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The John Cutler Mysteries #3
Cutler's Friend
Would you help an old friend if it cost you happiness?
After years of turmoil, John Cutler’s life is on level ground. He’s reconnected with his daughter, started a business, and found new love.
Now, an old friend rolls into town with a simple agenda—prove the innocence of his ex-wife. She’s in jail for murdering her husband and needs someone like Cutler to find the true killer.
Helping will come at a steep price for Cutler. It means getting sideways with the local cops, crossing gang members, and upsetting his girlfriend.
Cutler’s willing to risk it all so an innocent woman can go free. Because that’s what friends do—even those who haven’t spoken to each other in years.
As he searches for the actual murderer, will John Cutler lose everything he’s worked so hard to build?
Cutler’s Friend is the third book in the thrilling new series from Colin Conway, the author of the 509 Crime Stories and the Flip-Flop Detective. If you want your crime fiction realistic, then you’ll love this book.
Grab Cutler’s Friend today and get in on the action!
After years of turmoil, John Cutler’s life is on level ground. He’s reconnected with his daughter, started a business, and found new love.
Now, an old friend rolls into town with a simple agenda—prove the innocence of his ex-wife. She’s in jail for murdering her husband and needs someone like Cutler to find the true killer.
Helping will come at a steep price for Cutler. It means getting sideways with the local cops, crossing gang members, and upsetting his girlfriend.
Cutler’s willing to risk it all so an innocent woman can go free. Because that’s what friends do—even those who haven’t spoken to each other in years.
As he searches for the actual murderer, will John Cutler lose everything he’s worked so hard to build?
Cutler’s Friend is the third book in the thrilling new series from Colin Conway, the author of the 509 Crime Stories and the Flip-Flop Detective. If you want your crime fiction realistic, then you’ll love this book.
Grab Cutler’s Friend today and get in on the action!
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2022
263 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Colin Conway
81 books133 followersAre 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 28, 2022
Cutler’s Friend by Colin Conway
A John Cutler Mystery #3
Each book I read in this series has me wanting to know more about the main character and hoping he will eventually get a few things figured out. He seems a good guy but never seems to get personal issues sorted the way that will work best for him and those he cares about. He does manage to solve his cases, gets the girl(s), and learns and grows a bit (I think?) in each book, but he (and I) want more for him and hope that will happen eventually as the series continues.
What I liked:
* John Cutler: ex police officer, Private Investigator, dog owner, bouncer, likes women, has trust and commitment issues (I think), has trouble communicating his true feelings and perhaps knowing exactly what they are, seems to be seeking something but I am not sure exactly what…and am not sure he is either. Great at piecing together clues, determined, likable
* Corporal: German Shepherd Cutler inherited from a neighbor at the end of the last book
* Ackerman: a homicide detective that seems to show up in the books, a good guy, wise, able to work with Cutler…so far
* Erika: Cutler’s girlfriend, in college, bar waitress, a bit younger, from a good family, idealistic, from a good family, conflicted
* Erin: Cutler’s daughter that he has recently reconnected with
* The question of whether people change over time or perhaps over time their true selves begin to emerge
* The question of friendship and what one is and is not willing to do for a friend
* The sleuthing and how John found and followed clues
* That the case was all tied up and solutions found by the end of the book
* Wondering what will happen in book four
What I didn’t like:
* Exactly who and what I was meant not to. There was at least one very evil guy in the story
* Having to wait for the next book in the series
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review
5 Stars
A John Cutler Mystery #3
Each book I read in this series has me wanting to know more about the main character and hoping he will eventually get a few things figured out. He seems a good guy but never seems to get personal issues sorted the way that will work best for him and those he cares about. He does manage to solve his cases, gets the girl(s), and learns and grows a bit (I think?) in each book, but he (and I) want more for him and hope that will happen eventually as the series continues.
What I liked:
* John Cutler: ex police officer, Private Investigator, dog owner, bouncer, likes women, has trust and commitment issues (I think), has trouble communicating his true feelings and perhaps knowing exactly what they are, seems to be seeking something but I am not sure exactly what…and am not sure he is either. Great at piecing together clues, determined, likable
* Corporal: German Shepherd Cutler inherited from a neighbor at the end of the last book
* Ackerman: a homicide detective that seems to show up in the books, a good guy, wise, able to work with Cutler…so far
* Erika: Cutler’s girlfriend, in college, bar waitress, a bit younger, from a good family, idealistic, from a good family, conflicted
* Erin: Cutler’s daughter that he has recently reconnected with
* The question of whether people change over time or perhaps over time their true selves begin to emerge
* The question of friendship and what one is and is not willing to do for a friend
* The sleuthing and how John found and followed clues
* That the case was all tied up and solutions found by the end of the book
* Wondering what will happen in book four
What I didn’t like:
* Exactly who and what I was meant not to. There was at least one very evil guy in the story
* Having to wait for the next book in the series
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review
5 Stars
January 20, 2023
This is a mystery in the series that features Private Detective John Cutler in Spokane, Washington. John is not very successful as a P.I., so he also works as a bouncer at a Spokane nightclub to make ends meet. The plot was O.K., but John’s relationship with his girlfriend dominated the storyline. That was a distraction from the murder mystery that should have been at the center of the story. I understand that authors want their main charter presented as a three-dimensional person with a life beyond crime solving. But, for me, John, who has never been married, spent too much time worrying about his relationship with his 30-year-old girlfriend who still lives at home with Mom and Dad. John is 36-years-old and has never been married and is relatively sure that he never wants to marry. However, now he has a girlfriend that has him rethinking that marriage idea, but still in principle John is quite opposed to the idea of marriage. That dilemma just took away from what should have been the main focus of this book; a murder investigation. John was formerly a police officer in Seattle. His partner from those days, who is now a police officer in Salt Lake City, asks John to help his ex-wife. The ex-wife has been arrested for murdering her current husband. The murder happened in Spokane. The Spokane police are satisfied that they have solved the crime and aren’t really pursuing other avenues of investigation. John quickly develops an alternate theory about the killing and sets upon proving his theory. Throughout John’s investigation he continues to deal with his personal relationship problems, which too often pushes the investigation storyline aside. There are no major plot twists, which results in John plodding along with is
Investigation.
Investigation.
September 13, 2022
Having been born of Scottish stock in Africa, Colin Conway brilliantly captured the essence of the race issue harboured by so many, even if it is hidden but prejudice is still deeply ingrained. Not only does he tell a great story, but the prejudice thread was captivating for me, having lived in Africa all my life. As a journalist, retired now, I have travelled all over the continent covering decolonisation and conflict from my birthplace Zimbabwe to west Africa, Somalia,Rwanda and, inevitably, South Africa. I have written three books on my experiences and have encountered the wide spectrum of racism and post colonial reverse racism, elitism, corruption and war. I am a avid reader of mysteries and thrillers and Colin Conway had me enthralled. Thank you,Colin.
Angus Shaw
Angus Shaw
September 14, 2022
Drama packed
When an ex partner of John Cutler, who he hasn't seen for quite a time, arrives at his home there is immediate trouble brewing. The ex partner is following his ex wife, who is remarried to a basketball star. Suddenly all he'll breaks loose when the new husband is found knifed to death at home. His wife is arrested for the murder and, although Cutler and his ex partner are no longer on speaking terms, Cutler agrees to help the ex wife prove her innocence. From there on trouble dogs Cutler and he comes under threat from a group of four ' bodyguards', who were looking after the basketball ace.
When an ex partner of John Cutler, who he hasn't seen for quite a time, arrives at his home there is immediate trouble brewing. The ex partner is following his ex wife, who is remarried to a basketball star. Suddenly all he'll breaks loose when the new husband is found knifed to death at home. His wife is arrested for the murder and, although Cutler and his ex partner are no longer on speaking terms, Cutler agrees to help the ex wife prove her innocence. From there on trouble dogs Cutler and he comes under threat from a group of four ' bodyguards', who were looking after the basketball ace.
March 30, 2022
I received this novel as an ARC in exchange an honest review. Book three in the Cutler's series and I must say it's probably the best. The characters are spot on, the storyline was easy to follow, The characters came to life by the writing. Cutler is a former policeman trying to make it as a Private I. Business is slow, until an old friend contacts him. Cutler wasn't pleased, but for the sake of friendship he is hired to find out who murdered the friends ex-wife's new husband. Not everything is up front and legit, hard work getting to the truth. Truly an enjoyable read.
April 4, 2022
This third book in the John Cutler series does not disappoint. The characters are so well developed that you feel you’re in the story with them. You want to comfort one and shake some sense into another. You’re angry, then happy, then sad. Definitely a roller coaster ride! It’s an excellent story that kept me intrigued right to the end.
April 13, 2022
Not as good a the previous two Cutler books. John doesn't seem as much of a tortured soul in this one and he gets roped into helping his old Seattle cop partner. Mike's ex wife is accused of murder and she asks for John's help proving her innocence.
John's relationship suffers due to Mike's prejudice and this takes up a portion of the story. Meanwhile his persistance uncovers the real killer but does he get his man?
John's relationship suffers due to Mike's prejudice and this takes up a portion of the story. Meanwhile his persistance uncovers the real killer but does he get his man?
April 1, 2022
I have only just finished this brilliant book it's a book once you start you won't be able to put it down like me. I throughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to other avid readers like me. Lastly I would like to thank the Author for my ARC copy of this book.
September 19, 2022
Disliked this book. No redeeming qualities in any of the main characters nor were there any in the secondary players.
This writer loses his story telling when falling into the pontificating of his moral agenda.
Will not read any of his other books.
This writer loses his story telling when falling into the pontificating of his moral agenda.
Will not read any of his other books.
October 14, 2022
cutlers friend
I didn’t really like this book. I found the writing a bit uneven.
I read right to the end in case it got better. It didn’t, although it ended with a murder solution. The girlfriend part was just weird.
I didn’t really like this book. I found the writing a bit uneven.
I read right to the end in case it got better. It didn’t, although it ended with a murder solution. The girlfriend part was just weird.
September 9, 2022
Friend
This writer needs a dictionary to help get a grasp of better language, as it seems that f-bombs are used more than the word “and.”
This writer needs a dictionary to help get a grasp of better language, as it seems that f-bombs are used more than the word “and.”
September 19, 2022
Good read
I enjoyed the twist and turns the story took. I enjoyed the different characters. I enjoyed the ending also. This book is for anyone who likes a good mystery.
I enjoyed the twist and turns the story took. I enjoyed the different characters. I enjoyed the ending also. This book is for anyone who likes a good mystery.
September 27, 2022
Wrong prisoner
I enjoyed this book. It is complicated but not overly. Characters are believable and well described with not too much blood
I enjoyed this book. It is complicated but not overly. Characters are believable and well described with not too much blood
October 14, 2022
Overall, a good read. However, there were too many ancillary characters that I found confusing.
November 4, 2022
Great read
Not a lot of action but a great plot that the author develops with great talent and makes you want to keep reading
Not a lot of action but a great plot that the author develops with great talent and makes you want to keep reading
August 10, 2023
2 day read
Good story that kept me from putting the book down! Characters were good, as was the storyline. Was absolutely absorbed in the story, right up until the end.
Good story that kept me from putting the book down! Characters were good, as was the storyline. Was absolutely absorbed in the story, right up until the end.
January 16, 2024
Good story with an unexpected twist at the end.
Read
January 4, 2026John Cutler has to prove the innocence woman but it could jeopardize everything he has worked for
March 28, 2023
Very well written
I really enjoyed this book. The story was intriguing and the writing style was very few emotive without being over the top. I will definitely read more from this author.
I really enjoyed this book. The story was intriguing and the writing style was very few emotive without being over the top. I will definitely read more from this author.
October 3, 2022
Exceptionally good
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews