7 followers
September 30, 2021
I received this novel in exchange for an honest review. Another great read from Colin Conway .A past love of Cutler contacts him, in need of his services. Old wounds, can he redeem himself to help her, or fail again? Great start in this new series, well written, twists, and surprises along the way. Always enjoy Conway's work!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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