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Jake Cashen #1
Murder in the Hollows
One small town’s dark secrets lay hidden in the hollows…
Rumors have swirled around Jake Cashen his whole life. Is he crazy like his father? Is it true they booted him out of the F.B.I. right after he cracked a career-making RICO case? Was he dirty?
Only Jake knows and he’s not telling.
He came back to his tiny hometown at the foot of Ohio’s Blackhand Hills to serve as a deputy sheriff. He hopes to punch a clock and keep his head down until retirement.
It was a solid plan. Until someone put a bullet in the head of a revered county judge.
Jake’s new boss knows Jake has a particular set of skills. The Sheriff pins a detective badge on him whether Jake likes it or not. He could have said no. But as Jake watches the locals nearly bungle the case in the first five minutes, he knows he’s all in.
As Jake digs into the murder, he soon learns Judge Rand had enemies in every corner. And someone hiding in plain sight may be plotting to bring his investigation to a deadly end.
To bring a cold-blooded killer to justice, Jake’s forced to confront every truth he’s tried to escape. Even the ones that could bury him.
Murder in the Hollows is the gripping first book in the Detective Jake Cashen thriller series. A former police detective, author Declan James brings you authentic crime fiction that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of Connelly, Box, Dugoni and Baldacci.
Rumors have swirled around Jake Cashen his whole life. Is he crazy like his father? Is it true they booted him out of the F.B.I. right after he cracked a career-making RICO case? Was he dirty?
Only Jake knows and he’s not telling.
He came back to his tiny hometown at the foot of Ohio’s Blackhand Hills to serve as a deputy sheriff. He hopes to punch a clock and keep his head down until retirement.
It was a solid plan. Until someone put a bullet in the head of a revered county judge.
Jake’s new boss knows Jake has a particular set of skills. The Sheriff pins a detective badge on him whether Jake likes it or not. He could have said no. But as Jake watches the locals nearly bungle the case in the first five minutes, he knows he’s all in.
As Jake digs into the murder, he soon learns Judge Rand had enemies in every corner. And someone hiding in plain sight may be plotting to bring his investigation to a deadly end.
To bring a cold-blooded killer to justice, Jake’s forced to confront every truth he’s tried to escape. Even the ones that could bury him.
Murder in the Hollows is the gripping first book in the Detective Jake Cashen thriller series. A former police detective, author Declan James brings you authentic crime fiction that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of Connelly, Box, Dugoni and Baldacci.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2022
2874 people are currently reading
1158 people want to read
About the author
Declan James
15 books90 followersBefore putting pen to paper, Declan James’s career in law enforcement spanned twenty-six years. Declan’s work as a digital forensics detective has earned him the highest honors from the U.S. Secret Service and F.B.I. For the last sixteen years of his career, Declan served on a nationally recognized task force aimed at protecting children from online predators. Prior to that, Declan spent six years undercover working Vice-Narcotics.
An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, Declan enjoys hunting, fishing, grilling, smoking meats, and his quest for the perfect bottle of bourbon. He lives on a lake in Southern Michigan along with his wife and kids.
For more information visit https://declanjamesbooks.com
An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, Declan enjoys hunting, fishing, grilling, smoking meats, and his quest for the perfect bottle of bourbon. He lives on a lake in Southern Michigan along with his wife and kids.
For more information visit https://declanjamesbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
July 6, 2022
When looking for books to read from authors I’ve never read before, I really appreciate it when the chosen novel exceeds expectations or surprises me. Murder in the Hollows by Declan James is one of those books.
From biographical information gleaned from the Internet, Murder in the Hollows is listed as the debut novel of Declan James however, it does not read that way. Murder in the Hollows reads like a well-crafted novel from a writer that has been publishing tales for a long time.
Murder in the Hollows is a police procedural involving the investigation of the murder of a criminal court judge.
As the novel opens, Judge Rand, a refined, well-liked, and respected jurist, is murdered in his home by a cold and calculating killer. The killer then removes all evidence of his crime from the home and disposes of the corpse in such a way that it will never be discovered. The investigation then starts as a missing person case and slowly evolves into a murder investigation as more information about the judge’s disappearance is discovered.
With such a high-profile murder in Southern Ohio, the Worthington County acting sheriff persuades Deputy Jake Cashen to take over the investigation when it becomes obvious the current detective is in over his head.
Jake Cashen was born and raised in Worthington County and previously worked for the FBI, but has returned home after his sudden and mysterious departure from the FBI after breaking what should have been a career-building case. Through a long-term connection, Cashen was then hired by the Worthington County Sheriff’s Department as a road deputy, which was just fine with Cashen, even though his greatest skills involve complex investigations.
James then further broadens the depth of the novel by providing a compelling back story for Cashen, which includes a dysfunctional Cashen extended family and a cadre of former law enforcement officers known to frequent a local diner while being more than willing to provide Cashen with plenty of advice and guidance, whether asked for or not.
As the investigation deepens, Cashen’s world is further encroached by a bitter and revenge-driven father-in-law and those who continue questioning his sudden FBI departure. Even sheriff department personnel have become upset over his sudden jump from patrol deputy to lead investigator of a high-profile murder case.
Murder in the Hollows is a well-written and developed police procedural and highly recommended to readers of the police procedural sub-genre in crime fiction.
Readers that enjoy the Quinn Colson novels by Ace Atkins and novels by Chris Offutt and Brian Panowich should also enjoy this debut by Declan James.
From biographical information gleaned from the Internet, Murder in the Hollows is listed as the debut novel of Declan James however, it does not read that way. Murder in the Hollows reads like a well-crafted novel from a writer that has been publishing tales for a long time.
Murder in the Hollows is a police procedural involving the investigation of the murder of a criminal court judge.
As the novel opens, Judge Rand, a refined, well-liked, and respected jurist, is murdered in his home by a cold and calculating killer. The killer then removes all evidence of his crime from the home and disposes of the corpse in such a way that it will never be discovered. The investigation then starts as a missing person case and slowly evolves into a murder investigation as more information about the judge’s disappearance is discovered.
With such a high-profile murder in Southern Ohio, the Worthington County acting sheriff persuades Deputy Jake Cashen to take over the investigation when it becomes obvious the current detective is in over his head.
Jake Cashen was born and raised in Worthington County and previously worked for the FBI, but has returned home after his sudden and mysterious departure from the FBI after breaking what should have been a career-building case. Through a long-term connection, Cashen was then hired by the Worthington County Sheriff’s Department as a road deputy, which was just fine with Cashen, even though his greatest skills involve complex investigations.
James then further broadens the depth of the novel by providing a compelling back story for Cashen, which includes a dysfunctional Cashen extended family and a cadre of former law enforcement officers known to frequent a local diner while being more than willing to provide Cashen with plenty of advice and guidance, whether asked for or not.
As the investigation deepens, Cashen’s world is further encroached by a bitter and revenge-driven father-in-law and those who continue questioning his sudden FBI departure. Even sheriff department personnel have become upset over his sudden jump from patrol deputy to lead investigator of a high-profile murder case.
Murder in the Hollows is a well-written and developed police procedural and highly recommended to readers of the police procedural sub-genre in crime fiction.
Readers that enjoy the Quinn Colson novels by Ace Atkins and novels by Chris Offutt and Brian Panowich should also enjoy this debut by Declan James.
June 16, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book -- LOTS of twists and turns and unexpected end! I'd picked it up on Kindle Unlimited because I am a fan of Robin James' books (have read all the Cass Leary series and eagerly awaiting the next one!), and read a blurb that Robin had posted about her husband Declan and his new book....Glad I did! Won't give any spoilers, but suffice to say it's a page turner! Looking forward to more Jake Cashen in the future!
June 24, 2023
Yet another self-published (?) crime novel about an idealised 'merikan super detective. Perfect son, perfect brother, perfect uncle, perfect grandson. Even his very few flaws are actually strengths. If you can see past the hokey dialogue the actual procedural part of this book isn't terrible but I won't be coming back for the follow-ups as the final chapter almost made me vomit from the sentimentality 😏
February 9, 2025
Loved this story
There was so much emotion and love and hate and you name it. But the love shone through all the way through the book. Local boy comes back home and faces his past. And conquers it. Jake is a good hero with faults and all. I guess I have a new author to follow. And I cried at the end of the story. Awesome ending.
There was so much emotion and love and hate and you name it. But the love shone through all the way through the book. Local boy comes back home and faces his past. And conquers it. Jake is a good hero with faults and all. I guess I have a new author to follow. And I cried at the end of the story. Awesome ending.
June 17, 2022
3,5 ☆
This is the debut for this author and I am really impressed.
Jake Cashen has returned to his hometown to lick his wounds after having to resign from the FBI. He is now a deputy sherriff and he likes it that way that is until a well liked judge disappears and he is tasked to solve the case. It starts off as a disappearance but turns into a murder.
Throughout all this Jake is realising that he needs to be more involved with his family no matter how he feels about the town and what happened to his parents (something's not quite right there) hopefully I am right and the Arden family get what they deserve.
It is well written with the right amount of mystery/suspense with great characters. But I had to dock a star. Half a star for knowing about 30 pages beforehand who did it and the other half of the star as we were introduced to so many people in the town. Not all of it was necessary. Maybe.
I look forward to more Jake Cashen and hope he gets a dose of romance along the way.
This is the debut for this author and I am really impressed.
Jake Cashen has returned to his hometown to lick his wounds after having to resign from the FBI. He is now a deputy sherriff and he likes it that way that is until a well liked judge disappears and he is tasked to solve the case. It starts off as a disappearance but turns into a murder.
Throughout all this Jake is realising that he needs to be more involved with his family no matter how he feels about the town and what happened to his parents (something's not quite right there) hopefully I am right and the Arden family get what they deserve.
It is well written with the right amount of mystery/suspense with great characters. But I had to dock a star. Half a star for knowing about 30 pages beforehand who did it and the other half of the star as we were introduced to so many people in the town. Not all of it was necessary. Maybe.
I look forward to more Jake Cashen and hope he gets a dose of romance along the way.
August 15, 2022
plot twist
This book is written so it’s like you can see it I couldn’t put it down. Lots of characters but you get to know just enough, great story line and back stories blended beautifully. Can’t wait for the next one I n the series.
This book is written so it’s like you can see it I couldn’t put it down. Lots of characters but you get to know just enough, great story line and back stories blended beautifully. Can’t wait for the next one I n the series.
July 29, 2022
My brother bought me this book for my birthday, and if it wasn’t just the PERFECT book for me to read. A lovely murder mystery and debut novel - can’t wait to read the next one!
August 9, 2023
4+ really enjoyed this book! Can’t wait to start the next
December 31, 2023
Don't waste your time.
If you're into touchy feely small town high school wrestling novels, this is for you. If you're into detective novels skip this one.
If you're into touchy feely small town high school wrestling novels, this is for you. If you're into detective novels skip this one.
June 10, 2024
4.25 stars. Very good start to a new series from a new author for me. Happy to learn the author is married to one of my favorite authors, Robin James. So I couldn't wait to dive in.
Mystery/suspense/police procedural. Suddenly resigning from the FBI, Jake Cashen returns to his small hometown in Ohio to join the Sheriff's department. A judge is murdered and Jake replaces the detective originally assigned to the case. Good mix of Jake's personal life and his current case as they're interwoven into the story. Plenty of twists to keep the pages turning and a surprise ending. I'm intrigued enough to want to keep reading to see what's next for Jake.
Mystery/suspense/police procedural. Suddenly resigning from the FBI, Jake Cashen returns to his small hometown in Ohio to join the Sheriff's department. A judge is murdered and Jake replaces the detective originally assigned to the case. Good mix of Jake's personal life and his current case as they're interwoven into the story. Plenty of twists to keep the pages turning and a surprise ending. I'm intrigued enough to want to keep reading to see what's next for Jake.
March 11, 2025
Did not finish, which is rare for me. Was not my cup of tea, but that’s ok.
Negative character traits are presented almost as a parody of themselves. The lady in the very beginning calling the cops on her own son to get him to clean up his room? The grandfather shouting and gesturing vaguely, fighting with the cashier over change? And so on. If any of these supporting scenarios were supposed to get me to pity the main character, they could not have performed worse.
Many of the glowing reviews attribute the book’s draw to the characters and the “plot twist.” I found the characters flat, the sense of humor bordering on “Live Laugh Love” wine mom jokes (like the phrase “murder burrito” in the first chapter… that line in particular felt like the comedic equivalent of appendicitis). I could not be grabbed by the narrative well enough to be persuaded to enjoy the plot twist, even if I had reached it.
Negative character traits are presented almost as a parody of themselves. The lady in the very beginning calling the cops on her own son to get him to clean up his room? The grandfather shouting and gesturing vaguely, fighting with the cashier over change? And so on. If any of these supporting scenarios were supposed to get me to pity the main character, they could not have performed worse.
Many of the glowing reviews attribute the book’s draw to the characters and the “plot twist.” I found the characters flat, the sense of humor bordering on “Live Laugh Love” wine mom jokes (like the phrase “murder burrito” in the first chapter… that line in particular felt like the comedic equivalent of appendicitis). I could not be grabbed by the narrative well enough to be persuaded to enjoy the plot twist, even if I had reached it.
May 20, 2023
This was a new author and series for me and I have to say I have really enjoyed them. The story took off right out of the gate and kept me intrigued throughout the entire book. There are a lot of characters that are introduced and they are not deeply complex or developed, but because I knew that this was the first of a series, I figured they would show up again. The story is engaging and well thought out and I found myself quickly immersed in this town and its mystery. If you are looking for a quick and fun read that does not require 60 pages of set up, this is it.
May 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and I am ready to read book 2! This series has definitely pulled me in and I am interested to see what happens to Jake (and maybe Frank?) next! If you're looking for a good, easy, detective series I definitely recommend.
July 13, 2025
3.5 STARS
It was good… well written and engrossing. A pretty respectable “whodunnit.” I am on to Book 2 now.
It was good… well written and engrossing. A pretty respectable “whodunnit.” I am on to Book 2 now.
May 13, 2022
Murder in the Hollows😱
Husband and wife team, Robin and Declan James have joined together to bring us a brand new series and their debut novel in the Jake Cashen series❣️
Jake returns to his home town after leaving the FBI. When a Judge goes missing, the new Sheriff brings him in to investigate and what he finds is chilling. But the more he investigates, the more secrets of this small town he discovers😬
Fantastic story, had no idea who the killer was nor did I suspect the ending that has left me reeling but also looking forward to more. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review❤️
Husband and wife team, Robin and Declan James have joined together to bring us a brand new series and their debut novel in the Jake Cashen series❣️
Jake returns to his home town after leaving the FBI. When a Judge goes missing, the new Sheriff brings him in to investigate and what he finds is chilling. But the more he investigates, the more secrets of this small town he discovers😬
Fantastic story, had no idea who the killer was nor did I suspect the ending that has left me reeling but also looking forward to more. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review❤️
April 8, 2024
Good start to a new series. Will probably come back to it later.
July 9, 2025
There’s a plot twist but there’s also a lot of side character dialogues that were redundant and unnecessary. I agree the character development between Jake and Frank was needed. But I got real bored and just flipped through the pages of all the wrestling matches, small town chat, Jake re-telling previous events to multiple other characters.
Two of the pivotal characters involved were introduced quickly at the end and then were just as quickly killed off.
Two of the pivotal characters involved were introduced quickly at the end and then were just as quickly killed off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2023
2 stars
Didn't live up to the hype for me
Didn't live up to the hype for me
April 16, 2024
Wow! What a great story! Fantastic twist! And it’s a lengthy series. I hear tell it gets even better. On to book 2!
October 5, 2023
I liked this book. Some of it is farfetched, but overall good story. My complaint with cop stories is always the same—more police procedures and actually what goes into collecting evidence and working out the timelines. Most of the story was interpersonal interaction about the cop's past and private life.
August 16, 2024
My Thoughts:
Crime fiction is not really my genre. But I sampled the audiobook and I wanted to listen to more. So, kudos to Alexander Cendese for selling this book to me!
For me to like this book given that it is not my kind of read means that the story telling quality must be compelling enough for me to read it. That is not an easy thing to do! But Declan James managed it! So now, of course I gotta go and buy the next book in the series...
The story of this book and that of Message in the Bones is so similar that I sometimes got the story lines of the two books confused... I need to stop reading similar books!
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (7 hrs and 45 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Crime fiction is not really my genre. But I sampled the audiobook and I wanted to listen to more. So, kudos to Alexander Cendese for selling this book to me!
For me to like this book given that it is not my kind of read means that the story telling quality must be compelling enough for me to read it. That is not an easy thing to do! But Declan James managed it! So now, of course I gotta go and buy the next book in the series...
The story of this book and that of Message in the Bones is so similar that I sometimes got the story lines of the two books confused... I need to stop reading similar books!
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (7 hrs and 45 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
May 19, 2022
Murder in the Hollows is the first Declan James novel I’ve read, and I suspect it won’t be the last. The story features former FBI agent Jake Cashen, who has returned to his Ohio home town after leaving the FBI on less than ideal terms. He joins the local police force and is soon thrust into a puzzling case about a missing judge. The mystery evolves into a complex murder investigation that delves into the history of the town and characters, with James steering us through a series of twists and turns on the way to a satisfying conclusion. Murder in the Hollow is definitely worth reading. I read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book with no obligation.
December 3, 2022
Initially a good crime plot in the beginning, it soon falls into many trivial, boring, underdeveloped side stories with no correlation or link to the mystery itself. There are many branches of Jake Cashen's life injected into this novel but none are fully fleshed out to add interesting or necessary content. Cashen ends solving the murder but with disjointed, awkward and a few ridiculously gory events. The dialogue lacks sophistication. At times it boarders on the childish.
I've no interest in reading any more of this author's novels. But just maybe, by reading a more recent book by this author, I will find improvement worthy of a better review.
I've no interest in reading any more of this author's novels. But just maybe, by reading a more recent book by this author, I will find improvement worthy of a better review.
June 22, 2022
Very much enjoyed this one. I have posted a more detailed review on my blog https://joepalkovic.com/review-murder..., but long story short: this author gets it right.
Declan James goes for a true to life feeling in this book and it works because of good characterization, just enough forensic detail, and action sequences that are interesting without being over the top. It is a true mystery story, so the pace is more even and not jarring with too many cliff hanger chapter endings. I especially like that.
Good work, Mr. James. The Jake Cashen series will be a keeper.
Declan James goes for a true to life feeling in this book and it works because of good characterization, just enough forensic detail, and action sequences that are interesting without being over the top. It is a true mystery story, so the pace is more even and not jarring with too many cliff hanger chapter endings. I especially like that.
Good work, Mr. James. The Jake Cashen series will be a keeper.
February 18, 2023
I struggled to decide between a 2 or3
This was mostly a boring read. I would like to say if you live in rural areas like I do in Eastern KY the term is Hollars not Hollows. The book did not describe the hollars at all. His dialogue was syrupy and corney with needless drama. The book got better toward the end. I feel the book would have been better at it been around 200 pages.
This was mostly a boring read. I would like to say if you live in rural areas like I do in Eastern KY the term is Hollars not Hollows. The book did not describe the hollars at all. His dialogue was syrupy and corney with needless drama. The book got better toward the end. I feel the book would have been better at it been around 200 pages.
January 27, 2023
Description: One small town’s dark secrets lay hidden in the hollows…
Rumors have swirled around Jake Cashen his whole life. Is he crazy like his father? Is it true they booted him out of the F.B.I. right after he cracked a career-making RICO case? Was he dirty?
Only Jake knows and he’s not telling.
Review: I saw this on my Kindle recommended books. I have to say, I loved it. I find that every single mystery suspense book I have read have all been different and unique. Some people say that all cop books are the same but that's FALSE. Every author brings something new to the table so every cop book IS NOT THE SAME. What makes this book so good is that the Author is a former cop of 26 years!! So you can most definitely say that this book was a bit more non fiction than fiction. The crime may be false but the investigation was true and true. The Author was also a digital forensics detective which is just also amazing because the investigation in the book was thorough and realistic. The characters were well rounded which just means that they were well developed. They all had a backstory without too much backstory. This book is also unique in the fact the book had several mysteries with one big mystery. For example, you had the mystery of who killed the judge but also, what is Jake's backstory? Why did the FBI kick him out? What's the story with CPD? (Chicago pd). Why did Jake really come home? So again you had the crime mystery but also a character mystery. It keeps you on your toes. You can not be bored with this book!!
Conclusion: I love reading the Author notes at the end of the book I'm reading. I find it so intriguing. The book was well written and well developed. It was gripping and compelling. The investigation was thorough and realistic than most procedurals. The characters were also well developed where you kinda become.. attached. The storyline flowed seamlessly. I liked it. I look forward to book two!
Rumors have swirled around Jake Cashen his whole life. Is he crazy like his father? Is it true they booted him out of the F.B.I. right after he cracked a career-making RICO case? Was he dirty?
Only Jake knows and he’s not telling.
Review: I saw this on my Kindle recommended books. I have to say, I loved it. I find that every single mystery suspense book I have read have all been different and unique. Some people say that all cop books are the same but that's FALSE. Every author brings something new to the table so every cop book IS NOT THE SAME. What makes this book so good is that the Author is a former cop of 26 years!! So you can most definitely say that this book was a bit more non fiction than fiction. The crime may be false but the investigation was true and true. The Author was also a digital forensics detective which is just also amazing because the investigation in the book was thorough and realistic. The characters were well rounded which just means that they were well developed. They all had a backstory without too much backstory. This book is also unique in the fact the book had several mysteries with one big mystery. For example, you had the mystery of who killed the judge but also, what is Jake's backstory? Why did the FBI kick him out? What's the story with CPD? (Chicago pd). Why did Jake really come home? So again you had the crime mystery but also a character mystery. It keeps you on your toes. You can not be bored with this book!!
Conclusion: I love reading the Author notes at the end of the book I'm reading. I find it so intriguing. The book was well written and well developed. It was gripping and compelling. The investigation was thorough and realistic than most procedurals. The characters were also well developed where you kinda become.. attached. The storyline flowed seamlessly. I liked it. I look forward to book two!
June 1, 2022
Jacob Cashen, but goes by the Anglicized version of his name, was a champion wrestler in high school and used this momentum to propel him out of his small town roots into the FBI. His reason for leaving his hometown was deeper ~ the deaths of his parents when he was 7 years old his and older sister, Gemma, was 12. His sire and namesake shot his mother then shot himself in a fit of mental instability. The orphans were put under the custody of their paternal grandparents... their maternal side, the wealthy Ardens, rejected them. A complicated and mentally taxing situation for an orphaned boy... school wrestling and his coach Frank Borowski grounded him. Still, he had to leave... he was so good at his job that he evoked envy from his less than Gifted politically appointed superior. And on the basis of a technicality, he was forced to resign just after a career~making major drug bust. So he went back home to Worthington County, Ohio hoping for a quiet life as a county deputy... until their County Judge went missing and the new Sheriff ordered Jake to take the lead on the Judge's disappearance and may even be his murder. Designating Jake as lead was a very strategic move for the Sheriff given that the other detective was known for bungling and contaminating the crime scene... a circumstance the murderer must have been counting on. The book is a warm mirror of most American small~town interactions... of close family ties and the concerned community feeling, with the inevitable endemic gossip grapevine... etc... etc...
p.s. ~ please make Jake a perpetual bachelor without any wife and kids to be used as leverage... his grandfather, Gemma and her boys plus close friends are already potential kidnap victims for the criminals out there... more than enough emotional future complications in plausible life and death situations...
p.s. ~ please make Jake a perpetual bachelor without any wife and kids to be used as leverage... his grandfather, Gemma and her boys plus close friends are already potential kidnap victims for the criminals out there... more than enough emotional future complications in plausible life and death situations...
May 29, 2025
I’m always looking for a new crime series. I prefer small towns to big cities because I like to get to know the people and steep in the culture. This is a first-in-series set in a small Ohio town, and as a former resident of Ohio, everything about it piqued my interest. I’m happy to say it met all my expectations.
Protagonist Jake Cashen is the small town boy with tragedy in his past who escaped his roots only to find they not only tethered him to his home but pulled him back there. Now in his thirties, he’s left the FBI and gone back to work for his hometown police department. He wants nothing to do with the spotlight of high-profile crimes and intends to serve behind the scenes until he decides his next move. But that’s not in the cards. The kind of case he’s actively avoiding is being bungled by the detective in charge, and the new captain promotes Jake and assigns him to lead the investigation.
Many are happy he’s returned. Some gossip behind his back, speculating on what happened at the FBI and whether he should be a cop at all. His grandfather, sister, and nephews struggled in his absence and are relying on him to stay—whether he wants to or not. It’s a lot for Jake to process without the case, but of course his work has to be a priority.
Past and present tragedies collide in this mystery, and Jake finds no one is who he thought. Solving this case (and a cold case from the past) only opens Pandora’s box. There’s a lot more trouble on the horizon, and I’m excited to read the next book to see what happens next.
Protagonist Jake Cashen is the small town boy with tragedy in his past who escaped his roots only to find they not only tethered him to his home but pulled him back there. Now in his thirties, he’s left the FBI and gone back to work for his hometown police department. He wants nothing to do with the spotlight of high-profile crimes and intends to serve behind the scenes until he decides his next move. But that’s not in the cards. The kind of case he’s actively avoiding is being bungled by the detective in charge, and the new captain promotes Jake and assigns him to lead the investigation.
Many are happy he’s returned. Some gossip behind his back, speculating on what happened at the FBI and whether he should be a cop at all. His grandfather, sister, and nephews struggled in his absence and are relying on him to stay—whether he wants to or not. It’s a lot for Jake to process without the case, but of course his work has to be a priority.
Past and present tragedies collide in this mystery, and Jake finds no one is who he thought. Solving this case (and a cold case from the past) only opens Pandora’s box. There’s a lot more trouble on the horizon, and I’m excited to read the next book to see what happens next.
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August 21, 2024One small town’s dark secrets lay hidden in the hollows…
Rumors have swirled around Jake Cashen his whole life. Is he crazy like his father? Is it true they booted him out of the F.B.I. right after he cracked a career-making RICO case? Was he dirty?
Only Jake knows and he’s not telling.
He came back to his tiny hometown at the foot of Ohio’s Blackhand Hills to serve as a deputy sheriff. He hopes to punch a clock and keep his head down until retirement.
It was a solid plan. Until someone put a bullet in the head of a revered county judge.
Jake’s new boss knows Jake has a particular set of skills. The Sheriff pins a detective badge on him whether Jake likes it or not. He could have said no. But as Jake watches the locals nearly bungle the case in the first five minutes, he knows he’s all in.
As Jake digs into the murder, he soon learns Judge Rand had enemies in every corner. And someone hiding in plain sight may be plotting to bring his investigation to a deadly end.
To bring a cold-blooded killer to justice, Jake’s forced to confront every truth he’s tried to escape. Even the ones that could bury him.
Murder in the Hollows is the gripping first book in the Detective Jake Cashen thriller series. A former police detective, author Declan James brings you authentic crime fiction that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of Connelly, Box, Dugoni and Baldacci.
Good.
Rumors have swirled around Jake Cashen his whole life. Is he crazy like his father? Is it true they booted him out of the F.B.I. right after he cracked a career-making RICO case? Was he dirty?
Only Jake knows and he’s not telling.
He came back to his tiny hometown at the foot of Ohio’s Blackhand Hills to serve as a deputy sheriff. He hopes to punch a clock and keep his head down until retirement.
It was a solid plan. Until someone put a bullet in the head of a revered county judge.
Jake’s new boss knows Jake has a particular set of skills. The Sheriff pins a detective badge on him whether Jake likes it or not. He could have said no. But as Jake watches the locals nearly bungle the case in the first five minutes, he knows he’s all in.
As Jake digs into the murder, he soon learns Judge Rand had enemies in every corner. And someone hiding in plain sight may be plotting to bring his investigation to a deadly end.
To bring a cold-blooded killer to justice, Jake’s forced to confront every truth he’s tried to escape. Even the ones that could bury him.
Murder in the Hollows is the gripping first book in the Detective Jake Cashen thriller series. A former police detective, author Declan James brings you authentic crime fiction that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of Connelly, Box, Dugoni and Baldacci.
Good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2025
A Surprising Start
I recently picked up the first book in a new crime series by an indie author, and I’m glad I did. This is the third crime series I’ve started since March, and with all the recommendations, my expectations were high.
From the start, I suspected the character everyone was focused on was just a red herring. Still, the author’s clever writing made me second-guess myself more than once, which kept me engaged and turning the pages. I really appreciated that I couldn’t guess who the killer was—being surprised by the reveal made the story much more enjoyable.
The book’s layout was a bit different from what I’m used to, and at first, I wasn’t sure if it would work for me. But as the story unfolded, I found it didn’t distract from my reading experience at all. In fact, it added a fresh touch to the book.
One thing I’m hoping for as I move on to the next book is that the author doesn’t spend too much time repeating events from the previous story. I’ve stopped reading other series because of too much repetition, so I’m crossing my fingers this one avoids that pitfall.
Overall, this first book was a refreshing read with enough twists to keep me guessing. I’m excited to see where the series goes next! If you enjoy crime stories that keep you on your toes, this one is definitely worth a try.
I recently picked up the first book in a new crime series by an indie author, and I’m glad I did. This is the third crime series I’ve started since March, and with all the recommendations, my expectations were high.
From the start, I suspected the character everyone was focused on was just a red herring. Still, the author’s clever writing made me second-guess myself more than once, which kept me engaged and turning the pages. I really appreciated that I couldn’t guess who the killer was—being surprised by the reveal made the story much more enjoyable.
The book’s layout was a bit different from what I’m used to, and at first, I wasn’t sure if it would work for me. But as the story unfolded, I found it didn’t distract from my reading experience at all. In fact, it added a fresh touch to the book.
One thing I’m hoping for as I move on to the next book is that the author doesn’t spend too much time repeating events from the previous story. I’ve stopped reading other series because of too much repetition, so I’m crossing my fingers this one avoids that pitfall.
Overall, this first book was a refreshing read with enough twists to keep me guessing. I’m excited to see where the series goes next! If you enjoy crime stories that keep you on your toes, this one is definitely worth a try.
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