The Guilty One

by Bill Schweigart

A hero cop thwarts a brutal murder and can’t remember a thing about it. But memories return—and so do the nightmares in this breathlessly paced thriller for fans of David Ricciardi and Michael Connelly.

Every town needs a hero—and Detective Cal Farrell fits the bill. He stopped an active shooter six months earlier, and now he’s become the darling of the Alexandria press. The problem is that Cal remembers nothing from that day. He’s working with a psychiatrist to recover his memories, but hasn’t had much luck.

Then, on one of his morning runs, he is once again the first on scene for a grisly discovery—a body hanging impossibly high on a tree. Soon there’s another victim, killed by a blade and dumped in a ravine. As the bodies begin to stack up, each staged more gruesomely than the last, Cal sees a baroque pattern to the crimes that no one else seems to understand—something out of legend.

As Alexandria dubs the serial killer “Old Town Jack,” Cal learns that the only thing a city loves more than creating a hero is tearing one down. And if he can’t get to the truth, this hometown hero might just be next in line for destruction.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Suspense, Thriller, Fiction, Detective

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 21, 2023

About the author

Bill Schweigart is the author of THE GUILTY ONE (3/21/23) and "Women and Children First," a story co-written with James Patterson in THREE DAYS TO LIVE (2/14/23). He is also the author of The Fatal Folklore Trilogy, which includes THE BEAST OF BARCROFT, NORTHWOODS, and THE DEVIL'S COLONY. He is a former Coast Guard officer who drew from his experiences at sea to write the nautical thriller, SLIPPING THE CABLE and the romantic comedy, RUNNING LIGHT. Bill currently lives in Arlington, VA with his wife and daughter, who along with their monstrous Newfoundland and four cats, provide him with all the adventure he can handle.

Reviews

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six months earlier, Cal was one of the first officers to be on the scene of a mass shooting. Many people called him a hero for going head-to-head with the shooter. He was even promoted to detective. He didn't feel like a hero. He didn't even remember what happened. It was such a traumatic experience that his memories of what happened were suppressed.
Now, six months later, people he knew started to turn up dead. When bodies started to pile up, people started to point fingers. Could the city's hero become a murderer? Or was someone trying to set him up?

This novel started well. There was action and suspense! Not to mention humor and comic relief to break up the tension. I was intrigued and excited to see where the story would go. I wanted to know what happened to Cal. What traumatic experience caused him to suppress his memory? Unfortunately, somewhere around the 35%-40% mark, I kind of lost interest. The story lost its momentum and started to drag. Also, the characters started to feel one-dimensional.

Overall, a decent read, but I wanted more from the characters and story.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Bill Schweigart, Matt Godfrey, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

[Tahera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this fast paced thriller.

It starts off with a 'Then' and 'Now' dual timeline narrative before permanently moving to the present when a fresh slate of grisly murders threatens to create serious problems for local hero detective Cal Farrell who was given a 'hero' and 'detective' status after he stopped an active shooter six months ago . The thing is he can't remember anything from that day which turned him into an overnight hero. Now, unless he manages to figure out who is behind these fresh murders and how it is connected to him, he might very well be prepared to take the fall for them and be dubbed a monster. Sure enough, a lot of people in the police department would love to see him fall from grace spectacularly.

I did not guess the plot twist that came towards the end of the book although when I think about it, it was right there all the time!

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Dreamscape Media and the author for the audio Arc of the book.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The book started with dual timeline marked by THEN and NOW.

THEN told an intense a day of patrol officer Callum Farrell when he had to deal with a rampant shooter. NOW is the aftermath - Cal has received promotion, he's a detective at Vice and Narcotics, his peers dubbed him "Killer Callum", and he still attends session with department psychologist. The thing is, Callum can remember ANYTHING from that day, he remember going inside the building, seeing victim bodies, but NOT the climax. And then Cal stumbled into a dead body - that may related to that day...

I thought, during the dual timeline, it was really good. The THEN chapters were fast and thrilling. The NOW makes it interesting to see how Cal struggled with impostor syndrome (he couldn't remember anything, how he could be a hero?).

But after the THEN chapters ended, and the timeline switched and moved forward to the NOW, I got frustrated with Cal. He was trying so hard to prove himself as a detective, eyeing the murder case, to the point that I thought he was being a fool. Cal didn't exactly made good impression to the Homicide detectives, he didn't listen to his older partner's advice, and worse the villain easily manipulated him.

I think Cal has the potential of being a good detective - but he will need more time and experience on the field. Let's face it, Cal's promotion to become a detective was not exactly because of his top-notch investigative nose, wasn't it? It was a way for the city to make him a hero after a tragedy.

To that note, if this become a series, I would like to read the next book.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Summary: A dark and gruesome psychological thriller

My Review: The Guilty One by Bill Schweigart was an intense ride. This book had me entirely enthralled!

About the Book: Shifting between past events and present moments, this story follows Detective Cal Farrell, as he works to identify a deranged serial killer who seems to be coming for him.

About the Character: While healing from injuries and working to stay sane, Cal has to deal with sudden blackouts, missing time, and unclear memories. He also has to come to terms with heady emotions, family drama, personal insecurities, and hostility from his colleagues. Despite all of that, he desperately tries his best to put the puzzling pieces from his mind back together in order to uncover the connection between an old murder scene and a new lynching that has everyone baffled. Can he figure out who the real killer is before it's too late?

My Final Say: Readers who enjoy stories with killers in plain sight will get a thrill from this book. I strongly recommend it.

Other: I believe this book would be a fantastic book club read.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: R
Triggers: Violence, MDK

Appreciation is extended to the author, to Dreamscape Media, and to NetGalley, who provided access to an audio ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions I have shared are my own.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Guilty One is a fantastic psychological thriller with secrets, lies, and twists woven throughout that you’ll never see coming! The novel starts out with a dual timeline, the time leading up to the mass shooting and 6 months later. It continues this way until Cal mentally gets into the conference room to remember what happened. Then the story continues into the now. I can almost 100% guarantee that no one will figure out who the killer is! I was in absolutely shock and awe when it was revealed. My ONLY issue with the book, and why I didn’t give it 5 stars, is that the dual timeline broke up the suspense of the “Then” section with the “Now” section. Leading into the active shooter situation was so suspenseful, and then it was lost when the next chapter didn’t carry on that suspense. However, I absolutely would recommend this book to any thriller/psychological thriller reader!

[CoCo 🇬🇭 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this audiobook didn't work for me.
I generally like police procedurals but I couldn’t get into this. I Dnf. Not sure if it had to do with the story, narrator or my mood.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the audio book

[Star Gater · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for accepting my request to audibly read and review The Guilty One.

Narrated by Matt Godfrey
Published: 03/21/23

Miss on so many levels.

I tend to forget mentioning narrators. I do try to give them credit posting their name. Godfrey did not work for me. I imagine him in 100s of other books. However, his voice sounded too young. It was bubbly and frankly, cheesy.

Synopsis: A man with memory loss works multiple murders with police.

Too soon for fictional active shooters in the United States. Really? Who thought that was a good storyline? Yes, it was in the synopsis. I opened my mind to a possible think tank in the mix.

Another awkward and embarrassing story, and profanity was not part of the memory loss.

[Emily Swancott · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book!!!! I had the audio version and I was crying and laughing out loud by the time I was 20% in. I loved this book and have been very careful with my 5 stars and this one is definitely getting 5 from me.
The story had me going every which way, wondering what was happening and worried that I would be disappointed in the end and I was not. This cop/mass shooter drama had all the makings of an exciting page turner that left me wanting more. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

[Spiritedbookishbabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was very well written. I really enjoyed reading this psychological thriller.

Thank you to crooked lane books and to netgalley for allowing me to read this arc

[Nicola Stevenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started out really well. I really liked the dual timeline, with Cal’s present day & one day six months ago - the worst day of Cal’s life. Alternating these timelines gave us an insight to Cal’s struggles since that day - survivor’s guilt, repressed memories, the attitudes from other cops. However, once the flashbacks stop, I found the story & characters to be flat and dull. There was plenty of action & twists but it just felt really confusing. It didn’t have me on the edge of my seat - I finished this so I would know the outcome. Ultimately, this book had an interesting premise but it was just not for me.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Hensley Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this 1-Day read - Perfect for a Very Hot Day! Everything I love in a book!
Short chapters - Great characters - Un-Put-Down-Able - Serial killer - WTF’s -
Loved the “Then” and “Now” timeline. So, Ebb and Flow. . . .Come and Go. . . .
and start it today! It’s Killer, Cal! 😉 Bravo! Bill Schweigart

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one!! So much action and excitement, I couldn’t wait to get back to it when I stopped reading. Loved the twist and can’t wait to read more by this author. I listened to the audio book and the narrator was perfect for this one.

[Jessica Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Totally solid. I enjoyed it and would pick up this author again.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Detective Cal Farrell is a hero. Six months ago he single handedly stopped an active shooter who brutally murdered a group of people in an office building. The only problem is Cal can’t actually remember what took place in that very hot day. Now he is trying to recover from the trauma of that day while balancing the expectations of the town and it’s press who view him as a hero and keeping his temper in check at work with his colleagues who don’t trust him as know one but Cal knows what really happened in that office building, and his mind is blocked it out.

When Cal stumbled upon a murder victim on his morning run and then not long after another body is found it doesn’t take long for the gaze of his colleagues to settle on him. The rumours are swirling and Cal is intent on tracking down a potential serial killer before it’s too late for everyone involved, himself included.

Told in the present, with flash backs of the past, the story is a fast paced suspense thriller with the urgency of the characters situation flowing through the story.

This was an enjoyable read, with interesting characters and, my favourite, an unreliable narrator. I didn’t pick the killer until right before the reveal, which I always enjoy as I spend so much time trying to work it out as I read along. Well written, engaging and an overall exciting read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC audiobook.

[Cortney Kiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows two timelines in the beginning. One on a day where an active shooter takes an office building, and one where the man who killed the shooter is a detective during an active serial killer spree a year later. Cal Farrell has dealt with many things during his time as an Alexandrea police officer and now detective. I enjoyed listening to this one and understanding the impacts the events of the active shooter had on Cal, and how it all tied together in the end. I am a lover of true crime and every event of this book felt like it could potentially happen. The active shooter, the methodical serial killer, the way everything was pinned on Cal. It was so interesting to hear the story unfold, I absolutely did not see the ending coming. I was hooked about half way through and couldn’t stop listening! It released today so I suggest you give this a listen if you’re a fan of true crime or mystery reads!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chrissann Nickel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of the most ridiculous thrillers I’ve read in awhile. I felt like I was reading a Batman movie. The last 1/3 especially felt like a caricature of a super villain and a cop hero.

It’s odd, because this book was full of short chapters and twists, so it should have moved fast and been engaging, but I struggled to stay interested and finish it. I’m so glad to be done with this mess.

[Ara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been listening to a lot of mystery/thrillers narrated by feminine sounding narrators. When I first listened to The Guilty One? I was delighted to hear the narrators voice! A masculine voice, and so fitting to the speech mannerisms of the MC.

It was an interesting story. The plot twist really caught me off guard. But now when I think back, I feel silly for not seeing the signs.
A mystery with a witty and sarcastic MC, exactly what I needed.

[Donne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book summary pretty much lays out the first half of the story and introduces the primary storylines: Cal’s involvement in the shooting and his loss of memory as well as the discovery of two dead bodies. However, there is a secondary storyline and that are the feelings and friendship that Cal has with one of the survivors of the shooting six months earlier. The story flips back and forth between the present-day crimes and investigations and the shooting six months ago and the aftermath.

In the second half of the story, there are two more killings and Cal begins to zero in on a theory for the killings with no clue as to who the killer is. At about the 75%-mark, the storylines begin to merge, and Cal discovers who the killer is. This starts a game between Cal and the killer to see who is smarter and who survives. The final chapters are scary and intense with page after page of nail-biting scenes. Another late night finishing the book because I could NOT put it down until I knew how it ended.

I really enjoyed this story. The MC was a likeable guy, the story intriguing and had me hooked pretty quickly; Schweigart is a good writer and storyteller. I will definitely be checking out his other work. I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

@NetGalley @CrookedLaneBooks @TheGuiltyOne

[Michel Hansotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for a free arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Guilt One follows detective Cal Farrell and jumps between present day and 6 months earlier when he stopped and active shooter. Present day, he finds a body and is being perceived as the villain.

The beginning of the book had me hooked as it went between present day and 6 months earlier. You find out a lot about the main character in the first few chapters. The middle kind of dragged but the ending was not at all what I was expecting. The narrator was one of the better ones I've listened to and really got into the characters.

[Elusive · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 'The Guilty One', Detective Cal Farrell has been hailed as a hero ever since he stymied an active shooter but that label never felt right. He remains troubled by his non-recollection of the tragic Very Hot Day. Things get uglier when he spots a body strung immensely high up on a tree during a morning run.

This book was engaging from the word go due to the dual timelines filled with suspense and mystery shrouding the new murder case, along with what had transpired between Cal and the mass shooter. His blackouts and fruitless sessions with a psychiatrist were frustrating in a way that hooked me.

The workplace challenges that he endured were well conveyed. Being the memento mori of a tragedy and clinching a fast-track promotion earned him hostility from many colleagues. On the bright side, the no-nonsense Detective Lavaar Sydnor was his partner. 

Cal was not privy to the active serial killer investigation despite recognizing the first victim. In order to find connections between the victims and nab the murderer, he ran a one-man show which was enjoyable to read about.

On the downside, the repeated phrase Very Hot Day quickly became annoying. Aside from that, his feelings for Heather came off as forced and did not ring true. There was too much telling instead of letting their interactions and actions speak for themselves.

The big reveals were great. 


- Cal's only friend and Heather's boyfriend, Jason Blye had been secretly working with the mass shooter. Blye had befriended him and orchestrated his firing to rile him up to the point of shooting the place up. 

- Blye had planned for Heather to die because he was tired of being her second choice. When she made it out alive and became wheelchair-bound, he thought he could finally be her first choice. That was not to be as she fell for Cal who he then targeted.

- Blye committed a series of murders to frame Cal. 


The denouement was weak though, beginning with the constant alternation between the perpetrator's first and last name. The previously smart perpetrator was attacked by bouts of stupidity which caused excessive talking and carelessness. 

The ending was strong and unlike what I expected. Cal and Heather parted on good terms. She returned to her hometown to be with family while he snagged his dream job of working in the Crimes Against Persons section. As for Blye, he would face charges if he survived.

Overall, 'The Guilty One' was guilty of keeping me guessing and anticipating the answers. However, it was also guilty of being short on interesting characters and dipping in quality towards the end.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Guilty One POPS with magnetic characters, unparalleled humor, and a sympathetic protagonist with a hellavalot to prove. Protagonist cop Cal is already playing from behind professionally when he is thrown into a propulsive plot where heinous crimes from his past and present collide. Determined to slosh through the murky waters of his beleaguered reputation and personal self-doubts, Cal questions why he seems to be the focal point of where these crimes intersect, positing the question in his own mind and in the minds of others — just who exactly IS the guilty one here?

As a reader and writer, I have endless admiration for how Schweigart represents diverse characters in his works, honoring what makes them different without falling into the trap of making those qualities their only interesting feature. Female characters don’t just exist as eye candy or to prop up male characters — they drive their own decisions with strength, unpredictability, and intelligence. Male characters aren’t mainly flexing to compete with other male characters/villains or regarding female characters as points to bolster their scores. They have complex and relatable inner worlds. Characters with disabilities are valued for qualities that make any person attractive and compelling, while neither dismissing nor being heavy-handed about the realities of having a disability. Whether representing people of color, different cultures, varied sexual orientations, and more, Schweigart approaches writing characters with the same respect, depth, and authenticity that I suspect he honors people with in his real life. For me, it is the stellar characterization that makes The Guilty One a standout novel in this genre.

[Tori Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book is exactly what I wanted from a psychological thriller, and utterly unpredictable! The story was intense from the very beginning, and I ended up binging the audio because I couldn’t put it down without knowing what happened!

Detective Cal Farrell is a town hero; he stopped an active shooter six months ago on a very grisly day. The only problem is that he can’t remember anything of importance from that day. He is working with the police psychiatrist to try and recover his memories, but in the meantime, he’s working through his depression and anxiety that was left after that day.

On one of his early morning runs, he happens to be the one that finds a body hanging impossibly high on a tree. Suddenly, there is another victim, and the town could be looking at a serial killer. There are patterns to the killings that only Cal seems to notice. Who could be committing these awful crimes, and is Cal himself in trouble?

This book has twists and turns to the very end, keeping the reader hooked. I did not love all the characters, and sometimes they got a bit annoying, which is the only reason this is not a five-star read for me. I never saw the biggest reveal coming, which is incredibly rare for me, and therefore something I treasure! The audio narrator was also very enjoyable, and I would recommend the audio book if you are someone who likes to read that way. Bill Schweigart did such a good job keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout the story; and if you are a fan of thrillers then I think you’ll really enjoy this book!

[victoria | littterarysnappy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride!!

“The Guilty One” begins by jumping back & forth between the present and 6 months earlier, when main character Detective Cal Farrell becomes the town hero after stopping an active shooter. The problem is, present day Cal doesn’t remember what happened. His brain has blocked out the afternoon of, what he refers to as, that “very hot day”. Working hard in therapy, Cal has decided to make some positive changes to improve his sleep and overall quality of life.

While out on a run, hero Cal discovers a body hanging from one of the highest trees in the woods. And that’s only the beginning.

The body count begins to climb and Cal is working his hardest to find the killer, but unfortunately his fellow officers and the town itself start to point the finger at him.

————

This story was fantastic! And Matthew Godfrey’s narration was perfect. Schweigart has a knack for comedic relief and Godfrey nails the timing.

My only minor complaint was that the middle did drag a bit, but I still remained eager to find out how it ended. The ending was definitely a shock and Schweigart couldn’t have orchestrated the entire story better as I was blindsided by the outcome.

Cal Farrell is a character you can’t help but root for, and Godfrey really helps bring him to life.

If you love psychological thrillers mixed with a little police procedural and a whole lot of suspense, this is the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

[Beachreader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the library mainly because of the setting in northern Virginia, which is where I live, and the suspense sub-genre. The author gives a lot of details about streets and neighborhoods in Alexandria as well as real restaurant names and landmarks. I found this interesting since I am familiar with most of the places he mentioned, but this is just too much unimportant information and detail for the average reader. Plus it bothered me that some of his geographic information was faulty--Alexandria is at or below sea level so there are no steep cliffs along that section of the Potomac.

The story is suspenseful but the plot is much too complex, making it difficult to figure how how it would all fit together. I had trouble believing it to be realistic also. I don't think the guilt of the guilty one was well established at all. The author wanted a specific character to be the criminal mastermind behind the series of murders, so he just plugged that person into the role at the end. It just seemed too contrived.

The relationship between the cop protagonist and the victim of the mass shootings also felt very forced. Their physical relationship jumped over too many steps. But I did like the ending of their relationship because it seemed perfectly realistic.

The writing is okay in this book but I don't think this author is much competition for all the excellent suspense writers out there. He is just so-so.

[Delbert Roll · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE GUILTY ONE by Bill Schweigart

Enjoy psychological thrillers? Then you need to read THE GUILTY ONE by Bill Schweigart.

On a hot summer day, a patrol officer responds to an active shooter event in progress. He stops the unfolding terror, but at a profound cost to himself and others. He is celebrated as a hero by the town council and lauded by the people of Alexandria. The worst part? He can’t remember what happened. A year later. The other shoe drops. A vagrant the officer had detained minutes before the attack unfolded, is found murdered, hanging high in a tree.

Those are the first few chapters.

Loved this novel and found myself deliberately setting it down—so I could sleep, do my own writing, earn a paycheck—and honestly, savor every word. Schweigart’s writing is tight and propulsive. His characters layered and complex. Twists and turns you don’t see coming and a shocking betrayal at the heart of the story. On a technical note, one of the most impressive things he does is weave two separate timelines together that are seamless and drive the tension. So good. So well done. A driving psychological thriller with a noir feel.

If you haven’t yet read THE GUILTY ONE, you need to. I loved this book.

[Nebulous · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Guilty One is a suspenseful, page-turning and thrilling read. The sparring between past and present events kept me on my toes. Detective Cal Farrell is dealing with an unfavourable deck of cards of what truly happened when he was one of the responders to an ill-fated mass shooting. He's enveloped in a thick blanket of an identity crisis, testing his work relationships. Bill Schweigart has made it to my list of memorable suspense and thriller writers who sets the scene with sarcastic humour, pseudonymous murder theories, tension and wonderfully crafted puzzle pieces. Cal Farell is a protagonist that grows on you with relatable struggles in mental health and an unfailing will to decipher the truth. Add a dash of secret pining and awkwardness; this goofball of a character had me cheering for him. In terms of the killer, gravity lured my jaw into dropping and staying there for a while. The crescendo was well executed, full of action, uncertainly and acceptance. I'd love for Cal Farell to have a series, and I'm already volunteering as a reading tribute. A 5-star read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚠️As a note check trigger warnings prior to reading this book⚠️

I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit of a slow burn, but I’m glad I stuck around. The story centers around Cal a young detective. He is considered a hero for stopping a mass shooting in the city of Alexandria. Cal doesn’t feel like a hero he is relentlessly bullied by the other detectives and is suffering from severe PTSD. After finding a body in a tree Cal starts to insert himself into the investigation. It starts out as intrigue and morphed into an attempt to be the hero he is labeled. The crimes were relentless and incredibly dark. Throughout the story the murders were so gruesome they were compared to Jack the Ripper. There were so many unexpected twists in this story.

I really enjoyed the characters including the side characters. They were so likable and others not so much. I would compare this to Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent series. So if you like those and are attempting to patiently wait for the next book, this book will make the wait more enjoyable

[Marc D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those very strange books where I vacillated between finding it really interesting one moment and then really irritating the next. It's not really that well written but it held my attention long enough to finish it within 24 hours. A thriller with a demented killer but...what the heck, actually, was the motive? There appear to be several gaps, not only in time frame, but in logic. It has a good deal of humor in it, with sacastic, smartass bantering that made me chuckle but, at the same time, a lot of the dialogue was inane and sophomoric. The characters were cardboard, two-dimensional and, quite frankly, I didn't really care for the protagonist.
It came very highly recommended by one of my favorite authors, Nick Petrie, but I honestly think it was sort of "professional courtesy" and the fact that he was mentioned and thanked in the author's Acknowledgments.
Final thought: Glad that it was only 294 pages. Enough said?

[Marnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

From hero to goat in one year, life comes at Detective Cal Farrell fast.

Then, an active shooter and a city that’s grateful for a hero cop. Now, an unreliable memory, police politics and dead bodies of people Cal knows.

This was a great road trip book that both my husband and I enjoyed listening to. The chapters were short which built intensity and also made sure that the gruesome parts didn’t last too long.

Bonus points for making me want to research topics brought up in the book. Examples mentioned by Bill Schweigart that I Googled were Sand eaters and the Stockdale Paradox.

Matt Godfrey’s narration was fantastic. He does a great job on the different voices and conveying emotions vocally.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Nannette D'Agostino · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off quite well and I was anxious to get back to the "then" parts to figure out present day Cal Farrell and then once that small section was finished the book fell flat for me to the point that I wasn't sure if I was going to continue reading. At various points throughout the book Cal just didnt have me in his corner beyond that "very hot day". He came off to me as a man/child...which one was he. IMO it took too long to get the part where it all started to gel together. Fortunately by then Cal seemed to have gained some intelligence cuz it was surely lacking prior to that.

At the end of the day, I did end up enjoying it but it took a loooong time to get there and at least Cal showed a spine by the end....lesson learned for him.